“If you change your mind or need anything, please reach out to me, Ryder.” Atlas held his card toward me, and I took it. I glanced down at it and saw his contact information on it.
“Thank you.”
From the doorway, I watched Atlas walk to a blacked-out Escalade. A huge part of me felt like I was making a mistake by not signing on and committing with Atlas’ school tonight. As soon as the Escalade was gone and the door was closed, a massive argument between Roger and me broke out.
An hour later, I was in bed with a pounding headache and sore throat from yelling at Roger. My heart rate was sky-high, and even though my head hurt, I tried listening to some soft piano music. Despite the gentle music, I couldn’t seem to calm down. Roger’s threat of throwing me out of the house was very real, and it was all that bounced around in my head. Hoping to calm the worrying, I pressed one hand against my stomach, and in the other hand, I clutched Atlas’ card.
5
Atlas
July
Ifollowed Braylen into his office and went toward the black leather chairs while he closed the door. I took a seat opposite his desk and set my portfolio on my lap.
“How was the trip out to Los Angeles?” he asked as he sat in his chair. He picked up a pen and opened a black file folder. “I trust you returned last night?”
“I did, yes. The trip was good.”
Braylen put his reading glasses on as he glanced at the top page in the file.
“Tell me about your visit to Ryder Baker Smith. What are your observations of the home and family?”
The Omnia Academy Council had access to everything. Braylen could see photos of the home, and he was well aware Ryder was a foster child. Pictures could deceive, which was why all potential students were paid an in-person visit.
As I quickly thought about where to begin, I pictured the modest home in Los Angeles that was starting to show the wearand tear of its age. But the foster father nearly put me over the edge.
“There’s nothing additional to add about the structure of the home. The photos are quite accurate. Roger and Pamela Craig are foster care parents. There are eight foster children in the home, including Ryder, all boys. As you can imagine, the home shows boys live there.”
“Pamela is a stay-at-home caregiver, and Roger works for the City of Los Angeles Water District, yes?”
“Yes, correct.”
“How were they?”
“Aggressive,” I bluntly said, still feeling the unease of leaving Ryder there.
“Come again?”
“That really sums up Roger. I’ve never wanted to grab someone and wring their neck as much as I wanted to do that to Roger.”
“Aggressive toward his spouse or Ryder?”
“Ryder. He put his hand on Ryder in a forceful manner that was meant to intimidate him. The fact that he did so in front of a stranger tells me that he’s comfortable doing that in private.”
Braylen flipped a few pages until he found what he was looking for. He put his finger on the paper and moved it along as he read something to himself.
“Seems police had been notified of a few domestic disturbances; no arrests, though. There are several reports made to social services with regard to the children. Most of them appear to be related to poor grades or behavior in school.” Braylen turned back to the page he had been on. “Ryder was valedictorian of his high school, however.”
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“Public high school.”
I felt as though Braylen was starting down the path of pointing out the reasons why Ryder wouldn’t fit in. I had battled nearly all the council members on the reasons I felt Ryder was worthy of the invitation.
“With all due respect, that has little to do with his ability to dedicate himself to something, Braylen.”
“Agreed.” Braylen took his glasses off and leaned back in the chair. “Very well. What date was decided upon that you’ll collect him for term?”
