“So, what now?” Penny heard Susan asking from the front porch.
Penny and Katie sat in the kitchen, Penny sipping at a cup of coffee and Katie drinking a Pepsi, straining to see through the curtains to the porch. It had been more than a few minutes—it was fifteen and counting now—but whomever Susan was talking to were finally making their way to the house.
Penny expected to hear Michael’s voice. When Mr. West answered, Penny turned to Katie and saw she was just as surprised.
“It’s not my area. Jenkins handles the custody cases, but as long as she has somewhere to stay, child protection will probably wait until Monday to open a case.”
Penny felt sick at those words.
They aren’t going to take her away, she told herself, though she was far from confident.
Katie grabbed her arm but cont
