Icing on the Cake

~56~

The home study went fairly well. Afterwards, Jenny said she needed to sit down with us to go over some information and do some paper work.

We sat down in the kitchen and offered the drinks and snacks we had already prepared.

She asked us questions about our financial situations, the state of our fame and how that may affect our children’s upbringing.

Jenny then dropped a small bombshell on us. “The birth mother,” Jenny said, “Is more or less demanding an open adoption.”

“What do you mean, more or less?” I asked.

“Technically,” Jenny explained, “She has given custody of the children to our adoption agency, and she is not in a position to force us to do anything. However she could still back out, and the laws in the Ukraine right now that would favor us are shaky at best.”

“So we have to do an open adoption?” Calum asked.

I felt like Calum was against the idea, but I sort of liked it.

“Agreeing to at least negotiate would be the best option.” Jenny explained.

“I’m not against it.” I said. “What are the mother’s requests?”

“She wants to move to Australia.” Jenny answered. “She would like you two pay for her to fly to Australia and get moved into a place near to this house. She would want to see the children several times a week.”

“I don’t know…” Calum said apprehensively.

“I like the idea.” I said. “It will make the transition period for the children much easier. That was actually a concern of mine.”

“And that is why I would personally recommend doing this.” Jenny said.

Calum seemed apprehensive, but agreeing. “Alright.” Calum said. “When will she come over?”

“She’s willing to fly out with the children in as early as two weeks.” Jenny said.

In two weeks, we could be parents.

Notes

You guys won't think this is a big deal, but this was a HUGE deal to me when it happened.

Okay I work at a store in the boring real-life FarmVille bread basket of the American Midwest and these two customers were asking me questions about this product and they were British af their accents were everything and then the British guy said, "Cheers, mate!" after he was done asking questions.

IS THAT NOT SOMETHING THAT 5SOS WOULD SAY?

k so i know that for brits and aussies and idk what other countries but a lot of people don't think that's a huge deal because it's common vernacular but for me that's a huge deal because i've never had anyone say that to me before and mean it without it being fake or an american doing a bad british accent.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

In the UK, Australia, etc, is the pronoun "mate" a masculine pronoun? I imagine it's not a feminine one, is it like saying "bro"? Or is it slightly less masculine, like saying "dude"? Like you could say dude to a girl but it's still considered a masculine pronoun. Is that the way mate is? Or is it strictly masculine?