Page 83 of Her Big Bad Wolf

“What do you mean, Ms. Vanessa?” Mason asked. “Isaac always drops us off here in the morning. You know that.”

“But this early?”

He shrugged. “Said he had some things he had to do.”

“It’s fine. We don’t mind,” Noah said.

I eyed him suspiciously, but he just smiled.

“They’re trying to give us to another family,” Cam blurted out.

He ran over and hugged me. “I don’t want a new family.”

Tears pricked my eyes as I lifted him into my arms and hugged him tightly.

“I know. It’s all going to work out.”

I didn’t want to get their hopes up, but the fact that the boys already knew about the new foster family scared me. I didn’t want to lose my family. These boys deserved stability. And maybe life would always be a little odd with me and Isaac, but they would know they were loved and cared for at home. That had to be more important than a dad in the seat cheering at every event. Besides, I knew I would always be there and I could cheer loud enough for the both of us.

“Let’s get inside. Did you have breakfast yet?”

“Yes ma’am,” Noah said.

He was being far too polite and agreeable for this early in the morning. I couldn’t help but be a little suspicious.

Once we were settled inside, I gave the younger boys tasks to do and pulled Noah into my office.

“You’re worrying me.”

“What? Why? What did I do?”

“I know you can’t be happy about a new foster family and another move.”

He shrugged. “They said we could all stay together. And adoption might be a possibility for us. We could have a real family.”

“That’s what you want?” I asked him.

“More than anything. I just want my family together with us all living under one roof.”

I nodded, but tears were already stinging my eyes.

“Okay then. Go see if your brothers need any help.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Cam came by a few minutes later and caught me crying.

A few minutes later I heard him yelling at Noah down the hall.

“What did you tell her? You made her cry.”

“I didn’t say nothing.”

“Then why’s she crying?”

“I don’t know. I just told her that we had a chance at getting adopted.”

“You’re going to blow everything. You can’t say stuff like that, remember?” Mason said.