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Post by Izzy on Dec 28, 2011 23:41:42 GMT 10
“Luka, what is taking them so long?” Abby asked as they had been waiting for 30 minutes outside the gate of the orphanage. Luka was talking in Croatian to the social worker who accompanied them on this trip.
“They are still preparing Dima for our visitation. Whatever that means.” Luka looked irritated.
10 minutes later they were welcomed by the head of the orphanage. Abby and Luka held each other tight as they walk towards the building. This was it.
“This is Dima” the social worker pointed at a crib near the window.
They walk towards Dima and the smell of infected skin became more and more clear. Abby looked at Dima, he was a beautiful boy and, in spite of the condition he was in, he smiled at Luka. Because of the burn injuries and infections, Dima needed to be wrapped before he could be held by his new parents. Luka started to talk in Croatian to Dima, while Abby watch the two of them. Dima started to cry as soon as the caregiver wrapped him in blankets.
In the hour that passed Luka and Abby tried to comfort Dima, but he wouldn’t stop crying. At the end of the visit everybody was crying, including Luka who hated seeing Dima suffering like that.
“Luka, we can’t leave him here!” Abby looked panicked. “He is suffering and getting septic, we need to take him to the university medical centre in Zageb.”
“It’s oke Abby” Luka said as he tried to comfort Abby, but she was not going to leave Dima until she knew he was properly taken care of.
Luka asked in Croatian if it was possible that they would take Dima to The University Hospital Centre Zagreb for emergency medical treatment. Sadly that wasn’t possible, because they hadn’t legally adopted him yet.
On the way back to the hotel Luka was calling the lawyer that was handling the adoption. Luka was determent to move the court date, because of the condition Dima was in.
“Are you oke?” Luka said as he hung up the phone.
“No.” Abby looked outside. “It is so unfair.”
“I know, but we are doing the best we can.” Luka said as his phone started to rang.
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Post by Izzy on Dec 29, 2011 0:17:44 GMT 10
Luka looked towards Abby.
“What are they saying?” Abby was curious since she couldn’t understand what Luka was saying. “Gotcha day is going to be in two days!” Luka said with tears in his eyes.
Abby gave Luka a kiss and held him tight.
In the following two days Luka arranged that, as soon as the adoption was finalized, Dima could be transferred from the orphanage to the University Hospital Centre of Zagreb and receive treatment.
Over at Josip’s house Joe was ecstatic that he was almost a big brother. Luka and Abby told him that Dima was very sick and needed to go to hospital in order to get better.
“When are my mommy and daddy coming? ” Joe asked Josip as he was about to go to bed.
“They are coming to get you as soon as Dima is in the hospital.” Josip said as he wished Joe a good night.
“Do you think Dima is sad?”
“I think Dima is sick. When you are sick, you are not happy, but I am sure he is happy that you are going to be his big brother!”
Joe looked proud. He was going to be a big brother.
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Post by Izzy on Dec 29, 2011 2:37:43 GMT 10
Dima had been in hospital for four weeks before he was declared fit to fly. Abby, Luka and Joe had visited him every day and were preparing him for the long trip home. The medical treatment with antibiotics and proper bandages had paid off and the burn injuries were healing. Luka and Abby knew he had a long way to go and required out patient care, but were happy that he made good progress.
The days before the flight home, the whole family stayed over at Josip’s house. Nico and Sara (his wife) were also there.
Abby was reading a bedtime story to Joe and Dima, who were ready to go to bed.
“Goodnight Joe and Dima” Abby gave Joe and Dima a big kiss as she walked out of the room.
“I want daddy!” Joe sat in his bed.
“Daddy will be up in a minute.” Abby was tired. Joe had been acting up ever since they brought Dima home from the hospital. Joe loved the idea of being a big brother, but sharing his parents was a big problem.
“Nico, have seen Luka?” Abby looked around the room.
“No, I thought he was with you.”
“Great” Abby whispered. She knew if Luka didn’t get upstairs ASAP, that Joe would come downstairs.
“Why? What’s the matter?” Nico saw that Abby was not happy.
“Nothing” Abby gave up. The last few days Luka seemed concerned. They hadn’t had much time together, so Abby didn’t know what was troubling him, but she was exhausted from taking care of Joe and dealing with Dima’s bandage changes alone.
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” Joe screamed from upstairs.
“And now he is going to wake up Dima….” Abby thought to herself.
“Let Sara and me take care of Joe and Dima for the evening, so you can find Luka. It sounds like you two need to talk to each other without your children around.” Nico said as he walked upstairs.
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Post by Izzy on Dec 29, 2011 4:16:10 GMT 10
Abby sat down at the dinner table. She let her head rest on her arms as she thought about the past couple of weeks. Everything changed and for the first time in years she felt a distance between herself and Luka. They were so busy with the adoption, Dima and Joe that they didn’t have time for each other. She looked out the window and saw Luka, who was sitting in the grass near the end of the garden. Abby walked towards the door, but as she stood in the doorway, she didn’t feel like going to Luka anymore.
“Why are you standing in the doorway?” Sara asked Abby.
“Nothing, I wanted to go to bed and walked towards the wrong door.” Abby said as she walked away from the door.
Sara looked out the window and saw Luka sitting in the grass. She turned back to Abby, but Abby was already gone.
“Luka, what are you doing out here?” Sara asked.
“Thinking. I need to clear my head.” Luka said as he looked away.
“Did something happen with you and Abby?”
“No, why would you think that?” Luka looked at Sara.
“The last time you sat here for hours every night, was when you and Abby came to visit us the first time.”
Luka looked away. “It’s not that. Abby and I are fine.”
“Fine?” Sara said. “Then why are you sitting here, when she is taking care of your children and waiting for you to come home?”
A tear fell down Luka’s cheek.
“I am sorry Luka.” Sara placed her arm around Luka. She knew what this was about. A couple of days ago Luka asked Nico if he thought that Luka was forgetting Jasna and Marko. “Do you miss Jasna and Marko?”
“Every day. The last couple of days I have a feeling that I am replacing them. I know that it’s not true, but I can’t help it. So I sit here to be with them, talking to them and letting them know that I love them very much.” Luka said while he whipped away the tears that were falling down his face.
“Luka, they are with you every day. Do you think they want you sitting here every night and put your life on hold?”
Luka smiled “Danijela would be very angry with me”
“Yes, she would.” Sara smiled.
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Post by Izzy on Dec 29, 2011 6:52:25 GMT 10
Luka walked into the bedroom. Abby was still awake, but didn’t feel like talking to Luka so she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
Luka laid down on the bed and looked at Abby.
“Abby, are you awake?” Luka placed his hand on her shoulder. Silence filled the room. Luka wrapped this arm around Abby’s waist and pulled her close. “I miss you Abby.” he whispered as he placed his head next to hers.
The feeling of Luka close to her was giving her feeling she hadn’t had for weeks. “I miss you too” Abby said with a sad voice.
Luka looked surprised. “I thought you were sleeping, but I am glad you are awake. I need to talk to you.”
“Luka, you don’t have to talk. I am exhausted and I just want to go to sleep. Can't it wait ‘till tomorrow?” Abby said as she turned around and was now facing Luka. Their nose touched and Abby could feel the tears of Luka streaming down his face.
“I am sorry Abby. I let you and our children down. I just….” Unable to finish his sentence, Luka closed his eyes. Abby began to stroke his face. Luka opened his eyes and looked at Abby.
“I missed you so much.” Luka said as he smiled vaguely. He told Abby all about the things that were bothering him.
“They will never be replaced Luka. We are going to tell our children all about their big brother and sister.”
Luka smiled, but he regretted that he hadn’t told Abby earlier.
“I hope that the next time you feel this way, you will tell me.” Abby said before she kissed Luka.
It felt good to have Luka close again. “Do you realize that it has been five weeks since we made love?” Abby said to Luka with a teasing voice.
Luka smiled, “They we’d better start practicing”
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Post by Izzy on Dec 29, 2011 23:07:50 GMT 10
Abby woke up from the light that was coming through the window. She looked at the alarm clock, it was already 11 o’clock in the morning.
“Luka?” Abby got out of bed and walked towards the room Joe and Dima were sleeping in.
As she looked in the room she saw Luka play with Joe as Dima was busy to explore his playpen. The image of her three main men looking happy and at peace was something she had longed for.
“Hey guys!” she said as she entered the room.
“Mommy!” Joe came running towards her. Abby gave him a big hug and walked towards Luka, who was now carrying Dima, to give them a kiss.
“You took care of the both of them all alone?” Abby asked Luka.
“Yes, all by myself” Luka smiled. “I hear everything you say”
Abby smiled.
“I think we should start packing, if we don’t want to miss our flight tonight” Luka said as he looked around the room.
“Getting all of this home is going to be a serious challenge”
Luka smiled.
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Post by Izzy on Dec 29, 2011 23:41:24 GMT 10
They had been home for 8 weeks now and a new routine started to evolve. Joe was doing great in school and he adjusted well. Dima was growing fast and the burn injuries were healing.
After a long day of work and taking care of their two sons, Luka and Abby sat down on their couch. “I got another email from Haley” Luka said. “She wants a photo of the four of us to update her ‘picture wall’.”
“Crap. I forgot to send her one, didn’t I?” Abby asked as she was trying to remember.
“Yep, so I send her a lot of pictures this time. She was very pleased.” Luka smiled. “I always got your back.”
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Post by Izzy on Dec 29, 2011 23:47:15 GMT 10
This will be the ‘happily ever after’ for now. I wanted to thank everybody for reading the story and sending me lovely comments! If there is a break in my residency schedule, I will update next year! ;D
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Post by niknik on Jan 1, 2012 5:00:41 GMT 10
thx so much for finishing this Hope to read your new work sooooooon Have a happy 2012!!
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Post by suzanne on Jan 9, 2012 8:42:36 GMT 10
Yay so glad you finished this story!! Really enjoyed reading it! ;D
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