Page 79 of Scoring Chances
Mom smiles, slack jawed and a little too excited.
“So you must be the reason he’s been MIA all summer! I’ve barely got a call from this kid.”
Cassidy and Maddie both look at me, confused.
“I thought you said she was–”
“Hey, Maddie! If you go find Parker’s shoes, I’ll make sure you get ice cream.”
Maddie smiles. “Ice cream, yes!”
Parker bounces in my arms. “I want ice cream. I want ice cream!”
“Ok, ice cream all around– go find your shoes.”
I set him down and the two of them run off up the stairs.
“So girlfriend,” Mom says. “Are those your kids?”
Cole appears at the bottom of the steps, holding up Parker’s shoes. Mom looks at the teenager.
“Their her siblings,” I quickly say. “They’re all staying here for the summer.”
So stupid.
Cassidy doesn’t say anything she just stares at me. So do Mom and Oliver.
Cole breaks the silence by saying, “I’m not going to ask.” He sets Parker’s shoes on the floor and heads into the kitchen.
“I made breakfast if anybody’s hungry.”
“Sure,” Mom smiles. “We’ll just go grab the bags. Our driver is still out there.”
“We’ll be right back,” Oliver says. They close the front door behind them and the second they do Cassidy whirls on me.
“What are you doing?” she hisses.
“Hear me out… Mom can’t know about these kids okay?”
“Are you serious right now? Are you just going to keep lying about them every time you see your parents?”
I brush my fallen hair out of my face.
“I won’t have to,” I whisper. “They’re not staying with me when I move.”
Her face falls. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying them being here is only temporary. Their caseworker is looking for a more… permanent situation.”
“So a foster home! You’re going to send them to a foster home?”
“Shh,” I peek into the kitchen but Cole is wearing headphones.
“I’m sorry but I’m trying to keep up here.”
I pull her into the living room and look out the window to make sure Mom and Oliver don’t pop back in.
In a rush I tell her everything. “My mom hates, James. Their dad. She can’t know that I’m their legal guardian. It’ll break her heart. Ok. So… I need you and the kids to just pretend your siblings while they’re here. It’ll be easy. They like you like a sister anyways.”