He forced a laugh. Apparently, the widow had a sense of humor after all. Maybe he deserved that for accusing Debbie of being like all other rich people. She wasn’t particular about her possessions, but she still shouldn’t have promised his kids something without checking with him first.
“Since when are you two so chummy?”
Savvy shrugged. “She’s pretty nice. I mean, she’s offered me a full-ride scholarship—besides paying for the art camp—just for painting a mural on her wall.”
Savvy’s admiration for Debbie came through as loud and clear as Eli’s had last night.
That’s the last thing he needed; his daughter idolizing Debbie. The higher Savvy placed Debbie, the farther her idol would fall and the more it would hurt Savvy when she did.
Debbie was generous, but in his experience, the people who gave the most, expected the most. Sometimes to unrealistic levels.
CHAPTER10
Debbie brushed sweat from her brow as she wiped the last of the peanut butter off the cabinets. She’d only left Noah alone with his snack for a few minutes while she gathered the laundry, but somehow, he’d managed to not only slather his body in his favorite food, he’d painted the front of several cabinets and the floor in the creamy substance.
Between two nights ago and this morning, Debbie needed to request the cleaning company that came every two weeks do a degreasing, steam-cleaning treatment on her hardwood floors.
Her phone rang as she took Noah to the bathroom.
She hurried to the kitchen and grabbed it off the counter. Sheila’s picture showed on her screen.
“Oh shoot.” Debbie answered the phone. “Hi, Sheila, I’m so sorry. I forgot to let you know I wouldn’t make it in to read with the kids today.” She took Noah’s hand and guided him down the hall.
Sheila chuckled on the other end of the line. “I figured you wouldn’t make it after I met that cute little ball of energy last night. How’s it going?”
Debbie repressed a shudder as she recalled the panic she experienced at finding Noah on top of the stove yesterday after she made a quick trip to the bathroom. The busy little boy had turned two burners on. She’d never been so grateful she’d spent the extra money to get an induction cook top that required special pans with a magnetic base in order for the burners to heat.
Debbie opted to share the story that didn’t make her sound like a total failure as a foster parent. “Well, I’m giving him a bath after he tried to use peanut butter as a moisturizer and finger paints.”
She put Sheila on speaker and set her phone on the counter before turning the water on in the tub.
Noah practically dove in before she could get his clothes off. As it was, he still made it into the tub before the water got warm.
“Cold!” he shrieked.
Debbie gave him an I-told-you-so look as he stood at the back of the tub shivering.
The boy loved water!
“That reminds me of the time the twins got a hold of the Nutella. Talk about a mess! Oh Deb, I’m so glad you’re getting to foster already.”
Already?
The last month and a half—since Debbie’s breakdown and starting the fostering process—had felt like and eternity.
“Me too,” she said as she dumped bubble bath into the tub. Hopefully the bubbles would help get the rest of the oily residue off Noah.
“So, I saw Austin Reed sitting by you at the soccer game last night. What’s going on there?” Sheila’s voice had that tell-me-everything tone.
“Nothing’s going on.” Debbie tossed in a couple plastic boats and squirty fish in the water before sitting down on the rug by the tub. She explained to Sheila how she’d hired Savannah to paint a mural and by default, ended up taking care of the Reed kids every afternoon and the circumstances that led her to be at the soccer fields.
She tried not to let her excitement over having the Reed children here every day show in her voice. Nor did she mention feeding them dinner every evening, because she didn’t want to tell Sheila about that disastrous first night as a foster mother.
“You two sure looked cozy at the game.”
“That’s because he sat in your chair,” Debbie said.
If Sheila’s chair hadn’t been there, and Austin had set up his own, would he have set it close to hers?
