Finding Her Family

“In my application—”

Judge Bond held up his hand. “I read what you wrote there, but I want to hear it from your own mouth. Why are you pursuing this, Ms. Kosinski? Is it the monthly stipend you’d receive from the state? Or are you one of those do-gooders with their hearts on their sleeves trying to save the world?”

“I’m only trying to save one girl. Ruby.” Page took a deep breath, trying to sort out what she should say to convince him. She decided on the truth and pulled out the sheet of paper where she’d written her thoughts earlier. “Given different circumstances, I might have been her when I was her age. I know what it’s like to have no one and to wish that someone would see me. I’ve gone hungry and lived on the streets a time or two. I don’t want that life for her. I want her to feel loved and cared for. Her and her baby.”

Mateo put a hand on her shoulder and gripped it lightly. “Your Honor, Ms. Kosinski has a job that provides more than she needs. The stipend has no consideration on her decision to be a foster parent for Ruby.”

“And there is no family member who can step forward and take care of the girl?”

Page shook her head. “None she knows of. She’s quite alone.”

Judge Bond gave a short nod. “I’ve decided to grant you temporary custody of Ruby Wilson.” When Page smiled and clapped her hands together, he held up a finger. “Temporary only at this point, Ms. Kosinski. As it is, this is an emergency situation and the girl needs a home. In the meantime, I want a full investigation into her background to determine if there is no family member responsible for her. Until that time, Ms. Kosinski, you are granted full guardianship over her. If no relative is found, then we can discuss permanent placement.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.”

“Good luck, Ms. Kosinski. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

Page tamped down her excitement until they left the judge’s chambers, then she threw her arms around Mateo and hugged him. “Thank you.”

He tightened his arms around her. “I’m glad this went our way.”

She missed the closeness when he let go of her, but she turned to Brittney. “Thank you as well. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you jumped on this so fast.”

“I’ll be reaching out to you once Ruby is released from the hospital. We’ll set up a time to interview her about her family. Also, I’ll be checking in randomly to be sure the placement is going well.”

Brittney nodded to Mateo and was soon out of sight.

Page couldn’t hold back her next question any longer. “Do you think we could go and tell Ruby now?”

Mateo’s smile was warm and wide. She was sure it mirrored her own. He drove them to the hospital and accompanied her to Ruby’s room. But when she pushed open the door, the room was empty. Page frowned and went to the nurse’s station. “Tiffany, where’s Ruby?”

The nurse shrugged. “She was released and left. The doctor didn’t see a reason to keep her any longer.”

Page turned to Mateo. “Where could she have gone?”

CHAPTER FOUR (#ua9e4af90-5d66-5641-a76d-f6b5304ca10b)

PAGE TRIED TO figure out where a girl with nowhere to go would flee. She sighed. “She couldn’t have gone far.” She sprinted for the hospital exit, Mateo on her heels.

“Page, let’s take a moment and think about this.”

She kept her pace quick. “No. The longer we wait, the farther she gets.” She was almost to the sliding glass doors. “I have to find her.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to be found.”

“We all want to be found.” Page knew something about trying to hide but wishing someone would truly see her, to save her. Not that she had any illusions about saving Ruby. She only wanted to give the girl a chance.

Outside, she stopped and put her hands on her hips, surveying the area around them. Parking lot, cars, grassy quad and concrete sidewalks. Everything open. “If I wanted to get away and think, presumably, where would I go?”

“A park. A mall, maybe. Any place I wouldn’t stand out. I’d want to blend in, go unnoticed.”

Page turned to Mateo. “You’re full of surprises, Mateo.”

“Hey, I was an angry, troubled teenager once. Weren’t you?”

“I figured you would be the perfect kid, all A student and chores done on time. Don’t tell me I have to take you down from that pedestal.”

Mateo put a hand on her arm and stopped her. “Are you sure that you want to do this, Page? Why has she suddenly changed her mind about living with you? You could be asking for more trouble than it’s worth.”

She pushed away his hand. “She needs me. And maybe I need her a little, too.”

She walked through the parking lot and kept walking. Ruby had to be nearby, she kept reminding herself. Mateo followed, pointing out a sign for a community garden just a few blocks north. They found Ruby on a rickety chair behind a large shed, eyes closed, a protective hand on her rounded belly.

Page approached and touched Ruby’s hand. The teenager’s eyes flew open, and she sprang forward.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Ruby.” Page edged a little closer. “Why didn’t you wait for me? Did you think I’d forgotten about you? That I wasn’t coming?” Page took a deep breath and released it, needing to reestablish trust between them. “When I make a promise, I keep it. You have to know that about me. The two of us aren’t going to work very well together if we don’t believe in each other.”