Kaidan’s chest rose and fell faster as he looked down at the girl in his lap.
And then Zania signed to us, She came to us from another orphanage that shut down because of sexual abuse.
Kaidan looked at me with big eyes, and I knew the same appalling feelings coursed through us both. What had this poor girl been through? I watched Kaidan’s jaw clench, just thinking about it.
Kopano spoke to her again in Chichewa. I heard him say Kaidan’s name.
“He tells her Kaidan is his friend and wants to know why she calls him father,” Z whispered.
The girl answered, causing Kope and Z to go still.
“What did she say?” I asked. Kaidan was looking a little green, like he’d rather not know at this point.
Kope cleared his throat. “She says, ‘In my dream, he was my daddy.’”
Goose bumps broke out across my skin.
Kaidan’s eyes met mine and we stared.
And then something happened that I thought I’d never see. Kaidan and I had been through so much together, but one thing he’d never, ever done was cry.
At that moment, as he looked down at Alile, and his arms circled her, pulling her closer, I watched the first tear streak down Kaidan’s cheek, followed by another. His face grew serious and his entire demeanor surrounding Alile shouted fierce protectiveness.
No daughters, Kaidan had told me so many years ago. Over the years I learned that having a girl would force him to face down his invisible demons who whispered of inadequacy. But I knew at that moment that Alile would be our daughter, and Kai would beat his fears. Nobody would ever hurt this little girl again and get away with it. Because she had a daddy now.
I reached out for Kaidan’s hand and he took it, holding it tight.
Life could be so cruel, so ugly. And then, in the midst of all the madness, a precious gift would be placed in your lap.
Because life could also be so sweet.