Treasure

The motorcycle powered through the turns of the county road, never going straight more than a mile or two before the next lake or river would force it to change direction again. The 1999 Harley Ultra Classic Electra Glide’s twin cam 88 engine roared through custom pipes as Mark accelerated out of the turn. The headlight of the touring bike cut through the darkness of the northern Minnesota forest as he grinned to himself. He loved his new ride, and after a hard season of riding, it was time to garage it and get the snowmobile ready. “I love this road,” he said over the helmet intercom to his wife of twenty years behind him.

“Two more days and you'll be shoveling six inches of snow,” Dawn replied as she pulled herself closer to his back. The motorcycle was built for comfort, not performance; the second seat was six inches above his, allowing her to see over his right shoulder as her chin rested on his shoulder. Every bit of clothing they had with them had been put on to combat the dropping temperatures of the late fall night. It was right on the edge of being too cold to ride, if Mark would ever admit to that. “I’m glad we don’t have to work tomorrow, there’s a bunch of stuff to do around the house before it snows.” Dawn was a nurse in the oncology ward at a Duluth hospital, while Mark was a State Patrol Trooper based out of there. They had met at her work when she was a student nurse, and he was a rookie bringing a drunk driver in for a blood test. It was love at first sight, and they were married three weeks later.

“Gives me a chance to fire up the leafblower,” Mark said with a grin. “You can compost the plants.” Although it was only the first week of October, the North Shore of Minnesota was famous for rapid weather changes. The seventy-degree weather that prompted today’s long ride to Ely was a one-shot. Tomorrow it would struggle to hit fifty, the next day it wouldn’t get above freezing. “I can’t wait to hit the hot tub when we get home.”

“I can’t wait for you to make love to me in the hot tub when we get home,” she purred as her hand slid down to his crotch. His mind flashed to all the fun the two had in their strong marriage. The small jacuzzi on their private deck was used year-round. Soaking and sex were their favorite post-ride activity. “But no fun while you are driving.” She pulled her hand pack up quickly to his flat stomach. “Safety first, you know.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, woman.” He was the luckiest man in the world, his wife still had the sex drive she had found when he took her virginity on her wedding night. He didn’t know many men his age who still got it five or more times a week, even with Viagra and their third wife. He’d hit the jackpot on his only play. “You’re right, though. I need to pay attention or we’ll end up hitting a deer before we get out of these woods.”

He leaned into the next turn, accelerating out of it, when he spotted something in the road. “Possum” is what he thought as he hit the brakes, moving into the other lane to avoid the roadkill. “DA FUCK,” he exclaimed as he got a closer look, locking up the brakes and skidding to a stop just past the naked baby sitting in the middle of the road.

Dawn was off the motorcycle as soon as it stopped, running back in her boots to the child who was playing with a pine cone. Picking her up, she quickly looked her over. “Look around, her Mom must be nearby.”

Mark walked his motorcycle to the edge of the road, put the flashers on and the kickstand down, then grabbed a Maglite out of the cargo carrier. “Is she all right?”

Dawn had already zipped down her motorcycle jacket and opened her hoodie sweatshirt, placing the girl close to her chest before zipping back up. “She seems fine, just cold. What’s your name, sweetie?” The girl just leaned into her, her tiny hands grabbing her t-shirt as she snuggled in.

“Found something,” Mark said as he picked something up from the side of the road. The baby sling had the blanket partially inside still after the girl had crawled out. He brought it over to his wife, who wrapped the child again before zipping up as best she could. “I’m going to look around, maybe there’s a car in the ditch or something.”

“Fine, I’m taking her back to the bike to call 911,” Dawn replied. She got back and opened up the storage compartment, fishing in her purse for her flip phone. Opening it up, she cursed the spotty cellphone coverage. “I’ve got no bars,” she said.

Mark jogged back, shaking his head. “There’s nothing here, and we didn’t pass any houses or cars. We need to get ahold of the local Sheriff.”

“She needs to be checked out at the hospital, too,” Dawn said. “She seems all right but who knows what happened. Who abandons a baby in the middle of nowhere?”

Mark pulled her back to his chest. “I don’t know, but she’s ours to protect right now. Be careful not to crush her as we ride.”

“You drive slow, there’s a baby on board here,” Dawn replied. She got up to her seat, then Mark fired the big bike up and started down the road. They didn’t see anything after a mile, so he accelerated back to normal speed.

It was almost twenty miles before they stopped and got a cellphone signal. The 911 operator was shocked, no one had reported a missing baby. Dispatch sent a Sheriff’s Deputy to meet them, and Dawn climbed into the back of the heated patrol car while Mark followed with the motorcycle. With lights and sirens, they made the sixty-minute drive in forty.

The ER staff took her from them, and the Deputy took their statements. Other patrol cars had scoured the road and ditches where she was found, and nothing was turned up. He took the blanket and sling they found and put it in an evidence bag, then left them alone in the waiting room. “How could anyone dump her by the side of the road like a piece of trash,” she cried into his shoulder as they waited.

“Some people’s trash is other people’s treasure,” Mark said. “I’ve seen some weird stuff in my life, but I have to think God put us on that road tonight to find her. I was going to head back to 61 for the easy drive, but something in my head told me to take the long way instead.”

“Do you… I mean, if they let us… would you?”

“Adopt her?” He looked into his wife’s face and saw her pain. An infection had rendered her sterile and they didn’t want to use a surrogate. She had thought she was all right with being childless, but spending time with other families and their babies was never easy for her.

“I think you’re right. She’s our Treasure.” The door opened, and a Doctor came in with another woman, smiling when he saw Dawn. “Doctor Jenkins, is she all right?”

“She’s fine,” he said with a smile. “No signs of frostbite, lungs are good, just a little hungry and dehydrated but we’re taking care of that. She’s very lucky you found her, on a night like this she could have died of exposure within hours.”

“Where is she,” Mark asked. “Can we see her?”

“She’s being placed in emergency foster care,” the woman with him said. “I’m Melody Thompson, with Child Protective Services. She is going to remain in foster care until we find the mother, or she is declared abandoned and adopted out.”

“We want to adopt her,” Dawn said.

“What do we need to do?”

She handed Dawn her card. “Unless you are already licensed for foster care, you can’t do anything right now. The law requires a baby to be declared abandoned before parental rights can be terminated and the baby is eligible for adoption. Six months has to elapse without the parents being identified before the court can rule that way.”

Six months. Six months with strangers, moving around in the system. “How can we proceed?”

“If you’re serious, get yourself certified for foster care. Once you have that, you can petition for her to be placed with you, and that strengthens your adoption case. Nothing is for sure, though. Healthy babies are in demand.”

Dawn just nodded, her head already going through the motions of what they would need to do. “I’ll call you in a day or two to check in. Could we visit her?”

“I’m sorry, you have zero legal status here and we can’t reveal the location of the foster care.”

Dawn looked at the Doctor, holding back tears. “Can we at least say goodbye to her?”

The social worker nodded. “I don’t see a problem with that, but you have to leave before the foster parents arrive. They will be here at five.” She looked up at the clock, it was just after two in the morning.

“Come on, I’ll take you back, Dawn.” She nodded her thanks and followed him to the exam room, where a nurse was holding Treasure as she drank juice from a sippy cup. As soon as the girl saw Dawn, she squealed in happiness and held her hands out to be picked up. Doc nodded to the nurse, and she handed the baby over after Dawn had sat in the chair.

The three left, leaving Mark watching his wife as she bonded with the little redheaded girl who had already stolen their hearts. Whatever it took, he vowed, he would do it. They would be a family.

When the knock came on the door and they had to hand her back to Melody, they barely made it out of the room before Dawn broke down. She cried the whole way home on the back of the bike for her little Treasure by the side of the road.

Six Months Later

“The minor child Jane Doe is hereby declared to be abandoned under Minnesota Statute 260(C)301 and the parental rights of her biological parents have been terminated,” the Family Court Judge said as he signed the papers. “I understand there is a petition for adoption?”

“There is, your honor,” the attorney said.

“Bring it forward.” The bailiff brought the petition to him as he looked at the Social Services representative. “Will the petitioners stand, please.”

Mark and Dawn stood nervously, their foster daughter in front of them. Mark was in his State Trooper uniform as the hearing had been on short notice. He had left his patrol on personal time to appear in court. Dawn was in a dark blue dress, and Treasure in a matching dress with her red hair braided back. “Mark and Dawn Olson, your honor.”

“It is your wish to adopt the minor child?”

“Yes sir. We have loved her since we found her and have cared for her the past four months as her foster parents.” Treasure lifted her hands to him, and he kissed her cheek as she hugged his neck.

“Does the State concur,” he asked Melody.

“The State has no objection, your honor. The Olsons have provided adequate care for the minor child as foster parents and she has bonded with them.”

He looked at the little girl and smiled. “What is your name, little girl?”

“Trea-sure,” she said with a smile.

“Treasure, do you want them to be your forever parents?”

“Yes, please,” she said as Dawn hugged her, her arms wrapping around her husband’s waist.

“The adoption is approved,” he said. “What name would you like on her birth certificate?”

“Treasure Charlotte Olson,” Mark said.

“Is her birthdate known?” He was looking down at the papers.

“No, your honor. The pediatrician thinks she was about a year old when she was found, so we are asking for a birthdate of October 9th, 1999,” Mark replied.

“Anniversary of you finding her.” He wrote a few more things on the form. “Congratulations, Trooper and Mrs. Olson, and to you, young Treasure. May your family be blessed and happy.”

“Thank you, your honor.” The judge gaveled the proceedings to an end, and the family and friends in the gallery rushed forward to congratulate the new family.

“I’m yours now, no more moving,” Treasure asked her Mommy.

“You’re our daughter now,” Dawn said as she kissed her.