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THEN I SAW THREE FOSTER FAMILIES ARRIVE

Good people.

That was important.

They weren’t villains.

The couple approved for Mason and Grace looked kind.

The woman knelt immediately when she spoke to them.

The family taking Theo and Evie had fostered young children before.

The couple willing to accept June had photographs of three adopted children on their phone.

Everyone was trying to help.

That almost made it harder.

If they had been terrible people, I could have been angry.

Instead, I was watching good people solve an impossible problem in the only ways available to them.

Then Theo began crying.

Mason immediately stood.

He crouched beside him.

“Hey.”

Theo buried his face against Mason.

Mason rubbed his back.

“Don’t cry.”

Grace reached for Evie.

Baby June began fussing.

Mason looked toward the stroller.

His eyes moved rapidly.

Theo.

Grace.

Evie.

June.

Again.

Counting.

I walked away before anyone saw my face.