“What the hell do you want me to do about it?” I spit back at her. She can’t be thinking what I think she is.
“Please sit down. You’re making me nervous.”
I stop pacing and see that Peggy and Heath are huddled in the kitchen. I sink back onto the couch and throw my head back, exhaling deeply. I don’t want to hear what she has to say. I don’t want to know anything more about Sadie or Kai.
“Mr. Armstrong?” Nicole implores. “You need to hear me out.”
I lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees so my hands can support my head. “Fine.”
“Sadie Moore is a product of the foster system. I’ve been her social worker since she was nine years old. Her biological mother was a drug addict and was incarcerated for possession with the intent to distribute. While she served a five-year sentence in prison, Sadie was placed in foster care. Her mother was released when Sadie was fourteen and wanted nothing to do with her. Her mom disappeared shortly after her prison stay, and we never heard from her again. Sadie remained in the foster system until she was eighteen and then was placed in a group home.” Nicole pauses and tears fill her eyes.
“I failed Sadie. I was supposed to help her and I failed. She followed in the footsteps of her mother and became an addict. That can’t happen to Kai. We can’t let that happen.”
I look up at her as she brushes tears from her cheeks. I feel the couch sink next to me and realize Peggy has joined us.
“What can we do?” Peggy asks.
Nicole looks surprised and focuses her gaze on Peggy. “I’m sorry, who are you?” she asks.
“Margaret Weston. I’m Garrett’s aunt. Everyone calls me Peggy.”
What? What is she doing? Why is she lying about being my aunt?
“I’m sorry,” I interrupt. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t think my aunt has anything to add here.”
“I disagree,” Peggy states sternly. “Please continue with your story, Ms. Thomas.” She grabs my forearm and holds tight, her nails digging dangerously into my skin.
Nicole takes a deep breath and her eyes lock onto mine. “Sadie was a troubled girl, as you can imagine. She was in and out of juvenile detention centers throughout her teen years. It was hard keeping her in a good foster environment. She was very violent toward her caregivers and the state had a difficult time finding a foster home without any other children. Because of her violent disposition, they needed to place her alone. We tried everything and finally we thought we found the perfect home for her. This was just before her seventeenth birthday and she wanted nothing to do with it. She took off, and we lost track of her for close to a year. By the time we found her again, she was arrested for prescription drug fraud and placed again in a juvenile detention center. She was released a few weeks after her eighteenth birthday and put into a group home.”
“Why are you telling me all of this?” I ask. “This has nothing to do with me.”
Peggy’s nails threaten to pierce my skin, and I try to pull my arm away from her grasp.
“This has everything to do with you, Mr. Armstrong. You’re Kai’s father, and he needs a good and stable home.” She looks around my house, taking it all in.
“Then find him one. Just not here.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, Peggy gasps and practically draws blood from me.
“We’re trying.” Nicole’s tears are back, and her face begins to blur. The room seems to be tilting or spinning or something.
“Garrett? Are you okay?” Peggy releases her death grip on my arm and calls out to the kitchen. “Heath, can you bring some water?”