Kate Dunlap

During the next few days, Kate had a chance to ask Edward why he had looked so surprised when he had found out that their last name was Dunlap. “Oh, that?” he said. “I was surprised because that was the last name of some of our relatives.”

“Your relatives? Emilie said you didn’t have any!”

“She didn’t know. But we do have some relatives with the last name Dunlap. Our parents never talked about them or to them at all, except I remember their last names being mentioned once or twice. I don’t even know where they live or even really who they are. And after our parents died, we never heard anything else. I think they’re second cousins, or something like that. I was just surprised to hear that last name.”

Kate knew that Edward had not seen her mother’s surprised face when she heard the name “Powers.” Hmm, she thought to herself. I wonder…

Later she had the chance to be alone with her mother and brought the subject up to her. “Mom, why did you look surprised when you heard that the twins’ last name was Powers?”

Mrs. Dunlap thought for a moment, and then replied, “Well, I guess it was because I think your dad has far-off relatives by the last name of Powers. I haven’t even thought about them in years. When I heard Edward say that their last name was Powers it reminded me of Dad’s relatives, and I was surprised that the twins had the same last name. Why do you ask?”

“Mom!” Kate shouted. “I think that the twins are the Powers that you know of!”

“What in the world are you talking about?” Mrs. Dunlap exclaimed. “And lower your voice. We’re inside!”

“Sorry,” Kate said quickly. “But Mom, don’t you see? Edward said that they had some relatives by the name of Dunlap, but they didn’t know much about them, and we have some relatives by the name of Powers and we don’t know much about them!”

Mrs. Dunlap looked wide-eyed at her daughter. “Are you sure?”

Kate nodded. “You can ask Edward if you want. He’ll tell you what he told me.”

“If that’s true then I really need to talk to your father. Where is he? This is urgent.” Mrs. Dunlap seemed very excited, but Kate wasn’t sure whether or not it was because of who the twins were.

“I think he’s outside,” Kate said. “Since it’s his day off work he wanted to get a little of the landscaping done in our front yard.”

“Good. I need to talk to him alone, Kate. So please stay here. And also, please don’t tell Edward or Emilie about what you just told me. I don’t want them to know that they may be related to us.”

Kate had been trained from an early age to just obey without asking questions, and she didn’t ask any questions now, either. She just said “Yes, Ma’am,” and obeyed cheerfully, even though she wanted to ask questions.

		*		

A week later (the orphanage was still “too busy” and “too full right now” to take the twins back, although they did say that they could probably take them back the next week), after supper was finished, Mr. Dunlap called Mrs. Dunlap and Kate into the parents’ bedroom for a “conference.” After his wife and daughter were comfortable, Mr. Dunlap said, “I have an announcement to make.”

“Is it that the twins have to go back to the orphanage now?” Kate asked worriedly. She, Emilie and Edward had become great friends over the short stay the twins had had at the Dunlaps’ house, and she didn’t want them to leave quite yet. Honestly, she didn’t ever want them to leave, but she knew that would come someday soon.

“Actually, no,” Mr. Dunlap said, surprising her. “Well, that’s not exactly true… but it may be soon enough.” He paused and smiled at Mrs. Dunlap, obviously enjoying the suspense he was creating. “Your mother and I have decided to do something very exciting,” he said to Kate, “but I need to ask you what you think first.”

Kate was puzzled. “Why are you asking me?” she said. “I’m definitely not the one in charge here!”

Mr. Dunlap laughed. “You’re right. Let me explain. I did some research and found that the twins are the children of my late great-aunt Hilda’s only daughter, who was killed in a car accident several years ago. I did not know she had any children, but the twins were hers. What we want to do will affect you, our home, and every aspect of our lives. And we don’t want this to make you miserable. So what I have to ask you is this: What would you think of having Edward and Emilie for your brother and sister?”

For a moment Kate was too astonished to reply. Finally she said, “I would love that! I’m sure we wouldn’t always get along, and we would fight sometimes, but I think having them for siblings would be a good thing!”

“I’m glad you think so,” Mrs. Dunlap said, “but we want you to be completely sure. You can’t change your mind after we’ve started the adoption process.”

Kate nodded. “I know this is a big thing,” she said, “but I’m sure. I don’t think I’ll ever change my mind. I’ve often wished I could have a sister or brother, and now I’ll have both!”

“Well, wait a minute,” Mr. Dunlap said. “It’s no where near final. We haven’t even asked the twins what they think. I think it would only be right to ask them, too, since we’ve gotten to know them so well lately. And then we have to go through the whole process. So don’t get your heart set on it.” Kate said that she understood and would try not to be too disappointed if it didn’t happen.

Mr. Dunlap said, “Mom and I have wanted to adopt for a little while now, and when we found out who the twins actually were we were very excited. We prayed about it, and we are sure that it is the Lord’s will that we adopt the twins.”

After they asked Kate, Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap had to ask the twins. They, too, were very excited with the idea when Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap asked them. So soon the adoption process was started.

“I’m so glad that you snuck into our attic that night,” Kate remarked to Emilie and Edward a few days later. “Look at what’s happening!”

“Yeah,” Edward said, “it’s like that Bible verse we read a couple of days ago. ‘All things together make good’… um, how did it go, Emilie?”

Emilie smiled. “‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’” She sighed happily. “I’m glad too, Kate. These last few weeks have been so wonderful. And now your family is adopting us! It’s so exciting and I’m sure we’ve a fantastic adventure ahead of us!”