“Hi, we’re here for the class,” Ben informed the woman.
“Right this way,” she said, rounding the counter and leading them between rows of pottery toward the rear of the building. They came upon a door, and the woman opened it and stepped through. Ben and Marg followed.
Marg’s jaw fell open, and she turned to Ben with wide eyes. He looked at her knowingly.
“I remembered you telling me you wanted to pick up pottery. I thought this would be great for us to do together.”
“I told you that months ago. You remembered?” Marg asked, still in shock.
Ben reached for her hand. “I remember everything when it comes to you,” he revealed.
Marg’s cheeks blew up as she beamed.
“Welcome to pottery for beginners. Your instructor will be here in a few minutes,” the woman who had brought them to the room spoke.
Marg and Ben took the aprons offered to them before taking seats before two unoccupied wheels with slabs of clay already flattened on them. Soon their instructor arrived.
“Hello again. Welcome to pottery class. Today we’ll practice wheel throwing techniques, how to control your wheel and the clay that you’re working with. As we progress through our lessons, you will learn everything there is to make you a successful potter.”
Marg listened intently to the woman as she spoke, and when she instructed them to turn on when she eagerly complied. Soon enough, she was rolling and molding the clay as she followed her instructor’s direction. When she looked over at Ben, she couldn’t help the chuckle that left her lips.
“The clay should be molded by the wheel, you know. Not by your apron,” she teased, looking at his soil caked overall.
Ben gave her a sour look that caused her to cackle. For the duration of the lesson, Marg did her best while maintaining a light banter with Ben, whose mode soured the more his clay lessened on the wheel.
“I had fun,” Marg expressed when they left the shop.
“I’m glad,” Ben responded with a soft grin.
Her heart fluttered, and she turned her head.
“I have one more place to take you.”
Marg’s head swiveled to look at him in surprise. “Ben,” she started with uncertainty. “I have to get back to the inn.”
“No, you don’t. You actually have the rest of the day off,” he informed her. Marg gave him a perplexed look. “I spoke to the sisters, and they agreed to give you the time off. In fact, Cora is helping Jenny at the inn right now.”
“You thought of everything, didn’t you?” Marg mused with a small smile.
Ben grinned back at her. “I told you that at the end of today, you’ll understand everything.”
Marg didn’t know what to make of his statement, but she chose to go with it. She allowed him to help her into his truck once more, and as they cruised along SE Pioneer, she wondered where he could be taking her.
When they pulled up to the Children and Family Services building, she turned to him in confusion. Ben avoided her questioning gaze and led her into the building. He guided her toward the receptionist stationed at the front.
“Hi, appointment for Marg Lewis and Ben Reed,” he greeted.
“One moment,” the woman replied, picking up the phone. “Your three o’clock is here.” The woman returned the receiver. “Miss Lalor will be with you shortly. You may have a seat,” she informed them.
The two took their seats, with Marg being completely confused as to why they were there. Less than five minutes later, a tall woman dressed in a pantsuit headed in their direction.
“Ms. Lewis, Mr. Reid, I am Jessica Lalor,” she greeted, holding out her hand for them to take. “Please follow me to my office.” They got up and followed her down the hall to her office. After offering them seats before her desk, she got straight into why they were there.
“I must first commend you for your interest in becoming adoptive parents. It’s a huge step to choose to care for any child, and we are always looking to find suitable homes for the most vulnerable among us. As you know, with adoption, there are some downsides, namely the waiting period and the invasiveness of the home study and into your personal lives, but I believe the possibility of having your own child far outweighs those. Having a stable relationship is also very important. It’s a deciding factor. I take it that you’re both committed to being a part of the child’s life if you are successful.”
Marg couldn’t respond fast enough, but Ben stepped in. “We are,” he affirmed with a bright smile. The woman smiled back approvingly. Marg turned her attention to Ben, wondering what was happening, which is exactly what she asked when they exited the building.
“What was that?” she asked.
