Alexander stood by the fireplace, watching the flames, a million questions swimming in his mind.
“Leo,” he said at last, turning. “You did the right thing tonight.”
“I didn’t know where else to go,” Leo murmured. “I remembered seeing your face on a billboard. It said Carrington helps build futures. I thought maybe… maybe you’d help hers.”
Alexander felt something shatter inside him. A slogan from a marketing campaign—one he’d hardly thought about—was why this boy had walked through a storm to find him.
“You’re not alone anymore,” he said. “You both stay here tonight. Tomorrow… we figure out everything else.”
The next morning dawned bright, the storm passed, the city hushed in white. But inside the penthouse, warmth had returned.
Alexander made calls. Many calls.
A social worker came to assess the situation. She listened as Leo explained that their mother had passed away two weeks ago. They had been squatting in an abandoned building. He had used what little money they had to buy formula and diapers, scavenging the rest.
“She made me promise,” Leo whispered, holding back tears. “She said, ‘You’re her big brother now. Keep her safe. Don’t let her go into the system.’”
The social worker looked at Alexander. “The foster care system is overwhelmed. Siblings are often separated.”
Alexander spoke without hesitation. “They’re staying here. With me.”
The social worker raised an eyebrow. “You want to be their guardian?”
“I want to be their home.”
