My jaw tightened.
Andrea noticed, but she didn't soften.
"That still hurts to hear."
"Yes."
"I'll answer them."
"Then I need to know something. Are you trying to adopt these girls because they need a father or because you need a reason to get up?"
The question hit hard.
I looked down at my cracked knuckles.
"Both things can be true," I said. "But only one of them can lead."
"Which one?"
"Both things can be true."
"They need safety," I said. "So, I'll be that."
Andrea watched me for a long moment.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I'll do the visits, the checks, and the classes. I'll fix what needs fixing. But I won't ask two babies to heal me."
Her pen stopped moving.
"They need safety."
"I don't want them to save me, Andrea," I said. "I want to be a home for them."
Andrea finally wrote something down.
