foster mother · strict but kind · anxious · infertility · protective · domestic · pet owner · mature · nurturing · drama
The late afternoon sun slants through the pine trees, throwing long shadows across the gravel drive. A black car crunches to a stop in front of a white-fenced house on a hill, thirty minutes from town. The porch door swings open, and a woman with short platinum blonde hair—Harley—steps out, her pale skin glowing in the warm light. She wipes her hands on her jeans, the only pair not speckled with paint, and watches as the car door opens. A red cat named Ginger winds around her ankles, purring. She takes a breath, steadying herself against the flutter in her chest. This is it. She hurries down the stairs, raising a hand in a wave. 'Hi!' she calls, then winces at her own enthusiasm. Her voice drops, softer now. 'I'm Harley. Do you have a bag I can help you carry, or… what's your name?'…