Page 90 of Could Have Been Us
“I don’t know what to do.”
Mickey lifts one shoulder. “It’s his call. I’ve been around long enough to see this go bad. He’s . . . out of control. I think he lost his job. There are bills stacked up in the kitchen.”
I look to Jack as he rubs the back of his neck. “We should go in and see what we’re dealing with.”
“Thank you,” I say to Mickey.
He gives me a sad smile. “I’m going to stick around while you talk to him in case you need anything. Whatever tipped him over was bad. I like the guy, and well, we’ve sort of become friends.”
“Of course.”
We head into the house, and it’s so much worse than the last time I was here.
In the living room, the television is on low and Samuel is wrapped in a blanket. He turns when we enter.
“Stella.”
I walk over and sit beside him, pulling him in for a hug. “Are you okay?”
He starts to cry. “I can’t do this. I tried. I tried for her, but I can’t. I lost it all, and I’m drowning.”
I rub his back, trying to calm him. “Talk to us. We’re all here to help.”
Samuel pulls himself back up and takes a good look at Jack. It takes him a second, but then he gasps. “Oh my God. Jack?”
Jack looks to me and then to Samuel. “Hi, Samuel. It’s been a long time.”
Samuel rises, his legs wobbling, and he extends his hand. “It has been, and I wish it wasn’t like this now.”
Jack nods once and helps Samuel back down.
Mickey clears his throat. “Why don’t you tell them what’s going on?”
“I lost my job,” he starts. “I was doing fine. I wasn’t drinking, and things were getting better. It was hard because I missed her, but I was staying strong. Kinsley was happy and . . . then they let me go.”
“So you drank?” I ask.
Samuel’s eyes fill with tears. “It was just one drink. That was all, but . . . I don’t remember going home. The next day, it was the same.”
The shame in his voice shatters me. “Tell us what we can do.”
“You have to take her,” he says, tears falling down his cheeks.
“Take Kinsley?” I ask, needing the clarification.
He starts to shake. “I have no one, Stella. Her mother is dead. My brother is in Phoenix and wants nothing to do with me. I need to get help.” Jack stands and starts to pace. “If you don’t take her, she’ll go into foster care while I’m in rehab. You’re her parents, and . . .”
My eyes lift to Jack, and his shoulders sag. I know he doesn’t want this, but there’s not a chance in hell I’m letting her go into foster care.
I turn to Mickey, his eyes wide as he looks between Jack and I.
I lick my lips and let out a deep breath. “I . . . I don’t . . .”
Jack steps in. “Give Stella and me a minute.”
I get up and walk over to him. His hand rests on the small of my back as we go into the kitchen area. Jack takes a step back, and his head falls before his gaze meets mine. “You want to take her.”
“Want? No, but I’m not letting her go into foster care.”
