The logic was heartbreaking. A sixteen-year-old kid, calculating which bad situation was the least bad. Staying in ahouse where he was threatened daily because at least he knew the danger.
“What happened tonight?” Roan asked. “Before you walked to town.”
“Devon cornered me in the bathroom. Told me he was tired of me being there. That I better watch my back. Then he shoved my face into a sink full of cold water. I thought I was going to drown.” Cody’s voice was barely a whisper. “Mr. and Mrs. Patterson were shouting at each other in the other room. When Devon finally let me go, I decided to get out of there. I know how nights like those go. The Pattersons throwing things at each other. Devon taking it out on me. So I left. Walked to town. Found Marcus.”
“Did they know where you went?” Roan asked.
“They don’t care,” Cody said. “When I texted them earlier that I was staying with a friend, I didn’t get a response.”
His foster mother didn’t even ask who the friend was. Didn’t verify where he’d be. Meanwhile, her biological son was terrorizing the other children in the home.
Roan looked between both boys—Marcus, who’d slept in an alley last night, and Cody, who was being terrorized by his foster parents’ own son.
“Cody, I can’t promise anything, but I’m going to try and get you out of there,” Roan said.
“There’s nowhere better. Trust me,” Cody said.
Yes, there was certainly someplace better. Right here in his mother’s home where love was tattooed into every space.
“Marcus, you’re staying here until we figure out something,” Roan said. “I don’t want you sleeping outside ever again. You could have frozen to death.”
“But what if I’m reported, and they send me somewhere terrible?” Marcus asked, fresh tears spilling over.
“My cousin’s a family law attorney. Logan. He’s good—really good. I’m calling him first thing tomorrow morning.” Roan reached over, squeezed Marcus’s shoulder. “I’m not sure exactly how this will all play out, but I won’t give up until you’re both in safe places.”
“Where will we go?” Cody asked.
“For now, you’re staying here.” Roan paused. “I’ll look into what it would take for you to stay here longer. Or indefinitely.”
“Like permanent?” Cody asked.
“Yeah, like permanent,” Roan said.
“You’d let us stay with you?” Marcus asked. “In this house?”
“Would you want to stay here if you could?” Roan asked.
Both boys answered at the same time. “Totally,” Marcus said.
“Heck, yes,” Cody said. “But is it possible?”
“My mother used to say ‘if there’s a will, there’s a way.’ And she taught me never to back down from a fight worth fighting. I don’t know much about how the application process works, but my cousin’s a family law attorney. I’m going to call him first thing tomorrow and get things rolling.” Roan stood. “For now, get some sleep. Tomorrow we’re going shopping—get you both clothes that actually fit. Maybe haircuts.”
“Thank you,” Marcus said, his voice breaking.
“Yeah,” Cody added. “Thanks, Roan.”
“Get some rest. Everything’s easier after a good night’s sleep.”
Roan pulled the door mostly closed and stood in the hallway for a moment, his hands trembling. Marcus had slept in an alley last night. In December. In Vermont. He could have frozen to death.
And Cody—Devon had held his face underwater. Tried to drown him while his parents fought in another room.
He went downstairs to find Jason home and loading the dishwasher.
“Hey, you okay?” Jason asked, looking up.
Roan sat heavily at the kitchen table. “Marcus slept in an alley last night. Behind the gym. Below freezing.”
