Maybe it wasn’t fair to get Caroline involved, but she wasn’t sure who else to trust.
A dog dashed across the road twenty feet in front of her, and she slammed her foot on the brakes.
The car’s tires slipped and skidded on the rain-drenched road.
As Anna pumped the brakes, it continued to slide.
Adrenaline surged through her as she tried to keep the car on the road.
The tires finally gripped the road, and she rolled her shoulders to force them to relax as the dog scampered into the grass on the other side of the street. When had her tires gotten this bad? If Brad were still alive, she’d ask him to get them changed the next time he had a day off. Instead, it was one more task for her overcrowded planner.
The baby kicked, a lunge that brought a smile.
She’d never tire of the sensation of life growing in her even as she wearied of the restless nights and uncomfortable days. She rubbed where she’d been kicked. “Soon, little one.”
Anna glanced in her rearview mirror.
The car behind edged closer than she was comfortable with. Closer than the weather would recommend. Hadn’t he seen her fishtail?
She eased on the brake.
She’d adjust her speed to compensate for Mr. Aggressive behind her.
After glancing in the rearview mirror to note his reaction, she grimaced. He edged closer rather than backing off.
The light at the end of the block turned red, and she slammed on her brakes to stop before entering the intersection.
Again, her car didn’t stop. Then the fool behind her didn’t stop either. He collided with her. The impact reverberated through her.
She gasped.
Clutched the steering wheel harder.
Stomped on the brake.
Didn’t notice the truck bearing down on her from the left until it was too late.
Barely heard the blare of the horn before the crunch of metal.
Shattered glass.
Pain.
Darkness.
Chapter 21
Monday, May 31
Brandon woke with a start.
He groped for his phone. “Yep?”
“Is this Brandon Lancaster?” The woman’s voice wasn’t familiar.
“It is.” He leaned onto his side and rubbed his eyes, then pulled back the phone to read the number. Nicole Walker? “Can I help you?”
“I wondered if my husband and I could come out to Almost Home an hour earlier than we’d discussed. The others from our ministry will arrive at noon or a bit later, but Eric has explored your website and wants to see how we can intentionally come alongside what you’re doing. Those kinds of conversations happen best without a large audience.”
His sleepy brain struggled to catch up with what she was asking. “There’s a lot to do before the kids can enjoy the day.”
“We can help. I assure you both of us love stepping in and filling needs.”
“If that’s what you’re looking for, we have a few.”
“I thought that might be the case.” Her words had warmth as if she was smiling.
What could he do? Not that much other than welcome them and delegate even more. “I can make that work.”
“Great. We’ll arrive at ten and be prepared to pitch in as soon as you give us the tour and heart behind your work.”
Heart?
She knew he was a dude, right? He didn’t lead with his heart. Then a pair of chocolate eyes filled his mind. Okay, unless it involved a certain woman who made his heart want to leap from his chest. “I’ll be glad to share the mission.”
There was so much to do before everyone arrived for the festivities. Okay, the cookout with outdoor games they held each year as long as it didn’t rain. He was grateful Nicole Walker was bringing a team out, but he didn’t know what she expected. Would she find it here? Would trying to guess be a waste of his time?
He didn’t really want to think about it that way, but she could be an answer to his prayers or a drain. In a couple of hours he’d know.
Time to kick into overdrive.
When the Walkers arrived a few hours later, Brandon was ready in an Almost Home polo and khaki shorts.
The man stepped from the SUV and then hurried to the passenger side. A sixtysomething woman stepped from the car and took a moment to look around before her gaze met his.
Eric was about six feet tall, good-sized for a man, but Brandon would be taller by a few inches. Eric’s gray hair was cut short, not a buzz cut, but still no-nonsense. It was easy to tell the two were a couple because they both wore red T-shirts with blue shorts and comfortable shoes. Nicole was a good six inches shorter than her husband, and there was an intelligence to the way she took in what she could see of Almost Home that made Brandon curious. What was she seeing?
“Welcome to Almost Home.” Brandon extended his hand to Eric.
They shook hands as the man spoke. “Eric Walker, and this is my wife, Nicole.”
She took his hand with a smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you officially and be here. You may be an answer to prayer.”
“How do you figure?” He didn’t want the pressure that last sentence carried.
“Ever since our youngest left the nest a few years ago, I’ve been looking for the place where kids needed us.” She gestured to the grounds. “I haven’t seen much yet, but this could be it.”
Eric took her hand. “Now, Nicole, not everyone gets your instant ability to see things as they could be. Mr. Lancaster also doesn’t know how you’re a modern Pied Piper of sorts.” The man laughed as he gave Brandon a conspiratorial wink. “Kids adore her almost as much as she adores them.”
She swatted her husband’s arm. “I don’t know about that. Young man, why don’t you give us the twenty-minute tour and tell us about what you’re trying to do.”
“Sure. First, it’d be great to know what you do so I can tailor what I talk about to what will interest you.”
“I’m a bored housewife who no longer has kids of her own at home.” Nicole shrugged. “I’m looking for a place to volunteer that can benefit from my help.” She slipped under Eric’s arm. “Eric is a state senator.”
Brandon frowned before recovering a neutral expression. Was it a good thing to have a legislator here seeing what he was doing?
As if reading his mind, Eric spoke. “Today I’m here as a concerned citizen who wants to help. Is this a group home subject to Family First?”
“It is.”
“How’s that going?”
“If you want an honest answer . . .”
“I do.”
“Not well. The requirements under the law are still evolving. That’s made it hard to figure out how to comply.”
“Have you found a way?”
“I believe so.” Brandon led the way to the lodge’s doors. “First let me show you our main family space. Then if you’re interested, I’ll tell you about the model I believe will work for homes like mine that are sibling group–focused.”
The tour went well, with both State Senator Walker and his wife asking thoughtful questions. After a quick walk of the grounds, the senator stopped and studied one of the cottages. “You don’t have trauma-informed care.”
“No.”
“Then how are you going to continue your work after the regs go into effect?”
“My house parents are considering becoming fully licensed foster parents, independent of my license. If they agree, instead of working for me, they will be foster parents who rent the cabins from me for a nominal rate. I’ll work with the state as a liaison as needed, but the children would be placed directly with the house parents.” He wished he knew how to read the senator’s thoughts. “I’ll focus on the long-term placement of the kids and providing the services they need while here.”
Nicole glanced around the space. “This is a wonderful setting for kids.”
“Yes, and the goal is to get them into forever homes, generally through foster-to-adopt. But this becomes a p
lace where siblings can stay together while termination is occurring or a permanent placement is located.”
Eric glanced toward the firepit, where Jeff Stone was tending a large grill with two of his sibling group in tow. “I can see where that is a good plan. Does anyone else do it that way?”
“Some were doing a version of it before Family First went into effect. I’ve talked to an executive director of a home in Arkansas who’s adopting the same model, but I don’t know anyone here.” He inhaled as he tried to gauge the senator’s mood. “Someone has to be first. Why not me?”
* * *
Memorial Day had dawned warm and muggy, the promise of rain hovering in the air.
Caroline dressed in a pair of denim capris and a navy tank with an off-the-shoulder red T-shirt thrown over it, trying to hit the right holiday note. As she glanced in the full-length mirror hanging on the back of her closet door, she wasn’t sure she’d succeeded. But one glance at her watch had her pulling her hair into a high ponytail and grabbing a sun visor as well as a rain jacket, just in case.
Then she grabbed her picnic basket, which was filled with carefully decorated cupcakes. The kids would annihilate them, but for a few minutes the treats would look amazing. She just hoped Annelise saw that Caroline had made two in her favorite color. The purple didn’t match the Memorial Day color scheme of the others, but she hoped it would make the seven-year-old feel remembered. When Emilie texted that she and Reid had arrived, she hurried out the door and down the stairs to their car. Emilie was wearing a cute white sundress splashed with large yellow sunflowers and had a floppy-brimmed yellow hat with white ribbon around the band that highlighted her blonde hair.
Emilie rolled down the passenger window as Reid pulled to a stop. “Need any help?”
Caroline shook her head as she hefted the basket. “I’m good. Want this in the trunk?”
Reid hopped out and took it from her. “I’ll set it next to you. Less likely to slide around.”
“Thanks.” After he opened the door, she slid into the back seat and strapped in as he took care of the basket.
The miles passed as Reid and Emilie had a quiet conversation about some event they’d gone to over the weekend. Sounded like one of Reid’s financial clients had hosted people on his yacht. The two were so cozy and connected, their hands intertwined on the console between them. Comfortable in a way that made her heart yearn for the same. Most of her friends were paired with amazing men, the kind you could count on in life, the ones who would stick around through the ups and downs and roller-coaster speeds of life. She could have that with Brandon if she could let herself relax into what he offered.
“You okay?” Emilie’s quiet words pulled her from her thoughts.
“Why do you ask?”
“You sighed. Heavily.” Emilie twisted in her seat to look at Caroline while Reid flipped on his blinker, signaling the turn onto the road leading to Almost Home. “I’ve known you long enough to know when you’re the kind of quiet that needs to talk.”
“Conserving energy before we arrive.” Emilie had been to Almost Home often enough to know how intense the time could get. The kids loved the extra attention that new adults brought, and it took focus to match their stamina.
Emilie eyed her but didn’t press as the car slowed. “We’ll talk later.”
Caroline nodded, but knew she’d do her best to postpone that. What could she say? That she was jealous of her friends? That wasn’t really true, she hoped.
She just wanted to replicate what they had in her own unique way—and feared she was doing a terrible job of it.
Chapter 22
The moment they parked, kids swarmed them. Caroline couldn’t hold back a grin as she started hugging the girls and boys. Somehow Evan wormed his way through the crowd until he stood hugging her legs. “Hey, buddy.” She swiveled his baseball hat until the brim pointed down his back.
“Miss Cawee.” He pouted, then tugged it back in place.
She grinned at him. “Guess what I brought?”
“Cookies?” His eyes got big with eager hope.
“Close. Cupcakes with lots of icing and sprinkles.”
“It’s not the same.” He crossed his arms then stuck his tongue out at her.
“Evan McDonald.” Alaina stepped forward and grabbed his elbow. “That’s not how we talk to people, let alone our friends. Say you’re sorry.”
“But I’m not.” His little chin jutted out.
Alaina shook her head and closed her eyes a moment before giving Caroline an apologetic grimace. “We’re still working on manners.”
“It’s okay. Where’s little Ellie?”
“Jeff took her for a while.” Alaina brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. The wind teased it back out.
The women started walking toward the lodge, a group of kids clustering around them. “I heard you and Jeff have a job offer out of state. Are you planning to take it?”
Alaina looked toward the playground and field, where a small canopy had been set up for shade. Several adults were moving picnic tables into place. “I thought for sure we were leaving, but now I don’t know. It doesn’t feel like we’ve got a good answer.” She sighed. “It’s so hard when you know you answered a call and you’re where God wants you, then everything changes. How long do you stay? Or do you adapt? How do you know when God releases you to move on?” She glanced at Caroline and her eyebrows were knit together as her palms came up. “I’d give anything for a clear answer.”
“I guess I’ve always operated by ‘stay where you are until you have to move.’”
“Sometimes that works. Other times it’s just stubbornness. Refusing to follow when God says go. That’s what makes moments like this hard. How do you know if you’re being stubborn?” She adjusted the strap of her sundress and rolled her shoulders. “It feels good not to wear the baby carrier for a few minutes.”
Caroline didn’t rush to answer Alaina’s question. This felt important, like one of those moments when God had strategically placed her in the conversation. “What if the fact you’re concerned about these issues is enough? That all you need to do is decide? Sometimes there really isn’t a right or wrong answer. We get to choose. Maybe He wants to use you wherever you decide to invest your lives.”
Alaina nodded. “Maybe. I’ll think about what you’ve said. Right now I need to rescue Ellie before Jeff forgets he’s carrying his daughter and not a football. Thanks for talking.” The woman wandered toward the grill and her family.
Caroline watched the kids running around as if they were already on a sugar high. These kids were so resilient. She knew what it took to plaster a smile on, let alone have one that glowed from the inside after experiencing some of the situations these kids had survived.
To land in foster care meant something had gone wrong, usually tragically wrong. Yet she’d watched kids come back to life under the care of Brandon and his team of home parents. It was a calling worthy of respect.
A few of the kids were new. She’d make the effort to spend at least a few moments with each. One little girl ran full tilt into her, and Caroline reached down to steady her. Her gaze lifted above the little girl who hugged her knees and connected with Brandon’s. He watched her with an odd expression, one she couldn’t decipher but wanted to understand.
All she knew was that if he kept looking at her like that, she was one perfect moment from falling hopelessly in love with this man who fit her heart.
* * *
Alaina walked toward the grill where Jeff was stationed, and Brandon wondered what they’d decide. He shifted to watch Caroline pull different kids close for hug after hug. Was anything more beautiful than a woman who gave love freely to those around her?
As he watched, she intentionally sought one of the children who’d arrived this week and knelt in front of her. She was amazing.
His aunt Jody, Anna’s mother, had called earlier while he was giving the Walkers their tour, so it had gone to voicemail. How long had it been
since he’d talked to her? He let Anna keep him up to date, but considering he hadn’t seen her often before Bethany, he was doing a lousy job being part of his family. It had nothing to do with his aunt and uncle’s failure to find him or his brother when they got lost in the system. His mind knew Jody and Clint were stationed overseas, too far away to be aware of what happened, but his heart argued that Aunt Jody had known Mom had died. Maybe she’d assumed Brandon’s dad would step back into the picture, but that showed how out of touch she’d been.
There were other family members who could have stepped forward, too, but hadn’t. He’d managed, but it was hard to want to spend time with people who hadn’t wanted him.
His aunt had relocated to the area six months earlier when Anna announced she was pregnant. Aunt Jody had left Uncle Clint in whatever foreign city they lived in, thanks to his job, and moved to be closer to Anna after her husband’s death.
He blinked and chose to focus on this moment. Brandon gave Reid a quick backslap hug before giving Emilie a side squeeze. Reid had met his match in the quiet yet firm Emilie. “Did you bring Kinley with you?”
Reid’s niece lived with him since tragedy had befallen her family two years ago and often came with Reid to enjoy the other kids and the outdoors.
Reid shook his head. “Not this time. She was at some sort of sleepover that will continue for most of the day.”
Emilie gave Brandon a wink. “He’s having a hard time embracing the fact that Kinley’s a teenager now and can have a bit more independence.”
“A bit is fine. I like knowing where she is.” And that she’s safe was left unsaid. Understandable after her dad had almost succeeded in killing Kinley the day he killed her mom and sister.
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