6. Chapter Six
Chapter Six
F aith finished prepping the casserole for breakfast tomorrow. She was a little later than she planned due to the excitement. By the time the EMTs had deemed the baby okay to not go to the hospital and the sheriff had left, it was after midnight. The sheriff had said he would check into the family that had left, but the baby had been placed with her for emergency foster care. The closest CPS worker was in Dodge City and dealing with something else, so Faith had received approval over the phone.
Slice hadn’t wanted to leave the baby, and he’d been such a nice man that Faith had decided to take a chance. She’d offered Slice her spare room for the night. He’d accepted after saying he needed to do one more delivery.
Bear had quickly said he and Winnie would take care of it and would also grab an overnight bag to bring back for Slice.
Slice was big, covered in tattoos but turned into the sweetest softy when he was holding the boy. She’d brought up what to call the boy. Slice had suggested Little Buddy since they didn’t know who his parents were or his name.
Listening to Slice’s deep voice as he rocked in the chair in the bedroom, telling Little Buddy that everything would be okay, she thought he might be right.
Slice had saved him, and no matter what was ahead, she believed things would work out for the little boy. It was Christmas Eve, and with a name like Faith, she couldn’t believe anything else.
Before Winnie, Bear, and Slice had shown up, she’d been content. She taught at the elementary school and was a foster mom. She also taught Sunday School at the non-denominational church in town.
She was in her thirties when she decided she wanted to be a foster mom. She’d lucked out that she was in a small town with a lack of foster homes, so even though she was single, she’d been approved. Now in her forties, she was content with her life, even if sometimes she wondered what it would be like to have a man who loved her with his whole heart.
She didn’t think being in such a small town it would ever happen for her. With her being a size eighteen with plenty of butt and bustline, and having non-descript brown hair and eyes, most men’s eyes just glided on by her.
She had friends, and her older sister Hope had recently moved to town. Hope was in her fifties and was raising Faith’s nephew because his father was a total freaking loser. Hope had taken after their mom, though, so she was thin with perfect cheekbones like Jamie Lee Curtis. Faith didn’t fault her sister for being thin. Her sister was the sweetest, kindest woman she knew.
Slice walked into the kitchen, minus Little Buddy.
“Is there anything I can help you do before I go to bed?” he asked.
Faith smiled. “No, but thank you. Breakfast casserole is in the refrigerator, ready for tomorrow. Stockings are filled. I’ll probably get at least five hours before the boys get up.”
“I’ll take care of Little Buddy if that’s okay, if he wakes during the night,” Slice said.
She nodded. “Perfect. Good night, Slice.” She glanced at the clock. One a.m. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Faith,” Slice said in that deep, dark voice that sent a shiver down her spine.
Time for bed and to quit daydreaming. The boys would be awake soon.