Next Story in the American Lifestyles Series

"American Adoption"


Chapter One


Several Months Later…


Laughter spread through out the room and the voices became louder. Chrissy smiled at the sight of everyone in her living room. All here to celebrate the Baptism of 1-yearold Jai-li. She thought about the beautiful ceremony and how happy Jolene and Danny were to become the new God parents of her daughter. “I’ve got dibs on the next one,” Lydia said to her after taking a snap shot of Jai being dipped into the water. Surely, Lydia did have dibs on the next.

“Someone is in deep thought,” Jolene said to her as she poked her.

“Hah, kind of. Just thinking,” Chrissy replied.

“About?”

“About what Lyd said,” Chrissy said.

“I don’t get it.”

“The next one… I don’t know when the ‘next one’ will come around.”

“That’s entirely up to you and Zhi. Technically, the next one could
happen tonight. That’s if these people cleared out earlier enough for you guys to still have some energy left,” Jo said with a smile.

“True,” Chrissy said. Jolene and Chrissy slipped into some chairs in the living room and began chatting with some more family members. Somehow, music began to play and all the kids came to the middle of the room. They each danced together and moved in awkward motions.

Suddenly, the music was shut off and everyone looked to the stereo. Standing in front of the stereo was Lydia and Kiral. Chrissy was surprised to see them here, together. Over the past months they had become an off and on relationship. Last time she checked, things were off.

“Uh, Well,” Lydia began.

Kiral bent to her ear and whispered something. She nodded and turned around. Her armed moved around a bit and then, she turned around. When she turned around she held a sign in her hands. Then Kiral turned and did the same. When both faced the crowd with the signs in their hands, they finally flipped it.

Lydia’s sign read, “I’m pregnant!”

Kiral’s sign read, “ And it’s mine!”

Kiral and Lydia laughed together and everyone else joined them.

“Sorry,” Lydia said. “I just couldn’t get myself to say it!”

Jolene was among the first to jump up and congratulate them. She hugged Lydia and laid a hand on Lydia’s stomach. No doubt there was barely anything there, but when you are pregnant, people touch you anyway. Knowing Lydia would think it odd of her if she didn’t, Chrissy got up and gave Lydia her obligatory congratulation. “On again?” Chrissy asked.

“On forever,” Lydia said with a smile.

“So, you’re moving out?” Chrissy asked. Since their relationship had become so unstable, Lydia lived with Chrissy. Chrissy and Zhi lived in a home that was well fit for a family. But because they only had one child, they had plenty of room. In their extra room, Lydia had settled. It wasn’t bad though. Lydia came home from work and cleaned up. If Chrissy needed a sitter then Lydia was there. If Lydia needed advice, about Kiral mostly, then Chrissy was there.

“Yeah, I will be moving out. I’ll be out of hair for good now,” Lydia said with a smile.

“You never bothered me!” Chrissy argued. The party continued and everyone did as they would do. Eventually, it was all over. The house was cleared out and all that was left was a large mess. Lydia, Kiral, Zhi, and Jai-li were all that remained in the house. Jolene had left early to put the kids to bed and get some rest of her own. Chrissy gathered all plates and cups and dumped them in the sink.

She looked at them and contemplated doing them. She shrugged and said to herself, “Zhi will do them later.”

Behind her, Lydia laughed. “I heard that,” Lydia said.

“Well, it’s true,” Chrissy replied.

“I know. Zhi is great like that. Speaking of, he went upstairs with Jai-li. She fell asleep and he said he needed a shower.”

“Good,” Chrissy said with a nod. Chrissy leaned against her counter and looked at Lydia. She didn’t look pregnant. That was good, she guessed.

“So, I wanted to speak to you about all of this.”

“What’s there to speak about?”

“Well, it’s all kind of abrupt and you seemed kind of odd.”

“Odd?”

“Well yeah,” Lydia said. “I saw your face when you read it. Like you were disappointed or sad…”

“What? NO! I’m happy for you, I am. I was just thinking about stuff, and you know how people in my family get to me after a while.”

Lydia nodded and smiled. “Well, if anything, you’d tell me right?” Lydia asked.

“Without hesitation,” Chrissy replied.

“Ok, I feel better! I packed some clothes so I can take the night at Kiral’s.”

“Technically, you live there too now,” Chrissy told her with a stiff finger and a smile.

“Very true, and I will be back for more stuff soon,” Lydia informed Chrissy.

“Ok, so, then I will see you around!” It was an awkward goodbye, but goodbyes never went too great anyway.

“Yup, see you around…” Lydia gave Chrissy a hug and left the kitchen. Chrissy heard the front door close and lock and she knew Lydia was gone. Sure, she also knew she wasn’t gone forever. She would just miss having her sister around.

Chrissy yawned and decided it was time to go upstairs. She snuck upstairs and into her room. She changed her clothes and lied in bed. Just as she closed her eyes she heard the bedroom door open. Zhi came into the room and climbed his way into bed. He moved closer to her and snuggled into her body. He smelled good and his body was warm.

It was early winter and the weather was cool. It wasn’t cold enough for heaters, but it was just the right temperature to cuddle close to someone for warmth. Chrissy didn’t move and didn’t make an attempt to open her eyes. She was perfectly happy with the silence. It wasn’t long till she was actually asleep.





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Zhi grunted at the sound of their hideous alarm. Five O’clock on the dot. Zhi wasn’t at all a mourning person, but he had to adapt. He had to make peace with the mourning to get to work on time. Zhi was a doctor at a local clinic. He worked from seven to seven and dealt with the Bronx’s most paid patients. He worked from Mondays through Fridays and was paid enough. It was all he could ever ask for.

Zhi rolled over and looked at Chrissy. Her eyes were open but she wasn’t looking at him. He kissed her forehead but didn’t say anything. He then got up and checked on Jai. She was still asleep. Zhi went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. Chrissy came into the bathroom and smiled at him. She grabbed her toothbrush and brushed her teeth with him.

It’s had became a routine for them. Jai would be awake by six thirty and begging for food. So Chrissy and Zhi only had an hour and half to shower and change, along with make breakfast. Finally done with brushing, they looked at each other. “Good mourning baby,” Zhi said.

“Mourning,” Chrissy said.

Zhi extended his arms and Chrissy came into them. He hugged her close and kissed her cheek. “You ok?” he asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” Chrissy replied.

“You think so?”

Chrissy looked around at the green bathroom, and then finally looked at Zhi. “Well, I was just thinking…”

“Oh boy,” Zhi said teasing her.

Chrissy pulled away from his grip and mumbled, “Forget it…”

“No, no, no… Tell me baby,” Zhi said grabbing her again. The bathroom wasn’t very small so they had room to move around together.

“Well, I was thinking about us having a second child.”

“Wow,” Zhi let out. It wasn’t exactly what he was expecting. He wasn’t thinking it at all. But of course, he knew at some point it would come up.
“Well, sure!” he said. “I wouldn’t mind having another baby with you. Maybe if we get to work now, you can be close to Lydia,” he said with a smile. He began kissing her neck and holding her close.

“Well, I don’t really want to be pregnant again,” Chrissy said. The words made Zhi stop in his tracks. He pulled away from her neck and looked at her. Was she serious?

“Then how do you expect to have another kid?” He laughed at his own question.

“Adoption…” Chrissy said.

“Wow, well,” Zhi was out of words. He never thought about adoption one bit. He wasn’t even sure he liked the idea of adopting. Sighing he pulled away from Chrissy and said, “Let’s save this discussion for another time. I don’t want to be late.”

Chrissy nodded her head and walked away. Chrissy needed an answer, but he couldn’t give her one now. Best he could come up with was that they should take time to think things over. Adoption is a long process and the kids are not exactly perfect. Zhi couldn’t believe she suggested this.
Then again, anything was believable with Chrissy. She was wako and that was just the way Zhi liked her. Zhi took a long shower and got dressed for work. He quickly said his goodbyes to Chrissy and Jai, and left for work.
The drive to the clinic wasn’t very long. Though, Zhi didn’t really time it. His mind was completely thinking about Chrissy. She wanted to take in and raise someone else’s child. He couldn’t see why. Pulling into the clinic lot, he parked his car. He made a quick exit and before he knew it he was inside the clinic.

Adriana, one of the nurses, greeted him. “How’s your morning going Zhi?”

“Quite crazy,” Zhi said. “And yourself?”

“Not too bad… so, what’s so crazy about your morning?” Adriana asked.

“My wife wants to adopt.”

“Wow, that’s intense.”

“I know, I think it’s because her friend is pregnant. Like, maybe it has her wanting more kids.”

“So, what did you tell her?”

“I told her we’d talk later,” Zhi told her. Adriana winced at his words and
shook her head. “So, you wouldn’t happen to know where I can buy a gift that says, ‘I’m very happy for your pregnant friend, but I don’t want to adopt. Can we spend time looking at our other options?’”

Adriana shook her head, “Sorry, I’m clueless in that department.”

Of course, Zhi thought to himself. Since he didn’t know where to locate that perfect gift, he figure he might as well just settle for flowers. He knew if he just explained himself to Chrissy she would understand.