Free The Bachelor’s Surrender by Janelle Denison Page A

Beginnings.
    “I started with Blair Foster Care Services about five years ago, and it didn’t take me long to develop a special affinity for these young children whose lives have been so emotionally shattered. When they first come to Blair for an interview, they all seem so lost, so alone, and very scared.” Her voice softened with emotion. “Their futures are so uncertain, you know?”
    He nodded, his eyes radiating profound understanding. His silent empathy made her feel as though he’d experienced his own turbulent childhood and knew exactly what a lot of foster children went through. The thought made her more curious about him, but knowing how prickly he became when she asked personal questions, she thought better of pursuing those unsettling emotions in his gaze.
    Lauren, herself, had grown up with every security and advantage a child could ever need or required, and because she’d been so fortunate, she’d wanted to extend some joy and compassion to those less privileged. She just wished her mother understood her aspirations and heart’s desire.
    But that was a large part of the problem—her mother never took the opportunity to understand anything about her daughter’s life, or the time she’d devoted to the foundation she’d established. Her parents thought of Bright Beginnings as a hobby, a way to occupy her time until she got married and settled down to have a family and be the proper wife of some blue-blood.
    Lauren wanted to get married and longed for a family of her own, but she wanted those things with a man who accepted and respected Bright Beginnings as an important part of her life. So far, none of the men Maureen Richmond had hand-picked for her had filled that requirement.
    Not wanting to dwell on those troubling thoughts, she kept her mind firmly planted on the current subject of Bright Beginnings and why she found her work so gratifying. “Most of the kids who are taken into child protective services are removed from their homes because of child neglect, abuse, or abandonment, but there are other circumstances that warrant foster care for a child, such as becoming an orphan. When I meet these foster kids for the first time to interview them, I want to offer them a bit of security, so I set up this treasure chest in my office which I keep filled with all sorts of toys and stuffed animals. The first thing I do is let them select a special toy. It’s a small token gift, but it’s something that will belong to them , and hopefully offer the child a bit of assurance and stability in their new environment.”
    She had Rafe’s complete interest, and marveled at how good it felt to share her beliefs and ambitions with someone who didn’t scorn what she did, or brush it off as insignificant—like her parents, or the men her mother occasionally paraded before her.
    Crossing her arms over the top part of the fence and hooking her boot on the bottom rung, she indulged in Rafe’s undivided attention and continued. “Every once in a while, I come across a child whose situation is beyond the norm, like Chad for instance,” she said, waving a hand toward the boy who was quickly leaving his mark on her. “He lost both of his parents, and since he has no living relatives, he’ll be placed in a foster home until he is either adopted, which I’ve already told you is highly unlikely at his age, or he turns eighteen and is on his own. He’s already been through two temporary foster homes in the past six months since his parents died. He’s got a long, hard road ahead of him, and I really wanted to give him a little joy in his life, which is why I decided to grant this special request of his. And when I see how happy it’s made him, even if it’s just for a week, it makes what I do worthwhile.”
    Rafe tipped his hat back on his head, regarding her speculatively. “I have to say, what you do is incredibly selfless, but how do you do it? I mean, doesn’t it get expensive granting all these