They smiled and immediately gave him a gift, a large, colorful box of building blocks. You can play with your friends, the woman with kind, sparkling eyes said, brushing away a tear. Her hair was pinned up.
Will you be my mom and dad? Little Paul asked hopefully, he was about to turn seven. Yes, my dear, Angela warmly embraced the boy and kissed the top of his head. But we’ll have to wait a bit, the man in the business suit said in a quiet, soothing voice.
A few months later, Paul was living with the gills. By now, they couldn’t imagine that Paul wasn’t their biological son, and Paul himself had come to love his adoptive parents with all his heart. The little girl, Samantha, was selling wildflowers she picked at dawn, then sitting by the road in the scorching sun.
All to avoid ending up in an orphanage. Paul didn’t know, nor could he know, why the girl was at risk of ending up there or how those few dollars she earned selling bouquets would help her, but he firmly decided he had to help her. Right now.
Nancy, dear, give this bouquet to Jess, Paul approached his fiancee’s friend. I’ll explain everything later, okay? I need to leave urgently. It’s a matter of life and death.
Tell Jessica I love her very much and that we will definitely get married, just a bit later. Paul, I don’t understand, the girl said in confusion. Where are you going? What about your wedding? Paul was speeding towards the edge of the city, then he rushed onto the highway.
He was very afraid of being too late. Samantha might have already gone home. How would he find her then? What if she was taken to an orphanage? No, that couldn’t be allowed.
She was such a sweet girl. She deserved a happy life. He would do anything to make sure of that.
Fortunately, Samantha was still sitting on her overturned crate. The bucket had one last bouquet of yellow and orange flowers left. Paul hit the brakes.
He jumped out of the car and approached the girl. Sam, I’m so glad I made it. Paul squatted down and looked into the little girl’s sky blue eyes.
Do you want to buy another bouquet? The girl asked with a smile. No, I. Tell me, why do they want to send you to an orphanage? Where are your parents? Granny Mary is not allowed to raise me because she’s too old, Samantha sighed sadly. And my mom, her voice trembled, my mom drowned in the swamp last fall.
My god, how terrible. Poor thing. But tell me, why are you selling these flowers? I want to save up a lot of money and give it to the lady who wants to take me to the orphanage so she’ll let me stay with Granny.
I. I really don’t want to go to the orphanage, tears streamed down the little girl’s cheeks, flushed from the heat and anxiety. You won’t go to the orphanage, I promise, Paul said firmly, taking Samantha’s hand. The girl squeezed his hand in return and cried even harder.
Don’t cry, little one, don’t cry, Paul ran his hand through her soft hair, tousled by the wind. Shall we go to your home? Where do you live? A mile from here. In Green Oasis Village.
Wow, what a lovely name. Makes you want to live there. It must be beautiful there, right? Yes, it’s very beautiful.
The village is small, the forest is nearby. That’s where I pick the flowers in the mornings. And then you walk a whole mile to sell them? Uh-huh, the girl nodded, climbing into the back seat of Paul’s car.
You’re a very brave girl, Paul said admiringly and very determined. You deserve the happiest life. They entered the old, time-worn house.
Granny, granny, everything’s going to be okay. Kind Paul Gill is going to help us. A neat old lady with a headscarf peeked out of her room.
Hello, ma’am, Paul greeted her. Hello, the elderly woman responded slightly scared. She must have been around 80.
Would you like some tea? Samantha cheerfully offered. Uh, I wouldn’t say no. It’s more fun to talk over tea.
They drank tea in a small, cozy kitchen with semi-transparent curtains the color of fresh grass. Where are you from? Mary Booth asked, carefully slicing an apple pie. Why does Sammy say you can help us? Today I bought a bouquet of wildflowers from your granddaughter.
Sammy is my great-granddaughter, sir. Sorry, from your great-granddaughter on the highway. How many times have I told this rascal not to do that? People are different.
There are some very bad ones who can hurt or, worse, steal her. But she got it into her head that this way she can stay with me. She plans to bribe the child protection services.
Can you imagine? Granny laughed softly. How can you bribe them? The law is the law, and there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m too old to take guardianship of Samantha, too old.
Paul looked at her. The old lady had tears in her eyes, but she tried to joke and speak cheerfully. And Sam’s mom? What happened to her? My granddaughter disappeared, and then they found her jacket caught on a branch.
She got stuck in the swamp. That’s what the investigators said. That swamp has claimed dozens of lives.
It looks like forest floor. After Sissy was declared dead, they immediately put up signs so no one else would get caught. I don’t know why they did it only after her death.
The old lady sighed and poured Paul more tea. My God, how sad. Paul pinched the bridge of his nose.
And that’s why they want to take Sammy to the orphanage, right? Yes, there’s no one to take care of her, and I’m just an old wreck. Don’t worry. I’ll do everything to make sure that doesn’t happen.
I promise. I know what it’s like to live in an orphanage. I still can’t believe my Sissy is gone.
She said something so strange then, the day before she disappeared. What did she say? Paul looked at the old lady intently. She asked me to take care of Sammy if something happened to her.
Granny Mary sniffled and adjusted the headscarf that had slipped to the side. She probably felt that something bad was going to happen to her. Paul was silent.
He didn’t quite know what to do. He couldn’t think of anything better than to call his friend Bob. Bob was a very good lawyer.
Bob, buddy, don’t ask me too many questions right now. I’ll explain everything later, Paul quickly said after dialing his friend’s number. Paul, what the hell? Why did you run away from your own wedding? Bob, not now, please.
There’s this girl. She might be taken to an orphanage. We need to do something, and fast, right now.
Can you come to Green Oasis Village? I’ll send the address. Alright, Paul. You always find adventures for yourself.
Okay, send the address. Jess wants to come with me. Fine, let her come.
I’ll explain everything to her too. Tell her I love her very much. Paul hung up.
About 40 minutes later, the door to the house burst open and they came in, Bob and Jessica. Jess still had white wedding flowers woven into her hair, although she had already changed into jeans and a t-shirt with a funny cactus on it. She looked worried and confused.
Sissy, is that you? Granny Mary clutched her heart. Mom. Sam rushed to Jess and hugged her.
Bob and Paul exchanged glances. They had no idea what was going on. Mrs. Booth, are you alright? Paul asked, running to the elderly woman.
Granny. Jessica was crying and hugging Samantha while looking at the old lady. Forgive me.
I wanted to protect you. Jack. He threatened to kill me.
He’s out of prison. Jessica had a hard time speaking. She was holding her daughter close and beads of sweat appeared on her pale face.