* Author's Note: A few reviewers have asked about Steele Counting... Steele Unexpected is the same story, just renamed. :) Thanks for reading!

Chapter 6

The next morning, Laura sat across from Remington in the hotel restaurant, sipping her tea. "So, Mr. Steele, how do you plan on passing out those flyers?" She gestured toward the stack of papers beside her husband.

Remington swallowed back his coffee and tapped his mouth with the linen napkin before placing his hand on the flyers. "I thought we would start by stopping at the bakery next door, Mrs. Steele."

"Placing a flyer in the window where it can easily be seen. Sounds like a solid approach," Laura stated.

Remington tugged on his ear and shook his head. "I wasn't thinking about putting it in the window. More likely than not, the shopkeepers drive the boys away. I'm sure they're not going to want them hanging around long enough to read a sign. No, I had another idea in mind."

"Such as?" Laura sat back in her chair and folded her arms.

Remington glanced around the busy restaurant, leaned close to his wife, and smiled. "We're going to purchase as many rolls as we can carry."

"Rolls?" Laura questioned.

"Warm, fragrant rolls. The kind of rolls that, as soon as your nose gets the slightest hint of, your mouth waters and your belly aches to be filled." Remington finished his description, staring out the window, a slightly pained expression flickering across his face.

Laura lifted an eyebrow. "Well, Mr. Steele. It sounds like you have a plan in mind."

Remington quickly refocused on his wife and puckered his lips playfully. A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "A plan that cannot fail, I can assure you, Laura. I spent many a day simply trying to avoid bakeries and shops of the like because I knew the pangs in my belly couldn't be filled by smell alone. With this simple offering, we can draw the attention of some of the boys, perhaps, and encourage them to move over to the house. Winter can be tough for survival without adequate warm clothing."

Laura lifted her mug and took another sip of tea. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Remington gestured at her dish. "Finish your breakfast. You're not going to help those boys if you're too weak yourself. Besides that, the doctor mentioned at your last appointment he'd like to see you increase your calories each day a bit more."

Laura sighed softly and lifted a forkful of scrambled eggs. "I don't understand. I've been eating the six smaller meals a day as per his suggestion and to you, that's still not enough. The baby's growing well, moving around actively…" Her voice trailed off as Remington tapped his lips with one finger. Laura rolled her eyes and slipped the eggs into her mouth. "Happy?" she mumbled as she chewed.

"I will be once Dr. Tillingham says he's happy," Remington huffed.

"I've already gained fourteen pounds and we still have twelve more weeks to go. According to the books I've been reading, the average mother gains between twenty-five and thirty. At the rate I'm going–" Laura started but Remington cut her off quickly.

"At the rate you're going, according to Dr. Tillingham, you'll barely cross that twenty mark, which could have some bearing on our child. I, for one, do not want to risk any harm to either you or the babe. Now, eat." Remington pointed to her dish once more.

Laura groaned as she took a bite of toast. "Fine, you can go shopping for more clothes then."

A crooked smile appeared on his face. "Only if you'll model them for me… Remember Harrod's a few months back?"

Laura dropped her chin and tried to hide her own grin. "That was fun, wasn't it? And that dress… Why did I ever doubt us?"

"I've been asking myself the same question for the last few years, love," Remington teased. He swigged his remaining coffee and tapped his mouth once more with this napkin before tossing it onto the table. He raised his hand to get the attention of the waitress. "You finish up. I'll take care of the bill."

Several minutes later, they stood outside on the sidewalk. Remington carried several bags of warm rolls as Laura held the stack of flyers. "Where do we begin?"

Remington lifted his chin. "There, by that alley. I noticed a few lads darting in and out earlier."

Laura shivered slightly as a cold blast of wind whipped her hair around her face. "It's chillier than I thought. Too bad we couldn't send the boys to the house today."

Remington glanced back at his wife. "We can. I called Drew earlier this morning when I heard the weather was calling for another drop in temperature. He's prepared, along with the other members of the staff."

Laura hugged the flyers closer to her chest. "Is Charlie still there?" Her eyes began to sting with tears as the bitter wind cut through them again.

"As a matter of fact, he is. Drew said he's opening up a little more as he follows him around the building. Quite a helper, that young lad." Remington reached behind Laura and guided her up onto the sidewalk. "Turns out his father was arrested the day after he left home, but he has no other family, so he's now become a ward of the state."

"What happens now?" Laura stopped walking and blinked rapidly.

"Now, this is where the foundation comes in. As part of the house, he can remain until a new home is found for him. He won't be forced to leave or be sent to a foster home without meeting anyone first. He has a say in his own future. We've made sure of this." Remington explained softly.

Laura wiped her watering eyes with the back of her hand. "That's a big decision for a young boy. What about Buddy?"

Remington pulled her close to him and rested his chin on her head. "Buddy has become the official mascot. He's greeted everyone that has entered the building, yet he remains by Charlie's side. Drew did mention Charlie is quite the reader. In the last few days, he's already read three books from the library. He's spent some time with the teacher, Mrs. Peck, and she's impressed with him as well. He's eager to learn, eager to please."

"It sounds like The Harry Daniels Foundation for Boys has its first official occupant." Laura hugged Remington back with one arm before she shivered again.

"Let's see if we can encourage some more," Remington stated as he nudged her gently toward the alley where two boys watched them warily.