Helping Emma

Chapter 25

The next day Regina and I tried to be as normal as we could. We had breakfast with the kids and took them to preschool, then we both did our farm work. In the afternoon a messenger arrived with an envelope for me. I wanted to rip open, but I thought it would be best to open it with my wife, so I sent her a text telling her I had the test results and asked her to meet me at our place. I waited for her in the living room and when she walked in she sat next to me on the couch. Neither one of us said anything. We just looked at each other then I started opening the envelope. I let out a big sigh when I read the beginning. "What is it Emma?"   "This part says that Henry and Sophia are definitely my biologically children".  We kiss and I hug her tight. "What does it say about Emmitt?"  I read the next sheet of paper. "Emmitt is also biologically my child". I say with a smile. "How do you feel about this Regina?"  She gives me a small smile. "I'm glad Emma. Truly I am. Now this little boy will have a family and a home right here with us my love". She gives me a kiss. "Thank you Regina. I don't even know what to do now. I kinda feel like my head is spinning around".  "Just try and relax dear. Everything will work out". I nod as I hear my phone start to ring. "It's Ingrid from child services". I tell Regina as I answer the call and put it on speaker. She told us she just read the DNA results on Emmitt and that if we wanted to, we could take custody of him tonight. I look at Regina and she smiles and nods. I ask if Emmitt knows the results yet and she said no, she wanted to talk to me first before she did anything. I then asked if we could come visit him this afternoon and that way we can all come up with the best way to handle this. I don't want to scare the poor kid. She said anytime this afternoon was fine for her and I said Regina and I would be right over. After the call I ran up and took a quick shower while Regina called her sister and asked her to get the kids off the bus. We met Ingrid in her office of Emmitts group home and she was happy to see us.  We went over a few legal matters about what happens when Emmitt comes to live with us and then I asked to speak with him and try to explain the situation. I met him in a small room where he was building something with LEGO's. "Hello Emmitt. Remember me from the farm?"  I say walking over to him. He looks up and gives me a big smile. "Hi Emma. What are you doing here?"  "I came here to see you". I say sitting down on the floor near him. "Just me?"  "Yup. Just you. I wanted to talk to you". He gives a sad nod and puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out the 10 dollar bill I gave him the other day. "It's ok if you need it back". He says as he hands it to me. "No. It's ok kid. That's yours to keep. Put it back in your pocket". And he does. "I came here to talk to you about that test we took. Do you know what that test was?"  He shakes his head no. "It's called a DNA test. It can help identify someone or help find someone that may be your family".  "They said I have no family that's why I live here".  "Well that's not true anymore, because those tests told us that I am your family".  "You are?"  "Yup, and I want to try to explain to you how I'm related to you ok?"  He nods. "So from what I can tell your a smart kid". He smiles at me. I don't want to go into to many details with him, he's only 10. So hopefully a simple explanation will be ok. "So I think the best way to do this is to just say it and if you have any questions I'll do everything I can to answer them honestly. Emmitt I'm your father". He gives me another smile and says "Ok".  "Ok?  Ahh, do you have any questions about that?"  "Do you want to be my dad?"  "I was surprised when I met you, but I am very happy to be your dad".  "Does this mean you will come visit me here sometimes?"  "Sure I could do that, but I thought it might be cool if you came to live with us on our farm. We would really love it. What do you think?"  "You really want me to live with you?"  "Of course I do, your my son Emmitt". "Will they let me leave here?"  "Yup. You have a family to live with now so you don't need to live here. You can come home with us. You can have your own room and you have a brother and a sister who think your super cool. Does that sound ok".  "Yes please".  He looks so excited. There is a knock at the door and Regina and Ingrid came walking in. Emmitt is excited when he sees Regina is here to. "Hi Regina. I have a dad. Emma is my dad".  "Yes. I know. We are so happy about that". This kid seems so glad to have a family. I wish I would have known about him sooner. "So Emmitt, I understand that Emma talked to you about moving in with them. Is that something you want to do?"  Ingrid asked. "Yes. I really like them".  "Ok then. Emma just has some papers to sign and then you can all go home". I went with Ingrid to the office while Regina went to help Emmitt gather his things. Once everything was all settled I was able to take my son home. We will be having a home visit from child services in a few months just to make sure everything was going well. When Emmitt was saying goodbye to a few of the other kids Regina whispered to me that we had to take him shopping immediately. He barely has any clothes and absolutely no toys. So it looks like we will be going on a shopping spree. When we get home we show Emmitt his bedroom and then show him around the farm. Our kids see us and they come running over. I'm so glad their excited to see Emmitt. They are even happier when I tell them that he will be living with us. Emmitt's face lights up with a big smile at how Henry and Sophia want him around. They each try to get all his attention. "Emmitt come see the horsies". Henry says. "No Henny, he likes the baby goats like daddy memba?"  Sophia says pulling on his arm. "Hey. Hen, Soph. Relax. Emmitt has plenty of time for everything". They both apologize, but I think Emmitt liked the attention. When it was dinner time, I introduced Emmitt to the rest of the family as we sat around the dinner table at the farmhouse. When we got back to our house Regina handed Emmitt a catalogue and told him to pick out any kind of bedroom he wanted. From the look on his face he seemed a little uncomfortable about it. "It's ok, thank you anyway. The bedroom you gave me is ok. I never had one before". Before I could say anything Regina beat me to it. "Emmitt sweetie. You are now our family and you deserve everything that we can provide for you. We did this with Henry and Sophia. They both got to pick their own rooms. Here sweetheart. It's ok. Please pick whatever theme you like for your room". Regina hands the book back to him. "Are you sure?"  He asks in a small voice and Regina gives him a kiss on the forehead. "Yes. Your our family now too. How about we look together while Emma goes to make us all a snack". I jump up. "Oh. Right a snack. How about I make us some popcorn?"  Everyone nods yes and I go to the kitchen and microwave a few bags. When I came back into the living room, Regina, Emmitt and the twins were all sitting on the couch helping Emmitt pick out a bedroom set. This was amazing. Everything was flowing easy. Bedtime rolled around and that also went smoothly. All the kids where tucked into bed. Emmitt knows where our bedroom is Incase he needs us. Hopefully everyone sleeps well tonight.