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Finn glanced at the clock. Technically, they had them for a couple of hours more, and the adoption attorney had said providing that all the kids agreed, he didn’t see any reason why the adoption wouldn’t go through. They had fantastic professional and personal references and had passed all the checks. The icing on the cake as far as children services went was Asa.
Talon glanced at Finn. “The house?”
Finn nodded eagerly. “Who wants to see where we’re all gonna live?”
Even Henry seemed interested.
Thirty minutes later all three kids gaped at the tangle of trees and bushes at the backyard. They’d rushed to get the inside ready for inspections and hadn’t tackled the back yet.
“Wow,” Elijah said.
“Is it a forest?” Asa asked.
Henry pulled his thumb out. “Like a magic one?”
Finn had to laugh. “Actually, you know Vance and Sam who you met this morning? Well, they and some of our other friends are having a yard-taming session next weekend.”
Elijah turned, excitement shining in his eyes. “Can we come? Please?”
Asa nodded and Henry just slipped his hand into Finn’s. Talon had to answer for Finn after that because he had trouble speaking.
“We can absolutely ask for permission,” Talon agreed instantly and returned Elijah’s fist-bump. Asa squealed and wanted to see the bedrooms again. Talon and Elijah stayed outside and discussed important things like if they were to have a grill where it would go, and the possible location of a basketball hoop. Finn led the other two inside and let them generally run around upstairs and scope out the rooms. After a few minutes, Henry simply climbed on Finn’s lap and shut his eyes. Asa came and sat down next to him on the top step.
“You don’t have one of these.” He gestured to his face, and Finn understood how important this was to him.
“If I did and you didn’t, would you still want to come and live here with us?”
He seemed to think about that, then nodded, leaning his head against Finn’s shoulder. Jesus, they were all killing him today. “I might be able to do a thing.”
Finn stayed very still, knowing exactly what he was telling him.
“But I’m worried Mr. Richards might think I cheat.” Finn remained silent a minute. Mr. Richards was his new fifth grade teacher and so far had seemed okay. “Does that mean because you can do something now that you couldn’t before?”
Asa nodded.
“Well, I can talk to him for you, or get your foster-mom Angie to, or Mark.” He named the social worker.
Asa was quiet. “I can remember stuff easily.” He looked at Finn. “You’re coming on Thursday, right?”
“Of course,” Finn hugged him. Asa’s class was doing a play. He had three lines and was very proud of them. “But you’ve been practicing your lines really hard. You know how proud we are of you.”
He was quiet another moment but then wrinkled his nose like the jury was still out. “I can remember everyone else’s too. Even what Mr. Richards says. We had to read a little bit of the book and I know that too.”
Finn grinned. Photographic memory, maybe? Things were going to get interesting at school. He chuckled and shoulder-nudged him. “Nothing to worry about. We’ve got this.”
“Can we stay over tonight?” Asa asked.
Finn shook his head regretfully. He wished. But they could ask permission for next weekend. Finn and Talon were taking Thursday and Friday off next week to get moved in. “No beds,” he added, trying to make it a joke, even though he desperately wanted to say yes.
Asa sat quietly for a few minutes while they both listened to Henry snoring. “Where’s Grace, I meanZurigonna sleep?”
He chuckled. “It’s confusing isn’t it?”
He nodded and smiled.
“Well,” Finn said. “I don’t know. You’re her big brother. Where do you think?”
“Maybe she could come in with me, just at the start? I mean, she’s little and might be scared.”
