Elizabeth August - Paternal Instincts

Reluctantly, the boy obeyed.

Eric watched the social worker’s face. Her jaw stiffened, but she didn’t appear surprised.

“They told me he’d begun to refuse to eat,” she said. “I checked his record. He’s been in five different homes since he left here. In spite of the counseling provided, he continued to refuse to speak. After a short while in each home, the foster parents would call social services and say they felt they couldn’t help him and request that he be moved.”

Jamie had come to stand beside Roxy. Eric glanced at him and noticed that he was holding her hand so tightly both were white.

Mary’s gaze continued to rest on the child’s gaunt features. “I really thought he’d be better off in a real home.”

Roxy scowled. “This is a real home.”

Mary frowned back. “You have to work. When school isn’t in session, he’d be on his own all day. And boys need a father figure.”

“I’d have found someone to watch over him,” Roxy shot back. “And a lot of kids grow up in single-parent homes and turn out just fine as long as they’re loved and wanted, and he is loved and wanted here.”

Mary breathed a harsh sigh. “There’s nothing I can do. He’s not in my jurisdiction. He’s part of the Philadelphia system and they want him back.”

Roxy shifted so that Jamie was behind her. “They can’t have him back. They’ve done enough damage.”

Mary scowled. “The law is on their side.”

“If you send him back and he again refuses to eat, he could die,” Eric cautioned, deciding it was time for him to step into the fray. “He doesn’t look as if he’s got much more weight to lose before he’s in serious trouble.”

For a long moment Mary said nothing, her gaze resting on the boy. Abruptly her attention shifted to Roxy. “Do you still have that paper his grandmother signed giving Maude guardianship?”

Hope blossomed in Roxy. “Yes.”

“I’ll take it to Judge Blaire. He’s an old friend and supporter of Maude’s. I’ll argue that since she left you everything, the guardianship should revert to you.”

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