Every month after Richard and I adopted Jennifer, our world had changed a lot. We were happy to be able to give this girl a home, but something in her behavior worried me. It was hard to explain, but one day she whispered quietly in my ear: “Mom, don’t trust dad…” Her words shocked me. I couldn’t understand where these thoughts came from. Richard was a wonderful person who put his whole heart into building a relationship with his daughter. He tried to be her friend and support, but her coldness gave us no peace. Jennifer gradually got used to the new family, became closer to me, but she remained suspicious of Richard. She couldn’t or didn’t want to open up to him. “Why do you think so, Jennifer?” – I asked her, trying not to show concern. The girl looked at me with her big eyes and shook her head without saying a word. I didn’t ask her any more questions, but in my heart I was worried. That night I had a hard time falling asleep. I tried to find an explanation for why Jennifer was so opposed to Richard. The next evening I heard Richard speaking quietly on the phone in our bedroom. He tried not to make any noise, but I still heard his words. “Jennifer notices more than I thought,” he said quietly. “I don’t want Marla to know…” I froze.
Those words flashed through me like lightning. What was he talking about? Why was he hiding something from me? The panic that gripped me was hard to hide. I crept quietly to the door and listened to the conversation, trying to understand what he was hiding from me. When Richard ended the call, I could no longer hold back. “Richard, what are you hiding from me? Why did you say such strange things?” I asked him, trying not to sound accusatory, but my voice betrayed my concern. He turned around, his face immediately becoming serious, and he approached me. “Marla, I… I just didn’t want you to know beforehand,” he began, a little embarrassed. “I’m preparing a surprise for Jennifer. Her birthday is a special moment for us. I want her to feel special. You know how hard it’s been for her to adjust, and I want her to feel appreciated.” I stood there, unsure of what to say. I felt relief, but also surprise. I didn’t expect Richard to prepare a surprise for Jennifer. I thought his silence had something more serious to do with. “Really?” – I asked, with a smile accompanied by disbelief.
“Did you think she would feel special if you hid it from us?” Richard sighed. “I wanted her to know when she was ready, and not before. I didn’t know how she would take it.” I sat on the bed and we looked at each other in silence. At first, his secrecy seemed worrying to me, but now I understood that his intentions were completely pure. “Thank you for telling me,” I said. “I understand why you wanted it to remain a surprise. We need to work on trust, and I want Jennifer to feel safe here.” Together we began to work on rebuilding trust, creating an atmosphere where Jennifer could open up completely.
We spent more time together, supporting her, showing her that her place in our family was not just a duty, but true love and care. Months passed, and Jennifer began to change. She became more open, smiled more often at Richard, and even asked him for help with her homework. My husband and I understood that Jennifer was gradually finding her way in our home, and although we could not yet say that trust was fully restored, we knew we were on the right path. And now, looking at Jennifer, I felt how much she had grown during this time. More and more she became a part of our family. And Richard, despite all his previous doubts, turned out to be the one who was always there for us, ready to help and support.
