Heart of the Family (4 page)

“She’s starting to settle in better.” Nancy had only been at the refuge two weeks longer than Andy, and being the youngest at the age of five had made her adjustment to her new situation doubly hard on her.

“That’s good to hear,” he said in a low voice. “Her previous life had been much like Andy’s, except that her mother doesn’t want her back. I heard from Peter this morning that she left town.”

Hannah’s heart twisted into a knot. How could a mother abandon her child? Even with all that had happened in her life, she and her mother had stuck together. “I always have hope that the parents and children can get back together.”

Jacob’s jaw clamped into a hard line. He remained quiet and ate some of his hamburger. Waves of tension flowed off him and aroused her curiosity. Remembering back to her second night at the cottage, she thought about his comments concerning Andy and his mother fighting to get him back. What happened to Jacob to make him feel so fervent about that issue? Was it simply him being involved with the refuge or something more personal?
And why do I care?

For some strange reason the silence between her and Jacob caused her to want to defend her position. She lowered her voice so the children around them wouldn’t overhear and said, “I was up a good part of the night with Nancy. I ended up in the living room, rocking her while she cried for her mother. It tore my heart to listen to her sorrow, and I couldn’t do anything about it.”

“Yes, you did. You comforted her. Her mother wouldn’t have. She left her alone for days to fend for herself.”

“But her mother was who she wanted.”

“Because she didn’t know anyone else better.”

The fierce quiet of his words emphasized what wasn’t being spoken. That this conversation wasn’t just about Nancy. “But if we could work with parents, give them the necessary skills they need to cope, teach them to be better parents—”

“Some things can’t be taught to people who don’t want to learn.”

“Children like Nancy and Andy, who are so young and want their mothers…I think we have to try at least.”

“Andy wants to go home. He never said he wanted his mother. There’s a difference.”

Hannah clutched her drink, relishing the coldness of the liquid while inside she felt the fervor of her temper rising. “Maybe not in Andy’s mind. Just because he doesn’t say he wants his mother doesn’t mean he doesn’t. The biological bond is a strong one.”

“Hannah, can we play over there?” Susie pointed to a playground nearby with a place to climb on as though a large spider had spun a web of rope.

All the children had finished eating while she and Jacob had been arguing and hadn’t eaten a bite. A couple of the boys gathered the trash and took it to the garbage can while Terry and Nancy folded the blankets. “Sure. We’ll be done in a few minutes.”

“Take your time.” Susie raced toward the play area with several of the girls hurrying after her.

When the kids had cleared out, Hannah turned back to Jacob to end their conversation, since she didn’t think they would ever see eye to eye on the subject, and found him staring at her. All words fled her mind.

One corner of his mouth quirked. “Do you think she heard?”

Granted their words had been heated, but Hannah had made sure to keep her voice down. “No, but I’m glad they’re playing over there.” She gestured toward the area where all the children were now climbing on the spiderweb, leaping from post to post or running around. “While in college I helped out at a place that worked to find foster homes for children in the neighborhood where their parents lived.”

“I’m sure that was a complete success.” Sarcasm dripped over every word.

“Actually they had some successes and some failures, but those successes were wonderful. They went beyond just placing the children near their parents. They counseled the parents and tried to get help for them. While I was there, several made it through drug rehab and were becoming involved in their child’s life again. The children still stayed in their foster home while the problems were dealt with, but the kids didn’t feel abandoned by their parents. That went a long way with building up their self-esteem.”

“What about the child’s safety and welfare when that parent backslides and starts taking drugs or abusing alcohol again?” Jacob pushed to his feet and hovered over her.

His towering presence sent her heart hammering. She rose. “You can’t dismiss the importance of family ties.”

He glared at her. “I’ve seen too many cases where family ties meant nothing.”

She swung her attention to the children playing five yards away, but she sensed his gaze on her, drilling into her. “Family is everything.”

“I’m not saying family isn’t important—when it is the right one. When it isn’t, it destroys and harms a child.”

She noticed Andy say something to a woman. “I can understand where you’re coming—”

“Don’t!”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jacob pick up the blanket they’d been on and begin folding it. When she looked back to the children, she counted each one to make sure everyone was there. Shoulders hunched, Andy, now alone, sat on a post and watched the others running around and climbing on the ropes.

Jacob came up to her side. “I was in foster care. I got over it and moved on.”

“So these children will, too?”

“With our help.”

Andy walked a few feet toward her and stopped. “Hannah, I’m going to the restroom.”

“Sure, it’s right inside the concession stand.” She started toward the boy.

Andy tensed. “I can go by myself. I’m eight!”

“I’ll just be out here on the porch waiting for you, then we’re going to the elephant exhibit.”

He grinned. “Great.”

Five minutes later Jacob rounded up the children on the playground when Andy came out of the concession stand.

“I can’t wait to see the elephants.” The boy limped toward the large group heading toward the other side of the zoo.

Hannah took up the rear as they made their way to the elephant building. Inside, the kids dispersed to several different areas. Andy and Gabe crowded around the skeleton with another group. People packed the Elephant Enclosure with a few youngsters running around, shouting.

Jacob stared toward the entrance, a frown descending.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head as though to clear it. “I thought I saw someone—” he scanned the area “—but I guess I didn’t.”

“Who?”

“Andy’s mother.”

Alarm slammed Hannah’s heartbeat against her rib cage. “Let’s get our children together.” She began gathering the girls into the center of the exhibit.

One pair of boys joined the four girls. Hannah counted six. She searched for Jacob, Gabe and Andy. She found Jacob with Gabe off to the side of the skeleton. The fear and concern in the man’s expression told Hannah something was wrong—very wrong. She corralled the kids near her and hurried toward the two.

“Where’s Andy?”

Tears streaked down Gabe’s face. “Andy told me to be quiet. Then he left with a lady.”

Jacob leaned close to her and whispered, “It
was
his mother I saw. She has him.”

T
he fury in Jacob’s words scorched Hannah. She stepped back and scanned the throng at the zoo, checking the exits. All the children were watching her. She schooled her expression into a calm one. When she faced Jacob again, his jaw clenched into an impenetrable line.

“I’ll notify security. Keep the kids together.” He didn’t give Hannah a chance to say anything. He strode toward a man wearing a zoo uniform.

“Hannah, will Andy be all right?” Terry stood in front of the children as if he were their spokesman.

“He isn’t with a stranger. He’s with his mother. He’ll be fine.” She prayed she was right. “There’s nothing to worry about. Let’s go outside where it’s less crowded.” She took Nancy’s and Gabe’s hand and headed for the door nearest them.

As she left the building, she caught Jacob’s attention and pointed toward the exit. The grim look on his face didn’t bode well.
Lord, please bring Andy back to us safe and sound.

Hannah sought a shaded area where she could keep an eye on the door into the Elephant Enclosure. The children circled her with Gabe off to the side. Tears ran down his cheeks. She drew him to her and draped her arm over his shoulder.

“I didn’t…mean—” Gabe released a long sob “—to do anything wrong.”

“Sometimes keeping a secret isn’t a good thing.”

Gabe looked up at her, fear invading his blurry gaze. “Am I in trouble?”

Hannah gave the boy a smile. “No.” Then she surveyed the other six children and added, “But this is a good time to talk about what y’all should do if someone approaches you and wants you to go with them. Don’t go without first checking with one of the staff at the refuge. Even if you know that person.” She made eye contact with each child.

Susie broke from the circle and hurried past Hannah. “Dr. Jacob, did you find Andy?”

Hannah pivoted and saw relief in Jacob’s expression as he nodded. The tautness in her stomach uncoiled. “Where is he?”

“Security has him and his mother at the front gate. I told them we’d be right there.”

Hannah gathered the children into a tight group, then they headed toward the zoo entrance. A member of security waited in front of a building. The young man indicated a door for them to go through. Inside Andy sat in a chair with another security guard at a desk.

Hannah hurried to Andy and sat in the vacant seat beside him while the other children milled about the room, trying not to look at them. “Are you all right?”

Swinging his legs, Andy stared at his hands entwined together in his lap and mumbled, “Where’s my mom?”

Hannah scanned the area and noticed Jacob talking with a man who appeared to be in charge. “I don’t know.”

He lifted his tear-streaked face. “They took her away.”

“Who?”

Andy pointed toward the guard nearest him, his hand shaking. “One of them.”

Hannah patted his knee. “Let me find out what’s going on. Stay right here.”

His head and shoulders sagged forward. “I want to see my mom.” He sniffed. “She came to see me.”

The quaver in the child’s voice rattled Hannah’s composure. All she wanted to do was draw him into her arms and hold him until the hurt went away. Instead she rose and crossed the room to Jacob and the security guard by the desk.

Susie approached. “Is Andy all right? Can we help?”

“He’ll be fine. And if you can keep the others quiet and together over there—” she waved her hand toward an area off to the side “—that would be great.”

“Sure. I’ll get Terry to help me.” The young girl hurried to her friend and whispered into his ear.

As Susie and Terry gathered the children into a group and lined them up along the wall, Hannah stopped near Jacob by the desk. “Where’s Andy’s mother?”

“Security has called the police for me. They’re on their way. She violated a court order. She can’t see Andy unless it’s a supervised visit arranged ahead of time.”

Hannah glanced over her shoulder to make sure Andy—for that matter, the other children, too—hadn’t heard what Jacob said. Thankfully he’d kept his voice low. The boy continued to look down at his hands. “Andy wants to see her.”

“No!”

Although whispered, the force behind that one word underscored Jacob’s anger. From the few comments he’d made, Hannah wondered what was really behind his fury. She moved nearer in order to keep their conversation private, aware of so many eyes on them. “She’s still his mother. We could be in the room with them to make sure everything is all right.”

He thrust his face close. “I won’t have that woman disrupt his life any more than she already has by pulling this stunt.”

She met his glare with her own. “I am the manager at the refuge, and I do have a say in what is done with the children.”

Jacob started to speak but instead snapped his jaw closed.

“I’ll talk with Andy’s mother first and see what prompted this action today.”

“It won’t do any good. She doesn’t deserve a child like Andy.”

There were so many things she wanted to retort, but she bit the inside of her mouth to keep her thoughts quiet. It was important that Andy not realize they were arguing over him. “Beyond that day in your office, have you had any contact with the woman?”

His eyes narrowed. “No.”

“Then let me assess the situation.” Again she sent a quick glance toward Andy then the other seven kids to make sure they weren’t hearing what was said. “If I don’t think her intentions are honorable, I won’t let her see Andy. Deal?” She presented her hand to seal the agreement.

Jacob looked at it then up into her face. His fingers closed around hers, warm, strong. “Deal. But I want you to know I don’t think this is a good idea.”

She wasn’t sure it was, either, but for Andy’s sake, she needed to try. Maybe there was a way to salvage their family if the mother was trying this hard to see her son.

“Where’s Andy’s mother?” she asked the head of security, not sure that Jacob would have told her.

The man pointed toward a door at the end of the hall where another guard stood. She made her way down the short corridor, stopping for a moment in front of Andy to give him a reassuring smile. His tear-filled eyes reinforced her resolve to try and make this work for him.

At the door she paused and peered back. Jacob’s sharp gaze and the tightening about his mouth emphasized his displeasure at what she was attempting. Then she swung her attention to Andy, and the hopefulness she saw in his expression prodded her forward.

Lord, let this work. Help me to reach Andy’s mother somehow.

When Hannah entered the room, she found Andy’s mom sitting at a table, her head down on it as though she was taking a nap. The sound of the door closing brought the woman up, her gaze stabbing Hannah with fury.

“You don’t have no right to take my son away. I wanna see Andy.”

Calmness flowed through Hannah. She moved to the table and took the chair across from Andy’s mother. “I’m Hannah Smith, the manager at Stone’s Refuge where your son is staying.” She held her hand out.

The young woman glared at it, then angled sideways to stare at the wall.

“Mrs. Morgan, Andy wants to see you, but I want to be assured that you won’t upset him and cause a scene.”

Again her angry gaze sliced to Hannah. “He should be with me. This ain’t none of your business. He’s my son!”

Hannah assessed the woman, focusing on her eyes to try and discern if she was on any drugs. Other than anger, she didn’t see anything that indicated she was high. “The court has taken Andy away from you and is reviewing your parental rights. You may see Andy when you make prior arrangements with his case manager. You can’t see him alone.”

Some of the anger leaked from her expression. “I just wanna see my baby. I shouldn’t have to ask for permission. I haven’t taken no drugs in days.”

“That’s good. Would you consider going into a rehab facility?”

Her teeth chewed on her lower lip. “Yes. Anything. Will I get Andy back then?”

“That isn’t my decision. It will have to be the court’s. But it will be a step in the right direction.” Hannah folded her hands on the table, lacing her fingers together. “How did Andy get hurt the last time you were with him?”

Tears sprang into the young woman’s eyes. “It was an accident. He fell and hit his head.” Her gaze slid away from Hannah.

“Why did he fall?”

Silence. Andy’s mother bit down hard on her lip.

“If I’m going to help you, I need to know everything. I need the truth.”

The young woman opened her mouth to speak, but clamped it closed without saying anything. The indentation in her lower lip riveted Hannah’s attention. When she finally peered into Andy’s mother’s eyes, a tear rolled down her cheek.

“If you’re serious about being in Andy’s life, you have to trust me.”

The lip with the teeth marks quivered. “My boyfriend pushed him away.” More tears welled into Andy’s mother’s eyes and fell onto the table.

“Why did he do that?”

Mrs. Morgan dropped her head, much as Andy often did. “Because he was hitting me and Andy wanted to stop him.”

“I see.”

Her head jerked up. “No, ya don’t! He didn’t want me to take him to the doctor. Andy was throwing up. When my boyfriend passed out, I brought my baby to see Dr. Hartman. That’s when everything went bad. They took Andy from me. I went home and my boyfriend had left me. He’s—he’s—I’m all alone.” She swiped her trembling hands across her cheeks. “I don’t—” she sucked in a shuddering breath “—wanna be alone.”

“So all Andy’s injuries were caused by this boyfriend?”

“Yes, yes, I’d never hurt my baby. Never!” Tears continued to flow from her eyes.

“But staying with your boyfriend did hurt your child.”

“I know, but I don’t have no money. I’m—” Andy’s mother sagged forward and cried. “I love Andy. I…” The rest of the words were lost in the woman’s sobs.

Hannah came around the table and touched her shaking shoulder. “Let’s start with you talking to Andy. If that goes well, we can discuss the next step, Mrs. Morgan.”

The woman lifted her head, rubbing her hands down her face. “My name is Lisa Morgan. I ain’t never been married.”

“How old are you?” Hannah went back to her chair.

“Twenty-three. I can’t pay for rehab. I don’t have no money.” She dashed her hands across her cheeks then through her hair.

“Let me worry about that. When you think you’re ready, I’ll go get Andy.”

Lisa straightened, smoothing her shirt. “I’m ready to see my baby.”

Hannah pushed to her feet and headed for the door. She hoped she was doing the right thing, that Jacob was wrong. Lisa had been a child when she’d had Andy. Maybe she’d never had a break.

Out in the hall she motioned for Andy to come to her. She caught Jacob’s regard over the heads of all the kids who had surrounded him in the security office. “We won’t be long. Maybe the children would like to ride the train.”

“Yeah!” several of them shouted.

“Can we?” Terry asked Jacob.

“Sure.”

His gaze intent on her, Jacob crossed to her while she opened the door into the small room where Lisa was. Andy slipped inside. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the boy throw himself into his mother’s outstretched arms and plaster himself against her. His cries mingling with his mother’s could be heard in the hallway.

“This is a mistake,” Jacob whispered while he peered inside at Andy and his mom.

“What if it isn’t?” Hannah lifted her chin a notch. “I’m going to have security call the police back and tell them they don’t have to come.”

“She should be held accountable for breaking the court order.” A steel thread weaved through each word.

“That will only happen if, as a member of the foundation board, you overrule me.” She directed a piercing look at him. “Are you?”

He met her glare for glare while a war of emotions flitted across his face. Finally resignation won. “No, I’m not going to. But don’t leave them alone together.” He pivoted and strode to the group of children hovering around the head of security’s desk, asking him tons of questions.

Hannah paused in the entrance into the room and said to the guard nearby, “Please call the police and tell them it isn’t necessary to come.” Then she went in and closed the door.

“Mom, when can I come home?” Andy pulled back from his mother. “I miss ya.”

Lisa shifted in the chair until she faced her son, clasping his hands. “And I missed ya, too. I have some things to work out, but once I do, you’ll be able to come home with me.”

“When?”

Lisa shook her head. “I ain’t sure.” She slid her gaze to Hannah, then back to her son. “I’m gonna do everything I can, but it’ll be up to the judge when.”

Andy puffed out his chest. “I’ll tell him I want to come home. He’ll listen to me.”

“Baby, I’m sure he will, but I hafta do a couple of things before we go in front of the judge. Then ya can tell him what ya want. Okay?”

Andy frowned. “I guess so.”

“Good. I know I can count on ya, baby.” Lisa drew her son to her and held him tightly.

Emotions clogged Hannah’s throat. She swallowed several times before she said, “Andy, I’m sure we’ll be able to arrange for your mother to come see you at the refuge. You can show her your room. She can meet your friends.”

Hope flared in the boy’s expression. “Yes. How about tomorrow?”

Hannah rose. “Let me see what I can arrange, Andy. It may have to be some time next week.”

The light in his eyes dimmed. “Promise?”

“I can promise you I’ll do everything I can to make it happen.”
Please, Lord, help me to keep that promise.

Jacob leaned into the railing on the porch of the cottage and stared up at the crystal clear night sky, littered with hundreds of stars. The cool fall air soothed his frustration some as he waited to speak with Hannah after the children were in bed. He didn’t want to have this conversation where the kids might overhear.

Not only didn’t Lisa Morgan get hauled down to the police station for defying a court order, but now Hannah was making arrangements for the woman to see Andy here at the refuge. Dinner, no less, in two nights! And worse, she’d persuaded Laura and Peter to go along with this crazy plan of hers.