Page 8 of All It Takes

Tasha nodded. “You do. I have all the paperwork drawn up. Something to consider in the long run is adoption. You can remain his guardians, but that’s an option.”

“How is that different?” Tiffany prompted.

“Guardianship can be contested at a later date. Adoption can’t,” Tasha replied.

“Who would contest it?” I heard myself asking.

Tasha shrugged. “You just never know. I don’t recommend making a decision about adoption today. I’m just letting you know the option is there for the future.”

Tiffany and I glanced at each other and then back at Tasha with Tiffany replying, “Okay.”

A short fifteen minutes later, we were walking out together with our official guardianship paperwork in hand in two separate manila envelopes. Eileen was going to go with us to introduce Tiffany to Ross. The plan was for him to stay with me for the weekend while Tiffany got a room ready for him at her place.

Tiffany stopped beside my car, tapping the key fob in her hand. “Your car?” I nudged my chin in the direction of the car beside my SUV.

She nodded. “I’ll follow you?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

ChapterSeven

TIFFANY

Those big brown eyes blinked up at me. Ross had his hand buried in Nilla’s thick white fur. He was holding that sweet dog like she was a life boat in choppy water. I suppose she was. Eileen had just left.

“This is a lot to take in,” I offered softly.

Ross blinked, looking down at Nilla. “Can Nilla come with me when I stay with you?”

I looked over at Wes. This was another question in the long line of inquiries that I felt as if I’d been pummeled by since the phone call yesterday evening.

Wes nodded, mouthing, “As long as it’s okay with you.”

“Of course,” I said quickly, relieved that Ross was focused on Nilla and not me and Wes.

Ross’s eyes lifted again, and I saw the sheen of tears there. I didn’t know how it was possible that I could be so fiercely protective of this little boy inside of only half an hour, but I was. I wanted to take care of him, to keep him safe, and to make sure nothing bad ever happened again in his life. I loved dogs, and Alice had been joking with me that I had to adopt one soon. I just hoped I wasn’t stealing Wes’s dog.

Wes was sitting beside me on the couch. His elbows were resting on his knees with his hands laced loosely together. I was beyond relieved he was here. We’d been thrown into this together.

“You can count on us,” he was saying to Ross. “We know this may feel strange and big and probably more than you ever expected to deal with, but we’re here for you.”

Ross looked over at Wes, asking, “Can I play video games there too?”

I deduced they’d played some video games.

Wes’s voice was gruff when he replied, “Absolutely. I promise. Tiffany’s fun too. She might even know how to play video games.”

“Actually, I do,” I offered quickly. “I have an older brother who works with Wes. He taught me how to play video games. I might not be as good as Wes, but I can hold my own.”

I made a mental note to check with Wes about what kind of game console to get. I did know how to play a few, but I wasn’t a serious gamer by any stretch.

Ross looked between us, nodding solemnly. “Where will I stay tonight?”

“You’re with me for the weekend. Tiffany is going to get a room all set up for you. I need to work on that too.”

“You already got a bedroom ready for me,” Ross said.

Wes shrugged. “I let you stay in mine. I’ll get the spare room here furnished so it’s all yours.”

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