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“I’m not sure if nobody knew or if they just didn’t care, but the police and coroner were never notified that Molly had a son. They didn’t know to go looking for him.” Her eyes widen in shock, but she still doesn’t say anything, letting me continue. I swallow down the lump in my throat thinking of the next part.
“I don’t know everything, he won’t talk about all of it. But he was alone in that apartment for ten days. When, he ran out of food he went hungry. Eventually he left and knocked on a neighbor’s door asking for food. When he told them he didn’t know the last time he saw his mom they notified the police who came and had him taken into custody of child protective services. It took them another few days to locate me.”
“How could they have left him for so long?” Her voice is shaky, and I see the layer of moisture covering her eyes. I know exactly how she feels.
“Nobody knew he was there, I guess. As soon as I heard, I rushed to get him. Luckily, since I was a police officer they let me take provisional custody of him until I had it made permanent with the court. He was so small when I got him. I mean, he’s still small but you should have seen him the first time I laid eyes on him. I took him to the doctor and he was suffering from such extreme dehydration and malnutrition that they wanted to keep him in the hospital for a few days.” I close my eyes, trying to fight away the memory of those first days with Oliver. How sad I was about losing my sister and how terrified I was that I wouldn’t be able to save her son.
When I take a deep breath and focus back on Bianca, I can see silent tears streaming down her cheeks. I’ve never seen her cry before. I reach out and use my thumb to wipe them away and she quickly raises her hand to her cheeks, wiping them away herself before pulling back and looking at her fingers, seemingly shocked that there’s moisture there.
“That’s why you’re so concerned about getting him to eat all that healthy stuff.” It’s not a question and she’s right.
“At first, I was just trying to make sure he got all the nutrients he needed after he got out of the hospital, then it became a kind of obsession. Like if I could just get him to eat the right things, he would be okay. I know it’s crazy.”
Her head shakes back and forth, her brown hair moving in waves over her shoulders. “And his nightmare was about that?”
“He’s had them since he came to live with me. In the beginning they were almost every night but lately they’ve been tapering off. He never tells me all of it, I’m not sure he remembers. But he talks about being all alone and he can’t find his mom or me. I know the experience of being left alone inthat apartment was traumatizing but the thing is, anything could have happened to him before that too. Molly obviously wasn’t in any condition to take proper care of him. Who knows who she had coming in and out of that apartment, what he saw, what happened to him. I try not to worry about it too much, but on nights like tonight, when he wakes up screaming, it’s impossible.”
“You’re doing everything you can. He seems so happy here.”
“I’m trying my best, but some days I feel so lost. I’m not sure if what I’m doing is enough.”
“Don’t talk like that.” The tone of her voice is rather harsh but still only just above a whisper, mindful of Oliver sleeping against her. “He’s lucky to have you. Without you, where would he be? In some foster home with no one who cares enough to sit with him when he wakes up from a nightmare.”
I pointedly look at him snuggled up against her chest, head tucked under her chin and her arms wrapped around his little body. “What about you, Bianca? Does he have you too?” I know what I’m asking her isn’t fair, but I’m not concerned about fairness right now. I’m worried about my son who is falling for this woman just as much as I am.
Her deep brown eyes bore into mine and I see her chewing on her bottom lip. She knows what I’m asking is deeper than if she’s just going to be around sometimes. That I want to know if she’s going to stick around to be part of his support system. After all these weeks, this is the hardest I’ve pushed her to make some kind of promise or declaration of her intentions. I won’t even bother asking about us right now. I just want to make sure that she’s going to be there for Oliver.
“Yeah,” she says softly. “He has me too.” I’m so relieved that I can’t help reaching out to her, lightly stroking her cheek as she nuzzles against my hand. Lying in bed with her, Oliver snuggledbetween us, is the closest thing to family I’ve felt since my dad died and I decide right now, I’ll do anything to keep this.
Chapter Sixteen
Bianca
“Who are you and what have you done with my friend?”
I stand back from the painting I’ve just hung on the white gallery wall and try to see if it’s off kilter. “What are you talking about?” I ask before stepping forward and nudging the bottom corner of the frame to the right.
“I’m talking about you never wanting to go out anymore.”
I just shrug and dig back into the stack of canvases that need to be hung today. It’s not like this is the first time I’ve ever turned down a night on the town and I’m sure it won’t be the last. “Carson’s not getting off from work until late tonight and I promised Oliver I would take him to the park when I get home. They just installed some new play equipment he wants to check out.”
“That right there!” she says pointing at me with an accusatory finger. “For someone who is supposed to be single you’re sure acting like a married woman with kids.” I just shrug her off again. She’s probably right. I haven’t gone out in weeks.In fact, I don’t think I’ve been out drinking since my birthday last month. It should probably worry me that I’m ditching a night out to take Oliver to the park but honestly, it sounds like more fun.
“What happened to you calling kids Satan’s spawn and all that?”
“Oh, I still think they are, you should see some of those kids at his art class,” I give an exaggerated shudder thinking about how they are always running around like wild heathens and screaming at the top of their lungs. If they’re not mouthing off to the teachers, they’re being obnoxious to their parents. Not that I can really blame them for that, those moms are like piranhas and Carson is the chum. It’s no coincidence that I’ve never missed one of Oliver’s art classes. Not that I have any kind of claim on the guy, I’m just looking out for him. They would eat him alive.
Yeah, it’s starting to sound less and less convincing to me too.
“Oliver’s not like a regular kid. We’re like kindred spirits or something. Did I show you the picture of the rat he drew from Ratatouille?” I reach to grab my phone to show her the pic.
“Yes,” she says holding up her hands to stop me. “Yes, you showed me the drawing. He’s a good artist, especially for someone his age. Most kids are drawing hand turkeys. Just because he has talent doesn’t mean you have to be his mentor or something. You got him into that program.”
I’m starting to get annoyed with this conversation. I don’t like my relationship with Oliver being questioned. I know it’s not exactly traditional, but I like the kid. “Jenna, I like spending time with him. I have fun. Back off, will you?”
“Fine,” she says in a playacting tone while handing me a J-Hook to hang the next painting. “There will just be more hot guys for me then.” I see her giving me side eye before she continues. “So, what’s up with you and the kid’s dad anyway?”
That’s an excellent fucking question. I mean, the sex is mind blowing. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’ve tried really hard to keep it on that kind of superficial level, but little by little Carson’s been reeling me in, whether he means to or not. I’m starting to have real feelings for him, and I don’t know what to do about that.
