Chương 24: Responsibility
The girl had finally been adopted, but many preparations were needed before she could be brought home.
Priyanka wanted to offer security to the girl.
There was an empty guest room in their house, but due to its occasional use, a little dust and spider webs had gathered in the corners.
The color was a plain white, nothing special, and the bed had a generic mattress.
She couldn't let the girl live in such poor conditions.
That was the only reason she hadn't brought her home immediately.
She wanted to give her the best first impression possible.
Doug and Priyanka were currently shopping for various items.
The shopping cart was filled to the brim with materials like odorless paints and children's toys.
They had also purchased custom dressers, lamps, and 5-star mattresses, better than the ones they used themselves.
All of them had something in common.
They were all pink.
"Are these things really necessary?"
Doug asked, concern visible on his face.
They had bought many items he wasn't sure about, unsure of their exact purpose.
Priyanka had just said they needed to go shopping and began buying everything in sight.
It was something she'd never done before—she rarely spent money like this.
But her response was solid and unwavering.
"Yes."
Doug knew from her tone there was no arguing with her.
He just wondered if their small car would be able to carry everything.
His concern was valid, but Priyanka had already anticipated the problem.
"I've rented a truck."
From the beginning, she knew their car wouldn't suffice.
*
When they arrived home, the sun had already set, and the materials had been delivered.
Connie was already asleep, and Doug secretly wished he could join her.
His thoughts paused when he noticed the dark circles under Priyanka's eyes.
She probably hadn't slept for days.
Priyanka was a complete workaholic. She slept exactly seven hours every night and started her day by organizing documents and her schedule.
But lately, she'd barely slept, sometimes not even coming home.
Doug was genuinely worried about her health—she was clearly pushing herself too hard.
"My love, let's rest a little."
His suggestion was reasonable. It was nearly midnight, and there wasn't much time left to work.
But Priyanka had an answer ready.
"No, there's still work to do."
She handed him a vacuum cleaner while she grabbed a broom.
"Let's start cleaning the dust and removing the spider webs. Another truck will come soon to take the old furniture for resale."
Priyanka had planned every step.
They had only a few hours left before bringing the girl home. Much work remained.
Doug grabbed the vacuum without further questions.
Cleaning took less than 30 minutes since there was no furniture left in the room, making the process quicker.
That didn't mean it wasn't hard. Priyanka cleaned every spot repeatedly until every speck of dust and web was gone.
Just as Doug thought they were done, Priyanka appeared with buckets of paint, gloves, and masks.
"I'll paint this side, and you'll do the other."
"..."
Doug finally understood the purpose of all the materials.
It became clear that rest wasn't on the agenda tonight.
His instincts were right.
They spent the entire night painting, organizing, cleaning, assembling furniture, and perfecting the décor.
The once boring room had transformed completely.
The walls were now a deep pink, and the odorless paint had excellent adhesion. The furniture was perfectly arranged, and the bed was covered with plush toys and kid-friendly decorations—some old, some new.
Looking at the room, Doug had to admit it was more luxurious than their own bedroom.
It was impressive that the two of them had managed to complete such a transformation in a single day.
Priyanka's instructions were sharp and precise, and the materials had been carefully chosen.
It seemed a waste for her to be a doctor—an army general would've suited her more.
Of course, Doug kept these thoughts to himself.
Initially, it was hard to prepare everything, but as the room took shape, he found an unexpected sense of satisfaction.
There was something strangely fulfilling about seeing a room come together through his own effort.
It was also one of the rare moments lately where they had spent time together like this.
"Let's sleep now. We've done a good job."
He suggested as Priyanka continued to arrange the plush toys.
"No, it's time to bring her home."
Doug glanced outside and saw the sun rising.
They'd been so immersed in transforming the room that they hadn't noticed the arrival of the next day.
Thankfully, it was Friday, and the weekend would soon begin, so they could rest.
Doug had even arranged for a friend to cover his shift that day.
"Well, at least a meal-"
Priyanka interrupted him, handing him a bag.
Inside were a thermos of coffee and preserved sandwiches.
"Connie's breakfast is already prepared too. Let's head to the hospital. We can eat on the way."
"..."
His wife never ceased to amaze him.
She seemed almost like a superhero, always with a plan in hand.
"Let's go. There's no time to waste."
Priyanka poured herself a cup of coffee, downing it in one gulp.
She drank coffee like it was water.
How many cups had she consumed to stay awake this long?
Seeing her like this, Doug knew better than to ask for a rest.
She was the one pushing herself the most.
"Just promise me that when this is all over, we'll get a long rest."
If Priyanka kept working like this, Doug wouldn't be surprised if she collapsed.
"Right."
She replied firmly, not pretending she'd work any longer than necessary.
But her worries would only fade once their daughter arrived safely home.
She squeezed his hand tightly.
"Let's go."
Doug followed her lead once again, feeling the coldness of her hands and noticing the paint still smeared on her arms.
She seemed almost childlike, eager to play without worrying about getting dirty.
Her eyes were full of anticipation, contrasting sharply with her extreme fatigue.
This overworked side of her was both endearing and worrying to him.
With a strange smile, he squeezed her hand back.
It was time to meet his new daughter—the one he'd only seen in photos so far.
*
A small girl in a wheelchair greeted Doug's eyes.
She had a fragile appearance, pale skin, and peculiar green eyes.
Her short hair added to her cute look, though her expression was so serious and mature that it gave her an air of calmness.
Doug made a quick assessment of her. As a security guard, he'd had his fair share of encounters with difficult kids.
Once, a child almost stole his gun and tried to play with it.
Parents often didn't pay enough attention, so it was his job to ensure children stayed safe.
Both Connie and the girl in front of him didn't display any hyperactivity, instead showing a more calm and introspective nature.
He was relieved.
"Doug, you're scaring her."
"...?"
He hadn't realized he'd been staring at the girl for so long.
She remained expressionless, so he thought it was fine.
He looked again, searching for any sign of discomfort, but her face remained unchanged.
Still, he maintained his composure.
Priyanka was closer to the girl than he was. Maybe he just didn't know the girl's habits yet.
Quiet children often shared similar traits—closed posture, reserved movements, lowered heads, avoiding eye contact, and speaking softly.
But this girl was different. She sat with a perfectly straight posture, her hands resting neatly on top of an old notebook.
Her head was directed toward his face, though her eyes weren't quite meeting his.
Even so, it was impressive she behaved this way in front of a stranger.
"I'm sorry. I'll bring her to the car."
Doug opened the door and approached the girl.
She remained still, expressionless. Was she nervous? It didn't seem like it.
As his hands neared her, Priyanka suddenly grabbed his wrist.
"No, I'll do it."
Her expression was cold, as though he'd made a big mistake.
Reluctantly, Doug retreated to the driver's seat.
Moments later, Priyanka had the girl in the car and stowed the wheelchair in the trunk.
Priyanka sat next to the girl, as Doug expected.
What surprised him wasn't Priyanka's choice, but the girl's lack of reaction.
Despite her fragile appearance, her behavior was composed and solid.
This was very different from his first impression.
Doug glanced at them through the rearview mirror.
'They seem alike.'
Both gave off an analytical aura, but there were differences.
Priyanka's energy was mature and determined, while the girl's was peaceful and introspective.
Her slow, precise movements gave her a quiet dignity, making her seem almost untouchable.
What had she endured to develop such maturity at such a young age?
Was it a natural trait, or was it the result of hardship?
Priyanka hadn't shared the girl's full story with him, but her deep concern suggested something traumatic.
Doug's reflection in the mirror shifted to Priyanka hugging the girl and gently stroking her head.
The girl accepted the touch without any change in her expression.
Her passive, almost submissive behavior was unusual.
Maybe her lack of resistance wasn't part of her personality but something she'd learned.
Doug had seen this before.
Quiet children were often targeted by manipulators or criminals.
They lacked the courage to speak out, didn't scream during assaults, and were less likely to resist external pressure.
That's why he was thinking of enrolling Connie in a self-defense class and teaching her to be wary of suspicious people.
As far as he knew, the girl had been found in difficult circumstances, without parents.
Her behavior suggested she'd likely endured some form of abuse.
Externally, she might seem fine, but inside, the scars were probably deeper.
Doug returned his focus to the road.
Looking at the girl in the backseat, he realized something new.
Now, he was the father of two daughters.
And she was his responsibility.
His grandfather once told him a story about meeting his future wife in an abandoned house.
Her family had been discovered by enemies, and she survived by hiding in a basement, living on scraps.
Not only had his grandfather accepted her, but he had also married her years later.
How would his grandfather feel knowing Doug was now adopting a girl in need?
Doug had grown up hearing those stories and learning the weight of responsibility.
For many, responsibility is a burden—something to avoid in favor of an easier life.
But not for Doug. Responsibility was a natural part of life.
As a father, he would work for his family. As a security guard, he would protect others. Above all, he was human.
Like his grandfather, he wouldn't turn away from those in need.
This child needed them.
A smile crept onto his face.
It was strange, but he felt an unexpected happiness.
He had once dreamed of adventure, but as he grew older, he found himself craving stability more.
Yet, the challenge of adopting a child in need, combined with the stories of his grandfather, had reignited something within him.
He would embrace this challenge.
Because now, this girl was his daughter.
*
Author note
I noticed some of my readers have expectations different from the main plot. This story ISN'T action. This story focuses on interactions, different perspectives, misunderstandings, and slice-of-life.
This chapter was so big that I decided to separate it into two chapters. To make more variety this chapter is from Doug's POV. The next one is from Priyanka's POV until the current time we know.
I know many people aren't that interested in Doug, but I think he and Connie need more quality screen time too. I hope you like it!
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