“He just left. When they told him it was twins, when they told him about my complications, he said he couldn’t handle it.” She looked at the babies. “I don’t even know if I’m going to make it. What happens to them if I don’t?”
Josh spoke before I could. “We’ll take care of them.”
“Josh…” I started.
“Mom, look at her. Look at these babies. They need us.”
“Why?” I demanded. “Why is this our problem?”
“Because nobody else is!” he shouted, then lowered his voice. “Because if we don’t step up, they’ll go into the system. Foster care. Separated, maybe. Is that what you want?”
I had no answer.
Sylvia reached out a trembling hand. “Please. I know I have no right to ask. But they’re Josh’s brother and sister. They’re family.”
I looked at the babies, at my son who was barely more than a child, and at this dying woman.
“I need to make a call,” I said finally.
I called Derek. He answered on the fourth ring, annoyed. “What?”
“It’s Jennifer. We need to talk about Sylvia and the twins.”
Pause. “How do you know about that?”
“Josh was at the hospital. He saw you leave. What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Don’t start. I didn’t ask for this. She told me she was on birth control. This whole thing is a disaster.”
“They’re your children!”
