One of the infants stirred and let out a soft cry, pulling Paige from sleep. She blinked, reached instinctively into the stroller, and only then looked up. When her eyes met Matthew’s, a cascade of emotion crossed her face, ending in a quiet resignation that struck him harder than anger ever could.
“Matthew,” she said, her voice fragile but composed. “I did not expect this.”
Neither did he. Words failed him until Helen stepped forward, her gaze moving from Paige to the babies with disbelief and concern. “Child,” she said gently, “are you alright?”
Paige hesitated, then lifted one baby from the stroller and held him close. “They are adopted,” she explained, her tone steady despite the tremor beneath it. “Their mother could not care for them. I could not leave them.”
Helen’s eyes softened, and Matthew felt something in his chest give way. Questions crowded his mind, but what came out instead was simple. “Where are you staying?”
Paige looked down. “Nowhere permanent. I am waiting for space at a shelter.”