Page 5 of Stay With Me (Griffin’s Den #2)

FIVE

Noah

I couldn’t have heard her right. She has no identification?

How?

I knew she had a story she was hiding, but this was not what I was expecting.

Mike clears his throat, breaking the silence. “You have no identification at all?”

She fiddles with the hem of her shorts and shakes her head. “No. I didn’t know where they kept that information. I’m shocked Jess has hers.”

Melissa starts taking notes, and I know what’s going to happen. Without identification, they aren’t going to let Luna have emergency custody of her sister.

Mike looks at me and then back to Luna. “This is a unique situation all around. I have never had to identify someone who might not be in the system at all. I don’t know how long it will take to get the information you’ll need. Melissa, do you have any ideas on how we should move from here?”

She takes her time before answering. “You’re right, this isn’t your everyday situation, and I can work around some things, but my hands are tied on others.

” She pauses and looks down at her notes.

“Based on what we know so far, you both were born and raised in a group called The Family. Do you know which state they were based out of?”

“Yes, I believe it was Utah, but based on what I was able to put together, I’m not a hundred percent sure,” Luna tells her, and I know what’s coming next.

My eyes bounce around to everyone in the room. Luna was ready to leave town at her birthday party before Jess showed up. Selfishly, I don’t want that to happen. I just didn’t know how to change her mind because I don’t want to hold anyone back ever again.

“One thing I can’t do is give you emergency custody of a minor while we figure out how to get the documents needed for you to not only foster but to adopt Jess.

The law won’t allow it. I do, however, have two really nice families here in Griffin’s Den who are on our emergency foster list, and she can stay with one of them while we get the logistics taken care of,” Melissa says.

“What do you mean? Are you saying you’re going to put Jess in a home with people she doesn’t know? Do we think that’s a good choice? Are there any other options?” Luna asks.

“Unfortunately not. Take the fostering out of the equation, to even get custody, we have to get it approved by the courts, and without identification, it makes it impossible. My next suggestion is therapy for Jess to help her process everything she grew up knowing. The world is a scary place, and she was isolated and will experience a huge culture shock. Think to when you first got away and what your first couple months were like. I also think from a personal standpoint that you should also go to therapy to be able to help her. Potentially taking on a child is hard work, not only physically but mentally and emotionally. I’m going to do everything I can to help get you to the finish line, but these are what I believe the next steps should be. ”

Luna looks at Jess with tears in her eyes.

Jess looks shell-shocked. She came here thinking she was going to be able to be with her sister and is now finding out that might not be the case.

Even without a DNA test, which I know at some point they’ll need, you can tell they’re sisters.

Both have the same bright blond hair and emerald-green eyes.

If she didn’t say she was her sister, I would think Jess was Luna’s daughter.

Luna looks at Mike and Melissa and asks, “Who are the foster options? I want to make sure I know them before anything is agreed upon.”

Melissa names off two families, all great people. They would have no issues taking Jess in and making sure Luna is involved until it’s figured out, but I know a better option.

“I’ll do it,” I say, and all eyes whip to me.

“Noah.” Luna turns to me, eyes wide with hints of shock and hints of gratitude, and that’s all I need to see to know I’m making the right choice.

“What do I need to do to become an emergency foster? My background check is already on file, same as my fingerprints and my psych exam. Which are the only things I know that are needed.”

Mike smirks at me and nods like he’s happy with my choice. “I can have all that to you within fifteen minutes,” he tells Melissa.

Melissa looks at me with wide eyes but returns her gaze to her paper. “We need to do a quick home inspection, and there are some free classes you need to do online that should take you about two hours, and as long as they’re done within the next twenty-four hours, there shouldn’t be an issue.”

“Noah,” Luna says again, and I turn toward her. “You don’t have to do this, I can figure it out.”

Bringing my hand up to her face, I use my thumb to wipe the tears away. I crouch down, making us eye level. “I know you can, but let me help. She can stay with me as the emergency foster, and you can live with us. Let me help you, please,” I say, low enough for only her to hear.

“Why do you want to help us?” she whispers.

A smile tugs at my lips, knowing I can’t tell her the real reason yet because opening myself up with the possibility of her leaving is too much for my heart, so I settle with “You’re important to me, which makes Jess important to me.

” She closes her eyes and leans into my hand.

Standing again, I look at Jess. “Is this okay with you, Jess? We don’t have many options, but I don’t want to make you any more uncomfortable than you already are. ”

Jess looks like a deer caught in headlights. “You would like my opinion on this?” she says, wonder in her voice.

“Yeah, Jess, women have a voice for themselves here,” Luna tells her softly.

“I would be able to be with Luna this way?” Jess asks me.

“Regardless of where you go, I’m sure Luna will be with you every moment possible, but yes.

We will convince Luna to move in too.” I pause, realizing foster care has different rules, and maybe we can’t do that, so I turn to Melissa.

“I can have Luna live with me, right? Or because she can’t have a background check, will that not work? ”

Melissa smiles. “Technically, I shouldn’t let it, but I do think that having Luna around will benefit her the most. She can’t register for the courses, but if she can take them with you, that would be great.”

She asks me some questions about my house, gives us a list of things to start off with shopping-wise, and then gathers her things. “Okay, well, I think that’s all the information I need. Do you mind taking me to the house for a tour?”

“Not at all. We can meet you there in like thirty?” I ask her.

“No problem. I just have to get your background check from Mike for my file, and we can be on our way. I also need a copy of the information in Jess’s folder for my file as well.

I’ll print off a list of child therapists in the area once I find out if any specialize in our unique situation,” she says before kneeling in front of Jess.

“You’re going to be in good hands. I promise, and if you ever need anything, you are more than welcome to call me. I’m always around.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Jess says, and Melissa just smiles and squeezes her hand before standing to leave.

Mike stands and walks past me, clapping me on my shoulder. “You’re doing a good thing, kid. Take tomorrow off. I’ll cover for you. You’re going to need to do a lot of shopping,” he says with a laugh.

“Thank you, sir,” I tell him, and he leaves the room.

Luna stands and grabs Jess’s backpack. “Noah, are you sure about this? You barely know us,” she whispers.

“You’re a friend I care deeply about. It might be out of order, but I’m hoping we can get to know each other more since we have both been busy and haven’t been able to go on our date yet.”

Jess stands and comes next to Luna, looking between the two of us. “Mr. Noah, are you married to my sister?”

Luna sucks in a breath, and I crouch down to look at Jess.

“No, Jess, we aren’t married. Is that okay?” I ask her.

“Is that allowed? Do the Fathers allow that?” she asks me.

This time, I don’t know what to say, but my heart breaks for them. Is this what they were raised to believe? That they can’t have a voice or do anything without someone telling them it’s okay? I look up at Luna, who saves me.

“It’s not like that outside The Family, Jess. Women are allowed to do what they want without someone else’s permission once they are above the age of eighteen. Neither of us is going to get in trouble for this. I promise,” she tells her, and Jess nods.

I stand and take Luna’s hand in mine and offer my other to Jess.

She looks down at my upturned palm, then up at me, unsure if she should take it.

Not wanting to force it, I drop my hand by my side and say, “Alright, ladies, it’s late.

Let’s go give Melissa a tour of my house and get us all settled for the night. It’s been a long day.”

As we start to walk, Jess slips her hand into mine, and I look down at her and smile.

Together, we walk out of the conference room to the start of what I’m hoping is my future. I just have to convince Luna to give me a chance to navigate this new life with her.