A change of heart

Testing limits and adjusting

It's been a week since Amanda took Mollianne in, and every since then Mollianne has been pushing Amanda away. On Monday, Amanda got called to Mollianne's school by the principal. Then Amanda drove to her foster daughter's school. When she arrived and walked into the principal's office.

"Please Miss Rollins, have a seat." The principal said

Amanda sat down, "What's this about?"

"Well Mollianne has been having some trouble focusing and concentrating in class, and she has been falling asleep in class lately." The principal explained

Amanda nodded, "Well she has been through a lot, and I only took her in a week ago. I haven't even had time to read through all the pages of her file to know the extent of what she has been though." Then Amanda added, "Ever since I took her in she has been having dreams about the day her and her sister were separated."

"Just work with her and for today I think it would be best if you took Mollianne home to rest. She's really tired and it shows." The principal replied

Amanda nodded again, "Okay I will. Thanks."

Then Amanda walked outside of the office and said to Mollianne, "Come on, let's go."

Mollianne stood up and walked out with her foster mother. When they got home and Amanda and Mollianne were walking in the front door.

"Mollie, sweetie, I'd like you to go take a nap." Amanda said gently

Mollianne rolled her eyes, "You can't tell me what to do. You're not my mom." Then she walked over and sat on the couch.

Amanda sighed, "Mollie, you're tired. Go take a nap."

"I'm not tired, Amanda! Now leave me alone." Mollianne yelled as she started to walk toward the front door.

Amanda ran over and blocked the front door, "Don't you dare. This is so unlike you, Mollianne."

"Ugh! You don't know anything about me." Mollianne shouted

"What is it that you want from me? How can I help you?" Amanda asked while trying to remain calm

"You can't help me, Amanda. You can't bring her to me." Mollianne replied yelling

"Bring who to you, sweetie? Who is it you want?" Amanda asked calmly

Mollianne sighed and yelled, "My mommy!" Then Mollianne ran to her room and slammed the door. She laid down on her bed and cried.

Amanda sighed sadly. She didn't realize that being a foster parent would be this difficult. Plus she felt bad about the argument that she and Mollianne just had.

Amanda walked to Mollianne's room and knocked on the door, "Mollie, sweetie, can I come in?"

"No!" Mollianne shouted thoug tears "I hate you and I wish I wasn't here! I wish I was with my mommy!"

Amanda sighed, "Okay but if you decide you'd like to talk I'll be in the living room."

Mollianne didn't reply. She just continued crying until eventually she had cried herself to sleep.

Mollianne woke up from her nap and stretched to help her wake up fully. She crawled out of bed and then opened the door and walked out to the living room.

"Did you have a nice nap?" Amanda asked when she saw Mollianne

Mollianne glanced at Amanda before nodding.

"Can we talk about your outburst earlier?" Amanda asked

"Oh that. It was nothing." Mollianne replied even though it wasn't nothing. Then she added, "I was just tired."

"Okay well I thought you'd like to know that your sister is fine." Amanda told Mollianne

"She's alive?" Mollianne asked for confirmation that she heard right

Amanda nodded, "Yes and she has a one year old son."

Mollianne smiled softly but her eyes looked sad.

Later that day, Amanda was cooking dinner when Mollianne walked in.

"What are you making?" Mollianne asked

"I'm cooking rice, chicken, and caramelized carrots." Amanda replied

Mollianne nodded, "Can I help?" Mollianne wanted to talk to Amanda but she had to ease her way into it.

"Of course." Amanda replied "Could you cut the carrots please?"

Mollianne nodded as she got a knife and started to cut up the carrots.

"So how was your day? How was work?" Mollianne asked trying to make small talk

Amanda smiled softly, "My day was good, and work was okay. I'm working on a case and we haven't caught the perpetrator yet."

Mollianne nodded, "Well you'll catch him eventually. It's like the saying 'you can run, but you can't hide'."

"Thanks. I'm glad you believe in me when I don't really believe in myself right now." Amanda stated

Mollianne took a deep breath, "So...about my outburst earlier. It was partly because I was tired, but the reason I was tired is because I've been having bad dreams."

"Bad dreams? What about, sweets?" Amanda asked

Mollianne sighed, "About the day my sister and I were separated. I was screaming and crying for her." Then Mollianne stopped cutting the carrots and started crying, "I miss her so much, Mandy."

Amanda sighed sadly. She felt so bad for Mollianne. She asked, "Can I give you a hug?"

Mollianne nodded and practically ran into Amanda's open arms. She cried hysterically.

Amanda hugged Mollianne and rubbed her back soothingly. Then she found herself singing, which is something she didn't think she would ever do.

Mollianne sniffled and then looked up at Amanda. She asked, "Mandy? Do you think my mommy misses me?"

Amanda looked down so her eyes met Mollianne's. She nodded, "Absolutely. Every second of the day she is thinking of and missing you."

Mollianne nodded and smiled softly, "Okay Mandy."