Joel was trying. He had recently become a foster father, gone through the long and stressful process to qualify and get to foster. He got the house ready, remodeled a room, learned everything he could about who was coming to live with him and was ready.

A few years into being a foster father, he wouldn't change it for anything. He got home, a bag of takeout at hand as he walked into the house. He didn't feel like cooking.

"I'm home. I brought food!"

He shouted as he placed the food on the table and walked over to the fridge to get a beer.