Chapter 1

“I found Isabel.” Tom says.

“My daughter?” Amber asks softly, barely loud enough for Robert to be sure Tom would hear her, and continues, a wistful expression on her face. Robert reaches over to grab her hand, squeezing it supportively. “Isabel...”

“Yep.” Tom says. “She’s been detained, along with her parents. They were holding her in case her mother’s new owner wanted to allow the mother to bring her, but apparently he didn’t. She was moved to an education camp in Northern California about a week ago.”

“Tom, what will it take to get her here?” Jane asks, motioning to Robert and Amber to be quiet.

“That’s the problem.” Tom says. “I requested the transfer, and they rejected it. The camp administrator gets a cut of sales of girls when they age out of the camp, and apparently they think Isabel is worth holding onto.”

“But?” Jane prompts. “There has to be a but, right?”

“But Amber is her biological mother, and that matters much more than it did a month ago.” Tom continues. “I reached out to the local BAA administrator for the county where she was detained. If a DNA test confirms that Amber is the mother, and she adopts Isabel, then she’s legally her child again, and she would have the right to take her home.”

Looking over at Amber for confirmation, Jane says. “That’s not a problem. Can they do the DNA test here, or do we need to get Amber on a flight tomorrow?”

“They want it done there.” Tom says. “And there is, as always, another complication.”

“Which is?” Jane asks. “Just lay it all out Tom.”

“The local magistrate is a big supporter of the Federal government and the BAA movement.” Tom says. “From what I’m hearing, he isn’t going to approve an adoption of a child out of a camp to a single mother with no job or employment history. I think the only way this is actually going to work is if Robert is one of the adoptive parents, with all that entails.”

Robert catches Jane’s eye, worried how she will react to this idea. “Tom, what if Jane and I do the adoption, instead of Amber and I?”

“Not going to work.” Tom says. “Amber is the one with the connection to Isabel, and you are the green card man with the financial resources. The one doesn’t work without the other.”

“It’s fine.” Jane says, waving off Robert. “How do we get the ball rolling? We don’t want her in a camp any longer than she has to be.”

“Robert and Amber have to go there in person.” Tom says. “She does the DNA test, and assuming the test comes back the way it should, you file the paperwork for the adoption. I pushed a bit to try to get a timeline, but the best I could get is a promise that they would expedite things a bit.”

“I’ll book a flight for the morning.” Jane says. “Can you email me the details? Camp name, points of contact, etc.?”

“Sending it now.” Tom says. “I assumed that would be your response, so they are expecting you.”

“Excellent.” Jane says, opening her email on her phone to verify that she received it.

“Thank you, Tom.” Robert says. “We really appreciate this.”

“Happy to help.” Tom says, and continues, voice growing stern. “But seriously, answer your damn phone in the future. If I call instead of sending a text or an email, it probably means it’s urgent.”

“Understood.” Robert says. “We owe you one.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Tom says.

“Thank you, Tom.” Amber says, voice overcome with emotion.

“You are very welcome.” Tom says, voice growing a bit less stern. “Have a good night. Cheryl is going to be at your new house in the morning to let in the contractors, by the way.”

“Already?” Jane says. “That’s great!”

“Yep.” Tom says. “You’ve got her number, feel free to bother her if you want updates.”

With that, the call disconnects, and Robert and Jane just look at each other.

“I’ll get the girls busy packing for you both.” Jane says. “Amber, you’ll need to borrow clothes from a few of us, your ta-teera’s won’t cut it in a formal setting. Which girls did you want to go with you?”

“I’m sure the two of us can handle it.” Robert says. “We don’t need to make a circus of it by bringing half a dozen girls.”

“Showing up without any of your girls might make the wrong impression.” Jane says. “You are going to be dealing with BAA bureaucrats and zealots, after all. Taking a large entourage might help.”

Robert sighs. “How many?”

“Half a dozen sounds about right.” Jane says. “Samira should definitely go, as our nurse to check out Isabel, and Emily should go along to support Amber, unless you would prefer someone else, Amber?”

“I would love to have Emily along.” Amber says, fidgeting. “Can I take Alexia or Lucia too? It would be nice to have someone who speaks Spanish, given that we are going to California. I never learned more than a few words.”

“I’m fine with it.” Jane says. “Or take Reyna, she can work as a bodyguard too.”

“Reyna stays with you.” Robert says in a flat tone. “I don’t want to go through TSA with a bunch of armed concubines anyhow. Alexia is doing well as Valentina’s translator, and Mei can handle the cooking, so we’ll take Lucia. I don’t think we need anyone else.”

“I think you need at least one more.” Jane says. “Reyna, Alexia, Mei, and Valentina are out, and Taylor should probably stay back for vet duties, just in case. I don’t know if we want to send Megan out with you just yet either.”

“Not yet.” Robert says. “And I don’t think Layne would do well with this type of trip.”

“Lindsey it is.” Jane says. “As a teacher, she is used to working with kids. That experience could be useful.”

“Getting that many tickets on short notice is going to be expensive.” Robert objects.

“Let me worry about the finances.” Jane says. “The girls and I are coming up with some ideas on how to bring in more cash. If things get tight, you’ll know well beforehand.”

“Fine.” Robert sighs.

“Good.” Jane says. “Amber, let’s go tell the girls what is going on, so the girls who are going can get packed.”

“Ask them, don’t tell them.” Robert calls at their backs as they exit the master bedroom. “I don’t want anyone coming who doesn’t want to come.”

New Scene

“Amber, round up the girls who are upstairs.” Jane says, “Bring them to the living room.”

Going down the stairs, Jane interrupts a few of the girls talking animatedly in the living room. “Girls, bring the chairs from the dining table in here. We are having an all girls meeting in two minutes.”

“Any idea what this is about?” Mei whispers to Lucia as they each grab a chair.

“No clue.” Lucia says. “We’ll find out in about thirty seconds though.”

After Amber follows the last of the girls down the stairs, Jane clears her throat, and everyone goes silent. “A few of you know that something has been going on with Amber for the past few days. None of you know specifically what, because we wanted to keep it private, to make things easier for her. However, that is no longer possible. Tomorrow morning Robert, Amber, and four of you will be flying to California. Hopefully you won’t be there too long, but it may be a week or more. When you come home, you will be bringing back Amber’s daughter, Isabel.”

“You have a daughter?” Mei can’t help but interject. “How old is she?”

Amber flushes, looking down.

“She’s eight.” Jane says. “It’s a complicated story, and we don’t have time to tell it now, so that’s the only question I’ll be answering about her for now. I’d like for Lucia, Emily, Samira, and Lindsey to accompany Robert and Amber. Robert only wants willing travel companions, so if you aren’t willing, please tell me now.”

“Why me?” Lindsey asks.

Jane sighs, holding back her instinctive frustration at being questioned. “Several reasons. You are a teacher, meaning you have experience with children, including children who are about the same age as Isabel. You’ve also probably dealt with a child or two who had some separation anxiety on the first day of school. Everything is going to be new to Isabel, and I think you could help her get settled. And before the rest of you ask, Samira is there to make sure Isabel is ok physically, as well as to take care of anyone if you get air sick, catch something traveling, etc. Lucia is going because she can speak Spanish, and help keep Robert from stressing out. And Emily is going to be Amber’s emotional support person.”