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“I see you made a couple of friends while I was gone,” she says, giving Erica a kind smile.
Ally holds out her hand. “I’m Ally, and this is my husband, Trent.”
Mrs. Miller shakes Ally’s hand and then mine. “Kate. It’s nice to meet you both.”
“Your daughter is beautiful,” Ally comments, not knowing the situation. I tighten my arm around her waist, and she looks at me.
“Oh, Erica isn’t my daughter,” Mrs. Miller replies, drawing Ally’s attention back to her. “Erica is…” She pauses, I’m sure looking for a delicate way to phrase she’s in the system “…a ward of the state. I’ve been assigned to oversee her care.”
“Oh.” I draw Ally closer to me when I feel her tense. “I’m so sorry for assuming….”
Kate’s smile is small. “It’s okay. You didn’t know.” She looks down at Erica. “You ready to hit the road and get that ice cream I promised you?”
Erica’s eyes light up at the mention of ice cream. “I’m ready.”
I bend so I’m more on Erica’s level. “It was very nice meeting you, Erica. You stay strong, you hear?”
Her expression is solemn when she nods. “Okay.”
“I wish we could have spoken more,” Ally tells her.
“Maybe we’ll see each other again.”
Ally smiles. “Maybe so.”
We watch as Kate pushes Erica’s chair down the hallway. The elevator opens as soon as Kate pushes the button, as if it were waiting for them.
“That poor girl.” From the strangled way Ally’s voice comes out, I know she’s fighting back tears. “I wonder what happened to her mother.”
I clear my throat when my own emotions start to get to me. “She died when she was a baby. Had the same cancer as her. And her father isn’t in the picture.”
“Oh God,” Ally whispers.
I pull her in front of me and she buries her face in my chest for several long seconds. When she lifts her head, tears glisten in her eyes.
“I never realized just how lucky I was to have family who cared for me. I was a fool to think I could do this without you and our family.” Her eyes drift back down the hallway toward the elevator.
“She may not have a mom and dad, but Kate seems to care for her.” I try to appease her worry.
“It’s not the same.” With a shake of her head, she looks back at me. “She may care, but it’s only because the state pays her to.”
Unfortunately, she’s right. The state is overrun with children. Many social workers put their heart and soul in their work, but for the child, it’s not the same as having family.
“Come on.” I put my arm back around Ally’s waist. “Let’s get out of here.”
We follow the same path as Erica and Kate. We’re quiet as we get in the elevator, both of our thoughts still on the little girl.
* * *
Later that evening,Dillon and I are on the couch watching a game of football while the women are in the kitchen putting together a quick dinner. I lean back in my seat, crossing my ankles, and tip my beer to my lips.
“What the fuck, Ref. Bad call,” Dillon growls at the TV.
My phone dings on the coffee table and I pick it up.
Andrew: You guys still coming this weekend?
I shoot off a quick reply.
