Chapter 61

Elaine

I followed Leo as he led me down the street. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. I should have been at the office of Everett Innovations, trying to schedule an appointment for Roma Aesthetics. Instead, here I was, trailing after this poor kid. I had offered to walk him home, thinking it wouldn’t take long, but now I was starting to worry.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was making a mistake and poor judgment call. My concern for Leo's safety battled with my worry about the difficult task assigned to me by Nancy.

Feeling defeated, I sighed and tried to reassure myself. "Making sure this kid is safe won’t take much time. I can get back to work soon."

After a few minutes, we turned a corner. There, I saw a small house made of cardboard, held together with tape and string, next to an old trash bin. It was tiny, with a worn-out blanket for a door and newspapers on the floor. Leo stopped and turned to me with a small smile. "Welcome to my home, Aunt Elaine," he said.

My heart