AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And Talon and Finn have taken the kids on a trip,” Anthony said. They were the only other approved foster parents on their team, apart from Gael and Jake and they had their hands full.
Then he smiled. Because they actually weren’t. “Text him back right now and tell him you’ve found someone approved and that’s on the team, then follow me to my house to drop off your car. I have some calls to make, and it will be better if you come with me to collect him.”
Christopher stared at him.“But who is the foster family he’s going to?”
Anthony grinned. “I am.”
He left Christopher texting and drove home, calling Alison Mulgrave. She answered the phone on the second ring. “Uncle Tony, is everything okay?”
He chuckled. Alison wasn’t really his niece, but the daughter of one of his service buddies that had died in action a long time ago. He’d kept his eye on Mac’s widow and two young kids ever since. It just so happened she was the newly appointed secretary for the Florida Department of Children and Family Services. He quickly explained Evan’s situation.
“Do you know the name of the family in Tallahassee?” She immediately assumed he was calling to report that.
“Not yet, but it was the only home that was willing to take an enhanced with his history.”
“I will call and find out, but it doesn’t solve the immediate problem of where to place Evan.”
“No, but I can take him, can’t I?”
She paused, clearly surprised. “On paper, yes. You are approved, but I thought you—”
“I know,” Anthony said. He took a deep breath. “Because of my age and my job. I work long hours and I felt I couldn’t give a teenager the attention he would deserve.” He’d told himself when the team was established that he’d cut back, but if he was honest it was because he was a bit of a coward. Not even Finn and Talon knew he was an approved foster parent.
“But this is a special situation,” Alison agreed. “Very well. Let me make some calls. I’ll cancel the transport and inform the home you are on your way. His local case worker will need to make a visit tomorrow, though.”
Anthony thanked her and hung up. By the time he’d quickly made sure his briefcase that contained what he considered sensitive papers was locked away, he heard Christopher’s car pull in alongside his. He’d had to text Christopher his address because not one of the team had ever been to his house in Tampa Heights. To be honest he spent little time there. But it was adequate, a little far out for Evan’s school, but they’d manage.
And he supposed it was only temporary until Peter Docherty opened their new wing.
Christopher smiled shyly and got into Anthony’s car with him. It would take a good thirty minutes to reach the home. “I’ve been registered for a little under a year,” Anthony explained, knowing Christopher would ask.
“This is amazing,”he said.“I can’t thank you enough.”
Anthony warmed under his praise. “I’m able to take older teenagers, but I was planning to wait until the team was more established so I could cut back a little. My hours are ridiculous, or at least they have been.”
Christopher stayed silent for a moment, but Anthony could feel his steady gaze on him. He sighed. “Plus, I’m a coward.”
“I seriously doubt that. I understand how disruptive it could be, but I’ll help all I can. My hours are shorter than yours.”
Because Christopher didn’t need to work. His parents had left him a lot of money. Not that financially at this point Anthony needed to work either. Anthony knew Christopher wanted to help people, which had led him to the medical field. Brilliant enough to be a doctor in whatever field he chose, the scar on his face had put paid to all those plans. This was going to make him look foolish, but he wanted to make Christopher understand. He knew he was waiting for an answer, and while Christopher could speak to him telepathically, he wasn’t a mind reader.
“It’s not what you think.” He took a breath for courage as he slowed for a stop sign. “I wanted a family when I was younger, but my wife convinced me that she didn’t seem to be able to get pregnant, despite us trying for years. After she left me for someone else, I found some birth control pills in the back of her nightstand.” He shrugged, even though it still hurt. “I just threw myself into the job. I suppose you could say that became my family. The issue isn’t that I’m scared to take a child.” He squirmed. “It’s the thought of finally becoming a father but knowing it's going to be temporary.” If he got close to a teenager and had to let him go again for whatever reason, such as his birth parents getting them back, it would kill Anthony. He would wish all the happy endings in the world for kids, it was just sometimes he’d like one of his own.
“I’ve worried about the same thing,”Christopher confessed.“I worried that I was wanting to foster a child simply because I was lonely. That’s a really bad reason to look after a child. It’s like putting the responsibility of your feelings onto them, instead of making a safe space for them to express their own.”
Before he even realized what he was doing, he reached over and covered Christopher’s hand, then snatched it back. “Sorry, I—”
“You’re a kind man, Tony. Don’t apologize.”He was silent for a while but then asked.“You’ve never been tempted to remarry?”
“Every day.”
Panic hit Anthony when he realized he’d said those words clearly in his mind, and judging from Christopher’s surprised expression, he’d heard them.
‘I mean,” he continued hurriedly. “I’ve dated men and women on and off. I’m not sure what that means, no I guess they call it Bi.” He felt heat rise up his neck. He knew they did. He wasn’t incompetent, so why was he behaving like he was? “Sorry, too much information.” And had it been way too obvious?
Christopher gazed out of the window.“Well, if we’re being honest, I’m not only gay but the nearest I ever got to a date was when I went out with you.”Anthony was so glad he had stopped at a red light because the car would be in a ditch if not.
“I mean,”Christopher sounded panicked.“I mean, not that we were on a date or I thought you considered...”He groaned and covered his face with both his hands. It was a good thing there were no cars behind him, because Anthony had let the lights run through an entire cycle and they were red again. Cautiously, his belly a bag of nerves, he reached out and covered Christopher’s hand again.
