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“I try to make them proud every day.”
“I’m sure you do,” Jeni said. “What was your dad like?”
A small smile formed on his lips, and Jeni had never been so happy to see it.
“He was an accountant, so he was kind of a geek. Good with numbers and a little uptight. Made me wear a helmet when I rode my bike. Never let me take a sip of his beer. Expected me to make straight As in school. But he knew the meaning of quality time. He taught me to throw a baseball. How to treat women with respect. When to fight and when to let something roll off my back. And most of all, he was the biggest Chiefs fan I’ve ever met.”
“I knew that was coming,” Jeni said, tapping his shoulder with hers.
“The man never missed a home game. Those seats you sat in? They’ve been in his family since the seventies. He took me to games, and it was the first thing we truly bonded over. There’s nothing like a father and son cheering together for the same team. For me, going to those games and watching away ones in our basement was about so much more than football. It was the first steady thing in my life, and it was about a man who gave me the time of day. Who thought I was worth his time. Anything good in me is because of him.”
More tears slipped down her cheeks. “I’m so glad they found you.”
He slid his thumb across her wet cheek. “Don’t cry.”
“I hate what you went through as a child. But you have to know what an amazing man you’ve become.”
He shrugged, scrunching up his nose a little.
Jeni frowned. “I’m serious. I’ve never met anyone so generous or accepting. You’re kind, funny, and hard-working. You didn’t let your early life turn you into some angry person who doesn’t give a damn. You’re a man who wants to leave this world better than you found it.”
“I just don’t want other kids to go through what I did.”
“You’re doing your part to make sure that happens. Through Fostering Sweet Dreams and donating your game seats to families.” She’d become more intentional about utilizing FSD’s donations since learning Logan was behind the organization and saw how many kids were safely placed in foster homes solely based on the beds she arranged for.
“Sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough.”
“It’s more than most people do. I know how you feel. There are times when I feel like I’m making zero impact, and it’s my full-time job. It’s a thankless career sometimes.”
“That reminds me, it’s been like a month since I last thanked Sandra.”
Jeni smiled. “I love that you’re still in touch with her. It would be the highlight of my life to see some of my foster kids grown up and doing well for themselves.”
“I hope you will, someday.”
She pulled her hand away and tucked both in her lap. “I’m a little nervous about my job, actually.”
“Why? What do you mean?”
“At a staff meeting back in October, Sandra told us that there might be state budget cuts to the department. At the time, she wasn’t sure if it would impact the foster services, but last week she said we were losing some funds. She and the higher ups are trying to figure out how to handle it.”
“You’re worried they’ll let you go?” Logan looked affronted. “That would be a huge mistake. You’re an asset to their program. I’ll talk to Sandra.”
Jeni shook her head. “No, don’t. She’s already stressed out and doing everything she can to avoid cutting positions. She made sure I knew I’m doing a good job, but she and I both know the facts. I’m the newest employee. I have the least experience and no seniority. If it came down to layoffs, I’d be the first one up. It’s out of her control.”
“But you love your job.” Concern laced his eyes. “When will you know?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What would you do? If they did let you go?”
Jeni shrugged. “There are plenty of private organizations around here that hire social workers. But I’ve always wanted to be part of a large government agency where I’d have the most opportunity. That seems the best way to work my way up and have the tools to impact system laws and reforms. It’s harder to have the same impact in the private sector.”
“Did these budget cuts affect the whole state?”
“I think so.”
“So, to work for a government agency, you’d have to look in another state?”
