Free The Family They Chose by Nancy Robards Thompson Page A

care of a babysitter.
    Since the boys had no living relatives, Boston’s Department of Children and Families had prevailed upon Pam to take the boys so that they could stay together. The home really didn’t have room, but when Pam called Olivia for special dispensation, Olivia had agreed that the boys should stay together at all costs—even if she had to bring them to her house until the Home could make a place for them.
    Keeping them together seemed extra important since three-year-old Danny had recently been diagnosed with autism.
    Little had she known when she’d decided to distract herself with baking bread and cookies, that the home would be in need of fare to welcome the new charges.
    There was nothing like good, homemade sugar andchocolate chunk cookies to make a child feel welcome.
    Olivia had promised Pam that she’d be there to help, because even under the best circumstances, welcoming a new resident wasn’t easy. Given the younger Kelso boy’s situation, today was sure to be doubly challenging.
    Shortly after nine o’clock, Olivia arrived at the Georgian-style mansion that housed the Children’s Home. The old home once belonged to the charity’s founder, who left it to the organization in trust to be used for kids left homeless or orphaned by abuse, neglect or tragedy. Olivia parked around back by the carriage house, which served as the nonprofit’s offices, and let herself in the kitchen door. She set the bread and cookies on the counter and went in search of Pam, whom she found in the great room.
    “Olivia, thank you so much for coming in today,” Pam said. “It seems like a lot to ask during the holidays.”
    Olivia shook her head. “I’m happy to do it. Besides, Jamison had to go back to D.C. and he won’t be back until New Year’s Eve.”
    “Big plans?” Pam asked.
    Olivia blushed. “We’re staying in and having a nice romantic evening—alone, for a change.”
    Over the years, Pam had become a friend—andsomeone to whom in the beginning, Olivia had confided in when she and Jamison had decided to start trying to get pregnant. But after it became clear that pregnancy wouldn’t come easily—and then with the ensuing bumps in their marriage—Olivia had become a bit more guarded.
    “Really?” Pam arched a brow, her blue eyes shining. “Anything you’d care to share?”
    For a moment, Olivia was tempted to tell her everything—well, almost everything—not about Derek’s bizarre suggestion that Olivia try to pass off another woman’s child as her own. Because essentially that’s what it would amount to if she allowed Chance to implant another woman’s egg in her body.
    The thought made her shudder, and that brought her to her senses. Despite how good it would feel to confide in a friend right now, until she heard the New Year’s Eve prognosis, she needed to keep everything to herself.
    “Oh, nothing exciting, but you know I’ll tell you as soon as there’s news.”
    Just then the door opened and two of the saddest little boys Olivia had ever seen walked in hand in hand. Both had mops of glossy dark hair and large, haunted brown eyes.
    The larger of the two stood slightly in front of his younger brother, in a protective stance.
    Karen Cunningham from DCF stood behind them. “Good morning, I have a very special delivery for you. This is Kevin.” She gestured to the older brother. “And this little guy is Danny.”
    “Hello, boys. I’m Pam, and this is Mrs. Mallory. We want you to know you are very welcome here.”
    The boys gaped at her but remained silent.
    “You make yourselves right at home,” Pam said. “Mrs. Mallory is here for you while Mrs. Cunningham and I go take care of some paperwork.”
    Olivia knelt in front of the boys.
    “Hi, guys. Now, tell me again, which one of you is Kevin and which one is Danny?”
    “I’m Kevin,” said the older brother. “I’m seven years old.”
    Olivia offered her hand to the boy. “Hi, Kevin. You can call me Olivia, if