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She looks up at him, half blind from sleep. "Am I coming home with you? Are you going to be my new parents?"
There is a long beat before he answers. I close my eyes, already knowing that he's going to say what's in his heart. He's not going to stop and think about what's best for Solana's future.
"I want you to come live with us," Dare says. "I want us to be a family."
His words slay me, because I was an orphan in Solana's position not all that many years ago. I know I would have given anything at that age for someone to say that they wanted me and cherished me. If someone had told me that they wanted me to come be part of their family, I would have followed them to the ends of the fucking earth.
I swallow hard and cup my belly.
But Solana's reaction is cut off by a nurse sweeping in to take Solana's vitals. "Hello! How are we feeling, Miss Solana?"
Solana frowns but starts talking to the nurse instead. And by the time that the nurse gets ready to leave, Solana is sagging back against the bed, her eyelids growing heavy.
Dawn peeks through the windows as a nurse chases us from Solana's room. "She needs to rest. Come back this afternoon."
Dare runs a hand through his hair, bleary-eyed. "I should check on the rebuilding efforts at Hope House."
"I'll stay here and check on all the kids." I kiss his cheek. "Get some sleep first before you do anything else. Please?"
He pulls me close, the warmth of his embrace calming my frayed nerves. "Thank you. For everything."
I cling to him, breathing in his familiar scent. "We're in this together. Always."
After he leaves, I curl up on the hard waiting room chairs, exhaustion dragging me under. The faces of children lost and found swirl through my dreams, a reminder of how much work is left to be done.
My heart aches for the children who will be released into temporary foster care until more permanent solutions can be found. If only we had room...
What the hell are we going to do about Hope House?
* * *
I wake with a start, disoriented until I see the clock. Only an hour has passed. My back protests as I stand, stretching to work out the kinks.
The nurse smiles when I peek into Solana's room. "She's awake and asking for you."
Solana's eyes light up when she sees me. "You came back!"
"Of course I did." I perch on the edge of her bed, taking her small hand in mine. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay." She frowns. "Are the other kids okay too? And when can I go home?"
Home. The word pierces my heart. I wish I had an answer for her.
"The other children will heal, thank goodness." I choose my words carefully. "As for going home. I know this is difficult to understand, but Hope House was destroyed in the fire. We haven't figured out where exactly you are going to go. Somewhere safe, that part I know for sure."
Her lip trembles. "But I want to stay with you and Dare. You're my family now."
Oh, sweet girl. If only we could give you the home you deserve. I swallow the lump in my throat even though I know better than anybody how impractical the desire to take Solana home is.
"Dare and I care about you very much, Solana, and we'll do everything we can to make sure you have a good life. I promise."
I shouldn't be promising her anything. But how can I refuse?
She throws her arms around me, and I cling to her just as tightly. We've only known each other a short while, but I would move heaven and earth to help this child.
When she pulls back, I ask, "Do you need anything? Are you hungry?"
She shakes her head. "Will you read to me?"
