Wanted~Forever Family by Marianne Spitzer

Author:Marianne Spitzer [Spitzer, Marianne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Ten days later.

Judge Altmann’s clerk ushered the large group of adults and children into his office.

“I don’t believe I have enough chairs to accommodate all of you, but there are enough for the ladies,” he apologized as he motioned to the few chairs in the office. “Please be seated. Judge Altmann will see you shortly.”

Katie, Ethel, and Edie took a seat while Benjamin and Walt did their best to keep the older girls from getting fidgety and giggling. They had behaved on the train ride from Silverpines to Astoria, but they watched the changing scenery. In the dreary office, there was nothing for them to do but let boredom creep in and make them all antsy.

The clerk smiled at the girls and said, “I take it you are the Hunter and Worthington families.”

“Yes,” Walt said stepping forward. “We do hope to be after seeing the judge.” He handed the clerk the two forms they received from the lawyer in Silverpines and several letters from town residents.

“Thank you, Mister Worthington, these seem in order.” The clerk looked at Benjamin, and Benjamin handed him five forms and several letters.

The clerk looked at the forms and then the girls. “You will have a large family. The judge enjoys seeing families grow and children find families that will be there for them.”

Walt and Benjamin looked at each other both feeling the same apprehension lessen. If the judge liked to connect children with new parents maybe he wouldn’t question Benjamin and Katie adopting five children or Walt and Ethel adopting children at their age.

The clerk stood with all the forms and letters and said, “I will return in a moment after I give these to the judge.”

As soon as he left the room, the five older girls began to chatter, and their soon-to-be-parents did their best to calm them.

“Hush now,” Ethel insisted. “We don’t want to wake Josie and Sophie and annoy the judge.”

The girls nodded and quieted. Ivy and Rosie, holding hands so tightly their small fingers were turning white, stared at each other.

Katie whispered, “Girls, it’s going to be all right. The judge likes children. Don’t be nervous or afraid. Rosie, Ivy, let go of each other’s hands before you break your fingers.”

Rosie and Ivy immediately let go but stood so close together that is was hard to see where one began and one ended. Katie mused again that she would try and get the girls to at least dress in different colors, but it was most likely a losing battle.

The clerk returned and said, “Follow me. Judge Altmann usually holds adoption hearings in his office, but considering the size of the group, he’ll meet you in his courtroom. There is enough seating for all of you.”

The nervous adults and excited children followed the clerk down a short hall to a courtroom with enough bench seats for all of them and a dozen more people.

“Please sit,” the clerk said. “I’ll get the judge.”

A few minutes later, the clerk returned with a portly gentleman wearing a black robe.

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