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had known him, Beau seemed speechless. “Are you sure about this?”
    “Yes.” The more he thought about it, the more real the idea became. “Brady needs someone and no one in his family wants him. I’ve always planned to take in kids, so I’ll start a little earlier than I thought. Will you help me gain temporary custody pending an adoption?”
    “You know I will. But think about this.”
    “I’ve thought of very little else since I saw Brady chewing on a bag of dog food.” Tuck shifted in his chair. “Can you believe that? They bought food for the dogs, but not for the baby.”
    Beau grimaced. “Man, that’s awful. I can see how upsetting it would be to find a baby in that situation. But this decision will change your whole life. Are you ready for that?”
    Tuck nodded. “I know there’ll be some adjustments, but I really believe I’m ready.”
    “Okay. I’ll start on the paperwork tomorrow and call you when I’m ready to file it.” Beau paused.
    “What?” Tuck asked, sensing something else was bothering Beau.
    “Be prepared for some hard questions from the judge.”
    “Like what?”
    “Your job for starters. What do you plan to do with Brady during the day?”
    “I haven’t thought it through, but by the time the hearing rolls around I’ll have a plan. Mrs. Wiggins lives down the road from me. She’s a retired teacher and now keeps her small granddaughter. She might also be willing to watch Brady. I’ll talk to her. And there’s a small day care two blocks from my office. I’ll check it out, too. I can make this work, Beau.”
    Beau played with the paper napkin on the table. “I have no doubt you can. You’re my very good friend and I love you like a brother, but I have to be honest.”
    “I wish you would.”
    “It’s very difficult for a single male to gain custody of a child, especially one that is not his biologically.”
    “So you’re saying I don’t have a chance.”
    “I’m saying it will be difficult and I want you to be aware of that. I’ll be behind you one hundred percent, though, making sure the judge knows what an incredible man you are. And what a wonderful father you’d make.”
    Tuck relaxed. “Thanks, Beau.”
    Beau studied him for a moment. “I don’t suppose there’s a woman in the picture whom I don’t know about.”
    “No.”
    “What happened to that police officer you were dating?”
    Tuck shrugged. “It wasn’t serious.”
    Beau lifted an eyebrow. “Is it ever?”
    “Not lately.”
    Beau leaned back in his chair. “I’ve never questioned your personal life or your life’s choices. That’s your business, but as your lawyer I’ll have to delve deeper. I have to be able to argue convincingly in front of a judge that you, a single male, would be the best parent for Brady Harper.”
    “I understand. Ask all the questions you want.”
    Beau looked straight at him. “Why do you feel that taking in foster kids is exclusive of marriage and having children of your own? Your adoptive parents were married. I’m not clear on why they didn’t have kids of their own, though.”
    “Ma had a miscarriage early in the marriage and the doctor couldn’t stop the bleeding. He ended up doing a total hysterectomy.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
    “She worked in an office for a while then Pa was asked by the FBI to help nail a firearms dealer from Mexico. When they captured the guy in El Paso, he had his five-year-old daughter with him. He’d kidnapped her from her mother in South Carolina. Pa said the little thing was frightened to death and he became attached to her. He talked CPS into letting him take her home to Ma where he knew she would get special care. Ma kept her for three days comforting her and letting her know she was safe. The mother was so grateful to have her daughter back. Ma said after that she knew what she wanted to do and they helped hundreds of kids over the years, including Eli and me.”
    “I’ve heard the stories.” Beau