Page 14 of Fractured Reunion

Two years since their divorce and he still resented her for that.

He really needed to get over it. To forgive her, the way God would want him to. He’d fallen away from God during his time in Boston, but now that he’d returned home, he’d begun attending church again.

Maybe that was part of the reason things hadn’t worked out for him and Maggie. They’d let their respective careers get in the way.

Shaking off the useless regrets, he used his hands-free function to call Adam. His brother didn’t answer, likely he was with a patient, so he left a message. “Hey, call me back when you have a minute. I have a few questions for you and Krista about the foster care system. Thanks.” He hit the end button.

“Why would Adam and Krista have firsthand knowledge of the foster care system?” Maggie asked.

“Last Christmas, a safe haven baby was left in Adam’s pediatric clinic. Krista had hoped to adopt Joy, but my brother Alec helped find the infant’s mother.” He shrugged. “Joy was reunited with her mother, which proved to be a happy ending for everyone involved.”

“I see. So this is your way of warning me not to get too attached to Joey because his family will likely be found.” There was a hint of annoyance in her tone.

“Maggie, you must know that you can’t just step in and adopt a kid on the spot.” He let his own frustration show. “Nothing is that easy. Just because the police haven’t found Joey’s family yet doesn’t mean there isn’t someone out there who will love and care for him.”

She turned away to stare out the window. Then she sighed. “I know that. It’s just…” She let her voice trail off. Then she said, “Joey needs me, especially now that he’s undergoing surgery. I won’t leave him alone. I’ll be ecstatic if Joey experiences the same happy ending baby Joy did.”

Would she? He wasn’t convinced. But he decided to let it go.

The drive back to the Pfister didn’t take long. Shifting into park, he glanced at her. “Would you like me to help? Or wait here?”

“Wait here. It won’t take me long.” She jumped out of the car and slammed her door shut before he could say anything more.

Why was he prolonging the agony? He could text her the information from Adam and Krista, along with Joey’s room number. He didn’t have to play the role of her rideshare driver.

His phone rang. Seeing Adam’s name on the screen, he quickly answered. “Sorry to bother you at work, Adam.”

“No problem, just saw my last patient of the day,” Adam said cheerfully. “I’m heading to the hospital to make rounds. Why the need to know about the foster care system?”

He quickly filled his brother in on the bus crash and Maggie’s attachment to Joey Johnson. “Last we heard, no family members have been found.”

“Maggie is here with you?” Trust his brother to zero in on the biggest sore spot. “Like you’re together?”

“No, we’re not together,” he swiftly responded. “We just happened to be standing outside the Pfister when the crash happened. She was at the medical conference too.”

“The one where you were presenting?” Adam asked. “Maybe Maggie specifically chose that conference to reconnect with you.”

“No, she didn’t. Can we please focus on the issue at hand?” He glanced out the window, relieved Maggie wasn’t back yet. “Joey is having surgery, and it looks like he’ll end up in foster care.”

“That is exactly what will happen if they don’t find any family members,” Adam agreed. “Krista is still a foster parent, although she hasn’t taken in any kids yet. I can ask her if she’s open to taking Joey in.”

“Well, I’m not sure that’s necessary.” Maggie emerged from the hotel and was heading his way with a small rollaway suitcase in tow. “How long did the process take?”

“Several weeks, although Joy had specific medical needs that helped speed things up. Not unlike Joey, if he’s having surgery. Medical professionals have the advantage when it comes to fostering kids with medical needs.”

“Great, that information is really helpful. I have to go. I’ll be in touch later.” Adam quickly ended the call, then opened the trunk. Sliding out from behind the wheel, he rushed over to take her bag. “Here, let me.”

“Who were you talking to?” Maggie asked, as she allowed him to place her small suitcase in the trunk.

Figures she’d seen him on the phone. He sighed, closed the trunk, and turned to face her. “Adam. He’s on his way to Children’s Memorial. I’ll fill you in along the way.”

“Great, thanks.” She grabbed the passenger door handle. “I can’t wait to hear what he said.”

Yeah, somehow he had a feeling Maggie would try to become a foster parent to Joey. Yet rather than being happy, he battled a wave of anger.

Apparently, Maggie was more than happy to go down the path of adopting a child, as long as she wasn’t married to him.

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