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As if reading the turn of her thoughts, Chase placed a reassuring hand on Faith’s shoulder. “You won’t be alone for a minute. I’ve already rescheduled my plans to attend the wedding this weekend. I’m sticking by your side until the attacker is caught.”
“And we’ll amp up patrols around this area of town,” Aiden added. “We’re also going to put every available resource possible into finding little Anna’s mom. I’m hopeful we’ll know more in a few days.”
Relief softened the sharp edges of her fear. Faith focused on the baby in her arms and her chest squeezed tight. The sweet thing had fallen back to sleep. Long lashes rested on plump cheeks, and her rosebud mouth moved in a soft sucking motion, as if she was dreaming of her next bottle. “How long would Anna stay with me?”
The kitchen chair scraped against the tile floor as Holly joined Faith at the table. “Through the holidays. I know it’s a lot to ask, Faith, but I don’t have many other options. Legally, Anna’s temporary placement has to be registered and approved as a foster parent, which you are.”
Faith nodded, gently hugging the baby closer to her. “Mitch and I wanted to have a family. He’d been adopted and wanted to forward that blessing to other children. It was something we were both passionate about.”
An unexpected wave of grief rolled over her. They’d had so many dreams, an entire lifetime of them. Sensing her sadness, Scamp trotted over from the window and rested his head on Faith’s lap. She gently nudged him away from sniffing Anna’s blanket and gave the old dog’s ears a gentle rub. “After Mitch died, I asked to be removed from the list of potential foster care parents. I wasn’t in the right headspace to do it alone.”
“Understandably.” Chase squeezed her shoulder, the touch familiar and comforting. Concern rode the hard line of his mouth. “You don’t have to do this, Faith. None of us would blame you if you said no.”
He doubted her strength. Faith didn’t fault him for it. She’d been something of a wreck since her husband’s death, operating on autopilot most of the time, and Chase knew her love of children ran bone-deep. It would hurt to let Anna go when the danger was over, but Faith couldn’t send her away any more than she could cut off her own arm. It wasn’t who she was.
“I want to help.” She straightened her spine, resolve fueling her words. “Anna’s staying with me.”
