Changed by Elise Faber

Author:Elise Faber [Faber, Elise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781637491133
Publisher: Elise Faber

“I’m sorry to say that it’s not possible for Olivia to stay here,” the social worker, Donna, said, thankfully waiting until she and Mads had stepped out into the hall.

“I know it’s not a permanent solution,” Mads said quickly. “But you saw her. It’s not safe for her to go home.”

“No, it’s not.” Donna flipped through the papers on her clipboard, sighed. “There are a couple of other next of kins listed here. I’ll start with them, but if none will take her, then she’ll have to go to a group home.”

One of the few horrors that Mads hadn’t experienced.

One she didn’t want for Vivi.

She closed her eyes, rubbed at her temples, at the throbbing that was beginning to develop there.

“You know I like you, Mads.”

Mads hadn’t known that, actually. She’d worked a little with Donna at the center, but the other woman was a hard ass.

That was something Mads respected.

Donna went to bat for her kids, same as Mads.

How could she not respect that?

“I like you too, Donna,” she said into the silence that fell after that declaration.

Donna’s mouth quirked. “And I know Vivi is comfortable with you.” A beat. “And attached to you.”

“Yeah,” Mads agreed.

“But even putting aside the fact that your apartment is only one bedroom”—a no-no since one of the requirements was that Vivi needed her own space—“you’ve got a record.”

Mads sucked in a breath, eyes sliding closed. “It’s only one misdemeanor.”

Donna shook her head, expression contrite. “I know you’ve come a long way and Margie would vouch for you, but the fact is that you don’t look like a solid candidate for Olivia, especially because you don’t have a blood relationship.” She flipped back the papers on her clipboard. “Maybe if you were married, I might be able to sweet-talk the judge and make something happen.” A sigh. “But you’re not married. You’re single. And you have a record. And your apartment is unsuitable.”

Mads’s gut had been sinking this entire conversation, but that last recital really stabbed her in the heart.

Donna might as well have said she was unsuitable.

As a person.

Donna tucked her clipboard beneath her arm, squeezed Mads’s shoulder. “How about this? I’ll get on the next of kin, okay? We’ll find somewhere safe for her and in the meantime, she’s here with you.” She dropped her hand back to her side. “Does that work for you?”

Mads didn’t really have another choice, did she?

But she needed all the goodwill she could foster with Donna, needed the social worker’s help with more than just Vivi, so she just forced a smile, nodded, and thanked the other woman, waving goodbye before slipping back into her apartment.

Where Vivi was sitting on the couch, streaming YouTube and pounding junk food like her life depended on it.

She moved into the kitchen, opened her laptop, and waited to hear back from Donna.

And the phone call, hours later, made Mads’s stomach sink.

Because she’d promised herself that she would protect Vivi.

And she wasn’t so sure that she could keep that promise when

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