“Look, I don’t want to fight with you,” I say, edging forward a little more. “What I’m doing may look harsh to you, but it’s all for my nephew. The child comes first. It’s just like the Floyds at work and that boy I saved, Buster. Those parents were drug users, too. Unreliable people do and say unreliable things. And the child has to come first.”

Chase pauses, and his shoulders relax a little. He’s getting it. He’s catching up. For him it must be such a difficult leap into a cruel world.

He looks me right in the eye. “Whatever happened to that baby? What happened to Buster?”

“Simple,” I say. “I saved him.”

A strange look comes over Chase, a look I’ve never seen before and can’t interpret. “I never realized how far you’d go … to protect these kids.”

“If I didn’t, no one would.” I lower my head, wondering if I can round the counter yet and hug him.

Chase scratches at his stubble. “I guess it’s hard to pick out the reliable people. I’m not very worldly that way. It leaves me wide-open.” His face is so sad. Maybe he’s finally seeing the world for what it is.

“It’s a tricky business,” I say, moving forward until I’m standing in front of him.

He puts his arms around me. Yes. I’ve got him. He’s with me still.

“I’m sorry, Chase,” I say. “I’m sorry you had to come to terms with all of this. Your innocence is sweet. It’s what I love so much about you.”

He grips me close. “I didn’t mean it when I said you had to move out.”

I bury my face in his chest. “It’s been such a … a difficult week.”

“Yes,” he says. “There’s a lot to … sort through.”

“Welcome to my world,” I say.

We stay together like that for a while, Chase holding me tight in the kitchen. Even after everything that’s happened, it’s going to end up okay. We’re back on track. And as I stand, letting Chase sway me, I hug the most important fact of all to myself. In only a matter of hours, Morris will bring Will over.

RUTH

Two hours after Family Services has stolen my baby, the hospital discharges me and Sully drives me home in his cruiser, a blanket over my knees. He takes me to his house, puts me in the spare room, lets Gravy sleep on the bed with me, even though I think he has rules about that kind of thing.

“I’m right next door,” he says, “if you need anything.” He pauses, his face racked. Then he pulls the door shut until it clicks.