Page 29 of Call You Mine
Patricia’s lips curve into a soft smile. “That’s great to hear.” She jots something down. “Stable, steady income, benefits,” she murmurs, more to herself than to any of us, as she nods her head.
“And, he’s an amazing support system for me,” I add, remembering how Patricia was nervous about how my lack of nearby family would look to CPS. I don’t know if Anderson has family nearby or if he’s even close with them, but hopefully being engaged proves to CPS that I’m not doing this all alone.
Patricia makes a few more notes on her legal pad beforeturning to Georgie. “How are you feeling about all of this, Georgina? I know it can’t be easy, but it sounds like your sister and her fiancé will be able to give you everything you need. Is that something you would want?
Georgie looks at me, her eyes moving to Anderson, and then back to me before turning to Patricia. She nods her head. “Yes, it is.”
Her lips aren’t exactly a smile, but they aren’t turned down like how they’ve been for most of the night—I’m taking that as a win.
She hasn’t said much tonight, but I don’t blame her.
I just hope she knows she does have a say in all of this—I don’t want her suffering in silence all over again, like she did with my mom.
We just have to get through this meeting with Patricia, have her report to CPS that I have the stability that Georgie needs, and then the two of us can figure out where we go from here.
I’m sure all of this will be enough to convince them that I’m fit to be Georgie’s guardian. And then, once it’s all said and done, I’ll thank Anderson for playing his part so well tonight, and we can go our separate ways.
It’s not like we’llactuallyhave to get married.
Lying to Patricia and CPS isn’t ideal, but neither is Georgie going back to my mom or into the system.
This is the only way.
“I think I have all I need for today,” Patricia says, clicking her pen closed and grabbing her briefcase from the floor. “I’ll be in touch after my meeting with your mother tomorrow morning.”
Georgie, Anderson, and I all stand as she does.
“Oh, one more thing,” she says as she grabs her coat off the back of the chair, swinging it behind her as she sticks her arm through one of the sleeves.
“Of course,” I say, eager for her to leave, yet dreading it at the same time.
“When do you two plan on getting married?”
Anderson and I look at each other, both of us uncertain as to what the correct thing to say is.
“We’re not entirely sure yet,” I settle on. My anxiety begins rising, and I feel the urge to count something—anything.
“Enjoying being engaged right now,” Anderson adds, looping an arm around my waist and pulling me against him.
It should be awkward, but it isn’t.
It shouldn’t distract me from where my mind just was, but it does.
I don’t let myself sit with that thought—either thought—for long.
Patricia hums, but the sound makes me uneasy.
“Is that okay?” I can’t help but ask.
“That’s fine,” she says with a wave of her hand, but she doesn’t sound convinced. “But, we will most likely need some documentation for the adoption—if that’s the route you decide on.”
“It is,” I quickly say.
Patricia nods. “Then, like I said, we’ll need some documentation to ensure stability as Georgina’s legal guardian.”
“What type of documentation?” Anderson asks. His grip on my hip tightens, and I don’t think it was voluntary.
“Well, we’ll want to make sure that we have grounds to ensure that Gerogie’s well-being will be taken care of. And, if we’re going based on what we discussed tonight,” she pauses for a moment as she grabs her gloves from the pocket of her jacket.
