Page 29 of The Defiant Wife

My jaw tightens."You're suggesting reducing volunteer interaction."

"No."

"That's exactly what you're suggesting."

He sighs.The sound is subtle.Barely there.Yet somehow irritating. "I'm suggesting boundaries.The children become attached too quickly."

"They're children."

"I know."

"Children are supposed to become attached."

"They're also supposed to feel secure." Something about his tone makes me pause.Not because I agree.Because he sounds genuine.Which is inconvenient.

"Explain." I lean forward.

His gaze drops briefly toward the papers."When volunteers come for a few weeks and leave, the children suffer."

I know exactly what he's talking about.

"The attachment." His voice remains even. Logical. "The cycle repeats."

Something uncomfortable settles inside my chest. I don't like where this conversation is heading.

"You are encouraging emotional dependency."

My head snaps up."Excuse me?"

His jaw tightens.Slightly.The only indication he knows he's stepping onto dangerous territory."I'm not criticizing your intentions."

"Sounds exactly like criticism."

"I'm saying they become attached to people who aren't staying."

The room grows quieter. The laughter outside suddenly feels very far away.

I place the file down carefully.The way people handle explosives."You think caring about them is wrong?"

"No."

"Then what exactly are you saying?"

His gaze doesn't waver. "They need consistency."

I laugh humorlessly. "Consistency?"

"Yes."

I lean forward—if that's any possible.Anger begins to creep beneath my skin."And what exactly would you know about children needing consistency?"

The question lands.His expression doesn't change.Yet something flickers briefly behind his eyes.Gone before I can identify it.

I scoff. "As I thought."

Silence.The tension stretches between us.Neither willing to back down.Neither willing to admit the other might have a point.

Finally he speaks again. "They should have stable figures."