“Girl, you just described the situation of most single parents in America.”
“Exactly. It’s not the best situation for a young child,” she said firmly, her look daring him to contradict her.
Charles looked right back. “Hey, it’s your case. I’ll support your decision, but I’m going to give you a couple of warnings. First, keep your personal feelings out of it.”
Molly started to interrupt, bracing herself for the lecture she knew was coming. Charles’ voice had taken on his camp counselor, big brother tone.
“No, I’m not finished. I know your feelings about single parents.”
She nodded. If anyone knew her feelings on this subject, it was Charles. They’d been over it a million times. But Molly couldn’t help relating single parent homes to her lonely childhood and her neglectful mother. Kids deserved a real home, a family with a mom and a dad and love. Molly knew her unstable childhood was half the reason she wanted to buy her condo so desperately. For the home she didn’t have as a child.
He waved a finger at her. “Keep those feelings out of this case. If you can’t, let me know and I’ll ask the director to reassign it. We deal with people here. Our rules and regulations are meant to serve those people, not the other way around.”
Molly bit her lower lip. She hated to provoke Charles, or anyone for that matter, and she certainly didn’t want to jeopardize her job or their friendship.
Attempting a conciliatory smile, she said, “I’ll do everything possible to make sure Jake is placed permanently in the best home situation for him. If Brett Cahill’s home is the best place for Jake, that’s where I’ll place him. But, Charles, I’m going to do it by the book. You know that’s how I am.”
She stared intently at her friend, waiting for some kind of reassurance from him.
“I wouldn’t expect you to handle it any other way.”
Molly had tossed and turned all night, plagued by nightmares. First, she’d relived the terror of being left alone in her dark room as a small child while her mother went out for the evening. Then, she’d dreamed she and Brett were taking Jake for a picnic. They were smiling and laughing, having a good time like the families in the park she used to watch enviously from her mother’s apartment window. The dream ended with a sudden cloudburst. Lightning cracked across the sky and Brett and Jake disappeared, leaving her alone in the rain.
Maybe the picnic dream was a forewarning. What she had to say to Brett today was bound to cause some thunder. An image of Brett flashed in her mind. Brett as he looked yesterday just before she left, anger and concern sharpening the planes of his rugged face.
Molly shivered and rubbed her aching head, hoping she wasn’t coming down with something. No, lack of sleep always gave her a pounding headache. A warm shower, a couple of Excedrin, and a hot cup of herbal tea should help.
Once she’d showered and made herself a mug of chamomile tea, she started to feel better. She carried the mug back to her room and slid the closet door open. Sipping her tea, she looked over the clothes selection carefully. She pulled out one of her favorite outfits, a soft angora sweater in muted autumn colors and chocolate brown dress slacks, then put it back.
Molly didn’t judge people by how they looked, what they wore, and she doubted Brett did either. Today, however, she wanted—no needed—to look and feel both in control and compassionate and understanding.
She took another sip of tea before choosing a honey-colored worsted wool suit and a creamy silk camisole. Molly slipped into the suit and studied her reflection in the mirror. The suit’s long narrow jacket and straight skirt gave her the illusion of being taller than barely five-foot two. The jacket’s one-button style with its deep V showed off the camisole.
Not satisfied, she searched her accessory drawer, pulling out first a string of pearls, then a cameo broach. Neither did the trick. Digging through the drawer again, she saw her Celtic cross and pulled it out. Charles had given it to her years ago. For good luck, he’d said.
She fastened the cross’s intricately woven chain round her neck. Studying her reflection, she lifted her hair, turning her head from side to side. Maybe she should pin it up. No. She let her hair drop to her shoulders and brushed it under into a smooth pageboy. She was as ready as she was going to get.
Brett pulled his Jeep Wrangler into a parking space in front of Thayer House. Molly had called him earlier to arrange a late morning meeting. Fortunately, his neighbor and long-time friend, Tina, had been home and willing to watch Jake. He looked at his watch. Ten fifty-five. Right on time. He swung out of the Wrangler, squared his shoulders, and glanced in the sideview mirror for one last check, then fixed the collar on his coat and headed for the door. He was ready.
Molly wasn’t ready. When the receptionist announced Brett’s arrival on the inner office phone, all she could think was, “He’s here already?” Fumbling to get the papers on her desk back in order, she almost upset her tea. Then, she snagged the knee of her pantyhose on her desk as she stood to go to the reception area to meet Brett.
“Drat,” she muttered, looking down to see the snag run to her ankle and up her thigh.
“Ahem.”
She lifted her gaze to find Brett in the office doorway studying the run as intently as she. Molly felt herself blush as his thick dark lashes lifted and he moved his gaze leisurely from her ankle to where the run disappeared under her carefully chosen skirt. His appreciative grin made her blush grow warmer. So much for her image of professionalism.
She took a deep breath to reestablish her equilibrium. Remember, calm and factual. She repeated Charles’ words to herself—leave your personal feelings out of it—although these feeling weren’t the ones Charles was talking about.
“Brett, hi. I was on my way out to meet you. Please come in and sit down.”
Obviously, she hadn’t been the only one who’d dressed for their meeting. This morning, he’d traded his flannel shirt, jeans, and work boots for a black duster, Dockers, and chukka boots. His natural linen shirt emphasized his tan. His stance, left foot forward, right hand in his pocket, coat pushed back displayed the contrast between his wide shoulders and narrow hips admirably.
Molly attributed the suddenly quicker tempo of her heart to nervousness. He seemed to grow larger with every step he took into the room. She straightened to her full height and motioned him to sit in the chair beside her desk. Taking her seat behind the desk, she watched him remove his coat and settle casually into the chair.
“I’m glad you were able to come in this morning. I wasn’t sure you’d be able to get someone to watch Jake on such short notice.” She paused, waiting for him to comment. He crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair.
“I’d like to get all of this settled as quickly as possible,” she said.
“Me, too,” he said agreeably.
Relief flooded Molly. They were off to a good start. She pushed her hair behind her left ear confident that she could get Brett see her position. “Brett you have to understand that my first responsibility is to Jake, to ensure he’s placed in the best situation possible.” She stopped to gauge his reaction.
Brett raised one eyebrow. “Situation?”
“Home, family.” Molly emphasized each word her voice rising slightly. His blank expression told her she wasn’t making herself clear. She clasped her hands and leaned forward trying for a more in-depth explanation. “Each of our children has different needs. The various age groups have certain unique needs. We try to match the child closely to the adoptive family.”
He nodded, keeping his arms tightly crossed, his face still expressionless.
Clasping her hands tighter, she plunged ahead. “I can see how much you want to adopt Jake, but you have to realize that, with international cases like yours, Thayer House doesn’t have much discretion. I’m required to work within certain constraints imposed by Korean Child Welfare, to follow certain standards they’ve set for adoptive parents.”
“Bureaucracy. Um-hmm.”
&nb
sp; He gave her an agreeable scowl. If a scowl could be described as agreeable. Molly rubbed her cross absently, stopping when she realized his gaze had followed her motion to her breasts. Their eyes met, and Brett grinned.
She let the cross drop and cleared her throat. “Then,” she reiterated, “you’re aware, that under New York State law and our agreement with Korean Child Welfare, I’m required to work within the context of certain regulations. That I don’t have a lot of leeway.”
With each word, she watched his grin change by degrees to a tight smile that emphasized the square jut of his jaw. She was losing him again. The urgency to make herself clear, to gain his acceptance roiled inside her.
“Sometimes, these regulations may appear somewhat arbitrary, but on the whole they work to ensure each child entrusted to Thayer House will have the opportunity to grow up—”
Brett interrupted. “Arbitrary regulations? I’m not following you.”
Bracing herself, Molly said softly, “I have to place Jake in temporary foster care.”
Brett stood slowly and deliberately. He leaned over her desk, hands resting on the outside edge, his face close to hers. “Like heck you do.”
Molly’s stomach lurched. So much for getting him to see her side. Impulsively, she reached for his shoulder, then pulled back. What was it about this man that made her keep wanting to touch and comfort him?
Unable to break eye contact, she said in an appeasing tone, “Brett, I said temporary foster care. I didn’t say we were taking Jake away from you permanently. We have to follow some basic procedures if you want to complete the adoption.”
This time she gave into the urge to touch him. Placing her hand on his shoulder lightly, she felt the rock-hard muscles relax as some of the tension drain from him. A wave of relief flowed over her.
“Please sit down,” she said.
He sat rigidly, his hands gripping the chair arms, making Molly search her mental resources for a way to explain her position without alienating him. She didn’t want them to be adversaries.
Deciding direct and factual might be the best approach, she said in a calm and soothing voice, “We need to discuss your options.”
“Options,” he exploded. “Jake isn’t some kind of commodity to be traded back and forth on the market. He’s family.”
Schooling herself against his anger, she conceded, “Options may be a poor choice of words. However, we do need to talk about what you and I have to do if you want to complete this adoption.”
“Okay, I’ll listen,” he said folding his arms across his chest.
“You’ve completed a new adoption application, so you have the first step out of the way. And we fully expect Korean Child Welfare will begin considering applications from single individuals after the first of the year. The next step is to complete the home study. I should be able to have that done before the new regulations go into effect.”
She paused, letting Brett consider what she’d said. He unfolded his arms and rested his hands on the arms of the chair. Good. If only he’d stay receptive through the rest of what she had to say.
Clasping her hands on the desk in front of her, she leaned toward him and said as gently as possible, “However, until your home study is completed and a referral written, we’ll have to put Jake on Thayer House’s list of waiting children.”
He tensed and gripped the chair. She watched him battle to control his temper.
“Can you expedite my home study and referral?” he asked.
“I can do the home study fairly quickly, but I can’t make referrals to single individuals until the Korean Child Welfare requirements change officially. Jake will have to be listed as available for referral to other families until then.”
“But you don’t have to refer him to anyone else, right? He could stay on the list for three months?”
She nodded. “A lot of our children stay on the Waiting Children list for much longer than three months. Many of our prospective adoptive parents want babies under the age of one, particularly people applying under the International Program.”
When Brett seemed to take this information in stride, Molly almost sighed in relief. One more hurdle to go.
“Now,” he said, “what you started to say about temporary foster care. Is it absolutely necessary? Couldn’t you make an exception because of the circumstances? Kate and David were only a few weeks from completing the adoption.”
Brett’s expression was so hopeful, almost pleading, that Molly wanted to say yes. Telling him yes would be easier on him and her. She had the feeling he would go along with just about anything that would ultimately give him Jake. But part of her agreed with Korean Child Welfare that foster care could be in Jake’s best interest.
If for any reason, Brett’s adoption application wasn’t approved and Jake had to be placed with another family, he’d make the transition much more easily if he weren’t closely bonded to Brett. Thayer House had certain foster parents who took in only infants who would soon be placed with adoptive parents. These couples had special training.
She took a deep breath. “I can’t see how I can make an exception.”
Brett’s eyes narrowed. She could almost hear his thoughts.
“You won’t make an exception,” he accused. “You want to put Jake in foster care.”
“Temporarily. It’s in his best interest.” She realized how callous she sounded as she watched him battle once more to hold his temper. This time he lost.
“No, you have no idea what’s in Jake’s best interest.” He stood and grabbed his coat from the chair.
“Brett, please,” she pleaded. “It’s not so much what I think is in Jake’s best interest. It’s what the agency thinks is in his best interest. Come on, sit down so we can finish.”
“We’re finished,” he said over his shoulder on the way out. “Quite finished.”
For a moment, Molly considered going after him, then decided he needed time to cool off. She’d done her best to present her position and listen to his side. As much as Brett seemed to want Jake, she had to think of Jake first and do what was best for him. She didn’t want to stop Brett from adopting Jake, but she suspected Korean Child Welfare would want to at least give Jake the opportunity to be adopted by a real family.
Her childhood dreams came back. Real families had a mother and a father. That was one of the reasons she worked with the International Adoption Program. Most of the foreign agencies placed children only with married couples. But there was something about Brett Cahill that made her want to stand with him, behind him, or admit it, she admonished herself anywhere near him.
Wearily, she closed the file folder. She’d bring the case up at tomorrow’s staff meeting and not call Brett until she had something concrete to tell him.
Brett stormed into his neighbor Tina’s house, closing the door none too quietly behind him.
“Unca, Unca.” Jake jumped up from his pile of wood blocks and ran to Brett. He lifted the toddler and hugged him tightly. Molly Hennessey was not going to take Jake away from him.
Tina looked over from the couch where she was rolling socks. “From the sound of the door, I’d venture to say, your meeting at Thayer House didn’t go as you expected.” She patted the sofa beside her. “Want to talk about it?”
Brett put Jake down next to the blocks and dropped onto the couch. He ran his hand back over his hair. “She thinks she’s going to take Jake away.” He rammed his fist against the arm of the couch.
“What about the new adoption application you started with Susan Green?” Tina asked.
“That’s going ahead, in theory at least,” he answered sarcastically.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, nothing at all.” Brett got up and started pacing the room, picking up Jake’s things as if getting ready to leave.
“Brett!” Tina raised her hands as he passed by as if to shake him.
He slumped on the couch in resignation, waiting for her cross-examination. While h
e might be able to get the roughest of day laborers to back down with a look and a growl, he’d never managed to get Tina to give an inch once she’d set her chin in determination. Not that he hadn’t tried and tried hard over the years.
“Tell me about it,” she said gently.
“I blew it,” he said as if that explained everything.
“Come on,” she prodded. “What do you mean?”
“After a shaky start, it seemed to go okay.” He told her about Molly arriving early before he’d had a chance to get his house in some semblance of order and about Humphrey’s exuberant greeting. “Molly was a good sport. She took everything in stride.”
His sister nodded. “That sounds promising. Then, what happened?”
“Molly asked about the new adoption application and about a lot of stuff she thought Susan had told me. Maybe Susan had.” He shook his head. “You know how I was those first couple of weeks.”
“Me, too,” Tina said. “Kate was my best friend.”
“Yeah, but you’ve got Amy and your parents,” Brett said, rejecting her sympathy. “Jake’s my only family now, and I could lose him, too.”
Tina ignored his jibe. “So, what did she say?”
“Something about the case not being handled according to procedures.” He emphasized the last three words. “And that Thayer House should have reassumed custody of Jake when I told Susan about Kate and David.”
“Um, hmmm.”
“I might have gotten a little defensive when she mentioned Thayer House taking custody of Jake.” Defensive. He’d all but thrown her out of his house.
“I’ll bet you did,” Tina said with a superior smile. “I have seen you act a bit hastily on occasion. Now, did she actually say Thayer House has to take custody?”
“No,” he admitted. “Yesterday, she said she had to discuss the case with her supervisor.”
“Okay. And she called you this morning and asked you to come in and talk with her.”
“Yeah.”
“What did she say this morning?”
“To make it short, she said that Thayer House and Korean Child Welfare think placing Jake in foster care while I reapply for adoption would be in Jake’s best interest.”
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