“I told Mac no social workers. No lawyers. No police,” I warn, my eyes darting back to the open door. “I promised.”
“I understand that but, Alex, she’s too young to stay at Daphne’s House, at least not without due process,” Brie explains. “We’ve never been awarded a kid under sixteen.”
“If this ends up getting her put in foster care again, she’ll hate me and I’ll hate me.” I feel tension ripple through every part of my body.
“I know. Selena explained the situation pretty well.” Brie touches my arm again. “But she can stay with me. I’m certified to foster. Laurie will get me emergency custody. I have an extra bedroom. I don’t mind taking her in while we figure something better out.”
I stare at her, stunned. The tension in my body starts to evaporate, leaving a tingling feeling of shock in its wake. Is she really going to take this kid in? Into her house? “You’d do that? You haven’t even met her.”
“But you have and you like her enough to want to help her.” Brie’s big dark eyes find mine. “I trust your judgment.”
I reach out and pull her into my arms. I’m so overwhelmed with relief and gratitude I can’t help it. I hold on to her tightly and to my surprise she wraps me in just as tight a hug. “Merci.”
“I’m betting we still have a hard sell to make,” Brie murmurs, her lips close to my ear. The words aren’t intimate but they somehow feel like they are so I let her go and take a step back.
“Yeah, but we can convince her,” I say with a smile. As usual, it’s said with more confidence than I actually feel.
The doctor comes out and calls us over. “She needed a tetanus shot and she’s got to have some IV antibiotics today and again tomorrow. It’s the fastest way to blast her system and get that infection under control. After that she’ll be on pills for another ten days and I’ll want to see her at least once in that time and again to take the stitches out. She’s going to have one hell of a scar. No way around that.”
“Thank you, Dr. Subban. Once again, you’re our hero. I can’t thank you enough,” Brie says, smiling. “I’ll settle with you up front in a second. I just need to talk to our new friend.”
The doctor nods. “She’s a captive audience right now with that IV so go for it.”
He walks down the hall and Brie turns and knocks on the open door. Mac looks up. Her eyes darting from Brie to me and then to Laurie. “Oh hell, no.”
She starts to sit up and I dart into the room, scared she’s going to rip that IV right out of her arm in order to run away. “Wait! She’s my friend. This is Brie. She runs that place I gave you the pamphlet on. Just listen to her.”
Mac’s eyes move across all three of us and then narrow suspiciously on Laurie, but she lies back on the treatment table again. Brie looks serene and relaxed as she walks closer to stand beside me. “Hey. Mac is it?”
“Sure.”
“Is that your street name or your real name?” Brie questions calmly.
“You can read all the info I gave to the doc, so I’m sure you can figure it out,” she mutters.
“Mac…” I warn softly.
She sighs. “Full name Mackenzie Brown. But I don’t use a last name anymore.”
“Cool.” Brie reaches for the doctor’s stool in the corner of the room and rolls it over so she can sit by the end of the table. “Listen, I know Alex told you about Daphne’s House, but you can’t stay there right away. We need special approval because you’re under sixteen.”
“Fine. I’ll check back with you in a few weeks.” Mackenzie’s eyes lock with Brie’s and then shift to Laurie in the corner. “You’re not going to fucking let me leave.”
“I’m not. I can’t. The doctor can’t,” Brie replies bluntly. “But he can let you leave with me.”
Mackenzie’s face hardens into a vicious glare, like she’s trying to make Brie spontaneously combust with just the power of the hate in her eyes. Brie doesn’t even blink. “I’m not a foster parent. I’ve got the credentials, but I don’t take in a bunch of kids for money and treat them like crap. I’m rich. I don’t need money. I’m just helping Alex out because he’s a friend and he wants you to be safe and get healthy.”
Mac’s death stare softens as Brie continues. “You’ll have your own room. No other kids. Eat whatever you want. Watch whatever you want on TV. But no drugs, booze, sex or swearing.”
“Ugh,” Mackenzie groans and I know it’s about the swearing. She doesn’t argue, though, or lecture Brie on how she’s not her parent. “For how long?”
“Until we can get the judge to approve you in our independent living facility,” Brie tells her. “Could be a couple of weeks.”
“Mac, this is your luck changing. I promise,” I tell her.
She looks incredibly unconvinced, but she rolls her eyes and says, “Fine.”
And just like that I saved this kid. Thanks to Brie.
