The following week Lauren returned to the house, Dinah joining her as she offered to help her friend make lunch for the kids and entertain them with Ms. Lawrence while Lauren spent a few minutes with Willa.
The brunette spent every moment she had free by reading Willa's file in detail, noting what the girl liked and disliked. What she was okay and wasn't okay with. And most importantly: the topics that got the girl's attention.
Ready with things to say, Lauren led Dinah to the home where Ms. Lawrence cheerfully greeted them and led them into the kitchen where lunch was already in the making. Mac n' cheese and jello cups. Lauren instantly remembered that Willa liked green jello, making sure to move one aside so the little one wouldn't miss out.
Lunch was called and Dinah was quick to act like a child herself as she gave out bowls and spoons, making jokes with the older kids and telling crazy stories to the younger ones.
As Lauren suspected, Willa was the last to appear, the girl staying tucked by the doorframe as she watched the action in the room. Seeing 30+ kids running around was overwhelming enough and she wasn't quite ready to meet the new woman that Lauren brought with her.
The brunette thought of a way to invite the five-year-old into the kitchen and instantly remembered the green jello, grabbing the cup from the fridge and moving towards the doorframe.
"Hey Willa," Lauren greeted, smiling warmly and crouching in front of the girl. "A little birdy told me that you happen to like green jello."
This brought a smile to the child's face as she shuffled over slightly to reveal more of her once hidden body.
"Birds can't talk," Willa said in her quiet tone, making Lauren laugh.
"Well then, that's another story. But I kept this for you. Would you like to come eat it with your lunch?" Lauren offered, holding up the cup for the girl to grab.
"Okay," Willa said after a beat, following Lauren into the kitchen and taking a seat at the edge of the table where a bowl of mac n' cheese waited for her.
"So, would you like to hear about that talking bird?"
Willa nodded in agreement as she spooned small bits of food into her mouth, preparing herself for the story.
So Lauren came up with a magical tale, trying to keep mental pictures of Willa's many faces as she allowed herself to become engrossed with the story.
It was near the end of her story when a toothy grin came from Willa that Lauren instantly knew.
She knew that no matter how many times she'd have to come visit Willa, no matter how long it required, every moment was worth earning the trust of this little girl that she so desperately wanted to be the mother of.
~.~.~
Willa enjoyed seeing Lauren on a regular basis. Some days the woman came by to help with meals, occasionally bringing a friend who took interest in keeping the other kids busy so she could have Lauren to herself. Willa especially liked the times that Lauren came for movie night, sitting on the floor by her but not getting too close. She appreciated the respect Lauren had for her space and she slowly found herself shuffling closer and closer to the point where Lauren's hand and her own would fidget on the ground between them.
Today Willa was having a relatively down day and she didn't want to be around others, but when Lauren asked to sit beside her while she read, Willa couldn't help but nod, shuffling to one end of the bed while Lauren respectfully took the other.
Willa enjoyed the hour they had together and realized the way her heart ached when Lauren left the house. It almost felt like the woman would never come back.
YOU ARE READING
Piece Of My Heart - Fifth Harmony Adoption
Фанфик"This world isn't as bad as you have been made to believe." From the moment Willa was born her world was like a dark cloud. She was born into the hands of those who wanted to inflict pain. She never knew what it felt like to be loved. Maybe it wa...
