Page 93 of Scoring Chances

But if it’s to protect this family that I love… then so be it.

For them, I’ll be the idiot.

Chapter 27

Joshua

Iguess I could understand Cassidy's reasons for leaving. What happened with Parker–it was scary for all of us.

I could understand if she needed to leave to protect her own family. To stay away from the potential dangers lurking outside our home here.

But something about how cold she sounded, didn’t feel right. It wasn’t her.

She never once asked about money. The entire time she worked for me. I took care of her. And she was to be paid once the job was complete. That was the understanding.

Of course, if she needed the money sooner–I would’ve given it to her in a heartbeat. For school. For her apartment. Whatever she needed.

But after the Parker situation–something changed.

She took the envelope of cash. She packed her bag. She said goodbye to the kids. And cried when Maddie didn’t want to let her go.

She didn’t even touch me. She just looked at me with solemn eyes that screamed “I’m sorry” as she got in her car. The one Cole had been fixing up for her.

And she drove away.

Keelan upped the security at his house. I don’t think he’d feel comfortable hosting any massive parties ever again.

Priscilla Hernandez called me to inform me that the foster family for the kids had been secured. They’d be able to move them in the same week I was scheduled to fly out to Georgia.

She said I could have a few days to consider it, if I needed to.

In the panic of Parker missing, I bargained so many things. One of them was that I’d never let the leave my side.

But now, faced with the very reality of my situation. How could I trust another person with them even under my own roof?

Maybe, they would be better off with a family. People who didn’t have the kind of schedule I had in my career. People who weren’t traveling over fifty times in a year.

I was so clear on what I was going to do the moment I held Parker again and knew he was safe.

But now, with Cassidy permanently out of the picture and school looming around the corner for them; I have to make a decision.

And fast.

Cole finds me outside staring into the engine bay of my Mustang. He comes to stand by me and sticks his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

“Something wrong with it?” he asks.

I realize I’m standing there, arms crossed, scratching my beard and staring at it like it’s some kind of puzzle I need to solve.

But really it’s not the car I’m trying to figure out. It’s my life. It’s their lives.

“How do you feel about moving to Georgia?” I ask him.

He looks at me, “Are you for real right now?”

I gulp but nod. It won’t be easy. But if it’s between me or foster care… I really do feel like deep down they’d be better off with me.

And I have to trust that feeling.