Free Second Chances by Randi Cardoza Page B

“He said that our friend Greta is going to be your foster mother. I’m sorry you can’t stay with me, Emma,” Kenzi said when Emma’s eyes turned a little sad.

“That’s okay. I like Sunshine, I wanted to play with her more,” Emma said putting up a façade.

“Well, I’ll tell you something. Our friend Greta has lots of money, is really nice and loves kids . You are going to be living with a real life fairy godmother, Emma. What do you think about that?”

“Does she have any kids?” Emma asked with intrigue dawning in her eyes.

“Greta isn’t married but she does have a brand new puppy that happens to be Sunshine’s sister. Now how about breakfast?” Kenzi asked as she turned to get the makings for breakfast out of the refrigerator.

A short while later, Emma was eating and the doorbell rang. Kenzi left Emma eating in the kitchen and went to get the door with Sunshine on her heels.

Jan Sullivan stood on the doorstep looking as bitchy as ever. She glared at Kenzi and then Sunshine when she growled at Jan.

“Where’s my daughter?”

“She’s no longer in your custody. She’s a ward of the state and will be living with a foster family. Now leave my house,” Kenzi said as she started to close the door.

“Please Kenzi, I just want my daughter. Jason left me and she’s all I have left,” Jan said in her whiny voice trying to convince Kenzi that she was an innocent by-stander.

“The police are on their way. They aren’t going to fall for your shit and neither am I. I suggest you leave my house before I have you arrested for trespassing, Jan,” Kenzi said pushing Jan out the door and closing it.

“Was that my mom?” Emma asked from behind Kenzi.

“Yes, it was. Did you want to go with her instead of staying here and then going to  Greta’s?”

Emma cocked her head to the side for a moment and then said, “My mama didn’t love me enough to live with me after daddy left. She’s not going to love me now. I’ll go with Greta.”

“Okay. Well, why don’t we go call Greta and then see if I can take you to her rather than making you ride with the police to her house,” Kenzi said hugging Emma.

“Can I wear real clothes? I don’t like the ones I had on,” Emma asked looking at Kenzi as she sat down on the floor to pull up a large sock.

“I guess we can run to Farmington Place and buy you one new outfit and a pair of shoes before we go. I’m sure Greta will take you shopping as soon as she can, too.”

Kenzi quickly gave Emma her freshly washed clothes and then dressed herself in a pair of flare-leg jeans and a light blue tank top. In close to a half hour they were ready to go.

“Greta said she’d meet us at Farmington Place. She’s going to buy you lots of clothes and then you’re going to go home with her,” Kenzi explained as she pulled her car out of the garage.

“Will she let me come visit you and Shawn?”

“Of course she will. Shawn and I will take you out to get ice cream and to do some other stuff sometime.”

“But not right away?” Emma asked meeting Kenzi’s eyes in the rearview mirror from the backseat.

“Sweetheart, Shawn and I have a lot of stuff to work out between us and it may take a while.”

“Why?”

“Shawn and I used to be married. We had a little girl and someone took her away from us and that caused a lot of problems in our marriage. We’ve just started working it out and we’ve been divorced for three years.”

“Oh. Did you find your little girl?”

“No, but we are still hoping. Look, there’s Greta,” Kenzi said as she pointed out Greta waving at the car.

A short while later they were involved in a whirlwind of activity. There were so many clothes Greta had to have them sent to her house.

“Wow, Emma. You definitely know how to shop,” Greta said as she plopped down on a bench near the Coffee Bean Cafe.

Emma smiled and tugged at the purple ribbon in her hair. Princess Greta was a lot of fun