“She’s been asking about you for hours,” she murmurs. “This helped more than you know.”
I nod, unable to look away from Lucy’s face. “What happens now?”
Erin pulls a chair closer to the bed and sits, keeping her tone calm and steady. “Because you’re immediate family, the county can place her with you under emergency kinship care. It’s temporary at first, but it allows her to stay with someone she knows while everything with your mother moves through court.”
I swallow hard. “I don’t have money for this, but I will figure?—”
“You won’t be doing it alone,” Erin says quickly. “Kinship caregivers receive financial assistance. Monthly stipends, medical coverage through Medicaid, clothing allowance, and food assistance. There are emergency funds for beds, car seats, and just about any supplies for children. The state helps bridge the gap while placement is evaluated.”
Relief and fear collide, as tears burn again.
“And custody?” I whisper.
“If you decide you want permanent guardianship,” Erin explains gently, “you can petition the court after the temporary placement period. They’ll review your housing, income, do a background check, and references. Because you’re her sister, you’d have priority over a non-family foster placement.”
I glance down at Lucy curled against me, trusting me without even knowing me, and me loving her in the same way.
“You don’t have to decide tonight,” Erin says softly. “Right now, she just needs stability. And you gave her that the second you walked in.”
Lucy sighs in her sleep, tiny hand still fisted in my sweater.
“I will figure it out.” I rub my lips across the top of her head. “I’ll do whatever I have to until I finish school, and then it will be smooth sailing.”
I see Claudia smile as she taps on her phone, and Erin steps out of the room.
“She’ll have her own room at the Puck Pad. You’ll have the whole downstairs to yourself the majority of the time.” She sits on the edge of the bed. “Noelle says they can make a second bedroom in less than thirty days at her place, and whatever you’re paying at your current residence is all she will take for rent, no more.”
“That’s insane.”
“She wouldn’t trust anyone else to live there.” She holds up her phone, showing me the text where she says exactly that.
“My gut tells me to say absolutely not. But my heart,” I pause as I feel my eyes burn. “Well, it tells me I’d start an OnlyFans and read the classics naked to be able to take care of her.”
Claudia giggles quietly.
“I wish I were joking.” I close my eyes. “I should never have thought that she was safe. I?—”
“Don’t do that, focus on the fact that right now, she is the safest she’s been, and you’re going to make sure she stays that way.” She reaches up and grabs my hand and squeezes it gently, “And you won’t be doing it alone. You’re one of us.” Tears spill immediately. “I know it feels terrifying to trust because I was in your shoes just a few months ago, and I promise you that you can.”
“How can I ever thank you all for?—”
“You don’t. You just show up when you think you’re needed, hell, you’re already doing that.”
“For a paycheck.” I sniff.
“You can’t buy loyalty, Hildy.” She sighs. “As I said, you’re already doing that.”
“She’s good for the night,” Erin says quietly as she enters. “Vitals are steady. They’ll keep her until morning just to be safe.”
I nod, smoothing Lucy’s hair back gently.
Erin pulls the chair closer and lowers her voice. “I want to walk you through what OCFS is going to look for so you’re not blindsided.”
My stomach tightens.
“This isn’t permanent custody yet,” she reminds me gently. “It’s an emergency kinship placement. But they will do a home visit.”
“How soon?” I ask.
