Tara Road

The wind was cold and harsh as Ben and Laura walked out of the house. Laura glanced about at the homes up and down the street, snow-covered houses, driveways neatly cleared and children playing in the snow that had settled on the neighborhood overnight. Ben locked the front door and started towards teh car in the driveway. He opened the door for Laura, closing it as she settled herself into the car. Rushing to the driver’s side to get out of the cold, he quickly got in the car. Ben handed Laura the manilla envelope. The couple backed out of the driveway and slowly made their way up the slick, slushy street.

“Do you know how to get there?” Laura spoke softly.

“I think the directions are in the glove compartment, if you could read them to me.” replied Ben.

Laura pulled the lever to release the latch of the glove compartment, found the directions, and started reading them aloud.

“Make a left at Washington and Post. Go four blocks. On your right there will be a Sunshine Daycare. The  street you need to turn right onto is after the daycare. Keep going straight once you get onto Oak Lane, you’ll run right into it.”

“Thanks, dear.”

“So are we really going to do this?” asked Laura gazing intently at Ben.

Coming upon the red light at the intersection of Washington and Post, Ben took Laura’s hand and squeezed it. “It’s the only way; we’ve tried. Remember what the doctor said.”

“I know but it seems so extreme to me. Maybe we just aren’t supposed to.”

Ben flipped on his turn signal and turned his attention back toward Laura. “A lot of couples that are similar to us have done this. Don’t worry so much dear. It’ll go fine today.”

The light flicked to green. Ben released Laura’s hand and slowly accelerated into the intersection, making a left. Laura glanced out the window at the passing stores. The people were out walking and talking, shopping for last minute things for Christmas.

“It would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

“I can imagine how great it will be.” Ben replied.

“But what if we are getting our hopes up for nothing and it doesn’t go through?”

“Of course it’ll go through. Why wouldn’t it?”

Flipping the heat on higher, Ben turned on the radio to a classic rock station. The music played softly in teh background as they drove along the avenue. The avenue was lined with trees covered with icicles that were beginning to drip in the bright sunlight of the day. Ben reached across, moving a stray hair out of her face. He traced his fingertips across her cheeck in reassurance.

Sunshine Daycare’s sign became clearer as they approached the small building. Laura stared intently at the toddlers throwing snowballs at one another; while the older children were making attempts at a snowman.

“They could find something in one of our past or what if there is some qualification that we don’t meet. What happens then? They won’t let us go through with it. Then our options are done.”

“That’s impossible. They won’t find anything that they won’t like. There is no qualification that we don’t meet. We talked to the woman from the agency on the phone. She said that everything should go fine once we get the process started.”

Ben pulled into the parking lot of the agency and turned off the car. He put his arms around Laura and held her closely.

“I just don’t want another disappointment.” Laura cried as she held onto Ben.

“And you won’t my dear. I promise. Even if this doesn’t go through, we will still keep trying because this is something that we both want, ok?” he spoke gently to her as he pulled back and looked her in the eyes. Ben wiped away her tears and kissed her on her forehead.

“Ok, you’re right.” The couple sat silently for a moment before Ben moved to get out of the car. Walking around to the passenger’s side door, he opened the door for Laura. Laura gave Ben a quivering smile, handing him the manillsa envelope that contained their paperwork. The coupled walked toward the doors of the agency that were brightly decorated for the Christmas season.