CHAPTER THREE
Vince had spent a good long time that afternoon turning on the Sothard charm and cozying up to the charge nurse in the peds oncology unit. Not an easy feat in a clown suit. But he’d eventually been able to appeal to her empathetic side—which it seemed the amazing nurses there had in spades—and found out when Inez was due for her next infusion.
He’d work on getting more information, slowly.
When he’d gone home—his parents’ house, actually, where he was currently bunking until he found his own accommodations—he’d said a quick hello to his parents, then headed straight for his room. He needed time to think. There were two things Vince couldn’t get off his mind.
One was the lovely, pale healthcare worker he’d run into, and the second was Inez.
Lace hadn’t left his brain for more than a few minutes, even when he’d been plotting and strategizing to deal with the little girl’s plight.
Lace intrigued him.
Clearly, her carefully curated professional look—with her obviously short, no-nonsense hair hidden under that surgical cap, and her unadorned scrubs—indicated that she was allbusiness. He really liked that in a woman. Vince had served with some of the best and toughest females on the planet, and even though none were currently on any SEAL teams, the Special Operations women he knew kept the Navy-engine chugging strongly with their hard work and dedication.
Lace had that same air about her.
Vincewouldfind her again, but since he couldn’t do anything about that right now, he’d work on the Inez situation.
He pulled his laptop out of his bag and placed it on his desk.
Opening it up, he typed in,Can a man be a foster parent in Maine?
The first word he saw, was “yes”.
He gave a fist pump, and his heart started beating a little faster.
He quickly read the first seven bullet points that had come up:
Age:Be at least 21 years old.
Background:Pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check.
Health:Be in good physical and mental health to care for a child.
Home:Have a safe, stable home (renting is acceptable) that passes a fire safety inspection.
Finances:Demonstrate the ability to support yourself financially without relying on the state stipend.