Epic Sins (Epic Fail #1)(20)

What?

Andrews and Newman back down for the first time and relief floods my chest. “No. No need to call the D.A., I mean, your father,” Newman says. “I think we have what we need regarding Ms. Moore.”

“Can I speak to Mr. Armstrong now?”

I turn toward the voice behind me and the social worker, Nicole Thomas, walks past us into the kitchen.

“We’ll be outside,” Andrews huffs, and the officers leave through the front door.

“Is there someplace more comfortable we can go?” Her tone is much softer than the two police officers, but somehow more serious.

“The den is in here.” I lead her through the kitchen into an open space toward the back of the house. She sits in one of the oversized chairs and I sit on the large sectional couch.

“Are you aware that Sadie gave birth to a baby boy about two weeks ago?” she asks.

I want to lie to her. Tell her that I have no idea what she’s talking about. Tell her to leave my house immediately and never come back. But I see Peggy standing in the kitchen with her arms crossed over her chest. She can hear everything we’re saying, and I don’t want to lie in front of her. I can’t.

“Yes,” I say reluctantly and pull the crumpled birth certificate from my pocket.

“Sadie showed me this right before she…”

Nicole reaches out and looks at the birth certificate and nods. Her expression changes and she looks upset. Her eyes glisten, and she places the paper on the table in front of her. “I’ve been working with Sadie for a long time. She was a drug addict. As soon as she tested positive for drug use after she gave birth to Kai, I was called to intervene. She refused care and left the hospital shortly after he was born. He was very sick as you can imagine. He also tested positive for drugs and has been in the neonatal intensive care unit for the past two weeks.” She pauses and wrings her hands together.

“Why are you telling me all of this?” I stand up and begin pacing back and forth. I feel every fiber from the rich rug beneath my still-bare feet. I imagine the carpet pulling me in, hiding me away. I need to escape.

“Kai has no one. He’s alone now.”

“What the hell do you want me to do about it?” I spit back at her. She can’t be thinking what I think she is.

“Please sit down. You’re making me nervous.”

I stop pacing and see that Peggy and Heath are huddled in the kitchen. I sink back onto the couch and throw my head back, exhaling deeply. I don’t want to hear what she has to say. I don’t want to know anything more about Sadie or Kai.

“Mr. Armstrong?” Nicole implores. “You need to hear me out.”

I lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees so my hands can support my head. “Fine.”

“Sadie Moore is a product of the foster system. I’ve been her social worker since she was nine years old. Her biological mother was a drug addict and was incarcerated for possession with the intent to distribute. While she served a five-year sentence in prison, Sadie was placed in foster care. Her mother was released when Sadie was fourteen and wanted nothing to do with her. Her mom disappeared shortly after her prison stay, and we never heard from her again. Sadie remained in the foster system until she was eighteen and then was placed in a group home.” Nicole pauses and tears fill her eyes.

“I failed Sadie. I was supposed to help her and I failed. She followed in the footsteps of her mother and became an addict. That can’t happen to Kai. We can’t let that happen.”

I look up at her as she brushes tears from her cheeks. I feel the couch sink next to me and realize Peggy has joined us.

“What can we do?” Peggy asks.

Nicole looks surprised and focuses her gaze on Peggy. “I’m sorry, who are you?” she asks.

“Margaret Weston. I’m Garrett’s aunt. Everyone calls me Peggy.”

What? What is she doing? Why is she lying about being my aunt?

“I’m sorry,” I interrupt. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t think my aunt has anything to add here.”

“I disagree,” Peggy states sternly. “Please continue with your story, Ms. Thomas.” She grabs my forearm and holds tight, her nails digging dangerously into my skin.

Nicole takes a deep breath and her eyes lock onto mine. “Sadie was a troubled girl, as you can imagine. She was in and out of juvenile detention centers throughout her teen years. It was hard keeping her in a good foster environment. She was very violent toward her caregivers and the state had a difficult time finding a foster home without any other children. Because of her violent disposition, they needed to place her alone. We tried everything and finally we thought we found the perfect home for her. This was just before her seventeenth birthday and she wanted nothing to do with it. She took off, and we lost track of her for close to a year. By the time we found her again, she was arrested for prescription drug fraud and placed again in a juvenile detention center. She was released a few weeks after her eighteenth birthday and put into a group home.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?” I ask. “This has nothing to do with me.”

Peggy’s nails threaten to pierce my skin, and I try to pull my arm away from her grasp.

“This has everything to do with you, Mr. Armstrong. You’re Kai’s father, and he needs a good and stable home.” She looks around my house, taking it all in.