The Day Has Come (Counting on Hockey #4)

Chapter 18: Rigby

I'm in Ann Arbor with my bio Mom, Lucy, and her husband, Garret, to meet their new daughter. The adoption was final a few weeks ago, and her new daughter moves in completely today. They're having a small get together with the two families. I, along with her new daughter, get to meet our extended family. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. I've met one of my biological aunts before, she's married to one of Dad's former teammates, but I didn't know she was my aunt at the time.

Cole is has a game in Detroit tomorrow night, so he came out here early after his game at home two nights ago, and then he'll have to leave the next morning for Calgary with the team. We've helped set up Lucy and Garret's house with food and other things for the family. I think I might just be as nervous as Lucy's new daughter, Eleanor.

"Meredith", Lucy calls through the house. I'm in my guest room with Cole, he's in the shower and I just finished my makeup. I walk to the balcony, looking down at my bio mom. "We have to leave for the airport in twenty minutes. Is Cole going with us?"

"Uh, I think so. He should be ready in, like, ten minutes", I say back. Lucy nods and walks back into her kitchen.

Eleanor's room is right next to my guest room. I walk by it and look in it one last time before she lives here permanently. She's originally from Iowa, and the best fit for her was Lucy and Garret. Eleanor was in foster care for eight years of her life, after both of her parents went to jail for selling drugs. She's ten now. Eleanor has been with Lucy and Garret for about six months now, but she had to go back to Iowa for a couple of weeks to collect everything she would have needed, though I don't know what specifically that would be, all of her small amount of things are here with Lucy and Garret already.

Cole gets out of the shower and changes into a pair of jeans and a Wild's shirt with his name on the sleeve. He has a lot of those, I can think of at least seven. I sit on the bed, looking through my phone, in a dark colored flannel shirt, skinny jeans, and my black boots.

We leave for the airport a few moments later. We have decided that on the way back, Lucy and I would sit in the back with Eleanor, so she wouldn't be over whelmed sitting next to Cole or Garret. She knows Garret, and feels as if he is her father, but Eleanor had suggested that I get to know her, since I was going to be her half sister. I took it as a great opportunity to meet her in person.

The four of us stand in the airport to wait for Eleanor and her social worker to get off the plane. I'm so excited to meet her, and in an hour or so, both Eleanor and I are going to meet our family. I know, yes, it's much more nerve racking for her. She's an eight year old girl who barely knows who her chosen parents are.

"Oh my god", I hear Lucy say, then she grabs my hand excitedly. "There she is".

The other three of us glance to where Lucy is looking. A little blonde girl in a pale yellow shirt with a purple backpack hanging over her shoulder and a middle aged woman in a grey pantsuit and a briefcase hanging from her hand, come strolling past the security checkpoint. Eleanor looks around the airport with excitement and happiness in her eyes, then she looks over at us, and she starts at a run.

Lucy and Garret bend down and Eleanor runs over to meet them in a hug. I see the social worker looking frantically, and then realizes where Eleanor had run to. The social worker starts over for us, and stands a few feet away, making sure nothing happens. 

"Meredith", Eleanor squeals. I look at her just in time to find her wrap her arms around my waist. Her head rests on my stomach. I smile happily and remove her from my waist, then bend down, so I'm closer to her level, though now she's taller than me. 

"Hi, Eleanor", I say to her. She has a sparkle in her eye. 

Eleanor wraps her arms around my neck, and I hug her back. She stands with her arms wrapped around me for a moment before moving away and looks over at Cole, she smiles at him too. 

"Mrs. Butler, Mr. Butler, it's nice to see you again. I hope everything is well", the social worker says, then looks over at me. "This must be Meredith. Eleanor talked all about you on the plane trip".

"Yes, Rebecca, this is my daughter, Meredith, and her fiancé, Cole. Meredith, Cole, this is our adoption social worker, Rebecca. She's helped us through everything in the process. We wouldn't have Eleanor without her", Lucy says. 

"It's good to meet you", Rebecca shakes my hand, then Cole's. She looks back at Lucy and Garret. "I hate to say this, but I have to rush into Ann Arbor. I have another case I have to deal with. Eleanor, I will be back to see you in a few weeks. Just to make sure everything is going the way it's supposed to, but I don't see why it wouldn't be". 

Rebecca bids all of us a goodbye, and Eleanor gives her a hug, before she walks off and out of the airport terminal. 

"Come on, Sweetheart. Let's get you home", Lucy says, grabbing Eleanor's hand. 

Eleanor giggles as she skips along with Lucy. Lucy and Garret watch their little girl with admiration. I start to think about how, when I was Eleanor's age, that could have been me if Lucy had taken me with her when she left Dad.