within a week, things were falling into place comfortably. The older teens were taking care of the younger ones. Those who had found jobs, with Ebby’s help, would buy food and bring it back to the apartments for the others going to school. That’s the way it worked when you lived on the streets. Everyone brought what they could to the table for the bigger group to share. It was an intentional foundation of the Outside Inn.
Meanwhile, Remo had helped to arrange for donations of food and clothing from various businesses around the city. In his line of work, he met people from all walks of life and told everyone about the shelter on the chance they would be interested in helping the residents. Remo and Alessa had applied for subsidies to help pay for the utilities, and it was amazing to what extent the businesses would help them. The Outside Inn was humming with happy teenagers, all eager to start a new life.
One evening, while Alessa was studying for an exam, Remo snuck into Lucy’s room. As she looked up from the book she was reading, he put his index finger up to his lips, indicating he didn’t want Alessa to hear them. The two shared a special bond. Both loved Alessa and felt she was the common thread that held their small family together.
“You know Alessa’s birthday is in a couple of weeks, don’t you?” Remo asked. “I thought we could plan a surprise party for her in the backyard. We know thirty-six people who would be very keen to attend it—well, thirty-nine, if we include you, me and Ebby.”
Lucy could hardly contain her excitement. “This is the greatest idea ever!” she squealed, then lowered her voice conspiratorially. “We can get balloons and buy a cake.”
Remo chuckled. “Exactly what I was thinking,” he said. “I can grill hot dogs and hamburgers.”
Lucy kept her voice above a whisper as she said, “Okay, I’ll call Ebby. She’ll help us.”
Remo’s expression softened. “There’s one other thing. I was thinking of asking Alessa to marry me, but I wanted to check with you first to see what you thought of it.”
Lucy gingerly slid into Remo’s arms. “I think that’s an even better idea than the party,” she said. “You better tell Ebby, though. She’s like her mom, you know.”
Remo smiled. “Yes, I know. I was planning on calling her tomorrow from work, but only after making sure you were okay with it.”
Then a horrifying thought popped into Lucy’s head. “If you and Alessa have kids, will you still want me?” she asked in a feeble voice.
Remo held her tight. “Of course we’ll want you,” he said, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “We will always want you. You’re our daughter, Luce, the love of our lives. And no one, not even the kids we might eventually have, can ever take your place.”
Appeased, Lucy went off to call Ebby about the party, promising not to disclose the secret about Remo’s impending proposal.
Ebby was excited by the surprise party and ready to help in any way she could. It was decided that she would pick Lucy up from school the next day and take her to a local ice cream parlor, where they would plan the party.
Lucy shared their plans with Remo.
“How about if I show up tomorrow, too, so I can ask Ebby what she thinks of my idea of proposing to Alessa?” he suggested.
Lucy threw her hands in the air and bounced on her toes. Then she wrapped her arms around Remo’s waist. “O my God. I’m so excited. This is going to be so much fun.”
Remo watched in wonder as she expressed her joy over all the pleasant surprises they were planning for Alessa. He knew that no child could ever replace this one. Not for him and never for Alessa. There was a bond between the two girls that went far beyond a normal mother-daughter relationship. He felt like the luckiest man in the world.
The next day, he met Ebby and Lucy at the ice cream parlor as planned. The little girl was already digging into her vanilla ice cream with rainbow jimmies when he arrived. Both Ebby and Lucy smiled at him as he approached the table but noticed that he was looking a little nervous. He gave them each a warm hug and sat down.
Lucy pushed her bowl of ice cream toward him. “You want some?”
“No, Luce, I’m good. But thanks,” he replied, pushing the bowl back in her direction.
Lucy and Ebby reviewed their plans for the cake and all the decorations they would buy. They would talk to two girls at the Outside Inn to see if they could get Alessa out of the house for a few hours.
When they were finished, Remo said, “You two have everything figured out. Ebby, I wanted to give Alessa another surprise that I need to talk to you about.”
“Sure,” Ebby said. “What do you have in mind?”
Remo fidgeted in his seat like a two-year-old, nervous about Ebby’s reaction. “I want to ask Alessa to marry me.”
As the words sank in, Ebby’s whole face glowed with a radiant smile. “I think that would be the perfect gift for Alessa,” she gushed.
“You’re okay with it, then?” Remo inquired, still looking tense.
“Of course I’m okay with you marrying Alessa.” Ebby laughed. “I appreciate you asking me about it first. However, it’s really up to Alessa.”
“I know, but what you think of the idea will be important to Alessa,” he reminded her.
Ebby turned to Lucy. “So, little Miss Thing, you knew all about this and didn’t tell me?”
Lucy gave her a mischievous smile, outlined with a generous layer of ice cream. “It was Remo’s secret, and I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone about it.”
Ebby laughed. “Well, good for you, Lucy. When did you get all grown up?”
Lucy said in a dead serious voice, “Ebby, I’m going to be eleven, you know. I’m not a baby anymore.”
At that, the adults laughed hysterically, with Lucy joining in. While Lucy was finishing her ice cream, Ebby’s thoughts drifted off to Alessa. So much good had happened to her since they first met. She was genuinely happy for her and pleased to see that a once broken person was on her feet and turning her life around, while helping others to do the same.
Good for Alessa, Ebby thought.
