Chapter 20: The Question of Family

“Hello?” Celeste said breathlessly, beating her answering machine to the call.

“Yes,” an impersonal voice replied, “I need to speak to Celeste Halley. Are you Ms. Halley?”

Clutching the cordless phone tighter, Celeste sat down. “Yes, this is Celeste Halley. Who is this?”

“This is Diane Langley from the Department of Human Services,” the impersonal explained. “We have a minor in our custody named Mara Adams. Do you know her?”

“Yes,” Celeste answered quickly. “Is Mara all right?”

“Yes, but her father’s body was discovered earlier this afternoon. The girl couldn’t give us a name of another relative except yours. Since you have said that you do know this minor, it is my duty to ask you to care for her until we can reach a final determination on this case or we can simply place her in foster care.”

“No, don’t do that! I’ll come. Where should I go to get her?”

“I’m here at the Department of Human Services, Ms. Halley,” the woman said in her perpetual monotone. “I will be handling all the required paperwork.”

“Thank you, Ms. Langley,” Celeste said, already grabbing her purse, “I'll be there shortly.”

* * * * *

“This is quite a responsibility for someone your age, Ms. Halley,” the social worker commented as she led the red-haired woman through the hallways. “Are you sure you are up to this?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Of course,” the other woman said, “if we do find a family member willing to take the girl, she must turned over to their custody. "Are you ready to deal with that as well?”

“I will do whatever is best for Mara and her welfare, Ms. Langley.”

With a curt nod of acceptance, the older woman pushed down on the door handle. “I’m sure you will. Now, please, take the girl home. She needs some rest.”

With a nod of her own, Celeste entered. Mara glanced up from her seat across the room. Her usual bravado was gone. Celeste opened her arms and the girl ran into them, hugging Celeste tightly.

“I’m sorry, Mara,” Celeste whispered, holding the girl just as tightly. “I came as soon as I could.”

Mara nodded, her head still burrowed in the baggy material of Jonathan’s sweatshirt. “I didn’t know who else to call. I didn’t know if you would come, but I’m glad you did.”

“Of course, I came,” Celeste replied. “It looks like you’ll be staying with me for a while.”

“I sleep on the floor if I have to.”

“You won't have to do that,” Celeste said with a small laugh. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

* * * * *

The two were silent on their drive back to Celeste’s apartment. She turned down the radio. There were several immediate decisions that had to be made and some of them needed Mara’s input.

“Mara, there are some things we need to talk about,” she began, glancing at the girl for her reaction.

The dark-haired girl nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Your father’s body will be released by the medical examiner sometime tomorrow or the next day.”

The girl sighed and turned to the window. “I don’t have any money. He never kept up with any life insurance and everything in the trailer was pretty much destroyed by the fire.”

“I’m not asking you for money, Mara,” Celeste said, “and I don’t even want you worrying about that. I’m going to take care of you. I just wanted to know if you wanted the city to take care of him or if you wanted to have him to be buried in a local cemetery.”

Mara was startled and stared at Celeste for several moments. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I care about you,” Celeste replied honestly. “I’ve gotten to know you pretty well over these last few months, and I know what’s it’s like to think you are completely alone in the world. It doesn’t have to be that why for you, Mara. We can be each other’s family if you want.”

“You would really do that?” Mara asked, her eyes betraying her disbelief. “You want us to be family?”

Celeste nodded, reminding herself to keep her eyes on the road. “Yes, but only if you want us to be. I’m not going to force this on you. You can live with me as long as you need to, even you want only that and nothing else.”

Shaking her head, Mara turned back to the window again. The car was filled with expectant silence while Celeste awaited the girl’s answer. She had left herself extremely vulnerable to a girl she had only known for six months. In the year she had known Jonathan, she had yet to tell him the depth of feeling she had for him. She suddenly realized what a coward she had been. Without words, she had already given both Jonathan and Mara the power to hurt her terribly. There was no need to hide from the words any longer.

“Let the city worry about my father,” Mara finally said, pulling Celeste from her thoughts. “I can’t forget all the things he has done to me. But I do want to know what a real family is like, don’t you, Celeste?”

“I think we have a pretty good shot at it, Mara,” Celeste answered, surprised that she had to blink back tears. “So, let’s go home.”


The Question of Family “Hello?” Celeste said breathlessly, beating her answering machine to the call. “Yes,” an impersonal voice replied, “I need to speak to Celeste Halley. Are you Ms. Halley?” Clutching the cordless phone tighter, Celeste sat down. “Yes, this is Celeste Halley. Who is this?” “This is Diane Langley from the Department of Human Services,” the impersonal explained. “We have a minor in our custody named Mara Adams. Do you know her?” “Yes,” Celeste answered quickly. “Is Mara all right?” “Yes, but her father’s body was discovered earlier this afternoon. The girl couldn’t give us a name of another relative except yours. Since you have said that you do know this minor, it is my duty to ask you to care for her until we can reach a final determination on this case or we can simply place her in foster care.” “No, don’t do that! I’ll come. Where should I go to get her?” “I’m here at the Department of Human Services, Ms. Halley,” the woman said in her perpetual monotone. “I will be handling all the required paperwork.” “Thank you, Ms. Langley,” Celeste said, already grabbing her purse, “I'll be there shortly.” * * * * * “This is quite a responsibility for someone your age, Ms. Halley,” the social worker commented as she led the red-haired woman through the hallways. “Are you sure you are up to this?” “Yes, I am.” “Of course,” the other woman said, “if we do find a family member willing to take the girl, she must turned over to their custody. "Are you ready to deal with that as well?” “I will do whatever is best for Mara and her welfare, Ms. Langley.” With a curt nod of acceptance, the older woman pushed down on the door handle. “I’m sure you will. Now, please, take the girl home. She needs some rest.” With a nod of her own, Celeste entered. Mara glanced up from her seat across the room. Her usual bravado was gone. Celeste opened her arms and the girl ran into them, hugging Celeste tightly. “I’m sorry, Mara,” Celeste whispered, holding the girl just as tightly. “I came as soon as I could.” Mara nodded, her head still burrowed in the baggy material of Jonathan’s sweatshirt. “I didn’t know who else to call. I didn’t know if you would come, but I’m glad you did.” “Of course, I came,” Celeste replied. “It looks like you’ll be staying with me for a while.” “I sleep on the floor if I have to.” “You won't have to do that,” Celeste said with a small laugh. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.” * * * * * The two were silent on their drive back to Celeste’s apartment. She turned down the radio. There were several immediate decisions that had to be made and some of them needed Mara’s input. “Mara, there are some things we need to talk about,” she began, glancing at the girl for her reaction. The dark-haired girl nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.” “Your father’s body will be released by the medical examiner sometime tomorrow or the next day.” The girl sighed and turned to the window. “I don’t have any money. He never kept up with any life insurance and everything in the trailer was pretty much destroyed by the fire.” “I’m not asking you for money, Mara,” Celeste said, “and I don’t even want you worrying about that. I’m going to take care of you. I just wanted to know if you wanted the city to take care of him or if you wanted to have him to be buried in a local cemetery.” Mara was startled and stared at Celeste for several moments. “Why are you doing this?” “Because I care about you,” Celeste replied honestly. “I’ve gotten to know you pretty well over these last few months, and I know what’s it’s like to think you are completely alone in the world. It doesn’t have to be that why for you, Mara. We can be each other’s family if you want.” “You would really do that?” Mara asked, her eyes betraying her disbelief. “You want us to be family?” Celeste nodded, reminding herself to keep her eyes on the road. “Yes, but only if you want us to be. I’m not going to force this on you. You can live with me as long as you need to, even you want only that and nothing else.” Shaking her head, Mara turned back to the window again. The car was filled with expectant silence while Celeste awaited the girl’s answer. She had left herself extremely vulnerable to a girl she had only known for six months. In the year she had known Jonathan, she had yet to tell him the depth of feeling she had for him. She suddenly realized what a coward she had been. Without words, she had already given both Jonathan and Mara the power to hurt her terribly. There was no need to hide from the words any longer. “Let the city worry about my father,” Mara finally said, pulling Celeste from her thoughts. “I can’t forget all the things he has done to me. But I do want to know what a real family is like, don’t you, Celeste?” “I think we have a pretty good shot at it, Mara,” Celeste answered, surprised that she had to blink back tears. “So, let’s go home.”


Chapter 21: Affairs of the Heart Sailor Sol: Homefront