Pup

Chapter 3

It took a minute or two for someone to approach the door but before Hank went to ring it again the door went flying open inward to Emily whoes curls stood on end but her clothes were still neat and clean with a few ruffles here or there probably from little hands getting her attention. She pulled open the door with a scatterbrained expression,
"Hank! Hello! Welcome! You're a bit early" she smiled pleasantly surprised.
"I am, I told you I'd be here and I have all the papers right here signed and ready to go" Hank said tapping on the left side of his coat smiling slightly back at Emily in an attempt to ease her surprise and restlessness.
"Oh thank goodness! Please come in, come in" she breathed with pure relief as she stood by to let Hank enter. When he stepped in there was no denying that little boys inhabited this house. Toys, socks and videogames were scattered on the carpet, couches, and chairs as well as into the kitchen where, on the table, glasses of water and juice still remained with empty plates.
"I'm so sorry about the mess!" emily exclaimed nervously,"I was going to get this all cleaned up before you came but you weren't playing around when you said you'd be here!"
"I wasn't and don't worry about it. Work was slow so I figured I'd head on over early. Oh and here are the goods" he grinned unzipping his coat and giving her the envelope of papers. She snatched them in her hands and ripped it open, scouring over every paper and every line intensely. With every line she scanned her smile grew and her nervousness turned into stillness and after some time of silence she stood straight up with a bright face and glossy eyes. She looked at Hank and took a deep breath,
"Well Sergeant Voight once I sign these Oliver is all yours." The emotion in her eyes swelled causing some tears to run down her soft flushed cheeks.
"I'm sorry" she said dabbing her eyes, "It's just been a long road for him. I thought I'd never have to truly say goodbye for a final time. I thought I never would have too" she whispered wiping her eyes. Although her tears streamed down the smile in her face read relieved and finally at peace. Hand held his arms open to give her a quick embrace, "you'll never have to worry about if he's safe or clothed or loved anymore. You have my word." he said letting her go.
"I know, I know it's true this time" she replied with dryer eyes and a bigger smile.
"Let me go get him for you. He'll be so excited" she said as she turned right for the staircase and disappeared around the corner when she reached the top. When her footsteps disappeared out of earshot Hank retraced her path to the stairs and took his stance at the bottom of the stairs feet shoulder width apart  ready for who would come flying down at him soon. With his hands in his pockets he relaxed and listened to the quiet noise of the house. Some clips of voices and thuds of feet cut in and out of his ears until a familiar little face peered from atop the stairs around the corner. His soft green eyes widened in disbelief and sparkled as bright as fireworks. This little hands that were clutching the wall for dear life were now flying towards him wide open.
"MISTER HANK!" Oliver yelled at the top of his lungs as he jumped from the fifth stair aiming right for Hank. He caught the little monkey in a spin and before he could even say hi Oliver was shaking his shoulders in an excited flurry.
"Mister Hank what are you doing here?!" Hank laughed as Oliver's contagious joy and excitement bubbled and brewed in his chest.
"Taking you home that's what I'm doin'" Hank replied. The second emotion that hit Oliver was confusion. He tilted his head like a confused puppy not completely understanding what was happening. Seeing this Emily came down and put a hand on Oliver's shoulder and asked "Oliver? How'd you like Mister Hank to be your pappa from now on? What do you think?" Oliver's eyes doubled in size and his mouth hit the floor.
"Wh..wh..what? What?! Is this for real?!" he asked looking between Emily and Hank. His whole face was a glow and his eyes were glistening as if a dream was becoming real in front of him. He couldn't believe his little ears.
"Wait..this is real? This isn't fake? You're not faking it? This is for real?" he asked tossing his head back and forth shaking his shoulders excitedly. With every word out of his mouth his voice climbed higher and higher with excitement and shock.
"This is all real Ollie, all real. Your car seat's in the car, your room's all set...home is waiting for you" Hank said compassionately looking into Oliver's eyes that was the most lively and brightest he had ever seen them. "Go and get your things kiddo I'll be here waitin' for ya" Hank put Oliver back down on the floor gently before he took off up the stairs and around the corner in a flash. Hank could hear all of his excited cheers and happiness from where he stood at the stairs. Emily laughed and started up the stairs after Oliver but before she did she turned around, "we'll be right back down in a few. Feel free to sit down and be comfortable."
"I'm okay right here, thank you though" he smiled in response . Hank stayed  right at the bottom of the stairs listening to the excited scurry happening above him only stepping away to unlock and pop the trunk to prepare for when Oliver came parading down the stairs with his things. Hank walked back to the stairs just as thundering feet came racing down the stairs with an old and dirty red backpack with an old and dirty hanging on by a thread and Emily carrying down a box that she put down on the floor when she reached the bottom. Hank had expected her to turn back up the stairs to get more things...but he didn't. Hank tried to look at Oliver but he was to busy pretending to fly around to pay attention so he looked at Emily with a questioning look,
"That's it?" he asked. Emily just sighed and sadly nodded in response as she easily picked up the box again ready to bring it out.
"Don't worry it won't be like this for long" Hank reassured.
"Alright flash you ready to go home? Dinner's waiting and I really think you're going to like your room" Hank said holding out his hand facing the door. Oliver gasped and gawked at the thought of his own actual room in a house that could be his and that was safe. But more importantly and exciting to him was that maybe Mister Hank could actually be his pappa and not someone he would always have to run from and be scared of. Someone who wouldn't hit him or push him away but someone who actually wanted him. Someone who liked him, and as Hank lifted him into the car and buckled him in Oliver pulled at Hank's neck, pulling him in closer as he leaned over to buckle him in.
"Listen I'm going to need my head to drive out of here" Hank chuckled giving Oliver another hug before standing back up to shut the door. But before he could Oliver stopped him,
"wait...Mister Hank?" Hank pulled the door back open,
"Yeah Ollie?" Hank pulled the door back open.
"Umm..what do I call you? My other mamma and pappa didn't like it when I called them that but I never remembered their names" he said sheepishly, looking at his feet and back to Hank. Hank chuckled fondly, frozen in the moment of his soft face and shy eyes that were fluttering back and forth at him.
"Whatever you want Oliver. Whatever you're comfortable with" he replied. Oliver's darting eyes settled on Hank and his nervous expression melted into a smile.
"Okay so I can...if I wanted?" he asked again unsure if it was really true.
"Whatever you're comfortable with Ollie" Hank replied honestly before shutting the door and jumped into the driver's seat.
"Alright kiddo ready to go?" he looked up in the rearview mirror at little Oliver.
"YEAH!!" he threw his hands into the air with his little balled fists. Hank laughed,
"Alright then, let's go home."