Melanie got up and followed Helen and Gordon to the dining room. There was a big banner on the wall that read: “Happy Birthday Melanie!” and on the table was the most beautiful birthday cake she’d ever seen!
“That for me?” asked Melanie in a whisper. She came closer and saw the writing on the cake in silver with stars all around: “Happy Birthday Melanie.”
“It’s got my name on it!” Melanie exclaimed and burst into tears. She started sobbing so hard that Helen and Gordon were frightened and upset.
“Please, Melanie,” Gordon said. “Why are you crying, honey?”
“I’ve never had a cake before!” Melanie sobbed. “Does that mean you love me? Really, really love me?”
Gordon and Helen put their arms around Melanie. “Of course we love you,” Helen exclaimed. “We CHOSE you! Out of all the little girls in the world, we wanted YOU!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
The family had a wonderful day, and Melanie went to bed with a bit of a tummy ache because she ate too much cake, but it was the best birthday of her entire life.
The next day was a Sunday, and the family was getting ready to go to church when someone knocked on the door. There was a tall man standing there. “Are you Melanie’s adoptive mother?” he asked Helen.
“Yes,” Helen said. “Who are you?”
“I’m a friend of her late father,” the man said. “And I want to see her.”
“You can’t take her away,” Helen cried. “The court gave her to us.”
“I don’t want to take her away,” the man said gently. “I just want to see her.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Helen and Gordon sat in the lounge holding hands while the man spoke to Melanie. “My dear,” he said. “I think you will understand the story I’m about to tell you better when you are older…”
“I’m seven,” Melanie said proudly. “I turned seven yesterday!”
“I know,” the man said, smiling. “I was there when you were born. You must know that your mommy and daddy loved you very much, Melanie. But when you were a year old, your mom went to heaven.
“Not long after that, your dad discovered he was very sick. He wanted to make sure he did everything he could for you, so he asked me to sell everything he had.”
The man took out a piece of paper and gave it to Melanie. “He wanted me to give you this money when you were eighteen, or when you were adopted by a good family. I know Helen and Gordon are good people who love you. This is for you and your new family.”
Melanie gave the paper to Helen who started crying. It was a check for $40,000. Melanie’s birth family had reached out and helped her new family when they needed it most!
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels