Page 43 of Fighting for Brielle
“Thank you, sir. And you have an extraordinary daughter. I honestly don’t know what I would do without her.” Justice paused. “How’s Rosie?”
“She’s scared. And anxious,” Tawny replied. “Right now, she’s watching a Disney movie. Follow me.”
She led Justice into a cozy family room. Rosie lay on her stomach in a pair of pajamas as she watched a movie about a Disney princess who lived in a world of make believe, while the child’s reality was about to crash down on her. Hearing footsteps behind her, she leapt to her feet and rushed toward Justice. Something in his eyes, sorrow and regret, perhaps, stopped her dead-still in her tracks.
“Mom and Dad?” Her voice ended on a sob.
Justice scooped her up into a hug. “I’m sorry, sweetie. So sorry.”
Rosie burst into heart-wrenching cries. Within a few minutes, though, she sniffed and declared, “I want my aunt Beverly!”
Justice held her even tighter against him. Swallowing the hard knot of emotion rising in his throat, he said, “Rosie, honey, Aunt Beverly and Uncle Clint and…and…your cousins, well, they’re…they’re with your mom and dad in heaven.”
The child emitted a loud wail followed by a flood of hysterical tears. She kicked and hit Justice, but he refused to let her go. He held on to her, murmuring soothing words of comfort. Rosie’s tears soaked his shirt. Eventually, the worst of the tempest passed, reduced to whimpers, until she fell into an exhausted sleep in Justice’s arms.
He followed Tawny upstairs to a pretty bedroom decorated in soft shades of rose and cream. After he laid her gently on the bed, he sank into a white wicker rocking chair next to her.
“Chief, you don’t have to stay,” Tawny whispered. “She’s completely wiped out.”
“I’m not leaving her,” he stated in a firm tone. “I can’t. I feel responsible for her.”
“Okay.”
Tawny stayed up with him, bringing him cups of hot coffee throughout the next few hours. She offered him something to eat but he declined. The thought of food made him ill.
Dawn broke. Justice felt shaky from the pain in his head and too much caffeine, but at least Rosie slept peacefully, not plagued by any nightmares. As the sun rose higher, it cast its rays through the window, and Rosie slowly opened her eyes. At first she was confused and disoriented, until she wiped the sleep from her eyes and noticed Justice watching her. Her chin quivered and tears filled her eyes.
“Chief,” she mumbled. “So…I wasn’t dreaming.”
“No. Smell that? Breakfast is almost ready. Are you hungry?”
She nodded.
“Good. So am I.” Justice rubbed his stomach. “How ‘bout you change out of your pajamas and we go downstairs?”
Rosie offered a small smile, climbed from the bed, and headed into the bathroom with her backpack. She dressed in a pair of shorts and T-shirt, brushed her teeth and her hair, and joined Justice.
After the Westfalls and Justice and Rosie feasted on eggs, bacon, and blueberry muffins, the adults stayed in the kitchen to discuss the situation while the child headed into the family room to watch Saturday morning cartoons.
“So, what’s going to happen to Rosie? Were you able to locate other family members?” Justice inquired.
“Sadly, no,” Cynthia answered. “Her maternal grandparents passed away a few years ago, and her paternal grandparents are in an assisted living facility.”
“What about other siblings her parents may have?”
“None, that we know of. Here’s what we thought we’d do. On Monday we’ll file a petition with family court to become Rosie’s permanent guardians. After that, Beau and I will probably adopt her. We don’t want her crushed time and again when she doesn’t get chosen to be adopted by potential parents who want a baby instead of a ten-year-old little girl.”
“I’d like to adopt her,” Justice blurted, startling himself and them.
Tawny and her parents gaped at him. His face turned red, and he rubbed the back of his neck in his typical manner.
“Well, it was just a thought. Besides, I just started dating someone, and though I’m hoping this relationship works out, only time will tell.”
Tawny’s jaw dropped even further. “You have a girlfriend?”
A grin crossed his face. “Yeah. We met on the beach. Sergeant Brielle McAdams, LAPD. She’s training for SWAT,” he added. Pride echoed in his voice.
“I’ve heard of her, though we’ve never met. Nothing but good things,” Tawny responded. “I’m happy for you, Chief.”
