Free Finding Christina (Wild Rose #2) by Scarlett Jade Page A

living room and plopped down on the couch. Picking up the remote, she turned the TV on and flipped through the channels until she found something to watch.
    Addie strolled in about fifteen minutes later and flopped on the couch with a sigh, her auburn hair flouncing. “Well, that’s done.”
    “Can I ask you something?” Christina started, not knowing how comfortable the woman would be with her question.
    “Sure.” Addie stretched her arms above her head and yawned. “What’s up?”
    “Is Aaliyah adopted?” Christina blurted before she lost her nerve.
    “Yeah, she is.”
    “Do you love her any different? I mean, what’s it like to be adopted I wonder?”
    Addie crossed her legs and pursed her lips for a moment. “I love her just as much as my boys. We are so lucky to have her.”
    “My friend Grace was sorta adopted by her grandparents. I think I told you that.”
    “Yes, you mentioned that.”
    “How does adoption work?” She continued.
    Addie ran a hand through her hair. “Ah, we adopted Aaliyah through the foster care system. We had to do a home study and be matched with a child. Why? Are you considering giving your baby up for adoption?”
    “I was just curious.”
    “Oh, okay. Well, I hope I was able to answer some of your questions.”
    Christina yawned and clambered off the couch. “Oh, you did. I think I’m going to go get ready for bed. I’m really tired.”
    Addie smiled and wiggled her fingers. “Enjoy your rest.”
    Christina picked up her phone from the charger and darted into her room. Would I consider giving my baby up for adoption? It would make my life so much easier…but I got rid of one baby before by force…could I stand giving up this one now? Lying back on the bed, she skimmed her hand over her barely there pooch and chewed at her bottom lip as she thought. I don’t know if I could give this baby up. Things might be hard, but I don’t know if I could do it.
    She turned her phone on and checked to see if she’d had any calls or text messages from anyone. There was one text from Grace, from Christmas day.
     
    G: Hey chick. Merry Christmas. Hope you got all you wanted this year! Talk soon, love ya!
     
    A sad smile touched Christina’s mouth and she blinked back tears as she told her best friend another lie.
     
    C: Got signal out here in the boonies. I’m great, my Christmas was wonderful. I hope yours was. Love ya, slut.
     
    As she pressed send, bile rose in her throat and she raced for the bathroom, where she lost the pretty pink smoothie from dinner. With a quivering hand she pushed her hair back. Gross. Shakily standing, she shuffled to the sink and rinsed out her mouth. These medicines were making her feel terrible.
    A soft knock came at the door. “Are you okay?”
    Christina opened the door and smiled weakly. “I’m okay.”
    “Do you need anything?”
    “Oh, you know, to not have HIV would be awesome.” Christina chuckled softly.
    “I wish you didn’t, honey. Let me get you a ginger ale. Maybe that will help you feel better.” Addie padded through the house and was back mere seconds later with a cold can of soda. “Here you go.”
    Christina took the cold can and rolled it between her hands. “Thank you.”
    “Go on and rest.”
    “Thanks.” Christina slipped into her room and popped the tab on the can of soda. Taking a sip, she placed it on the nightstand and crawled back on the bed. Her phone vibrated and she picked it up, grimacing as she saw Grace’s name flash on the screen.
     
    G: Mine turned out great. Dad surprised me with a new car! I couldn’t believe it! He said he didn’t get to do it when I was 16, so he’s doing it now. Grandma and Grandpa (still so weird to call them that) came down and we’ve been spending a lot of time together. There is some work we still have to do, but they are both trying. I haven’t seen even a bit of ugliness toward Dad from them. They know what he does and neither have said a word. I think because they