Heart of Glass (Fostering Love 3)

“Mom,” Trevor said softly. “You know I’d never go far.”

“Knowing and believing are two different things,” she replied. She looked at me, shame filling her eyes. “It was never about you, Morgan. I think you’re great. But…you just seemed to be caught up in the middle of it.”

“I’ve never had the chance to tell you how sorry I was about Henry,” I said. Now that I’d seen the pain she was in firsthand, I had to acknowledge it before I could say anything else. “I can’t imagine what I’d do if I lost Etta.”

Before my eyes, Ellie seemed to wilt. Her hands covered her face and her shoulders rolled forward and a heartbreaking sob split the room.

“I’m so sorry for how horrible I’ve been,” she said into her hands.

Trevor slid past me and wrapped his arms around his mom, his cheek resting on the top of her head as he rocked them back and forth. I watched them for only a moment before I turned and walked back down the hallway.

“You get it all worked out?” Mike asked when I found him on the living room floor playing with Etta. He said the words easily, like he already knew the answer.

“I think so,” I said with a small sigh. I sat down on the edge of the couch and smiled when Etta reached past Mike to steal some of his pile of Legos.

“That’s good,” he said, scooping up the Legos Etta had stolen and putting them back in his pile.

We didn’t talk anymore while we waited for Trevor and his mom to come out. Even Etta was quiet while she played. When I finally heard footsteps coming down the hallway, I turned my head just in time to see Trevor wiping his palms over his eyes. When he saw me looking, he smiled.

“All good?” I asked as I stood up to wrap my arms around his waist.

He nodded and leaned down to murmur in my ear. “My mom asked us to stay for dinner and I didn’t have the heart to tell her we’d already eaten. Is that okay?”

“I am feeling a little hungry,” I whispered back.

“I love you,” he said, his voice a little louder as he kissed the side of my head.

I stayed in the circle of his arms, not quite ready to disconnect yet. “I love you, too.”

“Me love you, too,” Etta piped in, not even looking up from her blocks.