Free Tracie Peterson by The Long-Awaited Child

mother was a drug addict.”
    “True,” Tess replied. “It’s just going to take some timeto work out the details. Most of these girls are in the early months of pregnancy, so there’s plenty of time. Then again, some of them may yet change their minds. The last thing I want to deal with is that.”
    “You must be anxious.”
    “Of course. There are a lot of variables, but I’ve prayed about it and feel that this must surely be the way God is pointing us. I’ve been putting together a nursery, but I have no baby and have no idea when I might get one,” Tess replied. “Brad is beside himself with joy. It’s all he can talk about. He wants to name the baby Thomas Michael if it’s a boy.”
    “And if it’s a girl?”
    “We haven’t really settled on anything,” Tess admitted. “We go round and round with the baby books and nothing really seems to fit.”
    Laura poured herself more coffee. “It’s always that way.”
    “So,” Tess said, drawing the conversation back to business, “we need to get some of these last-minute details figured out if you still want to move as soon as possible.”
    “Fire away.”
    “Well, I need to have you contact your doctors—optical, dental, family, whatever. You’ll need to give them the names and addresses of your new doctors in Miami so they can transfer your records. Since you have no pets, you won’t have to worry about doing the same for them.”
    “Maybe once we get down to Florida we’ll think about a small dog. You did say that the condo will allow for that, right?”
    “Right.”
    “Well, we can worry about one thing at a time.”
    Tess handed Laura a checklist. “These are things that you need to take care of. You’ll see there are suggested times for when you should have these accomplished.”
    Laura looked the list over. “It looks very complete. You certainly know your work.”
    Tess found a great deal of satisfaction in her ability tomake these moves as painless as possible. She pulled out another list and with it, a map. “This is a numbered list that corresponds to the map. You’ll be able to look at this and see where all the places are that we’ve discussed. For instance, you’ll see number one is the retirement condo. You can go from that point to see where things are in approximation to where you’re living.”
    “Wonderful!” Laura declared, reviewing the map and list. “This is going to be so helpful.”
    “I hope so,” Tess replied. “Now, do you plan to drive down or are you going to fly and have the car shipped?”
    “Oh, I think we’ll drive the RV and pull the car. We love traveling and Darren hates to fly.”
    “Do you need me to arrange a trip agenda?”
    Laura looked at her rather oddly. “You mean plan it all out for us?”
    Tess nodded. “Sure. I can get you maps with the best routes. Routes that have the least roadwork and the best accommodations and services.”
    “You really are something, Tess.”
    “In this computer age, Laura, it really isn’t that difficult.” She smiled at the older woman and took another bite of cinnamon roll. “I’m telling you this, if you wanted to open a bakery in Miami, I’m thinking these would go over quite well.”
    “Your mom could make them just as good as I can.”
    Tess grew thoughtful. “I miss her. Dad too. You know, I’ve had such a phobia about adopting a baby, but it never had anything to do with them. They were good parents and I would never want anyone to think otherwise.”
    “So why are you afraid of adopting?” Laura questioned.
    “Well, I’ve told you how much I wanted a baby that was my own, flesh of my flesh.” Laura nodded and Tess continued. “I guess I just feel like I’m settling for second best. I can’t have what I really want, so I’ll take what I can get. And if that’s theway it is, how do I explain that to my child? They’re bound to grow up and find out how I feel.”
    Laura put down her cup and reached out to take hold of Tess’s