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play alone. Especially in an apartment setting.” She leaned forward slightly. “You mentioned this morning that you’d tried a local day care center, but it hadn’t worked out?”
    â€œIt lasted all of two days. Josh had an…accident…both days during his nap, and they weren’t willing to deal with a bed-wetting four-year-old.”
    She frowned. “Does this happen often?”
    â€œNo. Emily says when he’s upset he tends to have accidents at night. It’s happened a couple of times.”
    â€œLosing their mother is more than enough to upset young children. Not to mention moving to a new place.” Compassion softened Cate’s features.
    â€œTo be honest, they’ve had far more trauma than that.” Drawing a ragged breath, Clay gave her a brief overview of their life—and of his sister’s death. As he spoke, the sympathy in Cate’s eyes changed to shock, then horror.
    â€œAn environment like that can be so destructive to a child.” She sent a concerned glance toward Emily and Josh. “It can take years to undo the damage.”
    â€œAnd I’m not the best person for the job. I’m on the move a lot, and I work long hours. Neither of which is conducive to family life.”
    â€œThere’s no one else who can take the children?”
    â€œMy father says they can live with him after he recovers from a bout of pneumonia. But my sister wouldn’t have wanted that.”
    â€œMay I ask why?”
    Leaning forward, Clay rested his forearms on his thighs and clasped his hands between his knees. “My father isn’t the warmest or kindest person in the world.” He chose his words with care as he stared at the floor. “These kids would wither in his house. They need fun and laughter and love, and they won’t get it there.”
    â€œAre you going to keep them?”
    â€œI don’t know.” He raked his fingers through his hair, the familiar panic twisting his stomach into a knot. “I left home atseventeen, spent a dozen years in the Army, and I now have a job that takes me all over the country. I’ve been on my own for close to eighteen years, and I like it that way. I’ve never wanted a responsibility like this. As long as the kids are with me, though, I want to do my best to restore some semblance of childhood to their lives. But I can’t do it alone. That’s why I need your help.”
    Cate’s gaze locked with his for a moment. Then she slung her tote bag over her shoulder and rose. “I need to give this a little thought, and pray about it. Can I call you later tonight?”
    He stood, too, doing his best to rein in his escalating panic. Although he’d been concerned at first about Cate’s disability, after talking with her and watching how she’d connected with Emily and Josh, he knew she would be perfect for them. But he understood her caution. She wouldn’t be walking into the easiest situation. Yet they needed her, as surely as parched plants need water to survive.
    â€œLook, is there anything I can say to convince you? I can give you the name of my sister’s minister in Nebraska, or the police department, if you want to check out my story.”
    â€œI know how hard this must be for you.” Her features gentled. “Give me a few hours. I’ll have an answer for you tonight.” She grasped her cane and stood. “I’d like to say goodbye to the children.”
    â€œCould I…would you mind giving me your phone number?” Clay didn’t even try to hide his desperation.
    â€œOf course.” She recited her number as he jotted it down. “But I will call tonight.”
    He watched as she moved over to the table and gave each child’s drawings her full attention, offering words of praise and encouragement. Their faces were more animated than Clay had ever seen them.
    If he was the praying type, he’d get