CHAPTER 5
Micah watchedNaomi run a hand through her hair and felt the air shift.
She wasn’t panicking. But her dilemma was clear.
Caleb stood a few feet away, shoulders squared and jaw tight. He appeared to be bracing for impact.
The dog pressed against Naomi’s leg, oblivious to the weight of the conversation, tail thumping once against the ground.
What am I going to do?That was what Naomi had asked.
Micah didn’t answer. This wasn’t his choice.
Caleb cleared his throat. “I can go to the hospital. Talk to whoever’s in charge. See what the situation really is.”
Naomi shook her head. “No, you should stay here. Sissy called me. I should be the one who goes.”
Caleb hesitated, and Micah saw the conflict in his eyes. He was struggling with the instinct to act versus the reality of his responsibilities at Refuge Cove. Leaving this place unattended—even for a few hours—wasn’t something any of them took lightly.
Naomi’s gaze dropped to the dog, her fingers threading absently through his fur. Micah watched her process everything the same way she always did. She moved inward before she moved forward.
“Once the paperwork clears, they’ll transfer the baby fast,” Micah told her. “Temporary placement at first. Foster care if no one steps in.”
“I hate the idea of foster care,” she murmured.
“Most foster parents are good people,” Micah told her. “There are always a few bad apples, though. If you don’t want to take the baby, I’m sure they’ll find someone else.”
Naomi swallowed hard. “Why would Sissy want me? What sense does this make?”
Micah had thought about that also, but he knew the answer. “Better you than a stranger. Despite everything that’s happened, Sissy knows you’re a good person. That goes a long way.”
Naomi nodded as if she understood. But it was clear she was still burdened by the idea.
Caleb exhaled and rubbed a hand over his neck. “You should go, Naomi. You’re right. I need to stay with Madelyn. Max is actually out with Kendra right now, so Millie and I are the only staff on the premises.”
Max was a full-time worker here at Refuge Cove, someone who handled the kennels. He’d worked for Sarah, and the Kings had kept him on after her death. He was like family to them. Kendra was a part-time worker who also helped with the kennels. The two had been out on a few dates lately.
“We can take my SUV,” Micah offered. “I’d feel better if I went with you. Plus, I need to talk to the feds again.”
Naomi looked at him, and something unspoken passed between them—gratitude mixed with fear, trust edged with reluctance. “Okay.”
Relief flooded him. He’d half expected an argument.
Then she turned to Caleb. “Can you take care of the dog? Feed him? Check him out?”
“Of course,” Caleb said. “Though it looks like he won’t be happy until he’s back with you.”
She gave the dog another head pat and muttered something to him. The dog wagged his tail as if he understood.
As Micah headed for his SUV, he knew that whatever Naomi decided about that baby, he would support her. Because if she brought that child home, not only would she need all the help she could get—she’d also need protection.
Micah kept his eyes on the road, but he didn’t miss the way Naomi sat rigid in the passenger seat, shoulders drawn and hands clasped tight in her lap as the lights of the hospital rose out of the dark ahead.
“You don’t have to decide everything tonight,” he finally murmured. “No one’s asking you to sign your life away in the next ten minutes.”
Naomi let out a slow breath. “It feels like they are.”
Micah slowed as they approached a stoplight, watching the red glow wash across the windshield. “What happens next depends on what you’re willing to consider. I just want you to understand the options before anyone starts pressuring you.”
