Page 50 of Loving Kai

“If his grandfather really can’t care for him, he’ll go into the system.”

“I don’t know what’s worse. Having me for a father, or going into foster care.”

Marti held Abe’s hand. “Trust me, you are definitely the lesser of two evils in this scenario.”

“Um…thanks.”

She smiled. “You’re not evil or incapable. You can do this.”

“How do I work? How do I do anything?”

Justin held up a hand. “I work. Gentry works. You figure it out.”

“You both have wives.” He looked at Marti and Lucia. “I know you do more than care for the kids.”

Kai fussed, and Lucia bounced him on her hip. “You have a very big support system. You need to take advantage of that.”

“You mean Mom? I can’t lay this on her.”

Kai was on the verge of crying, and Justin took him from Lucia. The baby looked at him for a moment, then became fascinated by Justin’s badge.

“Mom will be glad to help. This is her grandchild.”

Lucia held up a hand. “I’ll help, too.”

Marti nodded. “I’m not sure how physically helpful I can be. But moral support, I’ve got you.”

Justin laughed. “You took on three kids.”

“Exactly, and I love them. But the key word there is kids.” She looked at Kai. “Babies are foreign to me.”

Abe raised a hand. “I get that.” He wrinkled his nose at the damp spot on Justin’s uniform. “Do they always leak like that?”

Justin took out his phone. “Time to call Mom.”

Chapter twelve

“Like growing teeth?”

Justin called their mother, Allie, and gave her a brief rundown of the situation. But he, Lucia, and Marti all needed to leave, so Abe was alone on the couch when Allie arrived. She knocked once, then came through the door.

She rushed to the couch, then put a hand to her mouth when she saw Kai. “Oh my gosh.”

Kai dropped the wooden spoon Abe had given him to play with, then held his arms out to Allie. Her eyes filled with tears as she took him from Abe. “Come here, you precious thing.” She hugged Kai, then looked at Abe.

He scowled. “Sorry, Mom.”

“You had no idea?”

“No, ma’am.”

She bounced Kai up and down while he fingered the buttons on her blouse. “We will figure this out.”

“Just like that?”

“Of course.”

“You don’t want to reprimand me or call me an idiot?”