Page 60 of Broken
“Back in twenty,” Prescott said.
On the way to the store, his dad asked what happened.
“When I got there, she was already gone. There was a team working on her, but they couldn’t bring her back.”
“I’m sorry, son.”
“Probably a blood clot in her lung. They’ll know once the autopsy comes back.”
“Mom and I will do whatever we can to help you.”
“I have no idea how to tell Ethan.”
“The truth is painful, plus he’s so young. Problem is, if you lie to him, that’s not the right way to start a relationship with him.”
“Whoa, what do you mean, ‘start a relationship with him’?”
“Well, you’re keeping him, aren’t you?” his dad asked.
“For now, until I can figure out where he can be placed.”
“Placed? Like in foster care?”
“Well, I can’t take care of him. He’s not a pair of shoes that I can store in my closet and rotate out every few days.”
“He’s a baby, and he’s family. What other choice do you have?”
“Besides foster care, there’s adoption. I can’t take care of—raise—a child. I just changed a poopy diaper for the first time in my life.”
“Congratulations.” His dad smiled. “You haven’t really lived until you’ve smelled your child’s feces.”
“That’s just it, Dad, he’s not even my child.”
“I adopted you.”
“So?”
“You’re just as much my child as Nicky and Kerri. I have three children who equally drive me crazy.” His dad smiled, and Prescott appreciated his levity during such a painful time.
“You’re an amazing dad, but I don’t know the first thing about children.” He pulled into the grocery store parking lot and drove toward the entrance.
“Neither did Mom and me. Parents figure it out as they go. Just keep an open mind, that’s all, Scotty. That little boy is all alone in the world. He has no one.” His dad choked back a sob and turned away. “Sorry,” he murmured.
A stabbing pain sliced through him. His dad was right. He couldn’t abandon his nephew.
In silence, they loaded the groceries and headed toward home. As he pulled down his street, his phone rang. It was Z.
Prescott answered, put the phone to his ear. “I can’t talk.”
“Did you bring your sister home from the hospital?”
“She died this morning.”
Z gasped. “Ohgod, I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“My dad’s with me. I’ll call you back.”
“This is important.” Z pushed back. “I spoke with Addison. She and Nicholas are leaving at midnight.”
