Chapter 38

"I'm sorry Ryan. I know you care about your friend, but it is out of the question." Adam kept his voice down because Meghan was upstairs and he didn't want the girl to feel any worse than she did already, but they could not take her in as a foster child … or adopt her as Ryan had suggested.

"But Daddy, she could share my room with me, and you wouldn't have to buy me as many clothes. I could wear Cassie's hand me downs." Ryan tried to bargain, but she could see from his expression, her offer was not making headway.

Beth stood silently at the kitchen counter, preparing that evening's meal. It had been five days since they'd discovered what Meghan's mother had done, and Adam had kept his promise to the young girl. He'd promised to try and find her mother and not call the authorities right away, and he'd done just that. He'd even called the man who had at one time thought he was the child's father, but the man did not care. Adam suspected the man knew where the woman was because he'd let it slip she'd contacted their older daughter, but he could get no further.

When Ryan stomped out of the kitchen and up the stairs, Adam looked up to find Beth watching him. "Oh please. Don't tell me you are going to start now."

"I didn't say a word." Beth replied as she put the pot pies in the oven and set the timer.

No, she hadn't, but her silence spoke volumes. Suddenly Adam felt as if he was the bad guy here and not the selfish, irresponsible woman who had created the situation.

"You know that as soon as Cassie graduates we are going to have to leave. What happens to Meghan then? She will become attached. We will become attached, and it will break everyone's heart to leave her." Adam began to justify his reasoning as he took a quick glance into the family room to be sure they were not overheard. "We're already keeping two of our own children in the dark, and will one day have to tell them our secrets. Meghan is a wonderful girl, but we can't take her with us. We can't open ourselves up to discovery. You do understand don't you?"

Beth nodded, her eyes sad, because she did understand. "I just hate to think of what might happen to her. I've done a little investigating into the foster care system, and there is no guarantee she would be placed for a long while, and if she was … it would probably be in another city because there aren't families available in this area that are already approved."

Adam felt the same way, but he had to stand firm. If it was just he and Beth, then maybe they could take the chance, but their future was intertwined with that of their own three children and it was too complicated to take on another. There were no guarantees how any child might react when they learned the truth, and it would be especially risky to trust one that they had not raised and might not feel the same loyalties and love.

The phone rang and Adam greeted MacLeod less than enthusiastically.

"Sounds like you've had a day like my own." Duncan noted. "It took me three hours to convince the state's representative that Joe had already paid the taxes for the first 3 quarters of last year. They were going to shut Sam down."

"Did you resolve it?" Adam asked, rubbing his eyes as he listened.

"Aye, but not without becoming so frustrated I could hardly see straight."

"At least it's done then. I'm glad you stayed to help."

"Yeah. Me too. I've decided to leave for Paris day after tomorrow." Duncan continued.

"Oh really?" Adam mouthed to Beth that Duncan was going to see Amanda. The news brought a smile to her face.

"You just remember I'm only doing this because you insisted."

"Don't try to pin this on me if it doesn't work out MacLeod. Even you could blow a sure thing if you aren't careful."

"Ha ha. So what had you in such a foul mood when I called?"

Adam gave Duncan the quick version of what had happened with Meghan and her Mother. The Highlander could not believe it. "What kind of woman runs out on her own child?" Adam could hear MacLeod begin to pace and curse under his breath.

"She's left the girl with few options that's for sure. We've kept her secret for almost a week now to try and contact her Mother and to give Meghan time to adjust, but we can't go on like this forever. Someone is going to find out soon enough. All the bills will come due at the house and there will be no way to hide it."

"My heart breaks for the lass." Duncan admitted. "She does not deserve this."

Adam silently nodded his agreement, but then told Duncan why he didn't think they could take Meghan in. MacLeod understood and had to agree. Adam had to think of his own family. It would be too risky to consider taking Meghan when they left in less than two years, and would make it even harder on the girl to leave her behind.

"Have you decided when to alert the authorities?" He asked.

"We're probably going to wait until after the weekend. She'll probably be taken to a state home until foster care can be arranged. It's not something any of us is looking forward to. Ryan is hardly speaking to me." Adam's regret was evident.

"I need to go." Duncan didn't usually cut their conversations so short, but Adam could hear the emotion in his voice. "I'll be in touch."

The line went dead.

"I'm sure he's as angry as we are." Beth observed before calling the children to the table. "He cares about Meghan too and saw the promise in her."

A moment later the girl appeared at the doorway. "Ryan said she wasn't hungry." Meghan slid into her chair beside Cassie as Joey brushed past her to take his seat across the table.

To be honest Adam and Beth weren't that hungry either. Thankfully Joey was excited about a skateboarding competition they were having at the Junior High in a few weeks and monopolized the conversation, trying to decide what tricks he could perform and wondering if he would be good enough to win.

Back in Seacouver Duncan punched the doorframe. He couldn't believe what that woman had done to such a sweet and sensitive child. Someone should do something … someone …