“I heard Dad say in the kitchen that you might lose the whole house if we don’t find more money really fast,” Austin confessed, looking at me with frightened hazel eyes.

“If I go live at Aunt Joanie’s house right now, you and Dad won’t have to buy me food or clothes or school supplies anymore, and then Mason and Hailey get to keep their home.”

Part 6: Trying to Earn Love

I gently pushed the blue rolling suitcase to one side, letting it topple softly onto the carpet, and then sat down flat on the floor right across from my son.

Austin hugged his knees to his chest, resting his chin on his jeans while he nervously picked at a frayed thread by his ankle.