happy.” Dad reached across the table for her hand. “Mom and I have plenty of love to go around . . . enough for the new baby, too. We talked this over with you and the caseworker months ago. Remember?”
Jenna held in the sobs that threatened to burst out. Months ago? Back then she figured adopting a baby was probably years away for them. Maybe even never.
Dad continued. “And about using your computer . . . well, I knew you wouldn’t mind. It was a handy way to keep in touch with our caseworker now and then,” he said almost apologetically.
She nodded. Borrowing her computer wasn’t the problem.
“We love you dearly, Jenna. And your mother and I want to give an orphaned child a chance. Make a difference somehow.”
His words made Jenna feel even worse. “What aboutgymnastics and ballet? What will happen with that?” She couldn’t continue. If she did, she might cry. And that would mean she was a selfish little brat. She certainly didn’t want her parents to think that of her!
“Life will go on, same as always,” Dad said, refolding his napkin. “You’ll still attend gymnastics and ballet and school and church.”
She hoped he was right, but it was hard to believe. Everything was going to change. She was sure of it!
Mom got up to clear the table. “We’ll all travel together to greet our new baby,” she said, looking suddenly younger than her years.
All of us?
“When?” Jenna asked.
“The certified letter will surely tell us,” Dad said. He sat tall at the head of the table, his regular place. But tonight he looked more handsome than usual. His black hair shone in the soft luster of the dining room chandelier. His face was determined but compassionate.
Mom reread the email printout. “Sounds like we’ll be hearing any day now.”
Jenna wouldn’t hold her breath for it. As long as the letter hadn’t arrived, she could focus on the gymnastics meet. And something else, too. She had a feeling Coach Kim was going to make her captain of the team.
“I wish you would’ve told me we might be getting a baby this year,” she said at last. “It’s hard to think ofsomeone that tiny . . . and noisy fitting in around here. With the three of us.”
Mom placed a dessert dish of peach cobbler on the table. “Adopting a baby will take some getting used to,” she said.
Dad smiled. “But we’re willing to do whatever it takes to welcome a precious homeless child into our hearts.”
Mom sat down and began dishing up the dessert. Her eyes twinkled with anticipation, and Jenna couldn’t remember ever seeing her this excited.
“I can hardly believe it,” Mom said. “We’re going to have a brand-new baby in the house. Very soon!”
“Yes, and we’re going to give him or her lots of love,” Dad said, accepting a generous serving of cobbler with a smile.
Jenna listened, staring at her dessert. They could go right ahead and shower plenty of love on their new baby, she decided. But what about her? Would they forget about their firstborn and her gymnastic goals?
Only the Best
Chapter Four
Sunday afternoon, Jenna sat cross-legged on her bed and picked up the telephone. She punched the buttons to call Livvy.
“Hudson residence” came the delicate voice of Livvy’s grandmother.
“Oh, hi,” she said. “May I speak to Livvy, please? This is Jenna Song.”
“Just one moment.”
When Livvy answered, Jenna told her the latest. “My parents are so thrilled about the baby. They’re dying to get some more details. Mom’s calling the agency tomorrow.”
“So they really are adopting a baby,” Livvy said cheerfully. “Congratulations.”
“Yeah, well, guess again.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Livvy. “Are you really that upset about it?”
Jenna clammed up. A long pause followed.
“Well?” Livvy was pushing. “Are you gonna talk to me or not?”
Sighing, Jenna asked, “Whose side are you on?”
“What are you talking about?” Livvy sounded puzzled. “Do
Jenna held in the sobs that threatened to burst out. Months ago? Back then she figured adopting a baby was probably years away for them. Maybe even never.
Dad continued. “And about using your computer . . . well, I knew you wouldn’t mind. It was a handy way to keep in touch with our caseworker now and then,” he said almost apologetically.
She nodded. Borrowing her computer wasn’t the problem.
“We love you dearly, Jenna. And your mother and I want to give an orphaned child a chance. Make a difference somehow.”
His words made Jenna feel even worse. “What aboutgymnastics and ballet? What will happen with that?” She couldn’t continue. If she did, she might cry. And that would mean she was a selfish little brat. She certainly didn’t want her parents to think that of her!
“Life will go on, same as always,” Dad said, refolding his napkin. “You’ll still attend gymnastics and ballet and school and church.”
She hoped he was right, but it was hard to believe. Everything was going to change. She was sure of it!
Mom got up to clear the table. “We’ll all travel together to greet our new baby,” she said, looking suddenly younger than her years.
All of us?
“When?” Jenna asked.
“The certified letter will surely tell us,” Dad said. He sat tall at the head of the table, his regular place. But tonight he looked more handsome than usual. His black hair shone in the soft luster of the dining room chandelier. His face was determined but compassionate.
Mom reread the email printout. “Sounds like we’ll be hearing any day now.”
Jenna wouldn’t hold her breath for it. As long as the letter hadn’t arrived, she could focus on the gymnastics meet. And something else, too. She had a feeling Coach Kim was going to make her captain of the team.
“I wish you would’ve told me we might be getting a baby this year,” she said at last. “It’s hard to think ofsomeone that tiny . . . and noisy fitting in around here. With the three of us.”
Mom placed a dessert dish of peach cobbler on the table. “Adopting a baby will take some getting used to,” she said.
Dad smiled. “But we’re willing to do whatever it takes to welcome a precious homeless child into our hearts.”
Mom sat down and began dishing up the dessert. Her eyes twinkled with anticipation, and Jenna couldn’t remember ever seeing her this excited.
“I can hardly believe it,” Mom said. “We’re going to have a brand-new baby in the house. Very soon!”
“Yes, and we’re going to give him or her lots of love,” Dad said, accepting a generous serving of cobbler with a smile.
Jenna listened, staring at her dessert. They could go right ahead and shower plenty of love on their new baby, she decided. But what about her? Would they forget about their firstborn and her gymnastic goals?
Only the Best
Chapter Four
Sunday afternoon, Jenna sat cross-legged on her bed and picked up the telephone. She punched the buttons to call Livvy.
“Hudson residence” came the delicate voice of Livvy’s grandmother.
“Oh, hi,” she said. “May I speak to Livvy, please? This is Jenna Song.”
“Just one moment.”
When Livvy answered, Jenna told her the latest. “My parents are so thrilled about the baby. They’re dying to get some more details. Mom’s calling the agency tomorrow.”
“So they really are adopting a baby,” Livvy said cheerfully. “Congratulations.”
“Yeah, well, guess again.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Livvy. “Are you really that upset about it?”
Jenna clammed up. A long pause followed.
“Well?” Livvy was pushing. “Are you gonna talk to me or not?”
Sighing, Jenna asked, “Whose side are you on?”
“What are you talking about?” Livvy sounded puzzled. “Do
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