Page 76 of Hearts Like Hers

There was something in Jennifer’s voice thatsnagged Kate’s attention and had her on high alert. “Sure. What’s going on?”

“Well, there’s been a development.”

Kate narrowed her eyes, her mind alreadyracing as to what the development might be. “Okay. What kind of development?”

“Meredith Higgins showed up in my officeyesterday.”

Kate felt the blood begin to drain from herface but played it casual. Jennifer, however, seemed anything but. Her facepulled at the edges as if she were uncomfortable with this part of her job.“She’s had a change of heart. Said a woman visited her and she couldn’t get herwords out of her head.”

“I see.” Kate’s blood ran cold.

“She wants to begin steps to take the kids.”

Kate swallowed. While it was good news, itwas awful news. All Kate seemed capable of focusing on, however, was the awful.They weren’t going to be a family. The kids weren’t hers. The future was nowwildly off-kilter. All her plans were melting away. Wasn’t this the path shewas supposed to be on? Weren’t those kids placed in her life for some higherpurpose?

“Oh.”

“I’m guessing you were the one who paidMeredith a visit. I can’t imagine who else.”

Kate glanced up, nodded, and realized shecouldn’t sit still anymore. Not with the shape of everything changing allaround her. She stood and ran a hand through the hair she’d only recently madesure was combed. How far away that moment felt now. “She wants to take them toSanta Barbara? For good.”

Jennifer nodded. “She’s guilt-ridden forhaving left them with their father and wants to make it right. Solidemployment. A decent-sized house. There’ll be some more vetting, of course, andmonitoring of the situation, but it’s looking like a very viable option for thekids.”

Kate nodded. It made more sense. They’d bewith their mother. How could she get in the way of that? She turned back toJennifer. “I guess that’s it, then?”

“I think the state would give preference to aparent who’s come forward, provided she checks out, but that doesn’t mean youhave to withdraw yourself.”

“Yes, it does,” Kate said softly. “It’s theright thing to do. They’re a family. I’m just…someone from down the street.”

Jennifer offered her an apologetic smile.“You’re a good person, Kate. You’ve been there for those two every step of theway.”

“Yeah, well, I was the one who got them intothis, so…”

“Not from where I’m sitting, and I’ve workedthis thing start to finish. You’re the one who made sure they have a life aheadof them.”

Jennifer’s words helped, but they didn’t takeaway the disappointment, the confusion. “When do they leave?”

“There’s some state-to-state paperwork thatwould have to be in place for Meredith to be granted temporary custody. Thepermanent legalities would come later. So, maybe a few days?”

“A few days.” Not only would the kids not becoming to live with her, but they were leaving Slumberton altogether. She mightnever see them again. “What did you think of her?”

“She seems like a good person who took thewrong path for a time in her life.”

Kate nodded. “Glad to hear it. Thanks forcoming over here personally.”

“I wasn’t going to let some stranger tellyou.” They smiled at each other, their common goal over the past few monthsuniting them as kindred spirits. She let Jennifer out and turned around to facea home that would remain empty. She could take all her recent purchases back tothe store, but the thought hurt her heart more than she could tolerate.

There was nothing holding her there anymore.

She’d come back to Slumberton for Ren andEva, and without them, what was left? In the face of shock and devastation,there was only one thing Kate wanted. Only one person whose shoulder she wantedto cry on, but she was so many miles away.

Chapter Fourteen

It had been ten days since the four-way cryingparty at the Cat’s Pajamas. Since then, Autumn’s tears had dried up, which washelpful. She’d donated way too much of her recent salary to the Kleenexindustry. The fact of the matter was that her life was stable. She had a jobshe loved, friends who had her back, and maybe there’d be a family for her downthe road someday. For that, she still carried hope.

The one thing she didn’t have was Kate. Shemissed her more and more with each passing day. Would she find a way past thatand learn to go back to who she once was? No, the experience had foreveraffected her, and as hard as it was to deal with the loss, she had no regretsas far as Kate was concerned. Zero.

After a long day of Cody calling Steve “dude”and Steve threatening to end Cody’s life if he left the milk out just one moretime, Autumn was grateful that the end of the day was upon her at last. Shedecided to take the long way to her car, which involved a lap around the SevenShores courtyard to see who she might run into. She found Gia sitting aloneoutside, staring up at the stars. She’d been on the road the past few days, andit was good to see her home. “Hey, you,” Gia said, as she saw Autumn approach.

---