Guardian Of Justice. Carol Steward

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      Two hours later, both kids had a clean bill of health and Kira was on her way to the short-term foster care home. It would be a couple of days before Social Services could evaluate the aunt’s qualifications as a kinship provider. Unfortunately, the only place in the county that had room for both children on short notice was thirty minutes away. Since the intake caseworker who was on call lived in the opposite direction from the foster home, Kira had agreed to drop the kids off on her way home. “Are you two hungry? I can stop and get you a hamburger.”

      “That would be good, thanks,” Cody said quietly.

      Kira turned into the only fast-food restaurant in town with a drive-up window. If the kids had a full stomach, they would be more content, the drive would go quicker, plus they would have something to keep them busy. They had enough to think about right now without hunger being one of them.

      The children gave her their order and Kira pulled forward to wait for the food.

      “I want Mommy,” Betsy whimpered.

      Kira glanced into the rearview mirror at the little girl, who kept a tight grip on her brother with one skinny little arm.

      “Mom’s sick, Betsy. She needs to go to the doctor and get help,” the teen said.

      The words of wisdom startled Kira, even while she knew the anger he expressed earlier wasn’t gone. It couldn’t be. According to their files, Cody had to know what was coming. They’d been through this before. Betsy probably didn’t remember going through it the last time. She had been just a year and a half old.

      Kira had read their file while the intake caseworker had finished up the paperwork. How could their mother have come so far and then let herself slip up again?