Book 3- Annie Adams-College Years

Annie Adams-College Years

                                                                                       Chapter 25

                                                                            A New Home for Cela

    

     Annie was on speaker phone talking with Beth, Patti, Trish and Eric, Jamie and Zack telling them all that had happened after Beth left Professor Barr's house taking Harmony to the hospital to deliver her baby.  Annie ended the conversation by telling her friends how Cela Green, the girl who at gun point had forcibly detained Annie, happened to be in her and Len's company, instead of in jail.

     "Poor kid," Patti said, after Annie had told the gang Cela's story, "to have to live like that," she ended.  "I know," Annie agreed.  "Len and I are heartbroken for her.  But Pastor Murphy who works with the Foster Parents organization is looking for a good Christian family for her."  "We'll all pray that he finds one,"  Beth said, then added, "Won't we guys?"  Annie grinned big as she heard various words of agreement from her friends.

     "Thanks y'all.  Hey!  I'm exhausted.  I've gotta go to bed.  See y'all later," Annie told them.  Everyone shouted "Good night," before Annie rang off and laid her cell on her bedside table.  Then she looked lovingly over at her husband who was fast asleep.  She giggled quietly and said, while brushing a sandy colored tress from his brow, "Sleep soundly my Prince."

     Aunt Anne and Annie's best friend Jeanie Cartwright, from back home in Kentucky said their goodbyes the next morning.  Auntie Anne told Annie she would be back when her grand niece and nephew were born; that Bud would come with her, and of course Jeanie was welcome to come with.  There were hugs all around, and Aunt Anne and Jeanie made sure to give a hug to Cela too.  Annie, Len and Cela waved goodbye until Aunt Anne's car disappeared into the traffic.

     Professor Daniel Barr was released from the hospital the next day, after recovering from a bullet wound, accidentally fired into one of his big toes by Cela Green.  Deputy Steve escorted him to the Waterbury Sheriff's Department, where his partners in crime Dale Street and Hope Dawson were already housed.  All three of them would be arraigned the following Monday and then would await trial, (which would occur in about three weeks time) right there in Sheriff Summer's jail house.

     Harmony Jones also was discharged from the hospital that day.  Her husband Charles pushed her through the hospital doors, (Harmony holding their new born son Charlie in her arms) to their waiting car.  Len, Annie, Beth, Eric, Patti, Jamie, Trish, Zack and Cela and Pastor Murphy had a surprise waiting for them at home.

     When Charles and Harmony arrived at their apartment, the gang was all there.  Len and the other guys had strung a banner across the top of the door that said, "It's a Boy!" and balloons hung from either side of the banner.  Beth had baked a cake for the occasion and Annie held a bag containing ice cream and other goodies for the party.   Charles and Harmony thanked their friends for the lovely surprise and Charles exclaimed, "Let the festivities begin," opening the door and with a sweep of his arm inviting their friends inside.

     Cela spent the month of May with Len and Annie, as well as the first two weeks in June.  Pastor Murphy hadn't been able to find foster parents for her.  He told Annie and Len that it was very difficult to place teenagers.  Len didn't think Annie seemed too upset by the news.  She wasn't.  She was hatching a plan.  And on one Saturday night in the middle of June, she decided it was time to mention her idea to her husband.

     The two of them stayed up until three o'clock in the morning discussing Annie's brain storm.  So, the couple slept in until ten o'clock the next day.  They dressed quickly for church, (luckily their church held three services and they could still make the 11:30.) well, Annie dressed as quickly as she could, considering how very pregnant she was.  She was overdue at this point in time.

     She put on a delicately flowered sun dress of greens and blues, grabbed up her sandals. (Len had to buckle them for her.) After that was done, he buttoned his light blue shirt and fastened his tan pants.  Then he made a quick call to Pastor Murphy.  After that, the two of them headed down stairs.  Before they reached the bottom step, pleasant orders coming from the kitchen made their mouths water.

     Annie and Len grinned at each other, and then holding hands they strolled into the sunny kitchen while breathing in the delicious aromas.  "I hope you don't mind," Cela said, taking a pancake off of the griddle, "But I wanted to say thank you in a tangible way for everything you've done for me."  Annie gave her a hug and said, "It has been our pleasure Cela."

     "Thank you," Cela replied, wiping her flour covered hands on her apron that covered a yellow and white checked summer dress.  Her long curly red hair was pulled back into a ponytail and it swayed back and forth as she padded over to the table in bare feet, to set two plates of eggs, sausages and pancakes at Annie and Len's places at the table.

     "Thanks so much for doing this," Annie told Cela as Len pulled out her chair for her to sit down.  "Yeah.  What a sweet thing to do," Len agreed.  "You're very welcome Cela said, getting her plate from off of the stove and carrying to the table.  The three of them chatted while they ate, mostly about Annie's twins who would be born very soon.

     After dinner, Len went into the living room to read the morning paper while Cela loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher and Annie wiped off the table and countertops.  "Hey girls!" Len called from his easy chair, "When you two are done, come on in here.  I have something to tell you."  "Okay!"  Annie and Cela chimed, both of them giggling at their perfect timing.

     After ten minutes time, Annie and Cela sat down on the beige sofa opposite Len in his Lazy Boy and waited for him to say something.  Cela's face was expectant and she seemed a little nervous.  Annie took her hand and said, "Believe me, it's all good."  She just couldn't stand for Cela to be anxious.  Especially after everything the girl had been through in her young life.

     "Well Cela," Len started, "Annie and I were up half the night discussing your living situation....  And we decided we want to be your foster parents."  The tears immediately begin falling from Cela's eyes, and she hugged Annie tight.  "I've always wanted a little sister,"  Annie told her. "Of course this all depends on.... if it's okay with you," Len said with a smirk.  "Yes!" Cela said joyfully jumping up and rushing over to Len and giving him a bear hug.  He laughed and said, "I guess it is."

     "Pastor Murphy has all the paper work ready," he told her, "all we have to do is sign on the dotted line.  We're meeting him in his study after church."  (Pastor Murphy had come out of retirement when the superintendent of the church he attended ask him too.)  Pastor Murphy's church was just a few blocks down from where Len and Annie lived.

     Cela gentle pulled away from the hug and was still crying happy tears when she and Len looked over at Annie to see her reaction to Cela's answer.  Annie's eyes were wide as she looked back at her husband and said with a catch in her throat while holding her swollen stomach, "Call the doctor!  It's time!"

                                                                            End of Chapter 25