Page 24 of Sunsets & Slow Dances

“Maybe.”

“What do you meanmaybe?”

“There’s no guarantee that it would be a family placement. It’s more likely she’d end up in a group home. At her age, there are fewer options for family placements.”

“How many foster families are there in Firefly?”

“I don’t know, but even if I did, it wouldn’t matter. Once she’s in the system, there’s no guarantee she’d stay in Firefly or even in the county. She could be moved anywhere in the state.”

“What about her friends? She keeps saying she wants to stay with her friends.”

I’d heard her on the phone after school today up in her room. She was on speaker and making plans to live with whoever was on the other end of the line. They were talking about what color she wanted to paint the walls.

“Are her friends’ parents licensed foster parents?”

“I don’t know.”

“The last time I spoke to her, none of her friends’ families were licensed; if that’s changed, then that’s a different conversation. If they’re not, then for that to happen, her friend’s parents would have to petition the court. That could take months, even years. That’s if they go through with it. Have you spoken to them?”

“No.” I’d barely spoken to her. I exhaled. “The thing is…I don’t think shewantsto stay with me.”

Reagan didn’t respond immediately. “I think Chloe is very upset, and she has every reason to be. Her mom just died. And before that, Danielle had been sick for a long time. That girl just spent years watching her mom, the only person she had in the world, die. Also, don’t forget, she’s thirteen years old. That’s not an easy age for any of us. This situation can’t be easy for her.”

“Have you spoken to Chloe about living with me?” I’d tried to, but I felt like every time I opened my mouth, it was like poking the hornets’ nest with a stick. “Did she know that her mom had named me as her guardian?”

“I have spoken to her.” Again, Reagan paused, and I could see that she was carefully choosing her words. “Her feelings regarding you are complicated. I know she talks a good game, but she’s not as tough as she wants everyone to believe she is. I don’t know her well, but from the interaction we’ve had and from what I’ve observed, under all that sass is a sweetheart.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my thighs as I ran my hands through my hair. When I sat back up, I exhaled. “I just want to do what’s best for her, but I don’t know what that is.”

Reagan’s expression remained unchanged. Clearly, she wasn’t going to give me the answer I was seeking. I’d spoken with both my mom and Buzz about my decision, and they’d both been as much help as Reagan was, which was no help at all.

“How long do I have to decide?”

“There isn’t a specified length attached to a temporary custody order. But I do think that the sooner she knows what the plan is, the better it will be for her. It can’t be easy having her life be in limbo.”

“Okay. I promised her that we would stay here until the end of the school year.”

Reagan stood. “Let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

I need you to tell me if I should take permanent custody.

On the way out to the car, the receptionist was in the foyer watering plants. I said goodbye, and she sort of half-hugged me, which was odd. It wasn’t until I got back in my truck and pulled out my phone to see if my mom needed anything from the store that I realized she’d slipped her phone number in my pocket. I had to give her an A for effort.

There were no messages from my mom, but there were two missed calls from Felicity. I wasn’t in the right headspace to deal with her, but I knew she’d just keep calling if I didn’t call her back.

Ten months ago, she’d left, saying that she needed space and time to think. She went on a retreat that was supposed to last two weeks but she ended up being gone nearly ten months. Each time she “planned” on coming home, a brand trip or work event would delay her return. On average, she checked in once a month. There was no consistency. No structure. No stability for Matty. I’d always known that she was selfish, but these past ten months had shown me just how selfish she could be.

My phone rang in my hand, and her number came up on the screen. Since I knew avoiding her now would only be prolonging the agony, I picked up.

“Hello.”

“Are you still there?” she snapped.

“What?”

“Are you still inFirefly?”

“I told you, I’m going to stay until Chloe finishes out the school year.”

---