Page 18 of Madden

This all feels hopeless, as if there's no one who really wants to help Mick, that there's no one who can tell me how to navigate this situation I've found myself in. "What can I do?"

She's quiet for a few minutes as she makes a few more notes, and then sits her pen down. "So here's what is going to happen. It won't be all in a couple of days, there will be a few things that will need to take place before we get this completely done." She pulls a piece of paper out of her notebook, and jots down a few numbers, as well as a name. "This lady, Melissa Chambers, is the head of the children's advocacy group for Laurel County. She can get you some immediate funds to help with food and housing for yourself and Mick. I've already sent her a message, and she's waiting for your phone call. Explain to me what kind of housing situation you're in."

"It's safe," I'm quick to assure her. "We're living in a three-bedroom apartment with my cousin. It's more than I wanted to spend, but I've been able to make it work, thanks to my cousin sharing the rent with me. If it weren't for her, I don't know where we'd be. Food is more of an issue. He's a growing kid, and he's eating me out of house and home at this point. I'm going to the grocery every couple of days, and my budget is small." I hate admitting all of this to someone who seemingly has it all together. If she was put in this situation, I feel as if she'd be able to figure it out, and not have to worry about money.

"Okay, so contact Melissa. You won't even have to explain to her about what's going on. I'll take care of all of that as your counsel."

"Wait." I put my hand up. “While I appreciate everything you're doing, I can't afford this." I shake my head. "I should've realized this would be long and drawn out." Shame washes over my face, leaving me feeling silly for thinking I could do this.

Shelby reaches across the desk and grabs hold of my hand. "Do you have a dollar?"

"Yeah."

"Give it to me." She holds her other hand out.

I reach into my purse and grab the dollar out, handing it over to her. "Here ya go."

"Now you've retained me. The rest of this is pro-bono, I offer a few a year, and I haven't done any, so far. Not to mention I'm fuckin' pissed at the way Mick has just been handed over to people who haven't had his best interest at heart, except for you. Neither one of you should've been put into that position. Not one person who gave him to you thought about what that was going to do to your life, or his." She closes her eyes and sighs heavily. "Call Melissa. She'll provide you with rent assistance and food assistance, and we'll get the rest worked out."

"Okay." My stomach, which has had a low-level nervousness in it since I got the phone call about Mick, is finally normal. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. I haven't done anything but inform you of your rights. There is one thing you need to do. I think it would help you out, as well as Mick. Is there any way you can ask Trey to relinquish parental rights while he's in prison?" She raises her eyebrows as she points to a few sentences on the sheet in front of her. "It would allow you to make medical decisions on his behalf, which is important."

"I'll do that. Thank you again. For all of this."

She gives me a smile as she stands. "We'll meet again in a few weeks, and we'll see where we are with everything. Sound good?"

"Sure does. I appreciate everything you've done for me, Shelby. You didn't have to, and you've gone out of your way."

Coming around the desk, she wraps her arms around me in a hug. "The women of the LSERT stick together, and since you're basically dating Madden, you're one of us."

My cheeks heat. "I wouldn't call it dating."

"Are you, or are you not, meeting him tonight?"

I didn't know he would tell anyone else about that. "I am."

"Then you're dating him. Welcome to the club."

CHAPTER 13

BECCA

"Doyou want to change before we meet Madden? We're going for a walk. You might not want to wear those jeans." I remind him.

"I'm used to wearing things that are too hot or cold." He reminds me.

Which means neither his mom nor dad made sure he was prepared for the change of seasons. He's never had proper clothing, and that makes me sad. The fact that no one cared enough. "Well, you don't have to do that now." I remind him. "You have a selection of clothes you can wear. If you don't want to be hot, you don't have to."

He nods, swallowing hard. "I'm not used to having the option."

"You have it. Whatever you want to do, you can." I throw the decision back in his court. "Neither answer is right or wrong. It's whatever you want to do, okay?"

"Okay." He blows out a breath. "I'm going to change into a pair of basketball shorts and a tank top. Is that okay?"

"Perfect. I'm going to change too. By the time we get done, Madden should be here."

I watch as he leaves, a spring in his step. It's important for him to tell me what his choices are, that's what his therapist has told me. He sometimes freezes when I ask him to make a decision. It's as if he can't, or he's afraid to make the wrong one. Going to my room, I get the clothes out of my dresser that I plan on wearing, and quickly change into them. As I'm putting my shirt on, my phone pings with a message.