“Really?” I straightened up, “I didn't know that.”  “Yes, that is what Theo and some of the others devote their time to, rescuing children,” Aris answered.  “Can I help too?” I asked.  “I was hoping that you would help take care of the ones who have been rescued.  Like you have done with Emma,” he suggested.  “Of course I will help,” I answered, glad to have a purpose again.  “After we get through this business with Emma, we are going to start looking for families to foster those children.  We need you to help me read potential families for truth and lies,” he explained, “We do not want to place children right back into bad situations.”  “Okay,” I agreed.  I relaxed back against him again.  I felt so much better.

“Are you ready for me to wash your hair?” he asked.  “If you are ready for me to wash yours,” I answered.  “I am ready,” he moved to the side and slid his arm under my back to support me as I leaned back to wet my hair.  I sat back up and he began working shampoo into my hair and scalp.  He leaned me back and rinse it out.  I sat back up to repeat with conditioner.  When I was done, I moved to the side so that he could lean back.  I washed and conditioned his hair.

We decided to stay in a little longer, so he let some of the cooling water out and ran some more hot water.  I leaned back against him.  He pushed the button and started the Jacuzzi without warning me and I squealed.  “Jade,” I heard a worried Emma from the bedroom.  “No Emma,” I heard Lia.  Emma ran into the bathroom followed by Lia.  “Are you okay?” Emma asked.  “I’m fine.  Yaris started the bubbles without warning me.  It just startled me,” I explained, “What are you doing here?”  “I wanted to give you kisses goodnight,” she answered.  “Give us a minute and we will get out,” Aris told her.  “Okay,” she ran back to the bedroom.  “I am really sorry,” Lia turned and followed Emma.  “See, Lia, I told you they would not be mad,” I heard Emma say.  I smiled at Aris.  He smiled back, shaking his head.

I put the bikini back on and stood up.  He stood and helped me up out of the tub.  We adorned robes and slippers and put our hair up in towels.  We walked into the bedroom.  Emma and Lia were sitting on the bed talking.  Emma got up and stood on the bed.  I went to her first.  She gave me a big hug.  Don't have too much fun without us,” I warned.  She kissed me on the lips.  Aris sat down next to her and she climbed onto his lap.  He kissed her on the forehead, each eye, her nose, then her mouth.  He hugged her tight, “goodnight Emma.”  “Goodnight,” she whispered.  “Be good for Lia,” Aris warned her.  “I will,” she whispered again.  “Why are you whispering?” I asked.  “Lia said we have to be quiet because people are sleeping,” she whispered again.  “Okay,” I whispered back.  She hopped down and ran for the door.  “Goodnight,” Lia said on her way to rush after Emma.

Aris and I changed into our winter gear and went out on the terrace to smoke.  “Tomorrow,  when her family comes, I am going to suggest that they leave her with us for another week so that I can continue to work on her,” he told me, “They do not have to agree.  It is just a suggestion.”  “Okay,” I agreed with a little glimmer of hope.  “I am going to invite them to spend Christmas Eve with us and for them to take her for Christmas day,” he continued slowly as if he were afraid of my reaction.  The truth is that, at this point, I feel blessed to have any time with her.  “Are you okay with that?” he asked.  “Yes,” I answered, “I am not sure how she will feel though.”  “I know.  I feel bad.  I made promises to her that I can not keep now,” he went on, “I figured that we would have a talk with her in the morning.  Try to explain things.”  “Sounds good to me,” I replied.

We went back in then.  I changed into pajamas and got into bed.  He didn't.  “I need to go have a word with Ripley,” he stated.  I started to get up.  “Without you,” he told me.  “Oh.  Do you want me to wait here?” “Yes.  I will not be gone long.”  “Okay.”  That was the most awkward, strange conversation ever.  He turned and left the room.  Now what?  Go to sleep.  I can't go to sleep after that weird exchange that we just had.  I will help.  I felt myself get really groggy, then I was out.

I came to with a start.  Emma's nose was almost touching mine.  I smiled back at her smiling face.  I could hear the shower running from the bathroom.  “Did you have fun with Lia?” I asked.  She nodded her head yes.  “What did you do?”  “Popcorn and a movie,” she whispered.  “Are people still sleeping?”  She nodded her head yes.  I heard the shower turn off.  A moment later, Aris entered, “Did you wake her up without jumping on her?”  “Yes,” Emma answered.  “Did you jump on Yaris?” I asked.  She nodded her head yes, smiling.  “It is okay.  I was waiting for her,” he commented.

“Do you need a shower Jade?” Aris asked.  “Maybe to wake up.  I’m still a little groggy,” I answered.  “I can help with that,” he commented.  I instantly woke up, “I’m better now.”  “Get dressed,” Emma commanded, “Lia is making chocolate chip pancakes.”  I got up and changed to my customary sweat suit and bunny slippers.  “I need a smoke,” I whispered to Aris.  “Me too,” he responded dressed the same as me.  We left the bedroom and headed toward the dining room.  No one was there yet, so we went in the kitchen.  Lia was busy making pancakes, sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy.  “Smells wonderful Lia.  Do you need any help?” I asked.  “I have it covered for now,” she responded.  “Are you okay with watching Emma while we go smoke?” Aris asked.  “You bet,” she answered, “She promised to help with the chocolate chip pancakes.”  Aris held Emma's hand and gave her an apron and chef's hat and we left the room.  We went through the still empty dining room and to the back door.

Max and Ripley were already outside.  “I need to talk to Lia, without Emma present, after breakfast,” Aris told them, handing me a cigarette.  “We will do the clean up and have her help us,” Ripley offered.  Max nodded in agreement, “Everything seemed fine while I was there.”  We finished our cigarettes with some small talk, then went back in.  We went in the kitchen.  “Everything is done, we just need help setting the table and serving,” Lia announced, turning the burners off on the stove.  I got plates out, Emma got silverware, and we went to the dining room.  We did the place settings.  Aris came out with cups, milk and orange juice.  I helped him put them on the table.  Lia, Max and Ripley followed with the food.

I had a little bit of everything.  It was all so good I had seconds.  Emma had three chocolate chip pancakes and two pieces of bacon.  I looked at her face and giggled, “Emma you have chocolate all over your mouth.  I think that you are wearing more than you ate.”  “MmmmHmmmm,” she rubbed her tummy, licking her lips, “Lia let me use the whole bag.  Yaris only lets me use half of the bag.”  I wet a napkin in some water and cleaned her face up.  “They were extra chocolatey,” Aris commented.  “I think I might go into a diabetic coma,” Max added.

“Did we miss breakfast?” Theo, Antony and Kale appeared.  “No, eat up,” Ripley told them.  They took seats at the table and served themselves.  “Who made the chocolate chip pancakes?” Theo asked.  “Emma,” Lia smiled.  “Good job, Emma,” Theo told her, “They are perfect.”  She beamed with the praise.  “That Emma is a big help in the kitchen,” Lia told everyone, “I was teaching her how to make gravy.  She is a natural.”  “Gravy was good too.  Good job Emma!” I praised her.  She was just eating it up.

“Emma, do you want to help me and Max clean up?” Ripley asked her.  “Can I?” she looked at me.  “Of course you can,” I answered.  She reached up and gave me a kiss on the cheek, then climbed down out of her chair and ran to Ripley.  I put my hand up where she had kissed me.  This was going to be harder than I thought.  I looked at Ripley.  He was watching me with sadness in his eyes.  They all had that look.  “Are you coming Max?” Emma groaned.  Max got up and started collecting plates.  Her and Ripley went on into the kitchen. 
Max sat down, “is there anyway we can get out of giving her up?”  “No,” I answered quietly, “They are her family.  She was stolen from them.  I can't imagine how that would feel.  Then to find her again and be kept from her would be awful.  We have to give her back.”  “Can we get visitation with her?” Lia asked.  “I can certainly ask for it,” Aris answered.  Everyone was silent for a few minutes.  “Are you coming Max?” I heard Emma yell.  He stood up with the plates and silverware that he had collected and went in the kitchen.  “Lia, how did it go last night?” Aris asked.  “It went fine,” Lia answered, “nothing inappropriate, even while Max was there.  I gave her a bath.  She insisted on washing herself, I helped her with her hair.  I helped her put pajamas on.  We had popcorn and a movie with Max and Ripley in the living room.  We did some decorating on the trees.  We put some already wrapped presents out.  Then we went to bed in my room.  She slept on the cot.  I don't think she had any nightmares.  She slept through the night.”  “So pretty uneventful then?” Aris asked.  “Yes,” she answered, “Max is a light sleeper.  He said she didn't wake up or make any sounds at all.”  “Okay.  I just wanted to see how she would be with someone other than us,” he explained.

The others finished eating and took their dishes into the kitchen.  Lia took the milk and juice and brought back a diet Coke and regular Coke and handed them to us.  “Thank you,” I told her.  “You are very welcome.  They are almost done with the clean up.  We should go smoke.”  We got up and walked to the back door.  We waited for Lia to suit up then we followed her out.  “She does not know yet, does she?” Lia asked.  “No,” Aris answered, “We are going to talk to her when she is done.”  He lit cigarettes for both Lia and me, then one for himself.  “Would you like for any of us to be there, for support?  Or to help explain?”  “I do not know,” he answered, “I will send a signal if we need help.”  She nodded in agreement.

We finished our cigarettes and went back inside.  They were all coming out of the kitchen as we reached the dining room.  “I need a bath,” Emma told me, “I am dirty.”  Her face was covered in chocolate again and her clothes were soaked.  “What happened to you?” I asked.  “There was another chocolate chip pancake,” Ripley explained.  “Then hurricane Emma helped with dishes,” Max cut in.  “Let's go take a bath.  Then Yaris and I have something very important to talk to you about,” I told her.  “Am I in trouble?” her bottom lip went into the cutest pout.  “Not one bit,” I answered.  “Is it about Christmas?” she asked.  “No,” I answered, “Well maybe a little bit.  You're still going to have a good Christmas, don't worry.”  I took her gooey hand and she, Aris and I went to our room and straight to the bathroom.

Aris started the bathwater, I got out the usual toiletries and added bubble bath to her water.  I helped her get out of her wet clothes and put them down the laundry chute.  I put on a bikini and got in with her.  Aris opted to stay out and sit on the side, with his feet in the water.  I used the bar soap and washed her hands first, then used a washcloth on her face.  I handed her the bar soap and she washed up.  “Can I wash your hair,  hurricane Emma?”  She giggled, “no, me.”  She got her hair wet, then I put shampoo in her hands.  She lathered it up like she had seen us do, then rubbed it into her hair.  She laid back and rinsed it out, then sat back up.  I gave her some conditioner.  She rubbed it into her hair, then laid back and rinsed it out.  This may be her last time so I pushed the button without her asking.  She squealed with delight.