Page 11 of Stay With Me
Jess looks shell-shocked. She came here thinking she was going to be able to be with her sister and is now finding out that might not be the case. Even without a DNA test, which I know at some point they’ll need, you can tell they’re sisters. Both have the same bright blond hair and emerald-green eyes. If she didn’t say she was her sister, I would think Jess was Luna’s daughter.
Luna looks at Mike and Melissa and asks, “Who are the foster options? I want to make sure I know them before anything is agreed upon.”
Melissa names off two families, all great people. They would have no issues taking Jess in and making sure Luna is involved until it’s figured out, but I know a better option.
“I’ll do it,” I say, and all eyes whip to me.
“Noah.” Luna turns to me, eyes wide with hints of shock and hints of gratitude, and that’s all I need to see to know I’m making the right choice.
“What do I need to do to become an emergency foster? My background check is already on file, same as my fingerprints and my psych exam. Which are the only things I know that are needed.”
Mike smirks at me and nods like he’s happy with my choice. “I can have all that to you within fifteen minutes,” he tells Melissa.
Melissa looks at me with wide eyes but returns her gaze to her paper. “We need to do a quick home inspection, and there are some free classes you need to do online that should take you about two hours, and as long as they’re done within the next twenty-four hours, there shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Noah,” Luna says again, and I turn toward her. “You don’t have to do this, I can figure it out.”
Bringing my hand up to her face, I use my thumb to wipe the tears away. I crouch down, making us eye level. “I know you can, but let me help. She can stay with me as the emergency foster, and you can live with us. Let me help you, please,” I say, low enough for only her to hear.
“Why do you want to help us?” she whispers.
A smile tugs at my lips, knowing I can’t tell her the real reason yet because opening myself up with the possibility of her leaving is too much for my heart, so I settle with “You’re important to me, which makes Jess important to me.” She closes her eyes and leans into my hand. Standing again, I look at Jess. “Is this okay with you, Jess? We don’t have many options, but I don’t want to make you any more uncomfortable than you already are.”
Jess looks like a deer caught in headlights. “You would like my opinion on this?” she says, wonder in her voice.
“Yeah, Jess, women have a voice for themselves here,” Luna tells her softly.
“I would be able to be with Luna this way?” Jess asks me.
“Regardless of where you go, I’m sure Luna will be with you every moment possible, but yes. We will convince Luna to move in too.” I pause, realizing foster care has different rules, and maybe we can’t do that, so I turn to Melissa. “I can have Luna live with me, right? Or because she can’t have a background check, will that not work?”
Melissa smiles. “Technically, I shouldn’t let it, but I do think that having Luna around will benefit her the most. She can’t register for the courses, but if she can take them with you, that would be great.”
She asks me some questions about my house, gives us a list of things to start off with shopping-wise, and then gathers her things. “Okay, well, I think that’s all the information I need. Do you mind taking me to the house for a tour?”
“Not at all. We can meet you there in like thirty?” I ask her.
“No problem. I just have to get your background check from Mike for my file, and we can be on our way. I also need a copy of the information in Jess’s folder for my file as well. I’ll print off a list of child therapists in the area once I find out if any specialize in our unique situation,” she says before kneeling in front of Jess. “You’re going to be in good hands. I promise, and if you ever need anything, you are more than welcome to call me. I’m always around.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Jess says, and Melissa just smiles and squeezes her hand before standing to leave.
Mike stands and walks past me, clapping me on my shoulder. “You’re doing a good thing, kid. Take tomorrow off. I’ll cover for you. You’re going to need to do a lot of shopping,” he says with a laugh.
“Thank you, sir,” I tell him, and he leaves the room.
Luna stands and grabs Jess’s backpack. “Noah, are you sure about this? You barely know us,” she whispers.
“You’re a friend I care deeply about. It might be out of order, but I’m hoping we can get to know each other more since we have both been busy and haven’t been able to go on our date yet.”
Jess stands and comes next to Luna, looking between the two of us. “Mr. Noah, are you married to my sister?”
Luna sucks in a breath, and I crouch down to look at Jess.
“No, Jess, we aren’t married. Is that okay?” I ask her.
“Is that allowed? Do the Fathers allow that?” she asks me.
This time, I don’t know what to say, but my heart breaks for them. Is this what they were raised to believe? That they can’t have a voice or do anything without someone telling them it’s okay? I look up at Luna, who saves me.
