“No. I don’t want you to kick Ryder out,” Troy said. He let his fork fall on the plate and covered his face with his hands.
I wasn’t hungry anymore. I didn’t want Roger to comment that I was wasting food that he paid for and risk this going way out of control before the school guy got here. I kept shoveling spoonful after spoonful of soup into my mouth.
“We’re not kicking Ryder out, sweetie,” Pam reassured Troy and then encouraged him to eat.
I didn’t feel sorry for myself, but I felt terrible for Troy. He was just seven and was already scared and worried about being given up at any moment. I’d felt sick too many times to count about not having a home. And all my foster siblings feared it too. We were all from different backgrounds, but we had one thing in common…we weren’t wanted.
Troy resumed eating, and though I felt sick with worry, I piled food on top of the heavy brick in my stomach. When our plates were empty, I stood and quietly collected the dishes. Everyone slowly dispersed from the table, leaving me tocontinue to worry while I rinsed dishes and then loaded them into the dishwasher. I wiped off the table and countertops while Pam got the babies situated with Kenton. From the kitchen, I glanced at Roger as he watched the news from the couch. I forced myself to look away and to the clock above the oven. 6:55. Atlas would be here soon.
I stepped into the living room as Pam walked in carrying a notepad and a pen. She set the notepad and pen on the coffee table and sat beside Roger on the couch. I sat on the loveseat and turned my head to face the TV.
“Are you excited, Ryder?” Pam asked. Roger was clearly annoyed that she was talking because he grabbed the remote and turned up the volume to drown her out. I nodded my reply to her.
Moments later the doorbell rang. Pam jumped off the couch, played with her hair, and straightened her blouse as she slowly walked to the entryway. I stood as Roger turned the TV off. He clasped his hand firmly around the back of my neck and squeezed hard.
“Remember your manners tonight,” he told me. “Otherwise, we’ll take a long drive and discuss your poor behavior.”
“Yes. I’ll behave.” I nodded as best as I could with his hand at the base of my neck.
“Don’t embarrass us.”
Roger let go of me and walked around Pam to open the door while I rolled my shoulders to relax my neck. As the door opened, I still somewhat expected to see a friend of mine playing a game. But no friend of mine was on the other side of the door. Instead, it was a man with salt and pepper hair. He had a chiseled jawline and perfectly styled hair. He reminded me of the guys on the covers of the men’s fashion magazines I’d see at the library. Pam’s huge smile and flushed cheeks told me she thought the same. He wore a black suit and was about my height.Maybe a smidge taller. In his left hand he held a black portfolio at his side.
“Hello,” Roger said.
“Good evening. Mr. and Mrs. Craig, I presume?”
“Yes, yes, welcome,” Pam excitedly said as she stepped forward to greet the man. “Please come in,” she insisted. Before he stepped inside our home, he wiped his feet on the doormat.
“I’m Atlas Christos from Omnia Academy. Thank you kindly for inviting me to your home this evening.” Atlas held his hand toward Roger, and they shook.
“You can call me Roger, and this is my wife, Pam.”
“Hello, Pam.” Atlas held his hand toward Pam, and she seemed eager, almost giddy to accept it. I already picked up on the slightest accent, but I had no idea where it was from.
“Thank you for calling this morning and for expressing interest in Ryder,” Pam said as she stepped back beside Roger so Atlas could see me. “This is Ryder.”
Atlas and I looked at one another for a long moment before either of us moved. I couldn’t describe the look as anything other than I could tell he was happy to see me. I heard that phrase a lot.So and so looks happy, or so and so acted happy, or so and so is happy to see them.I’d always struggled with understanding exactly how someone would feel about seeing me. No one had ever really wanted me, and ever since I was little, I’d never ever felt as though someone was truly and genuinely happy to see me. I’d always been somewhat invisible.
Until now.
Atlas lookedveryhappy to see me. There was something about the way he looked at me that made me feel as though he accepted me for me, even without knowing me. It was odd, but he seemed thoroughly elated to be here meeting me. With his gaze locked on mine, he stepped forward and stretched his arm toward me.
“Ryder, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Atlas opened his mouth as if to say something else, but instead, he closed it and smiled.
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you in person.”
In person? There were so many questions about how he even knew I existed. There was so much I didn’t know, but one thing I did know was that whoever this guy was, I already really enjoyed being in his presence.
“Please, come on in,” Pam spoke up, severing not only my handshake with Atlas but my moment of ease.
She stepped into the living room with Roger behind her, then gestured toward the nicer loveseat. The cushions on the loveseat were in better shape between it and the couch.
“Thank you,” Atlas said, smiling as he walked to the loveseat. He stayed standing until Pam took a seat on the couch. She blushed at his smile and manners. It was like she’d been treated like a woman by a new gentleman interest after being neglected by Roger and only seen as the person who makes the meals and takes care of the house and kids.
It didn’t escape my notice that Pam had taken the spot on the couch that would be closest to where Atlas was seated. And it apparently didn’t escape Roger’s notice either because as soon as I took a step toward the couch, he quickly reached out and wrapped his hand around my bicep. His grip was firm, but not enough to cause me to look distressed. I knew he chose now to flex some of his “I’m still in charge here” attitude because he was irritated that his wife was half swooning over Atlas. Pam was taking in every second of Atlas’ attention that she could before she returned to meal maker and house cleaner.
