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agree to let her have custody? She’s barely been out of prison a week and is still on parole.”
    Mom blinks, fighting back tears. Charlie is like a son to her, so I know this isn’t something she wants either. “She had an advocate from the state and family vouch for her. The judge must have been in a very generous mood. I don’t know how they agreed to this. It’s very unusual. I should have at least had more notice.”
    “Charlie’s seventeen, for crying out loud! Shouldn’t it be his choice?” I reach over and take his hand into my own.
    “Apparently, she’s been clean for over a year, and she found a sympathetic judge.” She slides the paper over to Charlie for him to read.
    I scoff. “She’s been clean before. It never lasts.” I turn my gaze to Charlie. He doesn’t say a word, just sits reading the letter.
    “So how exactly is this supposed to work? Is she coming to Tennessee?”
    “No,” Charlie says, his voice shaking. “This says I have to go back to Baltimore.”
    “What?!” I stand, slamming my hands down on the counter. Charlie passes me the letter, and I skim it quickly. “That’s insane. The address is in the worst neighborhood in the city. She’ll be high again by tonight! You’ve got to do something to stop it, Mom.”
    My mom comes around and hugs us both. “I tried. But she’s his mother, and legally she has more rights.”
    I rest my head on Charlie’s shoulder and just try to be there for him. He never talks much about his mom, but I know it was a really hard time in his life. He must be reeling right now. After several minutes, he stands and takes a deep breath. “It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
    I’m not sure if he believes it or is just trying to convince himself. Most likely the latter. “When does he have to go?” I ask Mom.
    “Now. Today.”
    It’s like adding salt into the wound. “This can’t be happening.”
    “Well, let’s not go to the dark side just yet,” Mom tries. “Things might be different this time, and this might be a good opportunity for you two to reconnect.”
    I don’t believe her words. Charlie folds the letter carefully and places it in his back pocket, biting his bottom lip to keep it from quivering. I take his hand in my own and squeeze, fighting back my own tears. He takes a deep breath before saying, “Thanks, Clare. Maybe you’re right. So how does this work now?”
    “I have a ticket for you on a bus leaving at eight tonight. Why don’t you go upstairs and pack a bag and we’ll go out for dinner before dropping you off?”
    Charlie nods and heads for the stairs. “That sounds nice. Thanks.”
    My heart is breaking as I see him trying to be strong. I know he has to be crumbling inside, and it’s killing me that I can’t do anything to help. I begin to follow him, but he stops me as I reach the bottom step. “Can I just have a little time to myself? To process?”
    I stop. “Of course.” He reaches the top of the stairs before I stop him. “Charlie?”
    “Yeah?”
    “You know that we’re here. No matter what the courts say. If you need to leave or things are bad, just say the word and we’ll be there for you.”
    His smile is genuine. “And that’s why you’ll always be my family, Reagan.”
     

     
    SEEING CHARLIE OFF yesterday was one of the hardest moments of my life. Not knowing what kind of situation he was walking into and realizing I couldn’t be there to help frustrated me to no end. He promised to call when he arrived and tell me how it was going, but I know he’ll sugar-coat the truth so we won’t worry, which in turn makes me more worried.
    I need to take my mind off Charlie. If something were really wrong, he’d call, and since I haven’t heard from him, I have to hope that everything is okay. I try to refocus my thoughts on my story, which has stalled. I have the basics, but I need sources to confirm what I already know so I can begin to dig deeper.
    Six months ago, our football team was