Chapter 7
A woman came by the next day to inspect her home, and though not super impressive- it was passable. Karen was this close to getting Sophie back, she felt like she could taste it. Having the woman from CPS come by to look over her home had been extremely stressful, Karen couldn't help but worry about every item she had in her home- worried it would be the thing that would disqualify her from fostering Sophie.
But today was the day of her meeting with Ruth, and Karen was even more ready to get over to the coffee shop they had agreed to meet at since Sophie would be there too. She was almost one hundred percent she would be able to take her home today, it had been about a week since she last saw Sophie. And Karen had a feeling that she couldn't prove, but just felt like Sophie was miserable in the system- and needed to be somewhere where she could be the star of the show. And wouldn't have to crave the attention she so obviously wanted, but instead would be constantly loved on.
The meeting with Ruth was in an hour and it would only take Karen fifteen minutes to walk over to the coffee shop- but she was so filled with nervous energy she had t get out of the house. So Karen grabbed everything she would need; her jacket, purse, keys, an extra cardigan incase Sophie wanted it, and finally slipped on her boots.
Karen was ready.
She was crazy nervous, but she was ready. Maybe walking through the park near her house would help her waste some time before it was time to go. Yeah, that was a good idea- if she was going to have Sophie it would be better if she was familiar with the park in general.
Deciding it was a good idea Karen opened the door of her building and felt the wind whip through her hair, before starting in the direction of the park. She was walking with her head in the clouds when out the corner of her eye she saw a dark pitbull on a leash come walking up beside her.
Karen looked more fully at the adorable dog before looking up at the man who was walking the dog. Of course it was him, of course he just came out of nowhere- with a dog! Where did he even get a dog?
“Ma’am” That's all he was going to say? He tipped his head towards her, Frank’s hat covered most of face when he wasn't looking straight at her. She wanted to see his face, it wasn't everyday she got to see Frank in the light of day, but she understood that he couldn't just go showing his face to everyone on the streets of New York.
“What the hell Frank?” The corners of his mouth lifted when Karen gestured to the dog walking in front of him.
“Where’d you get a dog?”
“I found him, he wasn't getting treated so good, so I liberated him. And now we're just stuck together I guess.” Karen could see the old wounds on the beautiful dogs coat, proof that this dog was a fighter- a survivor, just like Frank. No wonder they belonged together.
The trio walked in comfortable silence for a while, both the dog and Frank letting her lead the way, so she brought them where she was going originally. The park, she sat on a bench knowing he would join her.
Frank looked around scanning the area, before sitting next to her.
Karen put her hand out so the dog could sniff her before rubbing him between the ears, “What’s his name?”
“He doesn't really have a name. I just call him Dog or Boy, I don't think he minds.”
She looked at him in disbelief, “He's got to have a name, Frank. He's a good boy, right?” Karen directed the last part of her sentence at the dog that sat at her feet, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth as he panted his happiness.
“Yeah, he does….” Frank looked at her, a question obviously about to roll off the tongue. “I heard about the meeting, with CPS.”
“How’d you hear about that?”She had a feeling she already knew the answer, but wanted to hear him say it anyway.
“Y’know that friend of mine that's good with computers, he looked it up.” Frank admitted.
Karen looked at him, “You have a friend?”
He laughed right along with her before answering with just as much sarcasm, “A few, actually.”
“But yeah I'm meeting with Sophie’s case worker today. I think it looks pretty good, I think she’ll be coming home with me.”
He wasn't looking at her but Karen knew Frank was processing the fact that the girl he had saved from a terrible father would soon be living with the woman he couldn't seem to keep away from.
Karen looked at her phone and saw that she had about twenty five minutes until the meet up and would need at least fifteen to walk over there. And at least ten to calm down and seem normal when she next saw Sophie and Ruth.
“Frank….”
He looked up at her when she stood, “Yeah?”
“I figured if I got Sophie today, I’d take her shopping so she could pick out the bed she wanted, and then we’ll head back to my place. If you want to go shopping with us, I- I think Sophie would be happy to see you.” She could tell her cheeks were getting a bit red with the offer, but she wanted to leave it open for him to decide.
“If you want to come with us, you can meet us at my building in probably like an hour or so, that is if I get Soph….”
Frank swallowed the lump of emotion that was suddenly stuck in his throat as he nodded at her. Not sure what he was nodding about but he did it nonetheless.
Karen smiled down at him and gave Dog a scratch behind the ears, before heading off to get the girl. For once being the one leaving him behind, knowing it had to be him that wanted to join them.