THE two week came by so fast, and it's already the third week. Molly had been with them for a week now. They went and saw Jessica really quickly that afternoon and swung by Molly's house to pick up some of her clothes since she's going to be a stay in nanny for Periwinkle.

Maine met Molly's Mom, Aling Anita. She's a sweet widow with two girls who's love for their mother can be seen in their sad, haggard but contented life. She smiled bitterly. How she wishes for a parent, just one parent, to be right there next to her.

it is such a sad realization, they are poor or at least they were the ones without much, are very happy in life. whereas like her, who come from well off families are so hard up on achieving such simple happiness. Another stinging sensation around her eyes, she looked down to hide the pain she's feeling.

She came home late one afternoon. As she was walking in the house, she felt a little panic. The house was so quiet. Too quiet that you can hear a pin dropping. Then all of a sudden some jumped from behind her. She jumped and was about to swing when she heard Periwinkle's contagious giggles. A warm feeling of satisfaction and relief washed over her.

"Mom-my!" Maine's eyes went big. Tears came down as she was reaching for her little Periwinkle.

"Yes, baby. I am Mommy." She replied with tears still running down.

"You talked?" She was overwhelmed. "When did she do this?" Maine turned to Molly. Molly smiled at her first, tears are showing on her, too.

"Just a while ago. I was picking up her toys. I told her to help me pick it up and to put it in the bin. I told her that we need to clean up her mess because Mommy is coming home soon. She just copied what I said. I just cried." Maine doesn't know what to do. She was so over-ecstatic that she hugged Molly.

"Did you log it?" She asked.

"Yes, I did. I put the time and date on that little green notebook that you have in your nightstand." Molly replied.

"Thank you. Here." Maine handed Molly her motorcycle key, jacket and helmet. She pulled her phone and called Jessica. The phone rang once and Jessica answered.

"Hey, Maine. What can I do for you?" Jessica's voice sounded so jolly on the other side. Maine smiled.

"She talked." Maine said. She was so excited that a few words escaped her.

"What?" She heard Jessica's confused voice.

"I'm sorry. i was too excited to express myself too well." She said. "Periwinkle said a word and she did it a few times already." She said. She saw Molly nodded numerous times, agreeing with her.

"What did she say?" Jessica asked with a hopeful voice.

"She said Mommy. I walked and she startled since Molly and her hid behind the door to scare me and she said Mommy. Jessice, my baby girl called me Mommy!" She was beyond overjoyed with how she is acting at the moment. She heard Jessica laugh on the other end.

"Congratulations, Mommy." She cooed. "That is very good. That is progress." Jessica has been a part of her and Periwinkle a day after she was rescued from that fiery building. To think, it has been almost two month since that traumatic night.

"What will I do?" She asked Jessica. "Are they going to take her away from me now?" After the happiness she's feeling, a sense of fear is taking over her.

"You need to relax. Nobody is going to get that child away from you, not if I can help it." Maine felt a little relieved at what Jessica had said. "With how fast she is improving at the moment, I will send a very good recommendation that Child Protective Services may not be able to resist. You just got to be ready for it." Maine somehow felt a lot more relieved compared to a few moments ago.

"Okay. Thank you, Jessica." She then said. "Do I need to bring her to you tomorrow?" She asked. That is usually what they do aside from her regular twice a week visits to Jessica's office, she will take Periwinkle anytime a new development takes place.

"No. No need to bring her here tomorrow but we will be keeping her appointment the day after tomorrow." Jessica was and is very helpful with her and Periwinkle. She doesn't know what to do if Jessica wasn't there.

"Thank you, Jess." She said. After all the pleasantries, they both bid goodbye and she turned to her baby.

"Come here baby." She tries to get her attention. Periwinkle turn to her with a big dimpled smile.

"Mom—my." She did it again. Maine cracked a very wide and contented smile.

"Yes, baby. I am Mommy." She saw Molly smiling so wide and happily at them. She smiled at her, too and gave her a hug. "Thank you, Molly. You are an Angel to us." She added hugging her.

"No problem, Ate. I was just doing my job." Maine felt a tug on her heart.

"That is not a job, that is a commitment. You are doing me a very good favor." She smiled at Molly. She was happy that she had changed her mind that day.

"Ay Ate. Before I forgot. There's a letter that came for you earlier." Molly got up to get the letter she was talking about.

"From whom?" She asked while playing tickles with Periwinkle. Molly handed her the letter. Can you two change into something, let's have dinner somewhere." Molly took Periwinkle from her to get changed.

Maine was left in the living room staring at the white windowed envelope. It bears a name that says, Child Protective Services and it was addressed to Ms. Nicomaine Mendoza.

Her heart went beating fast. She doesn't like the look of this letter. She was putting it down when the door swung open. Luisa came right out of it.

"Hello, bes." Luisa greeted her with a wide grin on her face.

"What are you doing here?" She asked dryly. Luisa's brow raised up to the nth floor.

"What's with coldness, dryness, whatever attitude that is." Luisa's finger was pointing up and down her. She just tsked and put the envelope down. As soon as she put the envelope down, Luisa grabbed it.

"Luisa!" She called out. Luisa just glanced at yer and ripped the envelope open.

"I can sue for opening my letter, did you know that?" She snarled at her friend.

"Go ahead. You know my lawyer." Luisa pushed her words back far away. "Why are you not opening this yet? You should be keeping up with this kind of letter." Maine just walked past Luisa and slammed herself on the couch. She just got home and she's very tired. There's no fire call today, thank God. But sitting around is more tiring than fighting fire.

"I don't want to see what's on it. I don't want to read the words saying I have to give up Periwinkle." Maine hushedly said. Molly was just listening from the kitchen with Periwinkle.

Luisa's demeanor changed. She can feel the different kinds of emotions that are going through Maine. Maine never had a break from being hurt and sad and being left behind. Periwinkle may trigger something bad from her and she, as her friend, may not be able to stand seeing her heartbroken again.

"You can not just say that. What if what's on the letter is good news? How are you going to find out if you just throw it to the piles of unwanted letters?" Luisa got a point but Maine is too stubborn to pay attention to it at the moment.

"Since you open it already, read it." She said. But before Luisa could do it, a knock on the door came. Maine stood up to open it.

"Hi." Mike's toothy grin greeted her as she open it. She just smiled at him.

"Hey." She greeted him back.

"I was looking for Luisa. Is she here?" Mike asked. She opens the door wider to reveal the person he's looking for. "Thanks." He said.

"Hey, babe." Luisa got up quick to meet Mike at the door.

"Bernie and guys are here, too. They wanted to see the little Princess." Maine smiled. She's happy that everyone is loving Periwinkle. She needed it. She had lost a lot when her mother passed at that fire.

"Come in." She said, inviting everyone in. Everyone means Mike, Bernie, Conrad and Allan.

"Wait!" She was about to close the door when she heard a voice echoing in the hallway. She looked out and saw Gerald huffing and puffing.

"You need to straight up, Big Mike is here." She quickly and quietly told Gerald. He took a deep breath and composed himself.

"Hey, cous. Good thing you're here." Mike greeted Gerald. He only waved at him since he was still trying to get his breathing even.

"Maine, you need to see this letter." Maine felt a hammer hit her chest. It went wild. She felt like running out of breath.

"Read it." She urged her. Trying to make herself sound normal but she knew very well that normal is nowhere to be found at the moment. Her heart beat is too far from being normal.

"It says; Dear Ms. Mendoza. We are well aware of your participation in making sure that the welfare of a Jane Doe, case # Ph0202, named "Periwinkle" is in order." She shook her head upon hearing the introduction of the letter .

"It reached our attention your intent to adopt that said Jane Doe. We are glad to let you know that at her age she is a good candidate for adoption." That letter is full of shit. Her mind went haywire. She feels sick to her stomach that this agency considered Periwinkle as a common name and a case number. Her teeth gritted.

"Since the said child is under your care, we are happy to inform you that our office is waiting for your call or letter of intent, signed by you and notarized by a notary public." Everyone went quiet and all eyes were on her. Luisa continued.

"Given that you can provide all the necessary documentation needed to start the adoption process given that you and the child need to go through a psychological evaluation and bonding stage. Respectfully yours, Lucille Ortiz." Maine's brow raised.

"Who sent it?" She asked. She wasn't sure if she heard it right or not.

"Lucille Ortiz." Allan repeated the name of the person whose signature is seen on the letter.

"Oh for the love of God. What is she trying to do now?" She blurted out of frustration. "See. This is exactly the reason why I do not want to open the damn letter in the first place, because I know that one way or another, she will make it difficult for me." She is almost hysterical. Gerald came to her rescue and was trying to calm her down.

"Let me call someone to see if this is a legit letter or she was just trying to shake you down." Mike got on the phone. Everyone went quiet, including her.

"Molly, will you take Periwinkle to her room, please." Luisa asked. She doesn't want the little girl to see Maine's angry and confused look.

"Yes, Ate." Molly replied with a nod, too. "Come here Angel. We are going to play phonetics in Mommy's room." She smiled at what she heard. Molly turned out to be the person she expected to be and more.

She was guided by Gerald to sit down next to him. Big Mike is on the phone talking to someone. Bernie, Conrad and Allan were just listening. A few moments later he got off and put his phone away.

"Okay. Here is what the adoption attorney said. Adopting a child is easy in a way but the reality is, it's not. For a couple, whose financial status is stable, it will be quick after the full background is made, maybe a few months or a year." Big Mike held his hand up because he saw Maine wanting to say something. He wants the whole information to be heard first before everything else. "For a single person like you, it will take a while, unless you get married anytime soon. It will be easier to adopt if there will be two parents, both need to get parental seminars and training, since this is a child adoption not child birth." Her shoulder went limp. She wanted to cry hearing Big Mike's words.

"How am I going to give her a good life if I can't adopt her?" Her tears came flowing down. Luisa got up so quickly and in a flash, she was sandwiched between Gerald and Luisa.

"Hey. Hey. Don't cry. We will figure this out, right guys?!" Luisa said, glaring at guys. Meaning, say yes.

"Yes, we will." The boys said in unison. Luisa continued patting her back and lovingly caressed her back. Maine can't think straight with all the emotions going through her right now.

"I don't know what to do. I can't part ways from her. She"s my baby now." Everyone looked at each other, heartbroken. They feel her want and pain.

"There's a way though." Allan suddenly spoke up. Everyone's eyes, including Maine's is on him.

"What way?" Maine asked in between sobs and tears.

"Get married." His simple answer. Maine's mouth hangs open.

"Oh, that's dumb." Maine quickly replied. Her demeanor changed from appalled to disgust. "Who wants to get married just for that?" She whined. Luisa chuckled, as Gerald.

"Gie, kiss Maine." Big Mike commanded. Everyone looked at him like their lives depended on him. No one was able to say a single word. They took a quick look at each other, shocked and confused.

"Kuya! What is wrong with you?" Gerald finally found his voice and spoke up.

"What? It was a simple command. If you two kiss and spark flies then we can all figure this out, you two can get married and adopt Periwinkle. That's simple." Gerald and Maine looked at each other. Maine with a smile of mischief, Gerald with fear and disagreement. Maine knew that he wanted to protest but he can't because it is Big Mike.

"Come on, let's try it." Maine egged on. He looked at her with contempt and warning. If only looks could kill, Maine may have dropped dead on the floor instantly.

"I will kill you, Mendoza." Gerald gritted his teeth. Maine giggled.

"Oh, this gotta be good." Bernie said grinning.

"Oh yeah." Conrad and Allan echoed next to Bernie. All three men gave each other a high five. Luisa on the other hand was smiling greatly. This ought to be good.

The atmosphere became light and easy going. The heaviness of Maine's emotion went away for the moment. Her mind is somewhere she's not supposed to be in. She grabbed Gerald's collar and pulled him a little closer to her for a quick kiss.

She closed her eyes as their lips touched and saw Alden's handsome face, smiling at her, one showing his lone dimple and the other was soaking wet in the rain. The sight was so pleasant and yet scary. She pushed Gerald and stared at him for a bit, then she realized it wasn't Alden. She held her chest and felt her heart thumping really hard. Why Alden?

Gerald on the other hand ran to the bathroom to throw up. He felt disgusted with himself. It's not because Maine is not desirable but because he's a girl trapped in a man's body. He heard Big Mike's thundering laugh reverberating in Maine's house, as the other guys. He winced. He knew he's not going to hear the end of it.

"So... how was it?" Asked Allan as Gerald was walking back to sit next to Maine. He's expecting hurtful and disappointing remarks from his cousin's friends, and of course, from Big Mike, too, but heard something else.

"I know he's not gonna be able to do it." Big Mike heartily laughed. Gerald was waiting for more than just that comment but none.

"Well, I can be a stand-in husband. How hard it is to get a divorce anyway?" Everyone's eyes are on him. Big Mike shook his head.

"Nah. You're too feminine for that." Conrad commented under his breath. Allan and Bernie laughed.

"Yeah. Instead of Maine getting Periwinkle without another hitch, she totally loses her in the process." Allan was serious with his comment. Everyone is concerned and wants Maine and Periwinkle to end up together as family, mother-daughter.

"Why? Is it because I can't kiss her?" He protested. Maine smiled at how brave her best friend is but Big Mike gave him a serious look.

"No. It is not because of that." He replied. Luisa was trying to hold in a smile. "Don't force yourself. I know you will do everything for your best friend but let's face the fact, Gerald. You're gay." BigMike said calmly without any tone of embarrassment, only love and understanding. "Eventually, it will be an issue with the adoption." They all nod, but Luisa.

"When did you find out." Gerald asked. He is calm now. All of a sudden, all fear and hesitation was gone.

"Gei, I am your cousin. I've known it, well, all of us in the family knew it since you were in high school. We just let you be you because you did not show any actions to dishonor the family. Look at you, you did your thing, you're a nurse now and still trying to make yourself better by finishing as a nurse practitioner. I think Maine and Prescilla are a good influence on you." Big Mike said with a smile. A tear came down Gerald cheeks.

"You mean, Dad knew all along and did not say anything?" Big Mike nodded, giving him a loving smile. "Well, thank you for not being mad." He quietly said.

"We have all the time in the world to talk about that, Gei, but for now, we have this problem." Big Mike said. They all nod and glanced at Maine. They agreed to put it aside for the moment as Big Mike and Bernie ordered dinner for all of them. No one wants to lose the firehouse Angel, that's for sure.

They are sitting in the living room waiting for their order when Luisa said something that alerted them all.

"There's one other way." Luisa calmly said. "We can ask Jessica to hold it up till we figure out a way to get all these straightened out." She added.

"We can do that." Big Mike agreed.

"I can investigate." Allan volunteered.

"Why?" Maine asked.

"I don't know, I just felt like there's more to her than what she tells and shows us." Allan expressed. Bernie and Conrad agreed in unison.

"I can get more info on that adoption thing from my godfather." Bernie chimed in. "He's a family lawyer." Bernie added. They all nod.

"I can start looking for a husband candidate." Everyone looked at him with furrowed brows. "What?" He innocently asked. Everyone just shook their heads and ignored what he said. He just smiled. Maine a glimpse of that smile. She didn't like it but did not say a word. She's focused on what the others are saying.

Their dinner came and they all sat and ate. Maine was busy feeding Periwinkle. Everyone was watching her every move.

"So, husband candidate, huh." Luisa turned whispering at Conrad. He just nodded and smiled widely. Luisa caught on and smiled, too. They gave each other a high five.

"What's going on, Tuico?!" Big Mike's restraint voice came and they both smiled at him. Conrad showed two fingers as a sign for peace.

"Later, love." Luisa whispered and kissed him.

__________
End of TPA 16: Husband Candidate

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💖 ~ Ms J ~ 💖
04.23.20

The Periwinkle Affair
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August 26, 2019