Having just checked out of their hotel, Shane and Molly are heading to the airport in a taxi. Shane has been very quiet since receiving Shay’s frantic phone call. Sensing Shane’s anxiety and sorrow, Molly quietly sits beside Shane, holding her hand and rubbing her back to show her support. Looking out the window, Shane finally breaks her silence. “I need to call Joyce. Do you have her number?”

            “Joyce? Yeah, but why?”

            “I want custody of Shay,” Shane says turning to face Molly. “Our Dad’s gone and I don’t know where his mother is. She’s not capable of raising him. And I don’t want him in foster care.”

            Molly nods her head, not sure exactly how to respond to Shane’s declaration. She begins to dig through her purse to find her cell phone.

            Shane interrupts her search to ask, “Are you okay with that?”

            Taken aback by Shane’s question, Molly answers, “Of course. He’s your brother. It’s only natural that you want to take care of him.” Molly pulls out her cell phone and hands it to Shane. “Here. Call Joyce. I’m sure she can help us.”

            Shane smiles slightly when she hears Molly say “us.” Scrolling through Molly’s contacts, she finds Joyce and calls her. As it rings, she leans over to Molly and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek.

            “Hello?” Joyce asks as she answers the phone.

            “Hi. Joyce. It’s Shane.”

            “Hey. What’s up? Aren’t you still on your vacation?” Joyce pauses for a moment, but then continues, “Is it Molly? Is she okay?”

            “Molly’s fine. It’s my Dad. He was killed in a car accident this morning.”

            “Oh I’m so sorry Shane. Are you okay? Is there anything Phyllis and I can do?”

            “Yeah, I’m fine. There is something you can do for me though. I want to get custody of my brother, Shay.”

            “What about his mother?”

            “His mother’s been missing for a while now. She’s an addict. He has no idea where she is. Joyce, listen, I don’t want my brother in the system. I need to get custody.”

            “Okay, okay. Your brother’s in Oregon, right?”

            “Yeah.”

            “Okay. I’m not licensed to practice in Oregon, but I know someone there. I’ll call her and set up a meeting with her. Phyllis and I will fly up and meet you there.”
            Shane breathes a sigh of relief and says, “Thank you, Joyce. I appreciate it.”