"Their parents died in a car accident."
In her office, Karen laid a file on the table.
"They're good kids," she said. "They've been through a lot." She opened the file. "Owen is nine. Tessa is seven. Cole is five. Ruby is three."
I repeated the names in my head.
"Their parents died in a car accident," Karen continued. "No extended family could take all four. They're in temporary care now."
"It's what the system allows."
"So what happens if no one takes all four?" I asked.
She exhaled. "Then they'll be placed separately. Most families can't take that many children at once."
"Is that what you want?"
"It's what the system allows," she said. "It's not ideal."
I stared at the file.
"All four?"
"I'll take all four," I said.
"All four?" Karen repeated.
"Yes. All four. I know there's a process. I'm not saying hand them over tomorrow. But if the only reason you're splitting them up is that nobody wants four kids… I do."
