My Gifted Mate

A little happiness

They led me up the stairs and into a very pink room. I'm not gonna complain. It's pretty. I don't hate the colour, so that's good, without even realizing I had a smile on my face. For the first time in a long time, I had a bed to myself... Scratch that I had a bed,wardrobe, study table, closet, bathroom and so much more and the best thing about it was that I didn't need to share it with anyone.

"Oh Lenny, I think she loves it."

I heard Jane say from behind me. I turned and thanked them both.

"Thank you so much. I really do love it, my own space. After so long, I am so grateful and if there is anything I can do to show my appreciation please tell me I'll do anything."

"Come here, Thea.. you don't have to repay or do anything for the things we gifted you with. This is all yours at no cost. Please remember that at all times, we are your parents now and we want to give you a better life from now on, okay?"

"Thank you"

I said, crying... I couldn't believe that this was really happening... although I still felt like at any moment things would soon take that bad turn, I tried my damnest to be happy at that moment.

"We will leave you to get sorted out, okay? Shout if you need any assistance. I'll reheat your food and bring it up for you."

Lenny said

As soon as they left the room, I fell face first onto the bed, giggling like a damn five-year-old, I could maybe finally have a shot at a normal life again... I started to unpack all the bags that they left here in the room. The bag I had with me didn't seem like I would need it anymore, but there was one thing, my most prized possession.

my family photo and my mother's necklace. I had to gaurd this with my life every day so that no one could take it from me. Now I can put it with the rest of the jewelry Jane bought for me. After I had finished unpacking, I took a much I warm shower and even washed my hair with actual hair products and not soap.

I got dressed, then went downstairs so I could find out if there was anything that they might need me to do for them... I know they said I wouldn't have to do anything to repay them, but if that is something you did for most of your life, then it's a tough habit to let go of.

The excitement of having my own room made me forget that I hadn't eaten anything yet since last night.

"Hey you... did you get everything settled?"

Lenny asks

"Yes I did,. I wanted to say thank you once again for everything."

"It's no problem, come let's eat, you must be starving."

As we walked to the sitting room, Lenny stopped me just before we entered..

"So just a heads up, Jane might be a great architect but that, unfortunately, didn't extend to her cooking, and even though we have take-out she insists that we have something home cooked as well."

I burst out laughing at that...

"What is so funny?"

Jane asks as we enter.

"Nothing"

Lenny and I say at the same time

"Has he been talking smack about my cooking?"

She asks

"No...

"Lenny, so help you god,"

"Hey, I said nothing about anything."

'Then why hasn't Thea touched anything that is home cooked?"

Shit....

"I'm saving the best for last."

"yeah right."

She mumbled

So just to show her that I'd give her cooking a try.... I dished out some.... and oh god was it horrible... the veg thing she made was hard! The chicken tasted like rubber.... not even the simple letters and the tomato salad was good. How on earth does one mess that salad up?

"Oh my god.... I always thought that Lenny had been over reacting to my cooking but now I see.... geez Len! how could you allow me to make this?"

she rambled. I felt terrible

"No.. It tastes really good. I'm just not that hungry..

"Don't you lie to me, Thea!"

she said, laughing.

"I'm...

"I was never good at cooking, Thea... trust me. Lenny is the cook in the house. I just thought I'd make something simple, something that can't be messed up, but I guess these hands really weren't made for cooking."

"I could cook."

"You cook?"

Lenny asks

"Yeah I love to cook, something I had to do at other foster homes."

"Here you won't be forced to do anything. If you want to help, you may, but we will never force you."

Thank you, and I'd love to cook sometime."

After dinner, I helped clean up...this time I felt free...

"Can I ask you something?"

I asked Jane as I packed away the dishes.

"Anything"

"Why don't you and Lenny have any kids?"

"Well, we tried, but it just didn't happen, so we decided to adopt."

"Then why not take a baby?"

"We work so much. I didn't think a baby right now would be good for us. I just got a promotion at work. Lenny works away a lot, so we just wouldn't have all that time to care for a baby yet. That's why we decided to have a child that is much older first. Besides, I need someone to go shopping with."

she said with a wink.

"That's understanding, I guess."

"I have one more gift for you. Wait here, I'll go get it."

Jane returned with a gift bag, her face had the biggest smile....

"Here, open it."

I took the bag from her and opened it like she had ordered me too. Inside the bag were two boxes, a big one and a small one. I opened the small one first.... it was a cell phone and the other box had a laptop in it.

"This... this is too much."

"Nonsense, nothing is too much. Every young girl needs these things. You will be starting school soon and you will need a laptop, the phone is for friends and me, of course, I will need to know where my baby is at all times."

My heart was so full, the last time I felt this happy was when my biological parents were still alive, so I threw my arms around her and thanked her... but in the back of my mind I was still waiting for that bomb to go off, for when they would tell me what I have to do to keep the things they bought.

"Thank you so much ma'am"

"Please Thea, don't you dare call me ma'am again, it's either Jane or mom, and like we said, we only want the best for you."

I smiled at her, I couldn't just believe my luck, someone out there must be rooting for my happy ending and I'd do my best to make Jane and Lenny proud and happy that they chose me from here on out.

"Okay, go get some sleep. If you need any help setting them up, let me know I'll gladly help you. School starts in four days. Tomorrow I'll help you get everything ready for school and we still need to go buy your textbooks. Everything else will be delivered in the next day or so."

"Thank you again for everything. I really appreciate everything you and Sir have done for me."

"No problem babe, good night sweetheart."

She said as she kissed me on my forehead.

"Good night."

Once inside my room, the tears flowed freely.... things were finally looking up for me. It took me a long while to set up my phone and laptop but I got it right. Eventually, she also gave me the wifi password. I heard a knock at the door....

"Come in"

I shouted

"Hey just wanted to make sure you were settled."

Lenny said

"Just about, I cant sleep though... too much excitement for one day."

"I see Jane out did me... I hope my gift won't be lame compared to hers. May I sit?"

Oh god no.... please don't take this happy feeling away from me.

"Uhm.... er... s..sure."

"Hey, it's okay."

Lenny said

He then gave me a very small gift box...

"What is this?"

'You will only know what it is if you open it Thea..."

"Right"

I said with a smile.

Inside was a beautiful bracelet... one like I've seen on Jane's wrist..

"I.. I can't take this.."

"You can and you will, Jane has the exact same one. It's an infinity bracelet, so you know that we will always be here for you. You are our daughter now, and I want you to know that you're safe here."

"Thank you so much, you guys don't know how much today has meant to me."

"We just want to give you a better life than you had before. Good night thea."

"Good night...