When You Walked into My Life

16 | Finally

Lin's POV

It's Tuesday evening, and I am exhausted. There was only one show today, but I needed a good night's rest.

Around midnight was when I got back to my apartment. I quickly showered and got ready for bed. It was around one in the morning by the time I got settled in.

I was just scrolling mindlessly through Twitter when I get a call from an unknown number. Something told me not to answer the call... so I answered it.

"Hello?" I say, trying my best not to sound so tired at this time of night.

"Is this Lin Miranda?" The voice on the other end asks.

"Yes," I say, now awake knowing this has something to do with Aaron.

"I'm Ross Warner with the Department of Social Services, and we received your report about a minor child, Aaron Edwards."

My heart is pounding as he goes on, "I understand that you are a fairly new registered foster parent?"

"Yes," I say, hopping out of bed and hoping that she is okay.

"We sent an agent to her current house placement, and it was determined she was in danger. While the matter is being investigated, we are going to remove her from the potential threats. Would she be able to stay with you as her new placement?"

"Yes," I say without hesitation. I can only hope that whatever situation it was, she was okay.

Ross and I talk on the phone for a few more minutes as he explains there will be a checkup a week from today and that a social services worker is already on their way over with Aaron.

I say thank you and hang up. I look at the time and it is a quarter past two. I walk into the guest bedroom and put on fresh sheets. I look into the guest bathroom and make sure I have all the essentials like shampoo and conditioner, along with toothpaste and a toothbrush.

I then walk into the kitchen and tidy up a bit knowing that this is going to be the first thing you see when you walk in.

About fifteen minutes later I receive a request on my intercom bell. She is here.

I accept the request and make a final look around before I hear a knock on the door. Breathe Lin. It's going to be okay.

I opened the door and sure enough, spotted a very shaken Aaron who had a trash bag in one hand and a backpack on her shoulders. Her gaze was fixed on the floor.

Behind her was a man I haven't seen before.

"Aaron?" I notice that above the petrified look on her face is tiredness.

She looks up and I can almost see her breathe more freely. "Lin. You're a foster parent?"

I nod my head and this makes the guy standing behind her speak up. "You two know each other?"

"Yes," I say, not wanting to mess anything up. "I had a few of my friends visit her school and we met one another there."

"Perfect," he says, turning to Aaron.

I step aside so they can enter my home. I watch as Aaron's eyes scan her new surroundings.

Austin and I talk for a few moments before he leaves, leaving Aaron and me alone. She is still standing to the side clutching her belongings like a lifeline. Her mind seems to be elsewhere.

"Aaron are you okay?" I ask and watch as she snaps out of whatever trance she was in.

"Yeah," she says, eyes wandering everywhere but mine. "Do you mind if I put my things down?"