[Have Plenty]

Have Patience

"Alright this is it. Good luck." Mrs. Willows said in a hushed tone before opening the door to the playroom. This was their meeting place at the adoption agency and would be four times a week for the next month. 

It was brightly decorated with toys and kid friendly devices lining the painted walls. Plush bean bag chairs and pillows besidea toy chest and shelves of books for children of all ages.

And right at the front of the room a large television was mounted on the wall, with a small boy sitting on the floor sitting  in front it.

Florian and Delaney looked at the back of his kinky haired head, growing even more excited and nervous. Delaney's  heart swelled and she just wanted to hug him but they had to take baby steps. Florian squeezed her hand as they walked further into the room.

"Alex? Florian and Delaney are here to meet you." The worker spoke softly gaining the child's attention. He looked away from the television only to glance at them briefly then went right back to watching his cartoon.

"Don't you wanna say hello?"

"Hi." He mumbled, glancing back again. They could almost see him shrink into himself as he pulled his limbs closer to his body.

"Alex, you know um...Florian is a boxer too. And his wife Delaney, she's a photographer and styles aaaall the famous people in Hollywood." The woman embellished trying to pique his interest. He paused, straightening up and turning to look. Back at them again– with Delaney slightly waving.

"Yeah, I don't know if you have seen the movie Creed II but I'm in it." Florian joined the effort, taking slow steps toward the boy until he was about 6 feet away now.

"Can I sit with you and we can talk about it?"

"...Ok." Alex was as quiet as a mouse but he scooted over on the colorful rug so that Florian could sit next to him– but not too closely.

"Well, I'll be just outside if you need me. I'll let you all get acquainted." Mrs. Willows whispered to Delaney, patting her shoulder before she exited the room.

She stiffened up. What did she have to appease a nine year old boy? She didn't box. She indulged in a Video game or two with Florian but she didn't know enough to entertain a kid. Maybe he'd like to see some of her photographs and hear about some of the celebrities she worked with? Or maybe she could coax him with his favorite food or candy? She was feeling like she didn't really have much to offer. Maybe they were too hasty in this decision.

Delaney moved across the room, sitting on the couch as she watched Alex slowly warm up to Florian with every minute. Florian did most of the talking but Alex was receptive. She didn't interrupt, she didn't know how. Florian noticed and tried to be of assistance.

"You know my wife, she did a couple of photo shoots for Michael B. Jordan too." He smirked, nodding towards her. Alex's head snapped in her direction.

"Foreal?" He questioned, wide eyed. Delaney smiled and nodded.

"Yep. I got some pictures on my phone, if you want to see." She held her phone up. Alex hesitated, looking from the two way mirror to Delaney.

She was patient as he took his sweet time standing up and cautiously walking towards her. Florian stayed where he was, watching. Neither one of them wanted to scare him or make him uncomfortable.

She didn't take it personally when he sat on the far end of the couch away from her.

Alex didn't exactly have the best relationship with his mother. His father either but his mother wasn't a mother at all. It didn't help that he bounced from foster home to foster home ran by toxic and money hungry women. They didn't strengthen his trust at all. He didn't trust anyone and in his short life, he didn't exactly have faith in anyone anymore...but he kind of liked Florian.