Falling for Leigh by Jennifer Snow

Author:Jennifer Snow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE NEW JERSEY Adoption Center in Newark was so quiet Leigh could hear the steady pounding of her heart in her chest as she waited in the front reception for Michelle Bennett the next morning. The dark tan clinic walls were covered with posters of happy, successful adoption stories and pictures of children with their adoptive and biological families—reminders that open adoption could be beneficial to all parties involved. On the coffee table in front of her were books of testimonials and letters of thanks to the clinic, but as she leafed through them, she found herself only growing more anxious. She wanted this so much, and to be this close...

The receptionist appeared in the waiting area, her file in hand. “Leigh, Michelle and Lise are ready for you. Would you like water or coffee?”

Leigh shook her head as she stood, wiping her sweaty palms in the legs of her dark gray dress pants. On shaky legs, she followed the receptionist down the hall to a room labeled Parent Meeting Room. She hesitated at the door, tugging at her cashmere sweater and tossing her hair over her shoulder. Why hadn’t she worn something lighter? She felt as though she was suffocating in the thick blue turtleneck. She released a ragged breath as she reached for the door handle.

“Take your time. Go in when you’re ready.” The young woman smiled knowingly and handed her the file.

Leigh suspected she wasn’t the first person to be paralyzed upon the realization that an adoption, quite possibly, was about to become a reality. “This happens a lot?”

“Every time,” she said before leaving her alone in the hallway.

Leigh closed her eyes. She could do this. No matter what happened, she was prepared, she told herself. Taking several deep breaths, she turned the knob and entered the room quietly.

Michelle stood as she came in, but Leigh’s gaze immediately went to the very pregnant young woman sitting on the love seat near the wall-mount fireplace. Inside the room were several chairs and even a small kitchenette. Michelle had said these meetings could take hours or minutes and be prepared for the first. “Hi, Leigh, come on in,” she said now.

“Hi,” the girl said with a nervous smile as she studied her. “Sorry, I’d get up but it’s quite the process.” She touched her large belly.

“No, no, don’t worry.”

“Is that your file?” Michelle asked.

“Oh yes.” Leigh handed the file to Michelle with a shaky hand and scanned the room. The same comforting posters and encouraging quotes were on the walls.

“Thank you. Please sit, make yourself comfortable,” the counselor said, laying the file on the table next to the other documents already in place.

Leigh sat across from Lise, unable to tear her eyes away. She couldn’t be more than fifteen, and Leigh’s heart went out to the girl in the sundress and sandals, a light Windbreaker draped across her lap. She knew from reading the information Michelle had left that Lise was a high-school student struggling to finish her diploma with the hopes of going to law school.

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