Helena tried to reassure both of us that it would be a very long process even if the biological mother wanted to try to petition for custody, and that it wasn’t certain that she would. Very often, she told us, the biological parents of a child like Kallie, having no emotional bond since the birth, chose to leave the child in foster care if they were being well taken care of. Sometimes they did that even if the care wasn’t stellar simply because the parent wasn’t exactly ready to enter society again, let alone with a child to care for.

Helena seemed a little concerned when her assurances didn’t seem to do much to comfort Alice. It wasn’t that she was withholding, she simply seemed to give the baby less affection than she herself seemed to be comfortable with. No matter how many times Helena told us both that it would work out just fine, Alice never really acted like she took the words to heart.

“She’s just worried. It’s not about you, she’s just having some trouble with the idea that we could lose her someday. All the encouraging statistics in the world won’t help much when and if the lady does decide to come after Kallie,” I told Helena later, out of Alice’s earshot.

“I just wish she’d listen to me. The likelihood of the birth mother gaining full custody down the line is very, very slight. Personally I doubt she’d even make the attempt, it would be very difficult for her and any attorney she hires would alert her to how very slim the chance of her regaining custody of the child would be,” Helena fretted.

“Al’s just trying to play it safe. I don’t think she wants to get attached and then have something happen down the line. But it’s good to know that the mother doesn’t stand much of a chance anyway,” I said.

“You really love her, don’t you?” Helena asked. For a second I didn’t know to whom she was referring, but I guess it didn’t much matter. I felt the same way about both my wife and my daughter, so the answer would be the same regardless.

“I adore her.”

It wasn’t just me, either, when it came to Kallie. Everyone adored her on sight. There was no reason not to; she was a very happy baby. If she wasn’t laughing or smiling at whatever happened to be in front of her, she was quiet and looking around with huge green eyes. She was extremely well-behaved and never cried unless she was very hungry or desperately needed to be changed, but she could go for hours without either and never make a sound.