Page 14 of Beautifully Broken Redemption

I knew every single person in the room would do anything for Anna. I just hoped she knew that. Because I had a feeling the road to come would be rocky.

5

Anna

I watchedthe kids run around the playground through my office window. I couldn’t quite figure out what game they were playing, some kind of freeze-tag, maybe. Everything in my body hurt. Ached in a way I wasn’t sure would ever go away. Not just for me but also for them.

Justin grinned as he tapped a little boy on the shoulder. But I could see beneath the mask—the pain a living and breathing thing inside him. Lyla had shut it off, pretending yesterday hadn’t happened at all. When I’d asked how she was feeling this morning, she’d snapped at me that she was fine.

I wasn’t sure how to proceed. I needed to find the name of a therapist in town. Someone who could tell me what steps to take. Someone who could assure me that I wasn’t messing these kids up beyond repair.

I let my eyes fall closed, sending up a prayer to God or the Universe or whoever might be listening. All I wanted was to keep the kids safe. To make sure they were loved and had everything they needed.

I winced at the last thought, my eyes opening. My salary for running Hope House was generous. Especially for someone who’d barely graduated high school, but I would have to rework my budget—and my living arrangements.

The cottage only had two bedrooms. I’d bought two twin beds for the guest room when Chelsea and the kids had started to visit, but Justin and Lyla would only be content with sharing a room for so long.

I rubbed at my temples, the pressure thrumming there in a steady beat. My cell phone rang, cutting through my panic. I swiped it up, barely glancing at the unknown number before answering.

“Hello, this is Anna.”

“Hello, Ms. Foley. This is Keisha Williams. I believe Mason Decker told you I’d be calling.”

He had. I’d woken from a rocky sleep at seven this morning to a long text from him on my phone. Mason hadn’t delayed in finding me help. He told me that Ms. Williams was one of the best lawyers in the state when it came to custody cases, and she only lived an hour away.

“Please, call me Anna. Thank you so much for taking my case.”

“And call me Keisha. I’m happy to help any friend of Mase’s.”

Mase’s.The fondness in Keisha’s tone had my breakfast souring in my stomach. “How do you two know each other?”

She chuckled. “He and my husband got into all sorts of trouble together in law school.”

Why did I feel such relief at the wordhusbandfalling from Keisha’s mouth?Dumb, dumb, dumb.I forced some levity into my voice. “Sounds like you have some good stories.”

“Anna, I’ve got all the dirt. Just stick with me.”

The warmth and kindness in her voice was a balm I hadn’t realized I needed. “Can’t wait to hear them.”

“All right. What do you say we get down to business so I can do my best to file today or tomorrow?”

Everything inside me seemed to twist at her words. “That would be good.”

“Your sister, Chelsea Foley, left her children in your care while she was away?”

“Yes. She was supposed to be wrapping things up in Portland because they were in the process of moving here. I’m honestly not sure what she was doing in Las Vegas.”

Her location, everything surrounding Chelsea’s death…none of it made sense. The questions had circled my brain for most of the night as I tossed and turned. But, most of all, why had she lied? Both of us had made a conscious effort for brutal honesty as we’d reconnected these past few years. We hadn’t held anything back, knowing that lies and deceptions had forced us apart all those years ago.

The sound of typing came over the line. “That piece of things is less important right now. We need to establish you as the caregiver she left her children with. Has that happened in the past, as well?”

“Yes, the kids have stayed with me for a week the last two summers.”

“Good. And had Chelsea found a home in Sutter Lake yet? Anything that would give us proof she intended to make her home there?”

My throat constricted as I struggled to get the words out. All I could see was the bright future we’d planned. All of the things I’d wanted to share with her and the kids about this place. The birthdays and holidays we’d never have. “She was staying with me while she looked for a place. But we registered the kids for school here a few weeks ago.”

More typing sounded. “That’s good. It means if it goes to court, we’ll be able to do that here.”

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