Chapter TEN

Sarah felt uneasy in the way she always felt uneasy when she had to tell her mother something that Miriam would not want to hear. The entire day, Sarah had felt as if the words themselves were actively engaged in a battle to stay buried in her gut. It was a familiar sensation. She had felt this way when she called from the airport to tell her parents why her honeymoon was being cut short and why she was returning home alone. She had felt this way when she drove Miriam to the empty storefront and explained to her that she would be opening up a bakery as her full-time career. Damn it anyway! When was she  going to stop caring what Miriam thought?

Just then her cell phone rang and Sarah answered to hear her mother screaming into the phone, "Wake up, Saul!"
"Mom, what's going on? What's wrong with Saul?"
Her mother's words were clipped and filled with anxiety. "I don't know. I don't know. I think I've roused him but I need to take him to see Dr. Lin."
"If you need to take a raincheck on our dinner, we can do it later this week."
There was a long pause before Miriam responded. "No, I'm sure I'll be back by 6pm. I want to hear your news."
Sarah sighed quietly and understood that there would be no reprieve today. 'OK, Mom. I hope Saul is fine. Call me when you get back from the Vet's."

After they hung up, Sarah got on the internet again and perused the website that had become her latest obsession. Her friend, Carrie, had suggested this site because it was the same one her sister had used when she adopted her son from Russia. Children Everywhere Inc. had a stellar reputation and had even been written up in the NY Times a few months ago as one of the only international adoption agencies that actually did the rigorous research necessary to create a full and complete health profile for each child in their database. They also were one of the only agencies that worked in multiple countries and regions.

Sarah had some qualms about looking for children in the same way one would shop for shoes online, but she realized that as the world had changed, so had the possibilities for bringing lives together in a kind of extended global family. Some days, the thought that all of these children were in need of homes was overwhelming to her. So many beautiful faces and sad eyes staring back at her from the computer screen always moved Sarah and made her want to adopt all of them rather than just one child. The practical side of her, however, knew that one child would be plenty for her to handle on her own. She figured that she'd probably looked at the photos and descriptions of at least 60 kids in four or five different countries, but there were two whom she came back day after day.

There was a three year old girl from a rural province in China whose given name was Bao and a five year old boy from Ethiopia named Mulu Alem.  Sarah had been fascinated by the names and when she searched for their meanings on the internet, she was startled at how perfect the translations were. Bao means "precious treasure," and the boy's name translates as "whole world." No matter how many children's faces she saw, it was Bao and Mulu Alem who played together in her dreams.

Miriam called a few hours later to say that Dr. Lin had suggested that Saul stay overnight at the animal hospital so he could be properly monitored. That left Miriam free to go to dinner. Sarah picked her up and they headed over to the Urban Appetite where Jeff had reserved a lovely corner table for them.
As soon as the hostess seated them, Miriam leaned over and whispered into Sarah's ear, "I take it by the three table settings that Jeff will be joining us for dinner. You're really making it much too easy to guess your little surprise, darling."
As awareness of Miriam's misunderstanding trickled into her brain, Sarah tried to think of a quick way to avert the inevitable disaster that would ensure when Miriam learned that she had made a faulty assumption. However,  before she had time for damage control, Jeff appeared at the table with an elderly man in tow. The man looked vaguely familiar, but Sarah couldn't quite place him. Miriam, on the other hand, jumped right up and gave him a very uncharacteristically warm embrace. "My God Miriam,"  he said."You are a sight for sore eyes. What kind of witchcraft has kept you looking like a fifty-year old when all the rest of us have aged?"
Jeff noticed the quizzical look on Sarah's face and grabbed her by the elbow to join the others. "Sarah, you remember my dad, Henry, don't you?"
Sarah stepped back and looked at the two men and the striking family resemblance. He had much less hair than the last time she'd seen him, but he still had the twinkly eyes and deep voice that Sarah remembered from years ago.
"Of course. Mr. Gordon, its so good to see you!" Sarah hugged the elderly gentleman and realized that he was still a strong hugger. When he hugged you, you felt that he meant it.
Miriam had an odd little smile on her face that Sarah had missed seeing for quite a long time.
"Last I heard, you'd retired to Florida. Palm Beach wasn't it?"
"You're still sharp as a tack, Mims. Yup. Spent about eight years down there but it didn't really agree with me. A man can only take so much sun and relaxation," he said with a grin.
The servers were struggling to get by the four adults reminiscing in the restaurant's precious standing area, so Jeff gently guided them back to their seats.
"I hope it wasnt too presumptuous of me,"he said, "but I had them set a place at your table for dad. I figured he and Miriam would have lots of catching up to do after all these years."
Sarah looked up at Jeff and could've sworn he winked at her, but before she could respond, he'd walked back to the kitchen. She did notice the questioning glance that Miriam sent her way, but it was quickly altered into an expression of .... What was that expression on her mother's face? If she didn't know her better, she would have said that her mother was actually flirting. How funny would that be!!!