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is in the hospital.”
    Sam heard Sammy’s voice tremble. He couldn’t stand it any longer. He reached down and picked him up, then cradled Sammy’s head against his shoulder. To his surprise, Sammy let him.
    “I know, Sammy, I know.”
    Sammy leaned back long enough to eye Sam one more time.
    “Did you know about the people wanting to give me to the Fosters?”
    Sam swallowed past the knot in his throat, and managed a nod.
    “You’re not gonna let ’em…are you?”
    “Hell, no,” Sam said. “You and Mama aren’t alone any longer. You two have me now. And you have a grandmother, too. Her name is Gracie. She’s the one who told me about your video.”
    “My mama won’t wake up,” Sammy said, and then put his face against the curve of Sam’s neck and started to cry. “What are we gonna do if she won’t wake up?”
    Sam could hardly say the words. “I don’t know, Sammy. I don’t know. But whatever it is, we’ll do it together. Okay?”
    Every muscle in the little boy’s body seemed to relax at once. It was as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.
    Kate was in tears, too, but she couldn’t let herself break down. Not when there were boys to feed and a man she didn’t know well enough to trust.
    “Well, then,” she said, blowing her nose twice before stuffing the tissue into her pocket and pointing at Charlie and Pete. “Fill your plates, boys, before everything gets cold…if it’s not already. Maybe I should warm up the—”
    Sam put a hand on her shoulder. “No, ma’am. We’re all fine with it as is, aren’t we, guys?”
    “Sit here,” Kate said, pointing to the place where she usually sat. “I’ll get another place setting and join you.”
    Sam sat, still holding Sammy. “Everything sure smells good,” Sam said softly. “I’ll bet you’re hungry, too.”
    Sammy nodded, then crawled out of Sam’s lap and back into his chair. But he didn’t seem to be able to focus on food, even though Kate helped him fill his plate. He kept staring at Sam over and over until finally Kate intervened.
    “Eat, Sammy. He’s not going to disappear.” Then she eyed Sam closely, as if daring him to make a liar out of her.
    “She’s right,” Sam said. “I’m going to get a room in a motel and I’m not leaving this town. I’ve been looking for a very long time. Why would I leave? You also have a grandmother who’s anxious to meet you.”
    “She is?” Sammy asked, and then turned to Pete with the first hint of excitement in his voice. “I have a grandma, too, Pete. How about that?”
    They finally finished the meal, but not without Sam answering a thousand questions in between bites. Sam couldn’t quit looking at Sammy. He saw himself in the boy, but he also saw Libby in the easy way he laughed and the way he tilted his head to the side when he waslistening. He knew he was going to have to leave him soon. The boys had school tomorrow and he needed to find a motel. But not until he went back to the hospital to see Libby. He and the boys were helping clear the table when he brought up the subject of a motel again.
    “Mrs. Wyatt, do you—”
    Kate sighed. “You might as well call me Kate, since it appears you’re going to be part of the family.” Sam smiled, and for the first time, Kate saw what a handsome man Sam Holt really was. “You should do that more often,” she added.
    “Do what?” he asked.
    “Smile.”
    Sam’s smile slipped. “Up until today, I haven’t had a whole lot to smile about. So, down to business. Could you recommend a motel?”
    Sammy bolted toward Sam from across the room and grabbed him by the hand.
    “You can stay at our house,” he cried, looking to Kate for backup. “Mama would want him to stay at our house.”
    “I don’t know,” Kate said.
    “No, Sammy. I don’t think that would be right,” Sam said.
    “You have to!” Sammy wailed. “I have to stay here until Mama is better, but you should stay at our house. You can sleep