This is the second and final chapter of Bodie and Karma's story.
This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this story are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
"Bodie, I have a daughter."
I was shocked! My jaw dropped, but I couldn't find words. I just didn't know what to say. I could see her face sadden at my reaction. It was just natural, I guess. She rushed on.
"I'm so sorry I never told you. Please, please understand I wasn't trying to deceive you! It's in my past and very painful for me."
I tried to process it. But I didn't really know much yet. I knew she wasn't a virgin when we met, and she had no doubt figured out I wasn't either. We just had never felt the need to discuss our past sexual encounters. I'd never have guessed she had a child though. I just asked the first thing that came to mind.
"Why now?"
Then I could see the signs of hope and fear again.
"Because the State of Pennsylvania is trying to find her a home."
Now I was even more confused.
"Karma, just start at the beginning. I'm not mad...not even disappointed. I understand not wanting to, or even being
able
to share particularly painful memories. I've seen things in combat I haven't told you...and probably won't. So, I get it. Just tell me what you can. I want to help. I can't stand seeing you this upset."
She gave me one of those smiles. The kind that a mate gives to their partner. A smile of appreciation and love.
"It all started after my mother died..."
After her mother died, she was scared. It wasn't that it was a surprise, a social worker had been involved since her mother's hospitalization a couple of weeks before she succumbed to cancer. But hearing someone talk about foster care in the background while you focus on your mother is nothing like the reality of it when you are suddenly all alone in the world.
"Bodie, we didn't have much but we were happy. And then it was gone. I was trying to deal with grief and was afraid about having to leave everything familiar and go live with people I didn't know. I was overwhelmed."
I thought to myself how the uncertainty and fear of what bootcamp would be like gotten to me before leaving. And I was an adult and had made the decision to do it! Not to mention I'd received 'inside information' from my father and uncles in preparation.
"And you were just a teenager. I know I wouldn't be easy at any age, but things just seem harder when you're a teen."
She nodded sadly and continued.
They found her a family that was a couple of towns away, but regardless of the proximity to the home she shared with her mother, she still had to go to a new school and could no longer easily see her old friends. The family she was with had two other foster children and while they didn't treat her poorly, there was no love.
She was frightened and lonely but was soon befriended by a girl her age, another foster child, but from a different family. Her name was Amber. Yes, the same one she had invited to our wedding. Amber had been in the system for a lot longer, and she helped Karma through some of the rough things, how to toughen up and have a different perspective. Karma started to become self-reliant.
This much I knew, although I'd only gotten it in pieces since I knew her. Hearing it all at once gave me a new appreciation for how hard it had been on her. I reached over and squeezed her hand sensing she was about to explain more. She took a deep breath and continued.
Not long after starting in the new school, a boy took an interest in her. She was a sophomore, and he was a junior. Amber liked him, but once he saw Karma, he pursued her. It caused some initial tension between the girls, but they stayed friends and Amber more or less stepped to the side.
Randy was charismatic and Karma was inexperienced. He flattered her, made her feel good. He said all the right things. She didn't realize it then, but he was manipulative and controlling. He had a rough group of friends, many of the same guys that hung around his older brother, who was a very low-level drug dealer. Before she knew it, he'd convinced her to smoke a little pot. It wasn't long after she got pregnant.
Once her foster family found out, they reported it to the State, who removed her from the home and put her with another family. Karma was scared. She'd barely settled in when she was uprooted, and now had a pregnancy to deal with. The new family was better than the first. They were a little cold but seemed to have her interests at heart.
They knew of a couple that wanted a child but couldn't have one of their own and arranged for an open adoption. They also did what they could to keep Randy away from Karma. He refused to acknowledge he was the father and claimed Karma must have slept with someone else, which was devastating to her given her age and fragile emotional state. Despite this, he continued to pursue her.
Her new foster family spoke with the police and the school. He was threatened with charges if he didn't leave her alone. Shortly after, he dropped out of school. She didn't see him again for over a year.
Karma grew up fast in the next few months. It is no easy thing for a young girl to be pregnant in high school. She met the couple who wanted to adopt the baby and agreed to let them be present for the birth. Karma gave birth to a healthy baby girl one month before her seventeenth birthday.
The couple let her name the child. She chose Juniper, partly because she liked the sound of it and partly its similar sound to the birth month. She was surprised the couple liked it, calling her Juni for short. She visited a couple of times after that so she could see Juni was being loved. Then everyone agreed it was best to end them and allow both the young mother and baby to go on with their lives.
She grew up way too fast during that time. Her foster family did encourage her to stay involved with school and friends. She was still friends with Amber and during her senior year discovered her love of dancing. Unfortunately, while out at some dances, she ran into Randy more than once. Despite him coming up to her, she made it clear they were done.
Karma had always had a talent for drawing and in her senior year the school's new art teacher re-sparked her love of it and ultimately helped get her enrolled in some courses at the local community college following her graduation.
Most of the rest I knew. After a year at the community college, her professor, recognizing her talent, helped her apply for a scholarship to the university. She got it and that was where we met.
It had drained her to tell me the story. I really did understand why it would have been buried deep. As much as she loves children, having to give one up must have been devastating. As if reading my mind, she spoke.
"It was the hardest thing I've ever done."
"I'm so sorry Honey. I'm sorry you had to go through all of that."
It also makes me realize how much I've taken my family for granted. We both sat in silence for a moment, reflecting. Then I asked,
"What does the State want?"
"Juni's adoptive parents, the Franklin's, were killed in an accident a few days ago. They want to know if we're interested in taking her and potentially adopting her."
