Heart of the Family by Margaret Daley Page A

hit his head.” Her gaze slid away from Hannah.
    “Why did he fall?”
    Silence. Andy’s mother bit down hard on her lip.
    “If I’m going to help you, I need to know everything. I need the truth.”
    The young woman opened her mouth to speak, but clamped it closed without saying anything. The indentation in her lower lip riveted Hannah’s attention. When she finally peered into Andy’s mother’s eyes, a tear rolled down her cheek.
    “If you’re serious about being in Andy’s life, you have to trust me.”
    The lip with the teeth marks quivered. “My boyfriend pushed him away.” More tears welled into Andy’s mother’s eyes and fell onto the table.
    “Why did he do that?”
    Mrs. Morgan dropped her head, much as Andy often did. “Because he was hitting me and Andy wanted to stop him.”
    “I see.”
    Her head jerked up. “No, ya don’t! He didn’t want me to take him to the doctor. Andy was throwing up. When my boyfriend passed out, I brought my baby to see Dr. Hartman. That’s when everything went bad. They took Andy from me. I went home and my boyfriend had left me. He’s—he’s—I’m all alone.” She swiped her trembling hands across her cheeks. “I don’t—” she sucked in a shuddering breath “—wanna be alone.”
    “So all Andy’s injuries were caused by this boyfriend?”
    “Yes, yes, I’d never hurt my baby. Never!” Tears continued to flow from her eyes.
    “But staying with your boyfriend did hurt your child.”
    “I know, but I don’t have no money. I’m—” Andy’s mother sagged forward and cried. “I love Andy. I…” The rest of the words were lost in the woman’s sobs.
    Hannah came around the table and touched her shaking shoulder. “Let’s start with you talking to Andy. If that goes well, we can discuss the next step, Mrs. Morgan.”
    The woman lifted her head, rubbing her hands down her face. “My name is Lisa Morgan. I ain’t never been married.”
    “How old are you?” Hannah went back to her chair.
    “Twenty-three. I can’t pay for rehab. I don’t have no money.” She dashed her hands across her cheeks then through her hair.
    “Let me worry about that. When you think you’re ready, I’ll go get Andy.”
    Lisa straightened, smoothing her shirt. “I’m ready to see my baby.”
    Hannah pushed to her feet and headed for the door. She hoped she was doing the right thing, that Jacob was wrong. Lisa had been a child when she’d had Andy. Maybe she’d never had a break.
    Out in the hall she motioned for Andy to come to her. She caught Jacob’s regard over the heads of all the kids who had surrounded him in the security office. “We won’t be long. Maybe the children would like to ride the train.”
    “Yeah!” several of them shouted.
    “Can we?” Terry asked Jacob.
    “Sure.”
    His gaze intent on her, Jacob crossed to her while she opened the door into the small room where Lisa was. Andy slipped inside. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the boy throw himself into his mother’s outstretched arms and plaster himself against her. His cries mingling with his mother’s could be heard in the hallway.
    “This is a mistake,” Jacob whispered while he peered inside at Andy and his mom.
    “What if it isn’t?” Hannah lifted her chin a notch. “I’m going to have security call the police back and tell them they don’t have to come.”
    “She should be held accountable for breaking the court order.” A steel thread weaved through each word.
    “That will only happen if, as a member of the foundation board, you overrule me.” She directed a piercing look at him. “Are you?”
    He met her glare for glare while a war of emotions flitted across his face. Finally resignation won. “No, I’m not going to. But don’t leave them alone together.” He pivoted and strode to the group of children hovering around the head of security’s desk, asking him tons of questions.
    Hannah paused in the entrance into the room and said to the guard