“Sure. What is it?”
“It’s a private school for girls located just outside of Athens. They have a stringent curriculum and a great reputation for preparing their students for college. A high percentage of their graduates get accepted to the University of Georgia.”
She eagerly takes the packet from me and begins flipping through the pages. I know the very second she lands on the tuition page because her eyes bulge and her mouth drops open. “There’s no way I can afford to go here.”
“There are ways around that, Zoe. They have financial aid programs and academic scholarships available for their students. And, I’ll pay whatever the other two options don’t—if you want to go there for your senior year. It’s your decision, though.”
She flips over a few more pages and stops to read the information about the dormitories. “I’ll live on campus? Like I’ve gone away to college?”
“Exactly like that. You’ll have roommates and a house mother who lives in the dorms to chaperone.”
“Layne,” she says on an exhaled breath. “I can’t ask you to do this for me.”
“You’re not asking me. I’m asking you to consider it. If you do this, you’ll be doing it all for you. You deserve so much better than what life has given you so far. All I want is to give you the opportunity to build the kind of future you’ll flourish in. Read the whole packet, give it some serious thought, and weigh your options.”
“Okay. I will.” When she looks up at me, it’s the first time I’ve seen a sense of hope in her eyes. The glistening tears in her eyes are from happiness instead of despondency. “You’ve done so much for me already, Layne. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Zoe, you don’t have to thank me. Your success and happiness are all the thanks I need.”
“Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you yesterday. I have a doctor’s appointment before I go to work today. They’re doing an ultrasound to check the baby’s growth since I didn’t have one earlier in my pregnancy when they normally do them. They said if the baby is turned right, they may be able to tell the sex. Do you want to go to the doctor with me?”
“Yes, of course, I do! Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“I’d love to have you there with me. Sometimes it feels like everyone in the waiting room is staring at me because I’m the only one who’s there alone.”
That breaks my heart for her. “You won’t be alone today.”
She smiles brightly in response. “What was in the big envelope from the courthouse?”
“What envelope?” I ask and glance around the room.
“You were really preoccupied last night, weren’t you?” Zoe playfully cuts her eyes at me. “You always check the mail organizer.”
A large envelope from the courthouse can only be one thing. I grab the parcel and quickly tear it open. “It’s about the adoption.” I feel like I’m out of breath, panting, unable to inhale enough oxygen.
“What does it say?”
“They’re sending a social worker out for a home study to make sure the baby will be placed in a good home. If the father doesn’t acknowledge paternity, we have to run an ad in the paper with a notice of adoption intent. It’s probably best to send him a certified letter, too, so he can’t say he didn’t know about it later. We need to attend a couple of counseling sessions to make sure we’ve considered all the ramifications. And, you can sign the consent form once the baby is born. You have ten days after birth to change your mind about the adoption.”
“You don’t have to worry, Layne. I’m not going to change my mind. There’s no doubt this baby will have a better life with you than with me. I know now that it’s not selfish of me to give my baby up for adoption.”
“If you think about it, it’s the most selfless thing you can do.”
* * *
Zoe and I left the house early to grab lunch together before heading to the obstetrician’s office. After the way Ace reacted when I didn’t include him in my adoption decision, I guessed he’d be equally as upset if I left him out of the ultrasound. Zoe assured me she didn’t mind him joining us after the doctor finished her examination. When I called Ace, he was all too eager to meet us at the doctor’s office after he showered. We’re now waiting to be called back to the room once Zoe is ready for us.
“Sullivan family?”
Ace and I rise together and follow the nurse to Zoe’s room. The technician has the ultrasound machine ready and Zoe’s little basketball-sized belly is exposed. She sucks in a sharp breath when the technician squirts the cold gel on her skin, but that’s immediately forgotten when a grainy image of a tiny human fills the screen. The rapid heartbeat reverberates through the silent room as all of our eyes remain transfixed on the screen.