Page 52 of From the Embers

I smile, hugging myself. “He’s really amazing.”

“You deserve to be happy.”

“As do you. How are things going with Nicholas?”

My sister recently started dating another teacher at an opposing school. Quite the scandal in our small town. “Well, pretty seriously, actually. We’re officially going steady.”

I laugh. “Happy to hear that.”

“So, what are you going to do about Hope?”

The conversation distracted me enough to forget about it for all of two minutes. “I really don’t know, Care. I feel sick just leaving her here all alone.”

“Let me guess, you’re considering helping her?”

“I don’t see how I can. Unless you mean fostering?”

“Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve always had this thing about saving everyone, Adi, it’s just in your nature.”

“That’s not what I’m doing,” I say. “But if you could see this little girl, your heart would break. I can’t stop thinking about what will become of her. She’ll just go into the system, and we all know the system can be flawed.”

“I know, but if you’re thinking about becoming a foster parent yourself, you have to also consider your dreams and goals. Setting up your business would be put on hold, at least for a while.”

“I know that, and I haven’t even thought about it until this very moment. I just feel so helpless.”

“Emotions are heightened because it was traumatic,” she goes on. “That’s only natural.”

I wipe a tear away. I feel sick to my stomach for Hope. I know I can’t just go and put my hand up to foster her—that’s my heart strings talking. The reality is, I don’t know the first thing about raising a child. Plus, what would I do for work because I couldn’t leave her home alone.

Why am I even thinking about this?

Because there’s a little girl in there whose future is unknown, and that makes me feel sick. It feels like I should do something, even if I don’t know how to go about it.

I should talk to Denver, but he’ll probably think I’ve gone insane.

“I know. Hey, I’d better get back,” I say. “Denver will be wondering where I went.”

“Okay, but call me anytime, I mean it.”

“I will, thanks for hearing me out.”

“Love you, sis.”

“Love you, too.” We hang up and I run a hand over my face.

Carrie is always the voice of reason, and someone I trust implicitly. I know I’d be acting on impulse if I suggested the fostering thing to Denver, and I don’t want to just jump the gun.

Maybe Hope will get placed with a family who will give her the attention she needs, and they could possibly have kids, so that could be good for her.

When I head back up the corridor, Denver is walking toward me. “Hey,” he says, looking relieved to see me. “I thought you’d bailed.”

I shake my head, waving my phone. “No, I was just talking to Carrie. I had to step out for a minute.”

“How is she?”

“She’s great, dating a really nice guy and it’s going well.”

“I’m glad.” His eyes zero in on me. “Have you been crying?”