Everyone warned me not to adopt Luke. He was sixteen and had already been through ten placements. But two weeks after the adoption became final, he sat across from me at dinner, started shaking, and said, \u201cMom, I need to tell you why.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three years ago, I buried both of my children after a car accident.<\/p>\n
For months afterward, I kept their bedroom doors closed.<\/p>\n
Then I started leaving them open because closed doors somehow felt worse.<\/p>\n
It changed from something that crushed me every morning into something I learned to carry without anyone noticing.<\/p>\n
My daughter, Grace, had left a sweatshirt hanging over her desk chair. My son, Noah, had three library books stacked beside his bed. I could not move any of it.<\/p>\n
People kept telling me my grief would change, maybe go away.<\/p>\n
They were right, technically.<\/p>\n
It changed from something that crushed me every morning into something I learned to carry without anyone noticing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to ask you something difficult. Are you trying to replace your children?\u201d<\/p>\n
But the house stayed silent.<\/p>\n
Eventually, the silence became unbearable.<\/p>\n
That was why, one rainy Tuesday, I walked into a foster care agency and told a woman named Denise that I wanted to talk about becoming a parent again.<\/p>\n
Denise didn\u2019t smile immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think anyone could.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to ask you something difficult,\u201d she said. \u201cAre you trying to replace your children?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think anyone could.\u201d<\/p>\n
She studied me for a moment.<\/p>\n
Denise invited me to an agency event where prospective parents could meet some of the children.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
The process took months.<\/p>\n
Training. Interviews. Home visits. Background checks. Conversations about trauma that sometimes sent me home crying in my car.<\/p>\n
Then one afternoon, Denise invited me to an agency event where prospective parents could meet some of the children.<\/p>\n
Most of the younger kids were playing.<\/p>\n
The boy immediately put down his book and crouched to help her.<\/p>\n
One teenage boy sat alone beside a window with a paperback open on his knees.<\/p>\n
A little girl nearby knocked over a box of crayons.<\/p>\n
The boy immediately put down his book and crouched to help her.<\/p>\n
He even crawled beneath a table for the last blue crayon.<\/p>\n
Then he returned to his chair.<\/p>\n
When she saw who I was looking at, her expression changed.<\/p>\n
I nodded toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Denise followed my gaze.<\/p>\n
When she saw who I was looking at, her expression changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cLuke.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should know he\u2019s had a lot of placements.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow old is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSixteen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I meet him?\u201d<\/p>\n
She hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should know he\u2019s had a lot of placements.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas he violent?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTen.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas he violent?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he hurt younger children?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDrugs?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he hurt younger children?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Years earlier, after my husband died, Noah\u2019s teachers called him difficult because he stopped talking in class.<\/p>\n
\u201cDifferent things. Luke is\u2026complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hated that word.<\/p>\n
Years earlier, after my husband died, Noah\u2019s teachers called him complicated because he stopped talking in class.<\/p>\n
What they meant was that my grieving eleven-year-old no longer made their jobs easy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d still like to meet him.\u201d<\/p>\n
He glanced at the only empty chair and gestured towards it.<\/p>\n
Luke stood when I approached.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m Caroline.\u201d<\/p>\n
He glanced at the only empty chair and gestured towards it.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, ma\u2019am. You can sit here.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost laughed.<\/p>\n
We discussed the book in his hands for nearly an hour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m forty-seven, not ninety.\u201d<\/p>\n
His mouth twitched.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t implying anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou absolutely were.\u201d<\/p>\n
That got a real smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne good conversation doesn\u2019t guarantee a placement.\u201d<\/p>\n
We discussed the book in his hands for nearly an hour.<\/p>\n
When I left, Denise said, \u201cOne good conversation doesn\u2019t guarantee a placement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
So I came back.<\/p>\n
Again and again.<\/p>\n
Luke was guarded, but kind. He had a dry sense of humor and remembered everything I told him.<\/p>\n
For four months, Luke and I met at the agency, then at libraries, diners, parks, and supervised outings.<\/p>\n
I kept waiting for the difficult teenager everyone had warned me about.<\/p>\n
He never appeared.<\/p>\n
Luke was guarded, but kind. He had a dry sense of humor and remembered everything I told him.<\/p>\n
Once, I mentioned that Grace used to hate raisins.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry. I checked. No raisins.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three weeks later, Luke pushed a cookie across a caf\u00e9 table.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry. I checked. No raisins.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eventually, we began talking about adoption.<\/p>\n
I had learned grief could make small kindnesses dangerous.<\/p>\n
Eventually, we began talking about adoption.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d really want that?\u201d Luke asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPermanent?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019d deal with whatever you messed up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s generally how adoption works.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if I mess it up?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019d deal with whatever you messed up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if you regretted it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I make commitment sound simple.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I\u2019d be an adult having a feeling. You\u2019d still be my kid.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes stayed on the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou make everything sound simple.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I make commitment sound simple.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was different.<\/p>\n
He made his bed before breakfast. Washed his plate immediately after eating.<\/p>\n
When Luke finally moved into my house, he treated everything as though he were borrowing it.<\/p>\n
He made his bed before breakfast. Washed his plate immediately after eating. Folded towels without being asked.<\/p>\n
The first Saturday, I nearly tripped over a loose porch step.<\/p>\n
Luke appeared with a screwdriver.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long has this been like this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been walking on this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCouple years.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stared at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been walking on this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy danger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n
A month later, he called me Mom by accident.<\/p>\n
He fixed it right away.<\/p>\n
A month later, he called me Mom by accident.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, have you seen my charger?\u201d<\/p>\n
We both froze.<\/p>\n
Luke turned bright red.<\/p>\n
Neither of us mentioned it.<\/p>\n
I pretended to search a drawer while hiding a tear.<\/p>\n
\u201cKitchen counter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neither of us mentioned it.<\/p>\n
But he kept saying it.<\/p>\n
Then, exactly two weeks later, Luke came to dinner and barely touched his meatloaf.<\/p>\n
By the time the adoption was finalized, I had stopped waiting for him to become somebody else.<\/p>\n
Then, exactly two weeks later, Luke came to dinner and barely touched his meatloaf.<\/p>\n
That scared me more than it should have.<\/p>\n
He loved meatloaf.<\/p>\n
\u201cSweetheart?\u201d<\/p>\n
I reached across and touched his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTerrible lie.\u201d<\/p>\n
His fork scraped his plate.<\/p>\n
I reached across and touched his hand.<\/p>\n
He was trembling.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019ll probably wish you hadn\u2019t adopted me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLuke.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pulled away.<\/p>\n
His eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I need to tell you something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
My fork slipped from my fingers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019ll probably wish you hadn\u2019t adopted me.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n
\u201cLuke, what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked terrified.<\/p>\n
Then he whispered, \u201cI have a sister.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour file said you didn\u2019t have siblings placed with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
My fork slipped from my fingers.<\/p>\n
\u201cA sister?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHalf-sister.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour file said you didn\u2019t have siblings placed with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s not placed with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke told me they had entered care together years earlier, when Emma was still little.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was adopted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her name was Emma.<\/p>\n
She was nine now.<\/p>\n
He made her breakfast. Got her ready for school. Helped with homework.<\/p>\n
Luke told me they had entered care together years earlier, when Emma was still little.<\/p>\n
\u201cI basically raised her,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He made her breakfast. Got her ready for school. Helped with homework. When she woke up scared, she went looking for him.<\/p>\n
Then a family offered Emma a permanent home.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey didn\u2019t have room for me,\u201d Luke said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was fourteen. They kept asking what I thought was best for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho told you that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody. They said Emma deserved stability.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt anger rising.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you agreed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was fourteen. They kept asking what I thought was best for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the separation, Luke began sabotaging his placements.<\/p>\n
He laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I said yes.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the separation, Luke began sabotaging his placements.<\/p>\n
Not dramatically.<\/p>\n
He never became violent.<\/p>\n
\u201cMostly. Sometimes I just didn\u2019t feel like talking anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
He simply learned how to make people give up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d stop talking,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn purpose?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMostly. Sometimes I just didn\u2019t feel like talking anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause if I got adopted somewhere else, Emma might think I chose another family over her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRefuse outings. Stay in my room. Say stuff I knew would hurt them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
His chin shook.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause if I got adopted somewhere else, Emma might think I chose another family over her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly, ten placements looked completely different.<\/p>\n
Once, when a foster mother started discussing permanent guardianship, he packed his bags before she could finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid every family reject you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many did you push away?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLuke.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause leaving hurts less when you decide when it happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once, when a foster mother started discussing permanent guardianship, he packed his bags before she could finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to leave first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause leaving hurts less when you decide when it happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he said the part that broke me.<\/p>\n
I had to look away.<\/p>\n
Then he said the part that broke me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was going to do it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite everything, I almost laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I moved in, I had a plan. Give it a couple months. Then start acting different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tears ran down his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI messed up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite everything, I almost laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I started loving you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI liked being here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He covered his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I started loving you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I moved around the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the adoption happened, and all I could think was that Emma would hate me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI called you Mom without meaning to. Then the adoption happened, and everybody was happy, and all I could think was that Emma would hate me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat beside him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should have told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy wasn\u2019t Emma discussed during Luke\u2019s adoption?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you are not going anywhere. You\u2019re my son. Adoption wasn\u2019t a trial period.\u201d<\/p>\n
His shoulders collapsed.<\/p>\n
The next morning, I called Denise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy wasn\u2019t Emma discussed during Luke\u2019s adoption?\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a long silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were decisions made between the adults involved at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe history was in the older records, but direct contact had become restricted years ago while Emma adjusted to her placement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRestricted by whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were decisions made between the adults involved at the time. Letters were routed through them. Contact was supposed to be revisited.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSupposed to be?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Luke have contact with her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Another silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t handled well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Luke have contact with her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe sent letters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Emma answer?\u201d<\/p>\n
When I asked him, he returned carrying an old shoebox.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke did.<\/p>\n
When I asked him, he returned carrying an old shoebox.<\/p>\n
Inside were copies of dozens of letters.<\/p>\n
Birthday letters.<\/p>\n
Letters ending with the same sentence.<\/p>\n
Christmas letters.<\/p>\n
Letters asking about school.<\/p>\n
Letters ending with the same sentence.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m still your brother.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe never answered one,\u201d Luke said.<\/p>\n
A few days later, she told me Emma\u2019s parents were willing to talk, but they wanted to move slowly.<\/p>\n
Something wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n
Denise made several calls. A few days later, she told me Emma\u2019s parents were willing to talk, but they wanted to move slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we should wait before putting Luke and Emma in the same room,\u201d she said. \u201cLet the adults work through the history first.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe adults have been deciding what those two can handle for years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m asking you not to turn \u2018slowly\u2019 into another few years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCaroline\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not asking you to throw them together without support. I\u2019m asking you not to turn \u2018slowly\u2019 into another few years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denise was quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cA supervised meeting,\u201d I said. \u201cIf Luke wants it and Emma wants it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eventually, everyone agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if she doesn\u2019t want me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke almost refused to go.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if she doesn\u2019t want me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019ll respect that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if she hates me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you\u2019ll survive hearing the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma\u2019s parents, Rachel and David, met us in their living room.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if she forgot me?\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t answer that one.<\/p>\n
Emma\u2019s parents, Rachel and David, met us in their living room.<\/p>\n
Rachel looked nervous.<\/p>\n
David looked ashamed.<\/p>\n
She returned carrying a plastic storage bin and set it in front of Luke.<\/p>\n
After ten minutes of strained conversation, Rachel went upstairs.<\/p>\n
She returned carrying a plastic storage bin and set it in front of Luke.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is this?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cLetters.\u201d<\/p>\n
She opened the lid.<\/p>\n
Every one had Luke\u2019s name on it.<\/p>\n
Envelopes filled the box.<\/p>\n
Every one had Luke\u2019s name on it.<\/p>\n
Luke picked one up.<\/p>\n
The handwriting was childish.<\/p>\n
LUKE.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wrote back?\u201d<\/p>\n
His face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wrote back?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll this time?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel started crying.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe kept thinking we\u2019d send them once things felt more stable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour letters came through to us. At first, everyone thought limiting direct contact might help Emma settle. She kept writing replies anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke stared into the box.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why didn\u2019t I get them?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel wiped her eyes.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t miss<\/p>\n
Luke opened one letter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe kept thinking we\u2019d send them once things felt more stable. Then too much time passed, and admitting we\u2019d waited so long became harder.\u201d<\/p>\n
David looked down.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should have fixed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke opened one letter.<\/p>\n
A girl appeared on the staircase.<\/p>\n
Then another.<\/p>\n
His hands shook.<\/p>\n
From upstairs, a door opened.<\/p>\n
A girl appeared on the staircase.<\/p>\n
She stared at Luke.<\/p>\n
Then Emma ran upstairs again.<\/p>\n
Luke stood.<\/p>\n
Neither spoke.<\/p>\n
Then Emma ran upstairs again.<\/p>\n
Luke\u2019s face crumpled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma came running back carrying a battered stuffed rabbit.<\/p>\n
But footsteps thundered overhead.<\/p>\n
Emma came running back carrying a battered stuffed rabbit.<\/p>\n
Luke stopped breathing.<\/p>\n
She held it up.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou gave me Mr. Buttons.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke covered his mouth.<\/p>\n
He dropped to his knees and wrapped both arms around her.<\/p>\n
Emma ran straight into him.<\/p>\n
He dropped to his knees and wrapped both arms around her.<\/p>\n
I looked away, and I didn\u2019t approach. The moment belonged to them, after all.<\/p>\n
Their relationship didn\u2019t repair itself that afternoon.<\/p>\n
It started again.<\/p>\n
Luke had spent years believing family meant choosing one person over another.<\/p>\n
There were supervised visits, then phone calls, birthdays, and eventually weekends.<\/p>\n
I made one thing clear.<\/p>\n
I wasn\u2019t replacing Emma.<\/p>\n
And Emma wasn\u2019t competing with me.<\/p>\n
Luke had spent years believing family meant choosing one person over another.<\/p>\n
Months later, I found Luke outside repairing the porch step again.<\/p>\n
He needed to learn there could be room for both.<\/p>\n
Months later, I found Luke outside repairing the porch step again.<\/p>\n
Emma sat beside him criticizing everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re holding it wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve never held a hammer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma reached for the hammer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen people do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOn television?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStill counts.\u201d<\/p>\n
I carried out lemonade.<\/p>\n
Emma reached for the hammer.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I enjoy having all ten of your fingers attached.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke pulled it away.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I enjoy having all ten of your fingers attached.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know how to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, please tell her she\u2019s not touching this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, please tell her she\u2019s not touching this.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a second, I saw the old panic in his face.<\/p>\n
Everything stopped.<\/p>\n
Luke looked at me.<\/p>\n
Then at Emma.<\/p>\n
For a second, I saw the old panic in his face.<\/p>\n
Emma rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n
A second later, they were arguing about the hammer again.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. Ask your mom. You\u2019re both annoying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke blinked.<\/p>\n
Then he laughed.<\/p>\n
A second later, they were arguing about the hammer again.<\/p>\n
The house wasn\u2019t silent anymore.<\/p>\n
I watched them from the porch.<\/p>\n
The house wasn\u2019t silent anymore.<\/p>\n
And nobody had to leave to make room for someone else.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Everyone warned me not to adopt Luke. He was sixteen and had already been through ten placements. But two weeks…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=637"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":639,"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/637\/revisions\/639"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}