Time skip!  

Five days later...

     Chole's POV:

  I got a phone call telling me the lawyer agreed to take my case.

 Lawyer, what lawyer, I thought.  I smile.

 "Chole, we were hired by Nathaniel Kurtzberg to take on your case. Don't worry we think you have a fighting chance to adopt, Sarah Jane Phillips as your daughter." I heard the lawyer say.

  "Wow, that is good news!" I shout into the phone.

       "Miss Bougerious, we do not have it wrapped up yet, a man professing to be the child's uncle is trying to stake a claim to her as well," The lawyer explains.

    "I see, " I said. I felt shocked.  I never knew anyone else would try to adopt Sarah.

       I sighed. I must admit I worried about the odds knowing there was someone else trying to compete with me for the adoption of Sarah.  I decided not to mention the adoption to her in case it fell through.  Why get her hopes up if there is still a slight chance I might lose the course case?

         I decided to keep it a secret for now. I would have to tell her eventually, but not today.

        The court trial was set for two days from today. So, I would go to court on May 15 to find out if I was even considered fit to adopt her. I admit the whole thing made me feel nervous.

      I texted Nathaniel, "Nath, I am worried. What if the trial on May 15th shows I will make a bad mother? What if loose her for good?"

      Nathaniel's text..."Chole, calm down, I am sure the lawyer will do all he can to see to it that you can keep Sarah."

         I responded with this text, "Nath, I  know you believe he will, but what about my background?"

      Nathaniel's text, "Bee, you will be great. Besides, your past does not define you. It has no bearing on your being  a responsible woman."

    My text, "Yeah, but Nath, what if?" 

    Nathaniel's text..."Chole, but nothing. You are great, kind, smart, loving, and you need not worry about a job if that troubles you."

*Author's note: Nathaniel, gave Chole the nickname, Bee when he first met her. 

My text..."What job? I was fired from my last one."

 Nathaniel's text..."You have a job interview at the local art museum at 11 am."

  My text... "An interview for doing what?"

  Nathaniel's text..." You would be in charge of showing off some of the newest displays and explaining how beneficial they are to the community, or if you rather  not bother, then, you could go to the animal shelter and ask if they need anyone to come to help care for the animals there."

    My text..."What about to do with fashion?"

   Nathaniel's text..."Chole, I am sorry, I have not seen any openings for that sort of thing."

     My text... I will go to the interviews for the art place and the animal shelter. I will accept whichever one I prefer after the interviews are done." 

    I smile. Nathaniel referred me for job interviews. I see the time. I better hurry so I will not be late.

  "Daddy, could you watch Sarah will I go for a job interview?" I ask.

   "Yes, my daughter, now go and do not worry, I will find something to keep her busy,"  my father the mayor says.

      I grab my purse, and shoes, and head out the door. I lock it and head out to the car.

  I arrive on time for the first interview. I listened closely to the questions and answered them all.

  The lady smiles, then frowns.  "I do not think you have what it takes to be an art curator, but thanks for coming in."  

   I left thanking her for her time. Well, that was a bust I thought. I  drove to the animal shelter next. I arrived on time. 

"Miss Chole Bougerious?" The lady says.

"Yes, that is me," I say and gasp in surprise.

"Alix Kubel is that you?" I ask. "Yes, and wow, I did not realize you were coming for an interview today," Alix says.  "I did not know you worked here," I say. "Yes, I am one of the managers at the place, and Max here, is the other one,"  Alix explains. I notice she holds his hand. I smile, I knew those two would make a great couple.

       I  aced the interview questions. "Well, you can start today, if you want," Alix says.

    "Yes, I would love to, and thank you, Miss Kubel," I reply.

     "Miss Bougerious, here," Alix says as she hands me some gloves. I put the gloves on, and listen as she explains more about the job. I am glad she hired me. This way, I know I have a job before the trial.

    "Do not worry about May 15th, Nathaniel Kurtzberg called us earlier and explained the whole thing, and   I must say Max and I hope you get awarded, Sarah. It is a nice thing you are doing Chole. I must say I am impressed," Alix says. 

  I get to work cleaning up after the animals. I  give them clean water and make sure they all get a bath. My phone buzzes and I smile. It is a text from Nathaniel. I plan to text him back after I get off work.

       I work hard. Alix nods her head in approval. Max does the same.

         Later after work, "Alix Kubel and Max Kante, I am sorry I was a real jerk back in high school, and in college was not much better. Could you ever forgive me?"  I ask.

        "Girl, do not worry we do not hold grudges for that long," Alix says.

     "Yes, there is a 100 % chance that we will do no such thing against you," Max remarks.

       I went home and Sarah ran up to me.  "Mom, you are home!" Sarah squealed when she saw me. I  notice she rarely ever calls me, Miss Chole, anymore. It is mostly mom or mother.

         "Yes, Sarah, I am home. I am back from work at the animal shelter.  I got a job there thanks to Nathaniel, " I said.

     "Mr. Nathaniel, helped you get a job, wow that is amazing," Sarah says.

   "Yes, I suppose it is," I say. I thought he was pretty amazing.

           I hugged Sarah and she smiled. "Mom, Grandpa won when we played chess, but I beat him at checkers," Sarah told me.

       I laughed, "He was always a bit competitive in chess."  

  I thank my father for tending to Sarah. He smiles. "Anytime Chole and I will support you and  Nathaniel, too."  He winks when he says the last part. I groan. "Daddy, Nathaniel, and I are just friends," I  tell him.

    I hear Sarah say, "Mr. Nathaniel is going to be sad."

    "I am sure he will be fine," I tell  Sarah.

     "No, he will be sad because he wants to be more than a friend to you," Sarah states.

       I take Sarah to my room. I give her a BLT. "Where did you get this?" 

    On the way home, I stopped by this new restaurant and got you a BLT to-go with some chips and bottled water." I say as I hand her the other things. 

    Sarah eats the BLT with this huge grin on her face. To her it may as well be the world, I thought.

     I smile. Perhaps, all is right and I will win the court case. I started to find myself starting to hope.

Find out more in Chapter 18

Until then,

bye-bye,

little owlets!

Summer out!