Love did not make Richard prepared.
It only made leaving impossible.
The adoption did not happen with five whispered words and a signature before midnight. St. Mary’s director, Sister Margaret, stared at him for a long time after he said he would take all nine girls.
“Mr. Miller,” she said gently, “grief can make a person reach for impossible things.”
Richard looked through the nursery window.
One baby had wrapped her fingers around the wooden rail of the crib. Another had kicked off her blanket. Two slept with their faces turned toward each other as if even in exhaustion they were afraid of waking alone.
“Maybe,” he answered. “But grief is also what happens when people decide love is too difficult.”
Sister Margaret folded her hands.
“You are a single man.”
“Yes.”
“You have no children.”
“No.”
“You work at a factory.”
“Yes.”
“You live in a two-bedroom house.”
“I can build more rooms.”
“You have never changed a diaper.”
“I can learn.”
“You understand that even adopting one infant would involve investigations, hearings, medical reports, and months of supervision?”
“Yes.”
“All nine together may not be legally possible.”
“Then tell me what would make it possible.”
She studied him.
Richard did not look heroic. His shirt was wet from the rain. Mud stained his boots. His hands carried machine grease from the factory. He looked like a tired man who had entered the building because his truck failed.
Perhaps that was why Sister Margaret believed him.
Grand promises usually arrived dressed more carefully.
The county placed the girls under emergency foster care while Richard’s petition was reviewed. No licensed family had space for all nine, so St. Mary’s received temporary permission to keep them together.
Richard returned the next morning.
Then the morning after that.
He learned to prepare formula under the nurses’ supervision. He changed diapers slowly and badly. He fed two babies at once while a third screamed from the next crib.
He began writing details inside a small brown notebook.
Baby One sleeps better with left cheek down.
