Page 96 of Senior

“About what?” I asked.

She smiled. “Sevyn and Daxon. I see you spent a lot of time with them.”

Steph nodded. “They are beautiful children. So sweet.”

“They are good kids. They’ve just had a terrible couple of years.”

“Sevyn told me about her parents dying, then her grandmother,” Steph said, shaking her head. “I get the feeling the system hasn’t been too kind to them.”

Shelly sighed. “It hasn’t. They have been in a few foster homes before we got them. Dax is a very loving and trusting child and past caregivers have abused that.”

I frowned. “How?”

“He’s been molested twice. And Sevyn… that poor baby. She’s been assaulted and trafficked by their last foster parents. She’s been through so much. I’m shocked she was so affectionate with you two. You must have really felt safe to her.”

Beside me, Steph was in full blown tears. I pulled her into my side and kissed her temple.

“We want them,” I said. “Both of them.”

“To foster or⁠—”

“To adopt. Nobody is gonna take care of those kids like we will. I promise you that.”

Shelly smiled. “I think I saw this coming when I saw Dax out there on the basketball court with you, Mr. Dillinger.”

I chuckled. “The boy done called me old.”

She giggled. “He’s very talkative and mostly says what’s on his mind.”

“He will fit right in with the rest of the kids. They’re coming into a family with a lot of love.”

“I’m sure they are. The good your family does in this community doesn’t go unnoticed.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll be in touch with the next steps.”

“We’ll be waiting.”

We shook hands and I led Steph back to the car. She was still sniffling when I got her inside. Standing between her legs, I cupped her face and wiped her tears away.

“Take some deep breaths for me, love,” I said.

She mimicked my breathing, until her tears had subsided. I grabbed a tissue from the overhead visor and dabbed her eyes.

“Hearing that hurt my heart, Stanley. With all the men and women out here that give it up for free, I will never understand people taking a child’s innocence.”

I shook my head. “Me either.”

She cupped my face and pecked my lips. “I don’t think I ever said thank you for what you’ve done to bring victims home and get justice for them over the years. I think I finally understand that sacrifices you made, Senior. I’m sorry it took meeting these kids to see that.”

I smiled. “It’s okay, love. When it’s your own children… and these will be our kids… shit hits different.”

“I don’t ever want them to feel unsafe again.”

“They won’t. They’ll have family coming behind them like a pack of rabid dogs.”

Steph wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “We’re really about to do this… we’re gonna be parents again.”