Three weeks later Jamie was enrolled in her new school. They met with the principal and he had his secretary, Ms. Mason take Jamie to her class. The secretary knocked on Ms. Jones’ door.
"Jamie this is Ms. Jones. She’s your fifth grade teacher." Ms. Mason said before she left.
"Hi." Jamie said.
"Class this is Jamie." Ms. Jones lean down and asked her last name.
"Jamie Hart." She said.
"Hi Jamie!" The class said.
"Jamie there’s a seat next to MJ. Go and sit there until I rearrange the class." Ms. Jones said.
Jamie walked over to MJ. He pulled her chair out for her to sit down.
"Thank you." She said with a smile.
"You’re welcome." He said with a smile.
"OOOO!" The kids said giggling.
"Ok class settle down. Jamie we are studying medieval history. After class I’ll give you a textbook. You’ll just have to share with MJ."
"Yes Ms. Jones." She said.
While Ms. Jones was up at the board writing some information MJ asked Jamie if she liked history. She told him she did. After history class they all headed down to the cafeteria for lunch. While she was on line getting her lunch Sue came up to her and said, "I saw you flirting with my boyfriend."
"Huh? Who me?" Jamie asked looking at her.
"Yeah you! Since you’re new I’ll give you a break. If I catch you flirting with him I punch your lights out." Sue said.
"I wasn’t flirting with him. He asked me a question and I answered it." Jamie said looking at her.
Sue just gave her a dirty look and walked away. Jamie went up to pay for her lunch when she realized that she didn’t bring her money.
"That’s ok little lady. That young man paid for your lunch already." The cashier said point to MJ.
"Oh." Jamie said looking at MJ.
"Thanks." Jamie said walking pass MJ quickly.
"Jamie can I sit with you?" MJ asked.
"Um no." She said looking at Sue.
He turned around and saw Sue looking at her. He then sat down with Jamie.
"You can’t sit here." Jamie said nervously.
"Why? Because of Sue? Don’t worry about her. She’s all talk. She thinks she’s my girlfriend. What a joke." He said looking at Jamie.
"I rather sit with a pretty girl any day then with a nasty girl like Sue." MJ laughed.
Jamie just smiled and ate her lunch. When they finished he asked her if she could help him with the history homework. She agreed. They both got up and headed outside for recess. While they passed Sue and her friends MJ said to her, "Sue leave Jamie alone. You are not my girlfriend and you’ll never be." Then he walked away.
After school Jamie waited for Max to pick her up. While she waited Sue walked over to her. Sue was about to say something when MJ, his sister Katie and their friends walked up to Sue and told her to get lost or they will tell the whole school that she shops in the ‘Goodwill Store’. Sue then walked away. They all waited with Jamie until Max pulled up. MJ went and opened the door for her and helped her into the car and they drove away. She was quiet all the way home.
"Hi Jamie." They said as she walked in.
"Hi." She said.
"How was your first day of school?" Jennifer asked.
"It was good." She said sitting at the kitchen table.
"Do you want some cookies?" Jonathan asked.
"No thank you. I have a lot of homework." She said getting up.
Jonathan and Jennifer just looked at her leave and then looked at each other when Max said, "She’s in love."
"What!" Jennifer said.
"Some boy helped her into the car today." He said with a smile.
"She’s only 10 years old. I better go and talk to her." Jonathan said looking at them.
"Jonathan don’t. Let me talk to her. Mother/daughter." Jennifer said getting up.
Jennifer went up to Jamie’s room. She knocked on her door.
"Come in."
"Sweetie can we talk?" Jennifer asked sitting on her bed.
"Sure." She said getting up from her desk.
"Did you make any friends today?"
"I sure did. This boy MJ he’s really nice. He wants to know if he can come over so I can help him with our history homework. I told him that I would have to ask you and daddy."
"Oh. Anybody else did you make friends with?" She asked looking at her.
"CJ, Dion, Katie and her friends Patty and Liz.
"Katie?"
" MJ’s twin sister. She’s cool. So are her friend’s Patty and Liz." Jamie said.
"I understand that MJ helped you in the car."
"Oh that. Yeah that was nice of him." Jamie then blushed.
"So what does he look like?"
"He’s got short blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. He’s a little bit taller than I am." She said with a smile.
"What’s his last name?"
"Sloan." She said.
"I think it would be great to meet MJ." Jennifer said.
"Great! When can he come over?" Jamie asked excitedly.
"How about tomorrow after school."
"That’s sounds great. I’ll call him and tell him." Jamie said getting up.
"We have to tell your dad first." Jennifer said as she got up.
"Ok."
They both left the room and went downstairs to talk to Jonathan. He agreed to meet MJ tomorrow.
"Can I call him daddy and let him know?"
"Sure." He said.
Jamie went and called MJ and told him that he can come over tomorrow after school.
"It’s all set." She said walking back into the kitchen.
"He said his mom will drop him off after school tomorrow." Jamie said excitedly.
After school the next day, MJ came over with his mom.
"Hello Mr. & Mrs. Hart. I’m MJ’s mom Kit Sloan."
"Hi Kit. Call me Jennifer. This is Jonathan." They shook hands.
While they talked Jamie and MJ went outside to play with Freeway. Jamie then asked, "When do you want to do our history homework?"
"We can do it now." He said sitting down at the table.
They both worked on their homework until dinner was ready.
"Mommy. Daddy. Can MJ and his mom stay for dinner?" She asked coming in.
"Oh thank you Jamie but I have to get home to start dinner. Mr. Sloan should be home soon. Another time ok." Kit said with a smile.
"Sure." She said.
"Thanks for the help Jamie." MJ said looking at her.
"You’re welcome." She said with a smile.
After they left Jennifer said, "His mom is really nice."
"Yes she is. I would like to meet his dad." Jonathan said.
"What does his dad do?" Max asked.
"He’s a Lieutenant in the Homicide Division of the LAPD." Jonathan said sitting down.
"Good job." Max said.
"From what Kit said her father in law is Chief of Internal Medicine for Community General Hospital." Jennifer said sitting down.
Jamie couldn’t wait to see MJ at school the next day to tell him what her parent’s thought of him. After dinner the phone rang and Max answered it.
"Jamie its for you." He handed her the phone.
"Hello…Hi MJ…. I’ll have to ask my parents. Hold on. She put her hand over the receiver and asked if she can go to MJ’s house tomorrow for dinner? They said she could…MJ my parents said it was all right with them…ok see you in school tomorrow. Bye." She hung up the phone and went upstairs to finish her homework.
After she was done with her homework, Jamie got ready for bed. There was a knock at her door.
"Come in."
"All homework done?" Jonathan asked.
"Yes." She said showing him.
"Daddy."
"Yes Jamie."
"What do you think of MJ?" She asked getting into bed.
"He seems to be a nice boy." Jonathan said tucking her in.
"He is nice. So is his sister and their friends."
"That’s good to know." He said tucking her in.
"Night daddy." She said kissing him.
"Night sweetie. I’ll send mom in." He said kissing her.
Jennifer came in and kissed her good night and then left. She walked into their bedroom and saw Jonathan sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Darling is everything alright?"
"Everything is fine. This came as a shock to me." He said looking at her.
"What did?" She asked sitting next to him.
"Jamie meeting a boy. She’s so young."
"Darling they’re not dating. They’re just friends." She said looking at him.
"I hope she knows that." He said getting up.
"We’ll talk to her. She’s just excited that she made friends right away. That’s all. Besides his mom is very sweet and we’ll meet her husband." Jennifer said getting undressed.
The next day in school MJ, CJ, Dion, Katie, Patty, Liz and Jamie all had lunch together.
"Jamie you’re still coming over right?" Katie asked.
"Yes." She said.
"Good. I can’t wait." Katie said excitedly.
"Neither can I." Jamie said looking at MJ.
After lunch they all went outside for recess.
"Hey MJ!" CJ said running over to him.
"Yeah."
"Ms. Buckley is putting together a basketball game want to play?"
"Sounds great. I’ll be right there." He said looking at Jamie as she sat with his sister.
Katie, Patty, Liz and Jamie went and sat on the bleachers to watch the boys play basketball. Jamie looked up and saw Sue and Kim walking towards them.
"Oh no." She said.
"What’s the matter?" Katie asked looking at her.
"Sue is coming over here." She said nervously.
The girls looked up and saw Sue and Kim standing in front of them.
"Excuse me Sue your blocking Jamie’s view." Katie said looking at her.
"So." She said looking at Jamie.
"How about moving!" Patty said standing up.
"Make me!" She said looking at Patty.
Ms. Jones heard the girls arguing and asked them what was going on.
"Nothing." Katie said getting up and moving over."
Patty and Liz followed her. Jamie went to get up when Sue shoved her back down.
"Hey! That’s not nice." Jamie said.
"Just stay away from MJ!" Sue yelled at her.
"Hey! You are not my brother’s girlfriend!" Katie yelled at her as she and Patty helped Jamie up.
The bell rang for them to go inside. Jamie quickly walked pass Sue and Kim. Kim shoved Jamie really hard into Sue and Sue tripped Jamie making her fall onto the ground. She cut her hand and scrapped her knees. Ms. Buckley grabbed Sue and Kim while Katie and Liz ran to pick up Jamie.
"Katie! Liz! Take her to the nurse right away!" Ms. Buckley yelled over to them.
The girl’s nodded and hurried Jamie off to the nurse’s office. Ms. Buckley took Sue and Kim to the principal’s office. Ms. Buckley explained everything to the principal. The principal called all the girls parents. Ms. Buckley then went to check up on Jamie. Katie and Liz sat with Jamie while the nurse cleaned her up.
"Jamie this might sting a little." She said while she put alcohol on her scraps.
"Ouch!" She said.
"Hi Jamie." Ms. Buckley said walking in.
"Hi." She said softly.
"I just came by to see how you are doing and to tell you that the principal called your parents and he also called Katie and Liz’s parents.
"Oh!" Jamie said looking at the girls to see if they would get mad at her.
"Katie I’m so sorry that your parents have been called and you too Liz. I’ll understand if you guys don’t talk to me ever again." Jamie said looking at them.
"Don’t worry about it." They said with a smile.
After Jamie was finished in the nurse’s office, Katie and Liz walked her back to her classroom.
"Thanks Katie and Liz." Jamie said.
"You’re welcome." Katie said hugging her.
The class got quiet when Jamie walked in. MJ was shocked when he saw Jamie with all her scraps. She looked down when they made eye contact. He felt so bad for her. She slowly walked over to her seat. He quickly walked over to help her.
"Thank you." She said softly.
"Thanks MJ." Ms. Jones said.
Ms. Jones then continued with the math. While she was teaching her classroom phone rang. She went over and picked it up and was talking to the principal. After she hung up she walked over to Jamie and told her that her parents are with the principal. Jamie got up and went down to the principal’s office. She walked in and her parents nearly fainted when they saw her scraps. The principal asked her parents to wait outside with the other parents. He then called in the Assistant Principal.
"Jamie could you tell us what happened at recess today?" The principal asked.
"I was sitting on the bleachers with Katie, Liz and Patty watching the basketball game. Sue and Kim came over and stood in front of me. Katie said to Sue that she was standing in front of me and Sue said "so". Then Patty asked her to move and Sue said, "Make me." Ms. Jones asked what was wrong and Katie said "nothing." Katie and her friends moved over and I got up to move when Sue shoved me down. I told her that was "not nice". Sue then said to me, "Stay way from MJ." Then Katie yelled at her, "Your not my brother’s girlfriend." The bell rang and I just walked quickly past Sue and that’s when Kim shoved me into Sue and Sue tripped me."
"That’s not what happened." Sue said looking at the principal.
The principal asked Sue to explain to him what happened. She told him that Jamie, Katie, Liz and Patty were calling her names and making fun of her and Kim.
"No I didn’t." Jamie said looking at Sue.
The principal called in his secretary and had her escort Jamie and Sue out and asked her to locate Katie, Liz and Patty. He brought in Kim and asked her to tell him what happened. She told him that Jamie and her friends were making fun of her and Sue. After Kim was finished Katie, Liz and Patty went in to see the principal and told him what happened. He asked the girls to leave while he and the Assistant Principal talked over everything. Then he called the girls into his office with their parents.
"Ok ladies. Ms. Hudson and I talked everything over and we feel that Sue and Kim should be suspended for three days."
"Why?" Their parents asked.
The principal handed them their kid’s folder that had a lot of complaints in them from all the teachers and some students. Their parents were so mad that they stormed out of the room with the girls.
"Mr. & Mrs. Hart why don’t you take Jamie home to rest. I’m sure her friends will get her homework to her." He said with a reassuring smile.
"Thanks." Jennifer said getting up.
"Jamie. I’m sorry that this happened to you." The principal said to her.
"Thanks." She said getting up slowly.
She looked over at Katie, Liz and Patty and said, "Thanks for all your help. Nobody has ever been this nice to me like you guys are."
"You’re welcome." Katie said getting up and hugging her.
Jamie then walked out with her parents. They took her home. She went up to her room to rest. Before she laid down she took out her diary and wrote in it. Then she laid down to rest. Jennifer quietly walked in and gently woke her up to tell her dinner was ready. They both left the room without saying a word to each other. She sat at the dinner table staring at her dinner.
"Jamie why aren’t you eating?" Jonathan asked.
"I’m not hungry." She said softly.
"Come on sweetie eat something." Jennifer said looking at her.
She looked at them and asked, "Can I go to my room?"
"Sure." Jonathan said looking at her.
She went to her room and lay on her bed crying. There was a knock on her door.
"Come in." She sniffed.
"Jamie are you ok?" Max asked her as he walked in.
"I think mommy and daddy are mad at me." She said looking at him.
"Why would they be mad at you? You didn’t do anything wrong." He said sitting on her bed.
"They didn’t talk to me all the way home. Daddy just kept looking at me in the rearview mirror and I could tell he was upset with me."
"I’m sure he was just upset because you got hurt."
"No Max. This was a different look. A look of disappointment. I always got those looks from Mr. Danton." She said looking down.
There was a knock at her door. Max went and opened it. Jamie’s heart sank when she saw Jonathan and Jennifer walk in. Max left them alone.
"Jamie what’s wrong?" Jennifer asked sitting next to her on the bed.
She looked at them and asked them if they were mad at her.
"Why should we be mad at you?" Jonathan asked.
"Jamie you did nothing wrong." Jennifer said looking at her.
"Daddy looked mad at me today." She said looking at them.
"I’m not mad at you. What makes you think that I was?" He asked.
"When I saw you look at me in the rearview mirror you had the look that Mr. Danton had every time he was mad at me." She said crying.
"Well Jamie I’m not mad at you and neither is mom." He said hugging her.
"You sure?" She asked looking at him.
"Yes I’m sure." He said hugging her.
"Neither am I." Jennifer said hugging her.
Max knocked on the door. Jennifer went and opened it.
"Jamie. Katie is on the phone." Max said.
"Can you tell her I’ll call her back?" She asked him.
"Sure." He said with a smile.
Jennifer and Jonathan left her alone. Jamie then got up washed her face and went and called Katie back. The girls talked for an hour then MJ got on the phone and asked her how she was.
"I’m fine. Sorry that I couldn’t make it to dinner tonight…I don’t know. I’ll have to ask my parents. Hold on." She put down the phone and went into the living room to ask them if she can go over to Katie and MJ’s house tomorrow night. They told her she could. She picked up the phone and said, "My parents said it was ok with them…Ok. See you tomorrow. Bye." She hung up the phone. She went into the living room and said her good nights to them.
"Jamie. Sweetie."
"Yes." She said looking at Jennifer.
"Come here." Jennifer patted the seat next to her.
Jamie walked over and sat down.
"Dad and I understand that you had a rough time with the Dantons but please don’t think that we are the same. If you do something that is wrong we will come and tell you. We both love you very much." Jennifer said hugging her.
She got up and walked over to Jonathan and said, "Daddy. I’m sorry that I thought you were mad at me. Could you forgive me?"
"Sure I can forgive you." He said with a smile. Then he hugged her.
She then went up to bed. After school the next day Jamie went home with Katie and MJ.
"Wow! Katie you have beautiful house." Jamie said looking around.
"Thanks!" Katie said taking her up to her room.
"So what did your parents say?" MJ asked her.
"Nothing." She said looking at him shyly.
"Cool." He said smiling at her. He wanted to so much to hug her but he was too shy to do it.
Jamie sat on Katie’s bed looking through her magazines. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in." Katie said.
"Angel girl dinner is ready." Her dad said.
"Ok daddy. We’ll be right down." Katie said smiling at him. "Oh daddy! This is Jamie. Jamie this is my daddy." Katie said introducing them.
"Hi." They both said.
"Katie I like your nickname." Jamie said looking at her.
"Thanks. My daddy always calls me that." She smiled proudly. "Do you have a nickname?"
"Um. No I don’t." She said. "Oh wait yes I do. My parents call me ‘sweetie.’ She smiled.
"That’s a cool nick name." Katie said as they got up and went down to the kitchen.
Jamie washed her hands and then sat down to the lovely dinner that Kit made.
"Mrs. Sloan this is the best chicken that I ever had." Jamie said looking at her.
"Thank you Jamie." She smiled.
"Does your mom cook?" Kit asked looking at her.
"I, um, don’t know." Jamie said quietly.
Katie laughed and asked, "Why don’t you know?"
"Katie!" Kit said.
Jamie looked at all of them and said quietly, "I’m not the Hart’s real daughter. What I mean is that we’re waiting for the courts to approve the adoption papers."
"You’re adopted?" MJ asked.
"MJ!" Kit said.
Jamie looked at him. She wanted to get up and run but she was too scared to. She was quiet for a while and then said, "It’s not official yet."
"Wow! Way cool!" Katie said with a smile.
"When will you know?" Steve asked looking at her.
Jamie looked over at MJ for his reaction and he didn’t say anything.
"We don’t know. Jonathan and Jennifer signed the papers three weeks ago." Jamie said looking at him.
"Well good luck. I hope you get adopted." Kit said smiling at her.
"Thanks." She said quietly.
After dinner the kids went into the den to watch a movie.
"Anybody want popcorn?" Katie asked.
"I do." Jamie and MJ said in unison.
Katie went out to the kitchen to make popcorn. Jamie wanted to ask MJ what was wrong but she couldn’t.
"Jamie."
"Yes MJ."
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Sure." She said looking at him.
"What happened to your real mom and dad?"
"They died when I was three. I was sent to live with my aunt until I was five. I was taken from my aunt’s home because she was on drugs and she always left me alone at night and sometimes I wouldn’t see her until three or four days later so I was put into a foster home. I was bounced around foster homes since I was five. I lived with the Kelly’s until they divorced and then I was sent to the Dantons. They were going to adopt me but they were killed in a car accident. I was then sent to St. Ann’s Orphanage and School that’s how I met Jonathan and Jennifer who hopefully will be my new parents." She said looking at him.
"Wow. That’s pretty rough." He said looking at her.
"Yeah it was. But now everything is better. I have a new home. A new mom and dad who love me. A dog named Freeway and Max." She said smiling.
He just smiled at her and then he said, "Cool."
She smiled at him and asked, "Are we still friends?"
"Of course we’re still friends." He said gently touching her hand.
They then continued to watch the movie until her parents came to pick her up.
"Good night Mr. & Mrs. Sloan. I had a great time. Dinner was great." She smiled.
"Good night Jamie." They said hugging her.
"Good night Katie and MJ. Thanks." She said smiling at them.
"Good night. I’ll call you tomorrow." Katie said hugging her.
"Ok." She said leaving.
"Jamie wait." MJ ran outside gave her a hug and ran back inside.
They got into the car and drove home. When they pulled up they noticed that she was fast asleep.
"Jamie. We’re home." Jennifer gently woke her.
She got out of the car and slowly walked inside.
"Come on sweetie I’ll carry you up." Jonathan said picking her up.
She gently laid her head on his shoulder and fell back to sleep. He brought her to her room and gently laid her down on her bed. Jennifer then came in and helped her get undressed while Jonathan went to his room. She opened her eyes and said, "I had a great time tonight. Thank you for letting me visit Katie and MJ." Then she fell back to sleep.
"You’re welcome sweetie." Jennifer said kissing her on the forehead.
Christmas Break
"Jamie are you ready?" Jonathan asked knocking on her door.
"Almost daddy. I can’t lock my suitcase." She said letting him in.
"Let me see." Jonathan said looking at the suitcase.
He looked it over and found the problem.
"Jamie sweetie your suitcase is broken." He said looking at her.
"I had it a long time." She said looking at him.
"Jamie why didn’t you tell us you needed a new suitcase?" Jonathan questioned her.
"I don’t know." She said looking down.
"Mom should have an extra one for you." He said getting up and walking out.
Jamie sat on her bed waiting for him to come back with a suitcase. Five minutes later he came back in and they both put her things into the new suitcase.
"Daddy."
"Yes." He said looking at her.
"How will Santa find us if we are not here?"
"I mailed him a letter telling him where we’re going to be." He said sitting next to her.
"Oh good. I don’t want him to forget us." She said smiling up at him.
"He won’t sweetie." He smiled back at her.
They packed up the jeep and headed up to the ranch. When they got there they were greeted by fresh fallen snow.
"Wow! This place is beautiful. Just like a fairy tale." Jamie said getting out of the jeep and looking around.
They all walked into the house and were greeted by Roxy and friends.
"Mr. & Mrs. Hart. Jamie. Welcome." Roxy said helping them with their bags.
Jamie noticed that Max wasn’t in the house yet. She looked around for him and Freeway. He and Freeway were outside getting the rest of their things out of the jeep.
"Max. You need any help?" Jamie asked.
"Nope. I get everything under control." He said smiling at her.
"Ok." She said walking back inside.
"Jamie. Want to see the Christmas tree?" Roxy asked.
"Oh sure." She said excitedly.
Roxy took her to the tree while Jonathan, Jennifer and Max quickly took Jamie’s presents to the bedroom. After dinner Jamie excused herself and went into her room to wrap her parent’s presents and Max’s. There was a knock on her door.
"Who is it?"
"It’s mom."
"Just a minute." Jamie said pushing everything under her bed.
Jamie opened her door and let her mom in.
"Jamie. Dad and I are going for walk. Care to come?"
"I would love to mom but I’m right in the middle of wrapping presents." Jamie said looking at her.
"Ok." Jennifer said leaving.
After Jennifer left her alone, Jamie quickly pulled out the gifts and continued to wrap them. When she was done wrapping them she put them back under her bed and went down to have a cup of hot chocolate and some cookies.
"Brrrr! It’s cold out there." Jonathan said coming in with Jennifer.
"Hi Jamie. Done with all the wrapping?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes I am." She smiled.
"Good. Want to help decorate the tree?" Jonathan asked.
"Yes!" She said getting up from the table excitedly.
They all left the kitchen to decorate the tree. When they arrived in the living room they noticed that the tree had been decorated and all the presents were under the tree.
"I wonder who decorated the tree?" Jennifer asked.
"Maybe Max and Roxy did." Jonathan said.
After he said that Max and Roxy came in the front door with firewood for the fire.
"Max. Roxy. Great job with the tree." Jonathan said.
Max and Roxy looked at each other and said, "We didn’t do it."
Then there was a loud thud on the roof. They all ran outside to see what it was. By the time they got outside they heard bells ringing and a loud booming voice saying, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!" Jonathan and Jennifer looked at each other and asked, "Could it be? Nah. Could it be?" Then they all went back inside.
"Santa was here! He was really here!" Jamie shouted running over to the Christmas tree.
Jamie saw a large envelope under the tree with Jennifer and Jonathan’s name on it. She handed it to them to open it up. Jonathan opened up the envelope and found a card attached to some papers. He and Jennifer read the note.
"Here are the adoption papers. Congratulations!" They looked over at Jamie with tears in their eyes.
"Mommy. Daddy. Is everything ok?" Jamie asked walking over to them.
"Yes everything ok." Jennifer said hugging her.
"The adoption papers came back and you are ours. For keeps." Jonathan said hugging her.
"I am! I’m really, really yours!" She said excitedly.
"Yes!" They both said.
"This is the best Christmas present ever!" She cried.
"Congratulations!" Max and Roxy said hugging her and then the Harts.
