Conditions: stipulations, requirements.

Glenn and Daryl apply to be foster parents. Sequel to chapter 7, Relations.

Glenn

"If we do this, I got some conditions."

"Let's hear them." I hope they aren't too restrictive. This was my idea and Daryl isn't completely sold on it yet but surely we're past the point in our relationship where he would sabotage it with conditions instead of just telling me he isn't ready and might never be. I'd be disappointed but I love Daryl too much to let it ruin what we have together. I just think we could have even more as a family.

"No girls."

I'm relieved. "We can't order the exact foster child we want but I don't think that will be a problem. The Department of Family and Children Services probably prefers to place a boy with two men. What else?"

"No babies."

More relief. "That shouldn't be a problem either. Of course men can care for a baby but I bet DFCS likes a woman to be in the picture if possible. Anything else?"

"I guess not."

"You realize that eliminating girls and babies doesn't eliminate potential problems, don't you? There are a lot of troubled teens. We may get a boy with behavioral issues. Maybe substance abuse: smoking, drinking, drugs."

"You just described my brother."

I laugh. "You're right. You've got decades of experience with Merle and I've got three years. We can do this!"

Applying to be foster parents is grueling. Daryl sighs with relief when the application is filled out. "Glad that's over."

"Step 1 completed," I agree cheerfully.

"What?"

I was afraid of this. Daryl doesn't realize how involved the process is. He's going to think a lot of it is an invasion of privacy. "After they review our app there's a preliminary interview to see if it's worth going on to background checks and toxicology screenings. After that there's an in-depth interview, official home visit and talking to our friends, family and neighbors. There'll probably be surprise home visits. We'll need to take classes in first aid, CPR and basics of parenting."

Daryl looks stunned then belligerent and finally gloomy. "They ain't gonna give me a kid. You'd be better off trying on your own."

"No I wouldn't because I don't want to do this without you. It sounds worse than it is. They're careful but they don't turn people down without a good reason. We'll have to change a few things. We can have a beer at night but no getting drunk. And no more weed on weekends," I add a little regretfully. "We'll give our stash to Merle. We should coach him before they talk to him."

"What about regular cigarettes?"

"You hardly smoke any more. Time to quit for good." We don't have many bad habits. Daryl has always been better behaved than Merle. I'm not much of a drinker and Daryl cut down in his thirties. We share a joint sometimes but mostly because we like to fuck when we're a little high.

"How long will all this take?"

"From app to license granted is nine to eighteen months. The average is a year."

"We could have a kid the old fashioned way in a year."

"Do you have a womb, Daryl? Because I don't, and I don't want to sleep with anyone who does. Besides, she'd probably want to keep her baby. Even surrogacy contracts can fall through."

"Jesus Christ."

"Watch your language. No swearing around a child."

"We'll probably learn a few new words from any juvenile delinquent they're willing to trust us with."

Daryl grumbles but grins and bears it. Or grits his teeth and bears it. It goes better than expected. Daryl scrubs up well although I find down and dirty very attractive, too. Since starting his new job two years ago he's kept his facial hair trimmed and his hair a little shorter than it used to be. He wears a suit to the interview but doesn't dress up for the home visit. I don't either. We're in our own environment and should look natural.

Merle has been warned to stay away during the home visit. He agrees to be clean and sober for his interview. He has a record of misdemeanors: drunk and disorderly, operating a still without a license, discharging a firearm in the Benford city limits. Sheriff Grimes is a friend of ours and he downplays Merle's record in his interview to give the impression that Merle is a fairly harmless screw-up. It's true. Merle should have gotten his life together by now but he's 38 and hasn't grown up yet.

Merle is interviewed by a lawyer instead of our caseworker, no doubt in order to evaluate his criminal tendencies. Carol tells us the lawyer is female which might be lucky because Merle can be appealing to a certain type of woman. The word comes through that Merle's interview went well. The lawyer must be an older woman who thinks there's no such thing as a bad boy.

"Charmed her pants off," Merle announces gleefully.

I assume that's a euphemism until he adds that he's meeting her for a drink.

"Personal, not business." Merle shows us a picture on his phone of Andrea Harrison.

You know who else has a soft spot for bad boys? Smart, beautiful women with poor taste in men.

We like our caseworker Carol Peletier. I feel like she really sees what Daryl and I have to offer a child. Over the months we learn that she was in an abusive relationship. She finally divorced her husband and made a new life for her daughter and herself. Ed died later so Carol and Sophia are completely free of him now.

Our license to be foster parents is granted on the third Friday of June, ten months after we submitted the app. Two days later I wake Daryl up with amorous overtures. Afterwards I say, "Next year this won't be just another Sunday. We can celebrate Father's Day."

"Mmm." Daryl's voice is low and growly in my ear. "Who's your daddy now?"

"You are," I assure him. "But I'll call Pop anyway."

Our phone call to Michigan isn't just to wish Pop a happy Father's Day. Mom gets on the phone and we tell them we got approved to be foster parents.

Mom is delighted. "When you get a baby?"

I explain that we asked not to have a baby or a girl. Mom is disappointed but Pop has our back.

"Sensible. How those two take care of a baby or a girl?"

Mom won't hear a word against us. "They do fine!"

"Sure," Pop says agreeably. "But older boy better for them." He knows how to handle Mom.

The call comes in the evening three weeks after approval. Daryl is over at Merle's smoking meat from a recent hunt.

"Glenn, this is Carol. I have a situation."

I should have checked with Daryl but after hearing her explanation I was so sorry about the circumstances that I couldn't turn her down. I want to help and surely Daryl will, too, when he knows what happened. I call Daryl after hanging up with Carol.

"Come home! We're going to be foster parents tonight. Carol will be here in an hour."

"Holy shit."

"Language!" I say sharply before hanging up.

Daryl arrives ten minutes later. We hug, and he asks what Carol said.

"There was an accident and both parents were killed. There's no obvious next of kin so they need to do a search. We're a temporary placement until they locate relatives."

"How old is the kid? Was he hurt?"

"It's two kids, Daryl. They were with a neighbor but she's elderly. Babysitting for a few hours is fine but she can't care for them full-time."

"So, two little boys?"

"Not exactly. A three year old girl and an eight-month old boy."

"What about my conditions?"

"It will only be a week. Think of those poor children."

"Yeah, that's a hell of a thing. I guess it'll be good practice."

"Exactly. Oh, they're Asian. That might be why we got the call."

"Korean?"

"No, Chinese. Maybe they think my face will make the children feel more comfortable."

"Because a Korean man would remind them of their Chinese mama?"

"Just around the eyes."

We laugh. We're excited and nervous but then we remember the tragedy that is bringing these kids into our life and get serious again.

"We'll do our best for them and we'll be better prepared when we get a more permanent placement."

Daryl nods but looks worried. "We don't have anything for a baby."

"Carol is bringing their things." Suddenly I think of something else. "Our house isn't childproofed!"

We spend the next few minutes gathering cleaning supplies and dangerous items from under the sinks and other low places.

"Merle and me played under these sinks with all this stuff around."

"That explains a lot. You left it alone but maybe Merle got into it."

"He does like to experiment. That might have been his start."

An SUV pulls up and we go to meet them. Carol gets out and thanks us for helping in a tough situation. The kids are in the back seat, both in car seats. She brings the little girl out first and introduces us. Cherry looks sad and sleepy, confused and tearful. She's clutching a stuffed rabbit. I go down on my knees beside her and she leans against me. Daryl pats her head. He's uneasy but he's doing fine even when Carol hands him the baby. Chester starts fussing. Daryl looks nervous but I've got my hands full with Cherry and he doesn't want Carol to have second thoughts about us.

"There's a crib in the back," Carol says. "I took it apart just enough to make it fit."

Daryl hands Chester back to her. "I'll get it."

Inside, I give Cherry a cup of milk and Chester a bottle while Daryl sets up the crib in the spare room. He's back in his comfort zone. After that he unloads the SUV, including car seats from DFCS. The Changs had a stroller and a carrier but no car seats. Carol says they didn't have a car; they used public transportation.

The baby is quiet now so I put him in the crib. Carol helps me change Cherry into her pajamas and put her to bed. I feel so sorry for her life-changing loss. We leave the bedroom door ajar and do paperwork at the kitchen table.

Both kids are asleep before Carol leaves.

"It won't be easy," Carol says. "They'll miss their parents, even the baby though he isn't verbal yet. But young children are often adaptable. And you're a psychologist, Glenn. We don't expect you to be a foster parent and a therapist but you'll know what to watch for."

"Of course."

"I hope they'll sleep the night through. It will be good for them and for both of you. I'll call in the morning. And you can call me even during the night. This is all new for you. Good luck." She smiles and says goodnight.

"Do we just go to bed?" Daryl asks after Carol leaves. "I can't sleep."

"Me neither but we should try. Let's get ready. Maybe we can nap."

Daryl and I usually wear underwear or nothing to bed but we've got sleep pants and tee shirts for our new role as parents. Daryl calls Merle and tells him we've got two little kids for a week. We go through their things. We only unpacked enough to get them through the night. Their clothes are well-worn but clean. Probably from thrift stores. Nothing wrong with that. Clothes are expensive and at that age they grow so fast.

I earn a decent salary as a psychologist and will make more eventually as a partner. Daryl does all right managing the sporting goods department of a big box store near Atlanta. He ran the sporting goods section of the local hardware when I met him but the owner Dale Horvath got an offer he couldn't refuse. He sold out to the big box store, retired and went on the road in his RV. He knew his small store couldn't last much longer. Taking on his staff was part of the deal he made so it worked out well for Daryl and others. Daryl and I are both savers and we've been saving more since deciding to foster. We're comfortable but not rich. There will be reimbursement as foster parents but we're not doing it for the money.

Cherry wakes in the night to unfamiliar surroundings and calls out for her mother and father. That wakes Chester up. We hurry in to comfort them. After a potty break for Cherry and a diaper change for Chester they settle down but they're clinging to us and we don't want to leave them. The double bed is big for Cherry but there's just enough room for two men, a little girl and a baby.

Carol calls the next morning to ask how it's going. I tell her we're all fine. I don't tell her the phone woke us. Cherry needs a little help with washing and dressing but does most of it herself. She's a darling little girl. It takes Daryl longer with Chester because he's waving his arms and legs but he's so cute that we don't mind. I take Cherry to the kitchen for breakfast and to warm a bottle for Chester. He's hungry and beginning to cry so I run it in to Daryl.

Merle

Merle stopped by Saturday morning to see what Daryl and Glenn saddled themselves with. Daryl hadn't given any details the night before. He went in without knocking to find a little girl sitting at the kitchen table finishing peanut butter toast and banana, washed down with milk. She had dark hair and slanted eyes and looked like Glenn. Merle could pick Glenn out of an Asian lineup but everybody else looked pretty much the same to him.

"Daryl and Glenn with the baby?"

The girl nodded. "My little brother."

"Daryl is my little brother." Merle struggled for something else to say and settled for the obvious: "Korean, huh? Good thing you can be here with Glenn."

"I'm Chinese."

Merle stared at her for a moment. "I give up." He shook his head and sighed. "I always guess wrong. What's that you got there?"

Cherry held up her bunny.

"I got one, too." Merle pulled a plump rabbit from his game bag. It was dead. Cherry gave a loud yelp.

Daryl

In the bedroom, Daryl heard Merle and Cherry's voices but not words. What harm could Merle do in five minutes? Suddenly Cherry cried out and Glenn dashed back to the kitchen yelling, "Merle, what the fuck did you do?"

Ammunition! Daryl grinned and lingered with Chester in the bedroom to hear more.

Merle sounded abashed. "She showed me her rabbit, I showed her mine. Didn't think how it would look to a little girl."

Daryl peeked around the door to see Glenn soothing Cherry. "It's all right, sweetie. Don't be scared."

Cherry shook her head. "I was s'prised."

"Good girl," Merle said encouragingly. "See? She ain't scarred for life."

Time to make an appearance. Daryl stepped into the kitchen with Chester. "Did I hear inappropriate language?"

Glenn gasped as he remembered what he said. "I can't believe I dropped the F bomb."

Glenn was genuinely upset and Daryl didn't want that. "I'm kidding. Couldn't resist giving you a hard time."

Glenn settled Cherry in the living room to watch Saturday morning cartoons and came back to the kitchen.

"What's their names?" Merle asked.

"Cherry and Chester Chang. Forgot to introduce you."

"Cherry Chang?" Merle repeated. "Cute now but in ten years folks'll think it's a stripper name. Or maybe a pole dancer."

"Do not say that to Cherry!" Glenn hissed.

"Course not." Merle looked offended that anyone would think him capable of such a thing. He'd already forgotten comparing his dead rabbit to Cherry's stuffed bunny. "Chester Chang. Are all these C-Hs a Chinese thing?"

"I love their names," Glenn said.

"We could call the boy Chet for short," Daryl suggested.

Merle watched his brother sit Chester in the high chair and spoon in goopy stuff. "I remember you took to the Grimes girl when she was born. It's coming back to you. And Glenn's good with this girl. Looks like you got a Daddy's Boy and a Mama's Girl."

Glenn

Merle has always thought it was funny to think of Daryl as the man and me as the woman in our relationship. He's not wrong. Some traits generally associated with women are stronger in me than in Daryl, although he helped with Judith whose mother died in childbirth. That was years ago and Daryl hasn't been around a baby lately. It happened just before Daryl and I met but he told me friends and neighbors pulled together. They'll do the same for us.

Proving my point, Sheriff Grimes shows up next. Rick tells Cherry that he has a little girl her age and he'll bring Judy by to meet her tomorrow.

The Greene family arrives before noon bearing gifts. Hershel brings fresh fruit and vegetables from his garden. Maggie hands over a casserole, which is a relief because Daryl and I haven't organized lunch yet. Beth offers homemade cookies.

"Oatmeal raisin," she whispers. "Healthier than chocolate chip."

Beth knows I'll be on nutrition patrol. I try not to go overboard but already this morning I sent Daryl back to the convenience store in Benford. He was on a juice run and returned with fruit flavored sugar water. Unacceptable.

While the children are down for naps after lunch Carl Grimes stops by to help Daryl hang a swing in the backyard. Rick volunteered him but Carl is a good kid and he and Daryl have always gotten along. Daryl was probably thinking of Carl when he made his conditions.

I'm not on call this weekend so I have today and tomorrow free. I arrange to take Monday and Wednesday off next week. Daryl is a department manager but managers have to work some weekends. He called first thing this morning and switched. A lot of employees are part-time and glad to pick up extra hours. He'll take Tuesday off, and Thursday if needed. Cherry and Chester might be with family by then. I have new respect for working parents arranging child care. My psychology firm has a daycare for children of staff and patients but the kids are only with Daryl and me for a week and it's best if one of us stays home with them instead of sending them to strangers. Their world fell apart and they don't need more upheaval right now. I've also come around to Daryl's conditions. A teen or tween boy would be easier. They don't need constant care. A boy close to Carl's age could hang out with him. We could even trust Merle with a tween … for a short time … if the Greene girls couldn't babysit … if absolutely no one else was available.

The swing is a nice surprise – unlike a dead rabbit – when Cherry wakes up. Daryl pushes her on the swing while I push Chet in the stroller. Cherry has been fine today but everything is new and interesting. She'll miss her parents more as time passes without seeing them but eventually she may not remember much because she's only three. Both options make me feel bad for her.

Saturday night the kids start out again in bed and crib. During the night we wake to odd noises and go in to find Cherry half-asleep and trying to climb into the crib with her brother. Chester wakes up and it becomes a repeat of last night except this time we take the kids to our room where the bed is bigger. Bed sharing with babies isn't ideal but a few days won't hurt and we all sleep better together.

Sunday morning Cherry is quiet and melancholy. It's time to exercise my therapist skills so after breakfast we all go to the living room. Daryl sits on the floor in the corner to watch Chet crawling and trying to pull himself up. I take the sofa with Cherry and ask about her mom and dad to get her talking. Cherry is my focus but I wanted Daryl and Chet to be there so Cherry knows we're all in this together. Cherry is more cheerful later but I'm not naïve enough to think one talk fixed everything. It's a traumatic event and working through it will take time.

Rick, Michonne and Judy come over after naptime. The girls are shy at first. Cherry brings out her few toys and a doll to show Judy but it's a sunny summer in Georgia and the swing is more tempting than playing inside. They take turns and are giggling together by snack time.

Sometimes Chester cries – not loudly, it's more of a whimper than a wail – when there's no apparent reason for distress. He's dry, fed and rested but he knows something is different. Thankfully it doesn't last long. He's a good baby and takes a bottle well and is also eating soft food but he nuzzles my chest when I hold him and it breaks my heart. He misses his mother. He does the same thing with Daryl. We don't have what he wants for comfort.

Carol calls on Thursday to tell us it will be a little longer. She's spoken with friends, neighbors and coworkers who all confirm the parents didn't have relatives. She needs more time to make a plan. This is good news for us because Cherry has another play date Sunday. The bad news is that it's time to arrange a funeral for the Changs. Since there's no family and no money the state will cremate them and bury them with others in a potter's field ceremony.

Daryl and I talk about it that night and agree to pay for a private funeral. Cremation is much less expensive than burial. There will be a simple memorial service for the friends, neighbors and coworkers to attend. We can decide what to do with the ashes later. Maybe they'll go with the children to their permanent placement. We don't want Cherry and Chester's parents laid to rest in a potter's field with strangers.

I take the kids with me to work on Friday, feeling like a real father. They're doing better and since they'll be with us for awhile longer, they might as well go to office daycare so Daryl and I can save our PTO. We'll need time off for the funeral or if the kids get sick.

Daryl works Saturday but has Sunday off. Judy invited Cherry to ride her pony in the afternoon. Rainbow Grape is boarded at the Greene farm. We're all going of course. Cherry and Chet have always lived in Atlanta and we don't want to miss their reaction to farm life. Hershel is a retired veterinarian and he has three horses, a flock of chickens, a few cows and pigs and a couple of goats and sheep. It's like a petting zoo.

The funeral is the following Tuesday. We take the children with us. It won't be fun for Cherry but I think it's necessary to help her realize that her parents are gone. The neighbor who babysat them is there. Cherry hugs her and the old lady holds Chester. It's an opportunity to say goodbye.

After the service Carol says the landlord asked that the Chang's things be removed. They rented a small furnished apartment so there isn't much. We've already got the children's stuff. We drive home and I stay with the kids. Daryl changes his clothes and goes to meet Carol at the apartment. Everything fits in his truck. He brings it home and stores it in the loft of the garage. Their family things can go with the children to their next placement.

Daryl is working the next weekend. I stop by with the kids. Cherry had looked around with awe at my office but she likes the store better. She's been in places like this before and they're more interesting than an office. Daryl is a popular manager and his employees like him. So do the customers. He's met a lot of people at all financial levels while hunting. Quite a few sportsmen who can afford to shop at expensive outfitters come to Daryl for equipment and advice. Big box stores like to keep their prices in the low to medium range but Daryl ordered some high-end items and they moved well instead of just sitting on the shelf. Department profit increased so he carries high, medium and low stock now and the store manager is pleased.

Daryl takes his meal break and joins us. I relax my rules and we take Cherry and Chet for fast food. This is what I had in mind when I pictured us as a family.

We know so little about the Changs. I wonder what traits Cherry and Chester will inherit from them. Will they be musical or athletic or intellectual or artistic? Will they love the outdoors because Daryl does? Will they be fascinated by the mind and how it works, as I am? But they won't be with us long enough to be influenced by Daryl and me.

The kids are sleeping better now so they're back in their own room. They're asleep when Daryl gets home. We talk quietly in our room. In the classes that were part of our training as foster parents we learned that it can be very difficult to let children go when it's time. Many children in foster care are returned to their parents. Our kids can't go back to parents but it's still a temporary placement with us. Carol checks in every week. She's still working on the Chang case.

I had called my parents the day after Cherry and Chester came to us. Mom wanted to fly down and see them but I reminded her it was temporary and it might be best if she didn't get attached. I sent pictures instead. Daryl and I can't help but get attached.

After three weeks we've settled into a routine. Getting all four of us up, dressed and fed is a smooth process. I take off for Atlanta with the kids. Daryl, who doesn't have to be at work until an hour later, cleans up the kitchen. We're home before him but he's back in time for us all to have supper together. If I have an emergency with a patient, Daryl comes to pick up the kids. Chet goes to bed before Cherry. A baby requires a lot of attention so this gives Daryl and me time with Cherry. We read to her in the living room so Chet won't be disturbed and carry her to bed when she can't keep her eyes open.

Cherry turns four in two weeks. We didn't expect the kids to be with us until then but they might be and we can't let a birthday pass unnoticed.

Friday evening Carol calls to tell us a permanent place has been found for the Chang children and she needs to arrange their transfer in the next few days.

"No," I blurt involuntarily.

"Hell no," Daryl says. The call is on speaker.

We're not prepared for them to be taken away from us so suddenly.

"Cherry will be four next weekend and we've got a little party planned," I explain.

"Cherry and Judy Grimes are best friends," Daryl adds. "She's a little younger than Cherry. She'll want Cherry at her party in a couple of months."

"It was a temporary placement," Carol says gently. "We have a couple who will foster with the option to adopt."

"They Chinese?" Daryl demands.

"Well, no, they're both white. But neither of you is Chinese."

"I'm closer than them." I can't stop myself sounding indignant. "We could adopt them."

"Damn right," Daryl agrees. "Fostering ain't gonna work for us. We can't be worried our kids could get taken away any time. That's no way to live."

"Are you really serious? This is your only placement. And you didn't want a girl or a baby."

"Changed our minds," Daryl says gruffly.

"We got lucky the first time," I say firmly.

"The other man and woman are married. It's a stable environment."

"We'll go to the courthouse Monday," Daryl replies. "There's no waiting period."

"No!" I realize how that sounded when there is silence from Carol and Daryl looks hurt. "I don't mean no to getting married. But not that soon. We have to make arrangements. And Cherry needs a dress."

"Like a flower girl dress?" Daryl looks happy again.

Carol laughs. "All right, I'm convinced. You don't have to be married anyway. I was just testing your commitment. Approval for adoption is almost the same as for fostering and you went through that so recently there won't be much more paperwork. I'll start the process."

Carol's cubemate had been listening to her conversation. Jimmy was new, an earnest young man she was mentoring. After she hung up he said, "The other couple will be disappointed."

"There is no other couple. The Chang children are settled and doing well. I was pretty sure Daryl and Glenn wouldn't give them up. They just needed a nudge."

"Is that ethical? What if those guys let them go?"

"Then I would have found another home for them. It was a small risk with good odds for a better future."

"Those kids deserve some good luck."

"This is lucky for all four of them."

We call my parents with the news. They're coming to the party to meet their new grandchildren. Genie and Lisa's kids are all older than Cherry now, three boys and a girl, so Mom is pleased to have another girl and a baby in the family.

That night I warn Daryl: "It's perfect right now but it won't always be like this. Cherry and Chet will become teenagers. We'll think they're impossible and they'll think their dads are idiots."

"It'll pass," Daryl says confidently. "We got years to get ready. Better like this than trying to handle a teen right away."

"What changed your mind?"

"Didn't expect to love them so much. Didn't know I could."

"I knew. You love me. I knew you would love any child we brought into our home."

"Go ahead and rub it in that you're smarter than me."

"I could rub something else."

Daryl rolls closer.

"Your tumescent appendage is poking my thigh," I inform him.

"My dick is hard."

"That's what I said."

Afterwards I start thinking again: "Puberty! We'll have to tell Cherry about her period."

"We? Nope. Merle called them Daddy's Boy and Mama's Girl. I'll have the talk with Chet and you take Cherry."

"In twelve years Cherry will be driving."

"Might not be that long. She might steal our keys and go joyriding when she's thirteen. I did."

"You're not helping."

"Let's concentrate on stuff that'll happen sooner than that. Like Chet walking and talking and Cherry going to kindergarten next year."

"What if they find relatives in China and take Cherry and Chet away from us before the adoption goes through?"

"They were born here and their folks were naturalized. DFCS couldn't find family. If they got relatives in China, they must be distant. I don't think the U.S. will send underage citizens to a strange country when they're about to be adopted."

"Maybe they're lost members of the royal family." I'm coming up with silly scenarios now.

Daryl snorts. "If we're raising a prince and princess I guess we'll have to give 'em up if the Forbidden City asks. But I'm pretty sure China is over that emperor thing. Cherry will have to settle for Disney princess and Chet can be a Jedi. Hey, that could be their Halloween costumes."

"We should take them to China when they're older."

"I hear there's a big wall worth seeing. But the kids are so little they might not care about China when they grow up."

"I don't want them to feel they shouldn't be interested in their roots."

"If they wanna go, we'll try to make it happen. But they're American. Knowing about their folks might be all they want. There's pictures and papers, a few odds and ends. We'll keep that stuff for them."

Just before we drop off Daryl mumbles, "We're gonna need more room."

He's right. The kids are fine together for now but we'll need a third bedroom and second bathroom in a few years. Build, buy or remodel? Beth's boyfriend Noah is studying architecture. He'll have his degree by the time we need to make plans.

Mom and Pop are giving Cherry a pony for her birthday. I sent a picture of her with Judy's pony a few weeks ago and now their granddaughter must have a pony of her own. They fly down three days early to start the spoiling and the next day we go to a sale barn to interview ponies. This means walking around until Cherry makes up her mind. She's wide-eyed with wonder but soon settles on her favorite. I wonder how long it will take her to decide on a name.

Turns out the name is already picked. Michonne helped Cherry choose a name the same way Judith named her pony, by using the My Little Pony name generator. Type your own name and your pony name is generated. So Peppermint Zephyr joins Rainbow Grape in Hershel's stable. Judy's pony would have been Blue Glory if she used her nickname but Judith generated Rainbow Grape. Why settle for one color when you can have them all.

Daryl already bought a child's archery set. I go online, search feverishly for a peppermint striped pony bridle and pay extra to have it shipped overnight. Judy's pony has a rainbow striped bridle and we must keep up with the Grimes. Not really. The Grimes aren't extravagant but Rick got Judy a pony because he felt guilty about not paying much attention to her after she was born. He kind of checked out for a few weeks when Lori died, leaving Carl in charge with help from Daryl and the Greenes. Rick has gone easy on Carl for some typical teen stuff because he's proud of his son for the way he took care of his sister. Daryl and I agree that we're not going to spoil our kids but this is special – Cherry's first birthday with us and deciding to adopt. We also decide to get married when the adoption waiting period is over.

Amazingly, Andrea is still seeing Merle and her gift will be the cake. Andrea has good taste in everything but men so I expect something appropriate for a four year old and am not disappointed. She bought a China Barbie doll, took it to a bakery and had a cake skirt made with the doll in the middle.

Merle offers to provide ice cream. He has an old fashioned hand-crank that makes the best homemade ice cream. Or maybe it's just Merle's recipe. I remind him that vanilla is the only flavoring for this batch.

We told the Greenes and Grimes that gifts weren't necessary but they paid us no mind. The Greenes are boarding the pony free for three months. That isn't the kind of gift that a child easily understands but Cherry is charmed and thankful when Hershel takes her on his knee and says he and Maggie and Beth will take good care of Peppermint Zephyr for her. The Grimes gift is aikido lessons from Rick's friend. It's a Japanese martial art but there's no Chinese equivalent and I think Cherry will enjoy it.

The party is wonderful. Cherry is giddy with excitement. Chester doesn't know what's going on but he's content to be passed around although Mom reserves the right to swoop in and take him at any time. She's talking to Andrea who she just met today.

"How Merle get somebody good like you? I try to set him up years ago but he only come to Michigan to fish with Gene. Not interested in cold weather girls."

"Good thing I'm from Florida."

"You know Merle very well?"

"Yes, and I'm still here anyway." Andrea knows what she's getting with Merle.

Merle is close enough to overhear. "No talkin' trash about me, Lois. I wanna hang on to this one."

Mom hands Chester to Andrea. "Hold the baby. You have one quick, they can grow up together." She smiles triumphantly at Merle.

If Merle is alarmed he doesn't show it. "We need Dixon genes in this family. It's all Asians lately."

I'll give this round to Merle.

Daryl

Adopting Cherry and Chet was right for the kids and for Glenn and him. Life had turned out better than he hoped. Daryl had been unsure years ago because of their very different childhoods but he took a chance and met Glenn's flight. When Glenn moved in Daryl worried that living together wouldn't work for them. Last year when Glenn suggested becoming foster parents Daryl was afraid history might repeat itself and he'd be a poor father. Helping with Judy for a few weeks didn't mean he could do the job full-time.

But Daryl was done with doubts. He trusted Glenn's judgment on most everything, including not spoiling the kids. Daryl didn't aim to bring up entitled brats but he was counting on a little wiggle room there.

Glenn

Following our example, Maggie Greene becomes a foster parent. Fifteen-year-old Enid is placed with her. She had a rough childhood and has been passed from home to home. She's standoffish and runs away after three weeks. When she's found two days later Enid says she figured she wouldn't be there long so she decided to leave before she had to. Maggie agrees to take her back. Enid settles in after that but is still sharp-tongued. Carl doesn't mind her sarcasm or maybe he wants a girlfriend. Enid isn't really into him until he gets fed up and snaps back at her. She seems to respect him then. Rick and Michonne are a little worried. They met two years ago and Michonne moved in a year later. They're trying for a baby and would prefer that to happen before an unplanned grandchild.

The big day is in early April. Daryl and I have a courthouse ceremony in the morning. The adoption is finalized after lunch and there's a party at the town hall in the afternoon. Practically the whole town shows up plus my entire family from Michigan. Dale is back from his latest trip. Cherry's aikido master Morgan Jones is there, visiting with Carol. Carl and Enid sneak away early. Rick and Michonne are taking the kids for a sleepover tonight. The party won't run late because Cherry, Chet and Judy have supper early and then it will be time for baths and bed.

Daryl and I are going to bed early, too.