Page 62 of Hearts Like Hers

Something had shifted for Kate the moment thesocial worker had asked her if she was offering to adopt Ren and Eva. Never ina million years had she planned on jumping into a ready-made family, beingsomeone’s parent, after living a solitary existence for so many years. No way.

But the thought gnawed at her until theconcept didn’t seem like such a crazy one.

Kate hadn’t planned on the little rugratslatching onto her heart the way they had over those many months, when they’dplayed on the sidewalk or taken long walks through the neighborhood together.Or that they would come to need someone so desperately. She couldn’t haveanticipated that, no, but shecouldbe that person.

She couldn’t do it out of guilt, though. Itwouldn’t be fair to them. If she stepped forward, it had to be because it waswhat she wanted. Them. She grabbed her phone and dialed, not allowing herselfto think much further. At the very least, this was an avenue she had toexplore. She owed everyone involved that much.

“Lieutenant. Good morning,” Jennifer saidupon answering.

“Good morning. Listen, I’m sorry to botheryou again—”

“That’s all right. Unfortunately, I’m afraidI don’t have any updates.” Jennifer had to be growing weary of Kate’s frequentinquiries to DHS, but she needed her help on this one.

“I was actually calling for a separatereason. I was wondering if you could arrange a visit for me with the kids? I’dlike to check in on them. Say hey. Spend some time with them. It’s been acouple of months. And maybe, while I’m there, you and I could talk about theirfuture.”

A pause hit. “Of course. They’d love to seeyou. Will you be in the area?”

“I will be soon.” Kate knew what she had to do,what her purpose was. All of this had happened for a reason, and that reasonwas slowly coming into focus. She just had one stop to make first. It wouldn’tbe an easy one.

“Hey, you,” Autumn said, as Kate arrived atthe shop. She wiped her hands on her apron and picked up a cup. “The usual?”

Kate nodded. Autumn seemed upbeat and hereyes shone brightly when they landed on Kate’s. Beneath it all, she knew Autumnwas just as torn up as she was about their impending good-bye. Regardless ofhow she was feeling, Autumn was able to project the kind of positivity thatdrew people in. It wasn’t just her outward disposition either; that lightradiated from within. Kate’s heart clenched at the wash of feelings that cameover her. Autumn was a good person, and Kate wanted the world for her. Therewas an uncomfortable tug at the knowledge that she wouldn’t be there to helpher get it. Yes, she’d known that from the start, but that didn’t assuage thepain now.

“So, there’s a street fair near my house thisweekend. Will you still be in town?” Autumn asked, handing Kate her drink.

Kate hesitated and Autumn picked up on itright away.

“So that’s a no. Got it,” she said, her smiledimming. She focused all of her attention on the countertop and her mission toscrub it clean—a guise to hide any and all emotion.

“Do you have a minute?”

“Of course,” Autumn said, untying her apron.She followed Kate outside and around the building, but she wasn’t herself. Likea robust balloon that had all its air drained away, Autumn’s demeanor hungheavy. “Back home?” she asked, once they were alone.

Kate nodded. “I have to. Those kids needsomeone, and there’s no one else. Maybe I need them, too, you know?”

Autumn attempted a grin, but it was throughtears. “I do know. I think you’re a good person, Kate, and you’re doing a goodthing. Doesn’t mean I won’t miss you.”

Kate pushed her hands into her pockets,feeling like a fish out of water. She wasn’t the type to get emotionallyattached, but the rules didn’t apply where Autumn was concerned. She wasdifferent, and she’d wedged herself firmly in Kate’s heart. There would neverbe another Autumn.

“This isn’t good-bye,” Kate said; anything tohelp them through this. Her head swam and her heart ached. “I’m here untilmorning.”

“Feels like good-bye.”

Kate knew what she meant. The safe littleworld they’d created for themselves had been stripped away, as if someone hadflipped on a bright light, revealing that the magic hadn’t been theirs to keep.

“Come here.” She opened her arms and Autumnfell into them. They stood that way on the sidewalk for several moments. Katedid her best to memorize every sensation, the way it felt to touch Autumn, thesoft smell of her shampoo, the way her curls tickled the side of Kate’s cheek.“Come over tonight,” Kate said in her ear. Autumn nodded and held her tighter.Even though Kate knew that this marked the beginning of something new in herlife, she didn’t want to let go of what she had right there in front of her.

“I think I’ve blown this,” Autumn said.

Kate stepped back and cupped Autumn’s face inher hand. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve gone and fallen for you.”

The words made her ache all over. She brushedher thumb across Autumn’s lips in a gentle gesture. “You haven’t blownanything.” The fact was, she’d fallen for Autumn, too. There had been no wayaround that. She didn’t say the words. She couldn’t.

Autumn wiped away the tears that had gatheredunder her eyes and took a step back. “I better get back to work.”

“Okay,” Kate said, wishing she could havegiven Autumn more, confessed all to her in that moment. She deserved to knowwhat she meant to Kate, how she’d saved her from a very dark time in her life.Instead, Kate stood there, wordless. Stuck between two realities.

---