Matthew's Choice by Patricia Bradley

kitty.”
    The kitten howled again, and Matt huffed a sigh. It probably needed milk again, and he grabbed the carton. “Be right back. Entertain whoever it is.”
    The kitten stared plaintively at him when he opened the door and immediately hushed its crying. He picked up the bowl and refilled it. Voices came from the other room. Women’s voices. Matt placed the bowl beside the kitten and guided it to the milk. “You’re on your own, kiddo,” he said and went to wash his hands.
    Then he stepped into the living room and stopped. “Allie?”
    Jessica’s gaze went from Allie to him. “You didn’t tell me Clint’s sister was stopping by.”
    Something was wrong. Bad wrong. It was stamped in the way Allie stood, in the slump of her shoulders, in her face. “What’s going on?”
    “Matt, I don’t know how to tell you... Mariah is in the hospital. Your sister may not make it. And her son has run away from the shelter.”
    He didn’t know why he felt so surprised.
    “Sister?” Jessica turned to him. “You never said anything about a sister.”
    “Everybody, just sit down.” He sank into the hard leather chair closest to him and looked at Allie. “What happened?”
    “I’m not sure. All I know is she overdosed on heroin and her little boy has run away from the person who was looking after him temporarily,” Allie said. “You’ll have to ask Peter Elliott exactly what happened.”
    He missed whatever she said next. Peter Elliott? He was taken aback the great man hadn’t already called to rub Matt’s nose in the news. Mariah. What have you done? His sister might be two years older, but he’d always taken care of her until she ran off with that Connors thug. He realized Allie had asked him something. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
    “I have the hospital number, if you want it.” She held a slip of paper out toward him.
    Matt folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t know what you expect me to do. I tried to talk to Mariah when she first started using—after Connors introduced her to drugs. She didn’t listen then, and I doubt that anything has changed. I’m sorry, but she made her choice a long time ago.”
    And he had made his when he left Cedar Grove. He just never thought his past would choose today to catch up with him.

CHAPTER FOUR
    N OAH WAITED FOR an opportunity to slip into the hospital entrance unnoticed. By now, the cops were sure to be looking for him, and they’d probably figure out where he’d gone. A man and woman with four boys walked toward the door. Maybe no one would notice if he tagged along. Noah fell in behind them, staying just close enough, but not so close the man or woman would notice him.
    Noah almost bumped into the last boy when the man stopped and turned around.
    “’Scuse me,” Noah mumbled and bent over to untie his shoe and retie it.
    The man clapped his hands once. “Okay, boys, listen up. We’re going down this hall to the ICU waiting room. I want you to be quiet. There’s folks here that have really sick people in the hospital. You mind your manners now, you hear?”
    Noah couldn’t believe his luck. As soon as they started walking, he stood and tagged along. Once in the waiting room, he glanced around. Adults sat in little groups, but there was one area where kids watched cartoons on a wall TV. An empty chair next to a girl about his age beckoned to him. He sauntered over and sat in the vinyl wingback like he owned it. After a few minutes, he braved a glance around. People seemed to be lining up toward the silver double doors. “Where’s everybody going?” he muttered under his breath.
    “It’s almost visiting time. But you’re not old enough to go back.”
    Noah whipped his head around. He hadn’t meant anyone to hear him. The girl never looked up from her book. “What do you know about how old I am?”
    “Puh-leese.” She eyed him over the book. “We’re both in Miss Allie’s reading class. Hello? ”
    Heat crawled up his neck and spread