Issues?
Dylanie and Hope were just arriving at the orphanage after the practice when Dylanie stopped short.
"Something wrong kiddo?" Hope asked.
"Ms. Nancy don't like me much. She says I'm trouble. And I got issues."
"Issues? Lanie you are smart. And you got nothing wrong with you." Hope counteracted.
"Well I don't got issues on the outside Hope. Got trust issues Ms. Nancy says. She also says I'm ugly, got to many scars from people."
Hope grabbed Dylanie's arm pulling her back. "Lanie."
"No one calls me that. I like it. Makes me feel wanted. A nickname."
"Well Lanie, your beautiful. Your blues eyes and your long dark hair. Your past does not determine if your ugly or not. Lanie I would kill to look like you when I was younger." Hope let go of Dylanie's arm. They kept walking.
"Your pretty. Beautiful actually. I got posters of you and your team in my bunk. I'm surprised you don't got a guy chasing you. Telling you I ain't worth it."
"I'm not talking to the guy."
"You got a guy? He ain't gonna like me ya know." Dylanie said.
"I don't like him. He isn't important to me. But you, you are. So it's going to be me and you."
"I like that."
"Well your lucky because so do I."
Hope and Dylanie reached Ms. Nancy's office. Dylanie ran up to her bunk to start packing while Hope signed the papers to adopt Lanie.
Ms. Nancy looked at Hope. "You want her?" She said.
"You don't?" Hope said sternly.
"Well she ain't who you think she is."
"She's a great kid. I already fallen in love with her. She needs someone. I need someone. We got each other." Hope said.
As Hope finished signing the papers Ms. Nancy said one last thing. "Good luck with her. You will bring her back."
Hope stood up and yelled at Ms. Nancy. She was unaware the Dylanie was behind her. "Listen up. I want her. I need her. And you bet your ASS I will never be bringing her back. She's mine. And I'm going to love her with everything I got. She is MY DAUGHTER." Hope stuff her papers in Ms. Nancy's face, turned on her heel, and walk straight out of Ms. Nancy's office.
"Hey Hope."
"Come on Lanie. Let's get out of this hell hole."
"I thought I was the only one who thinks its a hell hole here."
"Hey language!" Hope said.
"You said it first."
"Just because I said it first don't mean it's right."
"Got it mom." Lanie said quickly. Hope stop walking towards her car. A small smile on her face.
"Was that to soon?" Lanie asked.
"It made my day, kiddo. It made my day." Hope said as she held onto her daughters hand and they walk farther down the street.
A person standing behind Hope and Lanie would think they known each other forever.
Thats exactly what Hopes husband, soon to be ex-husband, thought as he stalked his wife and her new daughter.