The
dimly lit living room that was once filled with a child’s laughter reminded
Eleanor over and over again of her profound loss and her inability to move
forward. She and her husband, Joseph, lost their daughter Ava to cancer and
nothing has been the same ever since. The grief and the pain that settled into
Eleanor’s heart were extremely hard to even try to overcome. Eventually, the
loss affected her relationship with Joseph and the two split.
All
Eleanor could wish for was to be a mother again.

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Five
years after Ava’s passing, she decided to adopt a child. Spending hours and
hours on adoption sites, Eleanor’s attention was caught by the image of a young
girl named Charlotte. This girl’s resemblance to Ava was incredible. They not
only had the same hair color, but it seemed to Eleanor that they also shared
facial features.
Without
hesitating even a bit, Eleanor called Grace Adoption Services.
“Hello,
this is Grace Adoption Services. I’m Samantha. How can I assist you today?” a
warm voice came on the other end.
“My
name is Eleanor. I’m hoping to adopt, and a little girl on your website has
caught my attention,” she said, scratching her head.
“We’ll
set up an appointment for you to come in and meet us. It’s always best if we do
this in person.”
Eleanor
was quick to agree. “I’m ready to take that step,” she said. “I want to make a
difference in a child’s life.”

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On
the day of the meeting, Eleanor waited nervously at Samantha’s office.
“It’s
wonderful to meet you in person,” Samantha greeted her. “I’ve read your
application and can already tell you’d be an amazing parent.”
Eleanor
was asked of the reasons she wanted to adopt and plenty of other questions
about her background. She was also asked about her partner, with Samantha
telling her that two-parent household had greater chances of adopting a child.
Eleanor
explained that her relationship with her ex crumbled after the loss of their
daughter, but the two were still in contact and trying to mend things between
them.
Eleanor
then left the agency with high hopes of being able to adopt Charlotte. She was
so certain that her wish of becoming a mother again would come true that she
even set a child’s room and bought everything Charlotte would need if she
becomes her daughter.

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What
followed was a meeting at the park between Eleanor and Charlotte. Once she laid
eyes on her in person, Eleanor was once again struck by the child’s resemblance
with late Ava. She bought some coloring books and markers which Charlotte
accepted with a quiet “Thank you” as a response.
The
day was filled with fun and laughter, and Charlotte even told Eleanor that she
would love her to be her mom because she didn’t want to be in the foster care
any longer.
In
the following weeks, Eleanor and Charlotte developed a stronger bond as
Charlotte visited Eleanor’s home, explored her new bedroom, and shared meals
with her.

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Finally,
Eleanor called Joseph. “Ellie,” he greeted warmly. “I’ve been thinking about
you.”
“I
have some big news to share. Can we meet tomorrow?” she told him.
The
following day, Eleanor explained to Joseph that she wanted to adopt. “I can see
this means a lot to you. It’s good to see you so alive again,” he responded. “I
can’t let grief consume me,” she said. “We can’t let grief consume us.”
In
the days to come, Joseph joined Eleanor and Charlotte to dinners and visited
them in the house.

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Charlotte
was happy in what she hoped would be her forever home. “I’ve never had a mom
like you. I don’t want to go back to foster care,” she told Eleanor. “I will
be, sweetheart. I’ll be your mom forever.”
Finally,
the adoption day arrived and Eleanor invited her closest family and friends to
witness the beautiful moment. Joseph was also there.
At
the hearing, Eleanor and Charlotte stood hand in hand before the judge as he
finalized the adoption. Eleanor’s eyes filled with joyful tears as she looked
at Charlotte, realizing they were beginning a new chapter together.
In
her new environment, Charlotte flourished, serving as a reminder of the love
Eleanor and Joseph once lost and the abundant love they still had to offer.

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Being
part of their lives, Charlotte brought Eleanor and Joseph closer together, and
they rekindled their relationship.
One
day, out of the blue, Eleanor received a call from Samantha. Her voice sounded
strange and Eleanor heart skipped a beat because she could sense something was
wrong.
“Eleanor,
Charlotte’s biological mother has contacted me,” the adoption agency owner revealed.
“She claimed that Joseph could be Charlotte’s biological father.”
“What?
Charlotte could be Ava’s half-sister?” Eleanor whispered.
“We
need to confront Joseph about this,” Samantha advised. “If he denies it, a
paternity test may be necessary.”

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“Why
does it matter if she gave the kid up?”
“She
said that the affair was quick, but if the biological dad suddenly wants to be
in the picture, she may want to challenge the adoption,” Samantha explained. “I
just want to be sure nothing can mess with Charlotte’s happiness.”
Eleanor
hung up the phone and approached Joseph who was gardening outside. She told him
what Samantha told her and asked him if he had had an affair with someone.
Joseph confessed that he had a one-night thing with a woman whom he met in a
support group for grieving parents he had joined after Ava’s death and their
separation.
“It
was a terrible mistake,” he confessed.
“You
mean to say that you might be Charlotte’s father then if this woman gave her up
for adoption?” Eleanor asked in horror.
“I
left the group soon after she told me she was pregnant. But she might have
given the child up for adoption,” Joseph nodded.

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Eleanor,
overwhelmed, asked about a paternity test which Joseph agreed without
hesitation, “I will. I’ll own up to this all the way.”
While
they waited for the results, Eleanor spoke to Samantha constantly. “In most
jurisdictions, once an adoption is complete, it is generally irreversible,” her
now-friend explained softly. When the results finally came Eleanor had a hard
time breathing as they were opening the envelope that could change their lives
yet again. She read it slowly, “Joseph is…not Charlotte’s father! Thank God!”
Upon
hearing this news, Eleanor saw Charlotte’s resemblance to Ava as a miraculous
coincidence and a second chance for her family. Through Charlotte, Ava could
forever remain a part of them.
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