Carrie and Sandy laughed. "One of my favorites," said Sandy. "Have you tried strawberry too?"
He shook his head. "Not yet. Maybe I'll try that next time."
Sandy smiled at him. "We'll try it tomorrow morning. Would you like that?"
"Yes!" he replied.
"I think you two are going to get along real well," said Carrie.
"I think so," agreed Sandy.
Sean smiled, and the detective came out. "Ah! There you are. I guess we're all done here, Sandy. The paperwork's done and filed. I've got two officers and a Children's Service person going to get his clothes and belongings from the other foster home, and they'll be dropping those off to you sometime today."
"Great! Well, Sean, you ready? I don't live far from here," Sandy said.
"May I use the restroom first?" he asked.
Freeman showed him to the men's room, and Carrie turned to Sandy. "I'm so glad he's going to be with you. I am so relieved. Thank you, Sandy."
"Oh, he's precious. No problem, Carrie, he'll be okay. Just some love and support, and maybe a slew of homemade chocolate chip cookies, and he'll be bouncing back."
"That should do it. In case you find it, I gave him my card, and said if he ever needed me, he could call. Would you let him visit the shop?" asked Carrie.
"Oh, absolutely! You mean he's not afraid of the cats?"
"He really should be," said Freeman.
"No, he told me he wasn't, and I explained that if he would come visit and get to know them, they'd be fine," Carrie said.
“That’s one brave kid,” muttered the detective. Carrie rolled her eyes, and Sandy looked at the man as if he were crazy.
"We'll be regulars, then," promised Sandy. "That will give us an excuse to get out a few times a week and walk."
"Good," said Carrie. "I look forward to it."
Sean returned, and looked at Sandy expectantly.
"Ready?"
"Ready," he said. "Thank you for breakfast, Carrie. I'll try to come visit you."
“Yes, we’ll be over real soon,” nodded Sandy.
"You do that," she smiled. Sandy took his hand.
"C'mon, tiger, let's get you home," she said, leading him out. He turned and waved one more time, then he was out the door with Sandy, heading off to a new life and one with much more hope.
Carrie turned to the detective. "He is a dear child. Tell me -- where did he spend the night last night?"
Freeman sighed. "After the shop incident, he went to the Catholic church just up from you, and Father Aaron was there, working late. The church stays unlocked, and he found the child asleep in a pew when he went to leave. He woke him up and took him home, then brought him here this morning after Sean told him why he was there."
"That poor dear. But he has such nice manners! I can't believe his parents were into drugs."
"That's another sad story. His parents lost their jobs when that knitting mill outsourced. They couldn't find jobs after that, and they had a child to feed and a mortgage to pay. The father's cousin talked them into running coke and meth into South Carolina and Tennessee, and finally they got desperate and did it. They got caught on their second run. They weren't users, they kind of were nice people, stuck in a jamb, and made a bad decision," he said, a shadow crossing his face. "They got seven years and they have about five and a half to go. It's a very sad situation."
Carrie felt for them. "I guess if I had a child, I would do anything to provide for him. They must love him very much."
"Actually, they do. I have spoken with them, arranging communication between them and Sean. They're actually nice people...just bad circumstances. It's my hope that when they get out, they'll be able to get him back and start over."
"I hope so too. Where are they incarcerated?"
"The federal pen in Raleigh. They are allowed to receive visits from him, but he hasn't been given the chance to see them yet. Sandy will be taking him in a week or so."
"That's wonderful! Does he know this yet?" said Carrie.
"He will shortly. She's planning on sitting him down with cookies and milk later and telling him," Freeman said, smiling. "He'll be very happy to hear that bit of news. He loves them and misses them."
"Oh, I bet he does, the poor little thing. I hope it all works out. I can tell you, he'll be fine with Sandy. I've known her for a long time, and she's a good person. Thank you for telling me this, Detective. I do appreciate it."
"No problem, I know you care about him. Go see him, if you want, and keep up with him. He might like that. I'm going to visit him from time to time, too."
"That's wonderful! I'll keep up with him. He's a precious soul, and he needs people in his little corner," Carrie promised.
"He sure does. Thanks for your help," said Freeman, shaking Carrie's hand.
"And thank you. Have a great day."