“You make the arrangements; the state pays for the care.”
“Uh-huh,” I said. “Well, that’s not a problem.”
Allison made a note on her clipboard. “You know I can’t guarantee placement with you, Daisy. But I’ll see what I can do.”
“So… do I just get the room ready for her and then we’ll see?”
Allison nodded. “Yeah. We’ll do the home visit, and then we’ll see how it goes. But worst case, you’d be prepared for the next one, right?”
How could I say that I couldn’t bear the thought of being away fromthisone? My mind was racing. I didn’t have the thousands of dollars it would take to run out and buy all new baby stuff. And I didn’t have any friends to speak of to help me. I knew my dad would come, but it wasn’t like he had a bunch of baby stuff stored away. I could go to secondhand shops, but by the time I got off work, they’d all be closed, and who knew what I could scrounge together from them anyway?
I tried to look confident as I said goodbye to Allison. “No drinks tonight!” I joked as she walked away.
I looked down at Maisy, trying to temper the excitement welling up. This was crazy. But I had to remind myself, it was also short term. As Allison said, she would be adopted in no time. I would just be there to make sure she was safe and secure and happy while she waited. That was good enough. It had to be. I wasn’t married. I wasn’t living in my pretty house that I would have my family in. I couldn’t have a baby. Could I? As I pulled Maisy up on my shoulder to burp her, I thought about all there was to do. And, suddenly, I knew exactly who to call.
MASONTeam Daisy
I know my mother still, in the 2020s, doesn’t approve of women who call men. But I like it. Why should I be the only one to put myself out there? For years, I just had to wonder if we were on the same page. Now, if she doesn’t like me, I’ll know it if she never calls.
So I was excited to see Daisy’s name pop up on my cell phone screen. I reminded myself to let it ring twice, not besoovereager, even though I was. I was getting older now, and I knew that, finally, I would really like to find someone. I had this strong feeling that that someone could be her.
“Hey, Daisy,” I said.
“Hi!” she said, her voice kind of high-pitched. She was nervous. It was cute. “I’m so sorry to bother you, but I don’t have anyone else to call.”
“Well, I’m flattered.”
She laughed. “Oh, gosh. No. I didn’t mean it like that!” My anticipation was really mounting here.
“Mason, I’m trying to foster Maisy, and they want to do a home visittomorrow.”
“Oh, wow. That’s so great!” I paused. “But you’re going to have togive me more. I don’t know anything about babies, and I know less about foster care.”
“Right,” she said. “So, I’ve already been approved to foster, so we’re good there, but they come inspect your house before they’ll approve the placement. And, well, I don’t have a crib or a changing table or anything. My second bedroom is completely empty. And I kind of lied and said I was totally ready for a baby.”
My heart was racing, and it took me a minute to figure out why: I couldn’t imagine being in a world where I didn’t get to see Maisy, didn’t know what happened to her. I needed her to be with Daisy as much as Daisy did.
“And I have four more hours of my shift at the hospital!” Daisy wailed.
Rarely was I the voice of reason. I loved that I could be right now. “Dais, don’t give it another thought. I’ve got this.”
“You do?” she asked, sounding relieved.
“Of course.”
“I can give you my credit card or—”
I interrupted. “No, no. We won’t need it.”
“Mason, I owe you. I really do. I can’t thank you enough. And, um…”
“And um, what?”
“Well, there’s one more thing, but I can probably figure it out.”
“Lay it on me.”
“I have to have a plan ready for her day care. The state will pay, but, obviously, I have to work, and I know you know everyone.”
