Cries of the Children(19)

“I ended earlier than expected,” she said, “but I feel good. Are you going to pick up the girls?”

“I just wanted to comb my hair,” Eric said.

“You just wanted to see me in the buff,” Rachel teased as she got undressed.

He made grab for her, but she laughed and disappeared into the bathroom.

“I’m all sweaty!” she cried. “You go on and get the girls!”

Eric moaned, but turned to leave. It was a relief to see Rachel smiling again, after what had happened last night. Maybe it was a blessing that Nina had showed up on their doorstep that particular morning. With her mind on a new “member” of the family, Rachel might be able to forget about it.

By the time Rachel had showered and dressed, Eric was home again. Tatiana came racing up the stairs.

“Mommy!” she cried. “What’s the news? Daddy says we have news!”

Eric and Olivia caught up with her.

Olivia stood back and observed this with twinkling eyes, keeping as much dignity as an eight-year-old could muster.

“We’re going to get you a brother,” Eric said.

“Oh, my,” Olivia said in awe. “Mama, are you gonna have a baby?”

Rachel laughed.

“No,” she said. “We’re going to take a little boy into our home and care for him for a while. You see, he’s lost his family, and until the police can find them, it’s best he lives in a real home.”

Tatiana frowned worriedly.

“How did he lose them, Mommy?” she asked.

“No one really knows,” Rachel told her. “He has a little trouble remembering. But maybe we can help him. What do you say?”

“I’d like a brother,” Olivia said. “How old is he?”

“Nine or ten,” Rachel said. “His name is Steven. Right now, that’s all I know about him.”

“Nine or ten,” Olivia repeated. “That would make him a big brother, wouldn’t it? My friend Laurie has a big brother and he always teases her.”

“Well, don’t judge Steven until you meet him,” Rachel said.

“When, Mommy?” Tatiana asked. “When?”

Rachel looked at Eric as if to ask the same question.

“Nina said we could pick him up this afternoon,” Eric said.

“I’ll call and make an appointment after brunch,” Rachel said. “Come on, guys. I smell crepes suzette.”

Tatiana got to the dining room first, with Olivia walking just in front of her parents. When they entered, Tati was bounding around the housekeeper and telling her about the little boy.

“We’re taking in a foster child,” Eric explained. “A ten-year-old named Steven.”

Helga gasped, throwing up her arms. “And what am I to do with a boy?”

She exited the dining room, where she’d laid out platters of wonderful brunch food, then came back with a pitcher of orange juice. The Freleng family enjoyed their meal, talking excitedly about the new addition to their family. When they were finished, Rachel got up to make a phone call to Children’s Services, while the girls went off to play and Eric opened a copy of the Dispatch.

A few minutes later, Rachel came back into the dining room.

“We’re set up for one o’clock,” she said.

At one o’clock that afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Eric Freleng sat in an office at Children’s Services, nervously anticipating their first meeting with Steven. The woman who came out to help them had a friendly smile and seemed very pleased with their presence.

“We were expecting Nina Blair,” Rachel said. “She came to our house this morning to talk to us.”

“Nina told me all about you,” Kathy Mayer said. “I’m so thrilled that Steven will be going into such a fine home. But I’m also surprised she went directly to your house. We usually do all our initial work from here. And Nina hasn’t shown up for work yet. That’s not like her.”

Kathy seemed worried, but Rachel hardly heard her. She was more concerned about meeting Steven.

“When do we see the boy?” she asked eagerly.

“The children are just finishing lunch,” Kathy said. “He’ll be brought out shortly.”

They entered the office, where Kathy offered them seats. She sat behind a desk, took out a folder, and opened it.

“Steven’s been with us for three days,” she read. “We don’t have a last name on him. I don’t know how much Nina told you . . .”

“I know he’s lost his memory,” Rachel offered. “And I know he’s nine or ten years old.”

“That’s correct,” Kathy said. “He’s a quiet, shy boy, but I have a feeling there’s quite a little mind inside that head. Keeping him in an institutional setting is wrong. Nina was adamant that we move him as soon as possible.”