After losing the court case, Sarah, with her daughter in tears, trudged toward the last train

Sarah sighed. “First, eat something, Tyler, then we’ll figure it out.” She handed him a spoon, and he eagerly dug into the potatoes. Emily sat beside him, watching.

“He’s hungry,” she whispered to her mom. “Like that kitten we fed.”

Sarah tucked Emily into bed, but the girl clung to her hand. “Mom, will Tyler stay with us?” she asked, glancing at the boy, who was given a blanket nearby.

“For now, sweetheart,” Sarah replied, stroking her hair.

Emily smiled. “Good. He’s nice. I’ll show him my backpack tomorrow—it’s got pencils and a book about cats.”

Tyler, lying under the blanket, suddenly said, “Thank you.” Emily turned to him. “Sleep, Tyler. Tomorrow’ll be fun!”

When Sarah stepped into the kitchen, Aunt Nancy shook her head. “Emily’s already found herself a brother. You sure you want to take him on, Sarah?”

Sarah nodded. “Emily’s right—we can’t leave him.”

Nancy set a cup of tea before her. “Tell me how he showed up.”

“He grabbed my suitcase like it was a lifeline,” Sarah shrugged. “Said his nanny took him on a trip and ditched him.”

Nancy frowned. “That’s suspicious.”

In the morning, Sarah woke to rustling. Tyler sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a blanket, staring out the window. Emily was already up, tugging his sleeve. “Tyler, get up! I’ll show you my pencils!”

He turned. “I was scared I’d be left again,” he admitted quietly to Sarah.

Emily chimed in, “We won’t leave you! Right, Mom?”

Sarah took his hand. “We won’t, Tyler.”..