“Everything is fine, but I just got a call from Cindy, my contact at the Center for Children and Families.”
I take a sharp breath in because I know exactly what Hallie is about to say. I can feel the shift through the phone.
There must be something on my face that gives away my feelings because Jeremy reaches out and takes my free hand, curling his fingers around mine. I glance up at him, grateful for his touch that grounds me to this moment when I know my life is about to change.
“It’s happening already?” I ask Hallie.
“It is. There’s a seven-year-old girl who needs an emergency foster placement. Her mom died when she was a baby, and her dad is serving time for drug offenses. Apparently, he fell apart when he lost his wife and he’s been on a downward spiral ever since. There’s no other family in the picture, and she has been in foster care for the last five years. Her current foster parents are moving out of state, so she needs a new home. Cindy thoughtyou would be a good match for her. You can say no if you don’t feel like you’re ready. I know this is fast.”
“No,” I say quickly. “This is why I went through the whole process, Hallie. I’m ready. I can do this.”
“Okay. This one is a little unusual, though. Even though it’s an emergency placement, it’s not as time sensitive as they usually are. She’s spending one more night at her current foster home and will be moving to your house tomorrow afternoon. I asked Cindy if she could bring her to our office so you can meet her there. I thought it might be a warmer, happier place for her to meet you for the first time than at Cindy’s office. She’ll be here at three.”
“I appreciate that. Seven, you said?”
“Yeah. Cindy said she likes art. And dogs.”
I blow out a breath, trying to calm my racing heart. It’s more than some foster parents get to know about the kids who come to live with them. I can work with this.
“I guess I have some shopping to do.”
“I’m really proud of you, Em. Will you call me if you need me?”
“I will. Oh, and Hallie?”
“Yeah?”
“What’s her name?”
“Madison. Cindy called her Maddy.”
“Maddy. Pretty. Hallie, can you tell Jules and Molly what’s going on? I haven’t told them about this yet, so it’ll be a pretty big surprise.”
“Of course, and they’ll be fine. We’re all here to help you; you’re not alone in this. I’ll see you tomorrow, Em.”
“Thanks, Hal. See you tomorrow.”
I end the call, staring at my phone for a beat, gathering my thoughts. This is happening.
“Everything okay?”
I slowly lift my head, meeting Jeremy’s concerned eyes. It occurs to me that aside from Hallie, who helped me with the whole process, Jeremy will be the first person to find out. It seems appropriate, somehow.
“A month ago, I was approved to be a foster parent.”
“Ems,” Jeremy breathes. “That’s…huge.”
“It is. It’s something I’ve been thinking about doing for a long time. I knew a little about the process from the pro-bono work Hallie has done over the years, and when she moved to family law full time, I decided to go for it. She helped me with the whole process—the paperwork and prepping for the home visit, and all the training and everything. When I got approved, they said it could be anything from days to years before a child was placed at my house, but there’s a little girl who needs a home now. And apparently that home is my home.”
I see everything I feel reflected back at me from Jeremy’s eyes and for a second, we’re not Emma and Jeremy, full grown adults standing on a running trail at dusk. We’re Emma and Jeremy, two little kids, lost and afraid, who know exactly what it’s like to need a home because the one you had isn’t available to you anymore.
“Her name is Maddy,” I whisper, not trusting my voice just yet. “She likes art. And dogs. She’s coming tomorrow.” I take a deep breath and clear my throat, trying to get a hold of my emotions.
“I have a room ready—you have to set one up as part of the approval process. But it’s pretty neutral since kids of any age or gender can be placed. I don’t know a lot about her, or even how long she’ll be with me, but I think maybe I want to go buy a couple things, make the room more hers. Are you okay if we cut this run short and head back now?”
“Can I…come with you? Help you set up her room?” Jeremy’s voice is rough, his eyes dark pools of feeling.
“You want to go shopping with me?”
