Chapter 28

*Madison's POV*

When we got home there was a car parked in front of our house. Austin said he'd deal with it and I went inside with Oliver.

I set him down inside and he ran right to his bed and laid down. I smiled. "You're so lazy."

I walked to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. I heard the front door open and then Austin's voice.

"We can go in the kitchen." He said.

Another man's voice said, "Okay."

I looked up and saw Austin walk in with a short, heavy set man in a dark gray suit. He nodded at me and set his briefcase on the island.

"Hello." I said.

"Hello, Miss Haythe. My name is Maxwell Anderson." He said, holding his hand out.

I shook his hand. "Hi. I'm Madison."

Austin came over to me and out his hand in my back. "He said he wants to talk to us about some legal stuff."

I looked at Austin. "Oh god. What did you do now?"

He smiled. "I didn't do anything."

I smiled at Maxwell. "Have a seat in the dining room. I'll bring coffee and snacks."

Austin led him to the dinning room and I set up a serving tray with three cups of coffee and some slices of lemon cake, taking them to the dinning room. I set them down and sat down on Austin's lap.

"So, Mr Anderson, what can we help you with?" I said.

He opened his briefcase. "Well, I hate to be the one to have to break this news to you," he pulled papers out and set them on the table, looking at me. "Your brother and his wife passed away two days ago."

I felt all the color drain from my face and I felt a pain in my stomach. The smile fades from my face. "Mikey and Janey are gone?"

He nodded. "They got in a car accident. Both died on impact."

Austin wrapped his arms around my waist. "Wait, Mike and Janey had a son, Zachary. Is he okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah. My nephew is only 7. Where is he?"

Maxwell handed me some papers. "Well, that's why I'm here. In your brother's will it listed you two as his caregiver."

I handed the papers to Austin. He'd understand it more than me. I stood up and ran my fingers through my hair. "So he wants us to take him?"

Maxwell nodded. "Right now, Zachary is staying in a foster home until we get everything situated."

I felt tears. "Is Mikey really gone?"

"Yes, ma'am." He said.

Austin looked up from my brother's will and looked at me. "Mads, it says here that if we don't take him he's going to foster care until he can get adopted."

I leaned against the wall. "This is too much to take in."

Austin nodded and looked at Maxwell. "I think she just needs some time. Could I just have everything we need to look over and all the information."

Maxwell nodded. "Yes of course."

I walked away and went outside and sat down on the lounge chair by the pool. My head was spinning. My brother and my sister in law were dead and now I was gonna have a 7 year old? I just found out I wasn't pregnant. I was gonna have my life back.

"Mads." Austin said, coming to me and kneeling down in front of me. "What's going through your mind?"

I shrugged. "I don't know what to do."

He nodded. "Okay. Listen to me." He took my hands. "This is entirely up to you. Whatever you decide, we'll do it." He smiled. "Go with your gut, baby. I know you'll do what's best."

I looked into those big brown eyes and I knew what I had to do. "Let's go get him. He's my nephew. I can't let him rot away in an orphanage."

Austin smiled. "Okay. Maxwell's still inside. Let's go fill out the paperwork." He pulled me up and hugged me tight. "We got this, Madison."

I nodded. "I know. I'm just scared."

He kissed my forehead. "Me too."