Page 68 of Protecting Silver
“Not something I would buy for you.”
“But, we’re going in as a rich, desperate couple. That’s what those rings say. Yes, they’re gaudy and over the top, but they go with what we need to do.”
“As long as you think they’re gaudy I can deal with them.” He grinned as he removed them and placed two rings on the finger of her left hand, and held his out so she could place the diamond encrusted one on his finger. He frowned at Daniel. “Please, tell me these aren’t real.”
“They aren’t, just very good CZ’s.”
“Thank god,” he shuddered, and he adjusted the ring on his finger.
“We have to go,” Daniel said, and the people going out on the sting all quickly gathered any last-minute things they would need and left the building. It took a few minutes for everyone to get situated, but they finally left the Bureau parking lot. While the town car Patch and Silver were riding in, went one way, the utility truck with the others went in the other direction. It took some time to arrive at their destination.
“Ready?” Patch took Silver’s hand in his, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Yes. I’ll be honest, I have no idea what I’m going to say, and if I become quiet, you’ll have to take over.” She grinned at him. “I may become too distraught to discuss my inability to have children.”
Patch stared at her, then threw his head back and laughed. “Sorry, but for a minute there I thought you were serious. But if something happens in the future, rest assured that I will do everything in my power to do my due diligence to get your pregnant, or die trying.” After his statement there were several snorts in the utility vehicle.
Daniel turned to the others and grinned. “I can’t wait to get to know him, he has a wicked sense of humor.”
They watched as the driver got out of the car, and opened the door for them. Patch was the first one out, and turned to hold his hand out to Silver. Once they were on the sidewalk, Patch nodded to the driver, and put his hand on the small of Silver’s back.
“We got this,” Silver whispered as they walked up the short set of steps to the outside of the building that held the adoption agency. It had taken them three weeks to get an appointment, and they weren’t going to blow it now.
Patch held the door open for her, and then resumed walking down the hall, still keeping his hand on her back. “What room are we looking for?”
“One eighteen,” Silver whispered as they made their way down the hall, and around the corner. The office they wanted was six doors down. They stood outside of it for several minutes, and Patch looked at the Rolex the FBI had given him, and nodded. Instead of knocking, he reached down and opened the door. Against the side of Silver’s head, he whispered, “Show time.”
Patch opened the door, and allowed Silver to proceed him inside. They saw a woman in her mid-forties sitting behind a desk. She looked up and did a double take when she spotted them.
“May I help you?”
“Yes,” Patch said, and took his time talking. He’d deny it in the future, but he channeled his inner Finn. “We’re Mr. and Mrs. Roundtree, we have a two o’clock appointment with Mr. Merriweather.” Patch and Silver watched as she looked at her calendar, then nodded.
“One moment please.” She rose to her feet, and disappeared down a small hallway to the right of the desk. She gave a light knock on the door, then entered. Patch and Silver exchanged raised brows, then remained standing until the woman returned. It didn’t take long.
“Mr. Merriweather will see you now,” she said as she stopped halfway back up the hall after leaving the door. She turned back and indicated for them to follow. Both Patch and Silver took a bracing breath and let it out slowly as they made their way down the hall.
Patch again allowed Silver to lead the way. As soon as they entered, the woman left, and Patch’s hand tightened on Silver’s back. For the first time in twenty-five years, he caught sight of the man he knew as Silas Merrick, his former caseworker from when he was in foster care.
The man had lost some weight, but not much. It took everything Patch had not to punch the guy’s face until he was unrecognizable. He jerked when Merrick, shit, Merriweather, spoke for the first time.
“Mr. and Mrs. Roundtree, thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.” They sat, then when they were offered refreshments, it was Silver who declined.
“I’m sorry, but I’m so nervous I don’t think I can keep anything down. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to get right to the point.”
“By all means, please tell me your story.”
“My husband and I have been married for seven years,” Silver said, and Patch turned to her to listen. Picking up what she was saying. “Much to our disappointment, I have been unable to conceive a child.” She looked at him and he took over the tale.
Taking Silver’s hand in his, he continued, “We’ve gone through all the testing, both she and I. No matter what the doctors say, they can’t find anything wrong with either of us. We’ve gone through several rounds of IVF and nothing. Neither one of us blames the other, but we desperately want a child. Mr. Merriweather, you’re our last hope.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your journey in trying to conceive a child. As you know, we’re an adoption agency, and it takes time for these things to work. You don’t expect a child overnight do you?”
“Absolutely not, we know there are legal hoops to crawl through, and we’re willing to do just that. We also know that there is paperwork to fill out, and fees to be paid. We’re willing to do just about anything to hold a child in our arms.”
“Excellent, let me get you started on the paperwork. As you fill this out, please let me ask, are you wanting a baby? Like a newborn?”
Silver looked up from the papers she’d been filling out, and after exchanging a glance with Patch she paused and sighed heavily. “Actually, if we’re going to adopt a child, I’d like one a little older. Maybe someone who is going through potty training, or has already come out the other side. Let’s be honest here, if I’m going to have a child, I’d like to skip the 2 a.m. feedings, and constant diaper changes if I could.”
