Page 44 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

“Mornin’,” she offers.

“Hey.” I step back, allowing her to enter. “I’ll take him from you.”

Reaching out, I take Gabe’s car seat from her.

“Thank you so much for keeping him. I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay you for that.”

“It wasn’t a problem at all. Good baby, remember.” She laughs. “He was a joy. And I don’t mind keeping him anytime for you.”

She’s beaming, and it makes me wonder if she wishes she had more than her one.

“Well, I do appreciate it.”

“You still haven’t heard back from the unit you’re supposed to hand him over to?”

Hmmm. I should probably make another call. Or send an email since calls clearly aren’t working.

“Nah. I’ll have to see what I can do this coming week to get him secured with someone else. It’s been a week, and he really needs someone that knows what they’re doing.” Which isn’t me, my mind reminds me. “And maybe someone who makes more money than me,” I add.

“Seems like you’re doing a good job. Can’t he stay with you instead of a stranger?”

“Ha,” I break out. “I think I classify as a stranger too.”

“I don’t know,” she tells me as I unbuckle Gabe from the carrier. “Seems to have taken to you just fine.”

I pull him out then stand with the sleeping little fellow.

“Are you saying I’m not screwing this fostering gig up?” I half laugh.

“Guess so.” Her eyes cut to the side as if she’s in thought for a brief second before they cut over to Gabe, her expression somewhat somber. “I didn’t think I could afford Carson when I had him either, but we’ve managed just fine. Even without his dad.”

She smiles and then lets out a small sigh, squeezing her son’s hand.

“Before I drove over, this one was begging me to take him to see a movie so...” she trails off, looking down at her son in that resigned,I have to go now. I have to do kid stuff, look.But I can tell she loves every minute of it

“Well good luck with that then.” I laugh. “See ya, Monday.”

“Yeah, see ya,” she mumbles as they head out the door, closing it behind her.

I turn but then stop dead in my tracks when I’m hit in the face with the most God-awful smell I’ve ever experienced.

I glance down.

Ewww.

Yeah, I had forgotten just how bad a dirty diaper could get.

“How do you smell that nasty, little one?”

Glancing down at my chest, I think,I don’t know if I’m cut out for this.

Surely there is someone with much more experience than me.

I head toward the back to clean him up.

“Once we get you some clean clothes on, I think we’re going to go spend some of Uncle Jackson’s hard-earned money.”

My brother is going to learn if he’s going to deposit money I didn’t ask for, then I’m going to blow it on whatever the hell I want.

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