Disappointment washed over him, but he understood her concerns. They had two children of their own, and taking on a third, especially under these circumstances, was not something to be done on a whim. Yet, the image of the helpless baby haunted him.

The following weeks passed with an aching slowness. The baby, whom the hospital staff had nicknamed “Hope,” remained in the system, waiting for a foster home. Officer Carter visited regularly, feeling a growing attachment with each visit. Emily noticed the change in him, the way his eyes lit up when he spoke of Hope, and it tugged at her heartstrings.