Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans Read Free Book Online

said. Mrs. Hummel always acted funny when Macy spent time with Dick.
    Macy’s thoughts were suddenly broken by an elbow to her ribs. “If the judge asks me, I’m going to tell him we don’t want you,” Bart said.
    â€œMe too,” said Sheryl.
    Macy turned back to the window. “Fine with me,” she said.

    When they walked into the courthouse, the social worker who had taken her from her father was there to greet her. Macy hadn’t seen her in almost a year, not since she had sent her to the Hummels’. Now she acted as familiar as family. More playacting.
    â€œYou look so nice,” she said to Macy, a smile plastered across her face. “What a special day. You are so lucky. ”
    There must be another meaning to the word that I don’t know , Macy thought. Then she had a hopeful thought. Perhaps the judge would ask her if she wanted to be adopted. She would tell him that everyone was mean to her. That Mrs. Hummel yelled at her all the time and sometimes slapped her and made her do more work than the other kids. Maybe then they’d let her go back to her father.
    â€œWe have a surprise for you,” the caseworker announcedwith a broad smile. “Your sister is going to be adopted with you.”
    Macy’s heart leapt. Finally something good had happened in her life. “You mean we get to live together?”
    The woman’s smile disappeared. “No. I meant she’s just being adopted at the same time. We thought you would like that.”
    Ten minutes later Macy’s little sister came into the room. She was immaculately dressed in a navy velvet dress, her hair perfectly groomed and pulled back with a silk ribbon. She was flanked by two well-mannered little boys dressed in matching navy suits and clip-on neckties. They looked like small replicas of their father, a handsome, well-dressed man in a navy pinstriped suit with a crisp white shirt and silk necktie.
    Noel screamed when she saw her sister. “Macy,” she cried. “Macy, Macy!” They ran to each other, colliding in the center of the room. The Hummels and Noel’s parents, the Thorups, kept their distance, sitting on opposite ends of the vestibule. Noel had had trouble dealing with Macy’s absence and a child psychologist suggested to the Thorups that they allow the two girls to spend some time together. Mrs. Thorup contacted Mrs. Hummel to discuss the situation, and what started as a simple request escalated into a shouting match between the two women. Mrs. Hummel would not allow Macy to see her sister. The dislike the two families felt toward each other was palpable.

    â€œDon’t go ’way,” Noel said. Macy held her tightly, both of them oblivious to the adults who watched from both sides of the room.
    â€œI won’t, Sissy.”
    The two little girls sat together on the tile floor, and for that time, all was well with the world; Macy made faces and Noel laughed.
    Twenty minutes later the caseworker came into the room. She said to Mr. and Mrs. Hummel, “The judge is ready to see you.”
    Mrs. Hummel impatiently bounded from her chair and walked to Macy, putting her hands on her shoulders. “C’mon,” she said.
    Macy looked at her sister and began to cry. “I don’t want to go.”
    â€œNo, no, no!” Noel screamed at Mrs. Hummel. “She’s my Macy. You can’t have her!”
    Mr. Thorup walked up to take her. “Come on, honey. Macy needs to go now.”
    Noel erupted in a piercing scream. “No! Don’t go!” She grabbed tightly onto Macy’s waist. “Don’t go! Don’t go!”
    Irene Hummel looked at the man as if the situation was his fault. “We need to go,” she said. “Control your daughter.”
    The man glared back at her. “Give her a break, lady. They’re sisters.” He gently lifted Noel by the waist. “Come on, hon.”
    â€œMacy! Macy!