Read Online Dylan's Daddy Dilemma (The Colorado Fosters Book 04) by Tracy Madison - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tracy Madison
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home. Oh, God.
Her son
didn’t have a home. He didn’t have a bedroom or a bed or a place to store his books or toys. He didn’t have...
Stop
.
She’d had those things as a child, and she’d still been miserable. So, no, Henry might not have a bedroom or a bed right now, but he had her. And come hell or high water, she wouldn’t let him down. Straightening her spine—literally and figuratively—Chelsea wiped her eyes, shoved her fear and failure and panic into a corner, and headed for the restaurant.
Yesterday was over. Today would be better.
* * *
His family had shown up at the perfect time and for reasons unknown to him entered through the front of the restaurant. Haley, after learning the basic rundown from Dylan while their mother kept Henry occupied, had then taken the boy to the other room so he could talk to everyone else. Fortunately, he hadn’t had to say much to get them on board.
The simple fact of keeping a mother and her young child off the streets had been more than enough, and a loose plan had been formed.
Very
loose and fairly flimsy, as far as plans went. Details still needed to be filled in and firmed, but it was better than nothing.
“Okay, she’s on her way back,” Dylan said, standing near the window.
“None of this might pan out,” Cole said. “I’m not entirely positive that Dee’s Deli even has an open position, and I have no idea where Chelsea and Henry might stay other than here or at a hotel. And this seems rushed, even to me. More time would be helpful.”
“Yup, it would. But we don’t have more time, and she won’t agree to stay here another night.” Dylan kept his eyes on Chelsea as she trekked through the parking lot. “A job comes first—the rest can follow. Reid? How fast can you find out if your pediatrician’s office is still hiring?”
“I’ll call Daisy when we’re done and see if she knows,” Reid said. “Cole’s right, though. A little more time would go a long way. To get to know Chelsea, for one thing. Easier to help her find a job if I can give her a personal recommendation.”
“She’s a good person and she needs a job. So, I don’t know, do it for me.”
“And you know she’s a good person how?” the patriarch of the family, Paul, asked. “Don’t get me wrong, son, we should do what is reasonable, but you’ve only known this woman for a few hours. Not hardly long enough to ask your brothers to put their word on the line.”
Frustrated, though unsure why—his father’s assessment matched his own brand of logic, after all—Dylan faced his family. Cole and Reid were standing near the door to the bar area, while his parents were at the table. “Because I... It’s one of those things, Dad. I just know. I’m supposed to do this.” Then, looking at his mother, he said, “You met her. What do you think?”
“I like her,” she said. “She seems lost right now, but perfectly sane and capable. And I’m pleased that you feel so strongly about helping her, which we will. But really, all we have to do is point her in the right direction. If the deli or the doctor’s office is hiring, take her to those places. Chelsea will either have the experience to merit an interview or she won’t.”
Yet again, the logic was sound, but Dylan’s frustration didn’t ease. That woman—Chelsea Bell—was getting to him, both her and her child, and he wanted to do more than merely send them in the right direction and
hope
they were okay. He wanted them to be set.
But okay, a ridiculous way to feel. Especially so fast.
“Right. That’s all I meant.” Another quick look out the window showed that Chelsea was nearing the door. “Why don’t you guys check in on Haley and Henry? Once I warn Chelsea you’re all here, I’ll bring her in for introductions.”
“You seem tense, Dylan,” Cole said, barely hiding his grin. “Makes me wonder if there’s something else we should know before meeting Chelsea?”
Cripes.
“Like what? I have a
Her son
didn’t have a home. He didn’t have a bedroom or a bed or a place to store his books or toys. He didn’t have...
Stop
.
She’d had those things as a child, and she’d still been miserable. So, no, Henry might not have a bedroom or a bed right now, but he had her. And come hell or high water, she wouldn’t let him down. Straightening her spine—literally and figuratively—Chelsea wiped her eyes, shoved her fear and failure and panic into a corner, and headed for the restaurant.
Yesterday was over. Today would be better.
* * *
His family had shown up at the perfect time and for reasons unknown to him entered through the front of the restaurant. Haley, after learning the basic rundown from Dylan while their mother kept Henry occupied, had then taken the boy to the other room so he could talk to everyone else. Fortunately, he hadn’t had to say much to get them on board.
The simple fact of keeping a mother and her young child off the streets had been more than enough, and a loose plan had been formed.
Very
loose and fairly flimsy, as far as plans went. Details still needed to be filled in and firmed, but it was better than nothing.
“Okay, she’s on her way back,” Dylan said, standing near the window.
“None of this might pan out,” Cole said. “I’m not entirely positive that Dee’s Deli even has an open position, and I have no idea where Chelsea and Henry might stay other than here or at a hotel. And this seems rushed, even to me. More time would be helpful.”
“Yup, it would. But we don’t have more time, and she won’t agree to stay here another night.” Dylan kept his eyes on Chelsea as she trekked through the parking lot. “A job comes first—the rest can follow. Reid? How fast can you find out if your pediatrician’s office is still hiring?”
“I’ll call Daisy when we’re done and see if she knows,” Reid said. “Cole’s right, though. A little more time would go a long way. To get to know Chelsea, for one thing. Easier to help her find a job if I can give her a personal recommendation.”
“She’s a good person and she needs a job. So, I don’t know, do it for me.”
“And you know she’s a good person how?” the patriarch of the family, Paul, asked. “Don’t get me wrong, son, we should do what is reasonable, but you’ve only known this woman for a few hours. Not hardly long enough to ask your brothers to put their word on the line.”
Frustrated, though unsure why—his father’s assessment matched his own brand of logic, after all—Dylan faced his family. Cole and Reid were standing near the door to the bar area, while his parents were at the table. “Because I... It’s one of those things, Dad. I just know. I’m supposed to do this.” Then, looking at his mother, he said, “You met her. What do you think?”
“I like her,” she said. “She seems lost right now, but perfectly sane and capable. And I’m pleased that you feel so strongly about helping her, which we will. But really, all we have to do is point her in the right direction. If the deli or the doctor’s office is hiring, take her to those places. Chelsea will either have the experience to merit an interview or she won’t.”
Yet again, the logic was sound, but Dylan’s frustration didn’t ease. That woman—Chelsea Bell—was getting to him, both her and her child, and he wanted to do more than merely send them in the right direction and
hope
they were okay. He wanted them to be set.
But okay, a ridiculous way to feel. Especially so fast.
“Right. That’s all I meant.” Another quick look out the window showed that Chelsea was nearing the door. “Why don’t you guys check in on Haley and Henry? Once I warn Chelsea you’re all here, I’ll bring her in for introductions.”
“You seem tense, Dylan,” Cole said, barely hiding his grin. “Makes me wonder if there’s something else we should know before meeting Chelsea?”
Cripes.
“Like what? I have a
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