His face paled at my words, and he quickly handed Henry off to James, who'd just walked in. The boys disappeared into the basement. The crestfallen expression on James’s face when he glanced back at us had me seeing red. I was so damned angry with his parents. If they didn’t want him, they could just forget he existed instead of trying to make his life so miserable he agreed to their ridiculous demands.
“What's wrong?” Michael quickly dumped Henry’s papers from preschool onto the table.
Taking a seat, I gestured for him to join me. Once he did, I relayed everything that Roberta had told me. His face fell as I spoke, a mixture of shock and frustration flashing in his eyes.
“But we're a family,” he said, his voice choked. “You, me, Henry, James…we're in this together now. How can they do this when they haven't given a damn about him since he left? How do assholes like them get to shove a stick of dynamite into someone else's life?”
“They aren't trying to rip us apart, Michael,” I lied, reaching for his hand. I felt the same as he did, but I needed him to stay calm. Otherwise, Henry could come in asking what was wrong, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to hold it together at that point. “But we need to do what's best for James, and right now, that means he and I have to go to my place.”
Michael looked at me, his eyes glistening. “We could all go over to your place,” he suggested, his voice barely a whisper. “You, me, Henry, and James. It's a change, sure, but we'd still be together.”
I shook my head, a heavy sigh escaping me. “It's not that simple, Michael. We can't do anything that might jeopardize James's placement. And given the Davises’ current actions, I fear they might use you being there against us. Danny and Blake are so close to getting their license, and James's parents don't have beef with them. I know you love him—hell, we both do—that’s why we have to protect him.”
Michael was silent for a moment, his hand gripping mine tightly. “So, what do we do?”
“For now,” I said, meeting his gaze, “James and I will move back to my place. You and Henry stay here. We'll figure this out, Michael, but right now, we have to do what's best for James. And it doesn’t have to mean we don’t spend time together. It’ll just be night time and mornings that are an adjustment.”
I kept repeating that, not only for Michael's benefit but for my own. The room was silent for a long moment. Then, Michael nodded, wiping his eyes with his free hand.
“Okay,” he said quietly. “We'll do it your way.”
“This is bullshit and you know it!” The back door slammed open and an angry, red-faced teen blasted into the kitchen. I wasn’t even sure when he’d left the house. The answer to that quickly followed when Theo quietly slipped into the house. “How are they even allowed to do this? Why can’t they just leave me alone?”
Theo slid an arm around James’s back, guiding him toward the living room. Michael and I followed. The boys took the couch, James curling into his boyfriend’s side. I couldn’t hear what Theo was saying but it seemed to calm James, at least a little.
“I know it sucks, but we’re going to get through this,” I assured him. While I had my feelings on why his parents were causing trouble, I wasn’t about to give voice to my opinions. At the end of the day, they were still his parents and no good would come from me talking shit about them, even if that shit was truth. “We’re going to play their silly little games, and tomorrow, we’ll talk to the judge.”
“And what if he sides with them?” James’s voice hitched, and he angrily wiped a tear from his cheek. “They. Didn’t. Want. Me. They made that so fucking clear, but now they’re pretending like they give a damn.”
“Billy and Michael aren’t the bad guys, James,” Theo reminded him.
“Thank you, Theo, but it’s okay. I’d be more concerned if he wasn’t ranting.” Michael had a point. I wasn’t about to lecture James for cursing when there was no other way to describe the situation than thoroughly fucked up. “James, you’re a mature young man with your head on straight. The judge will see that. And he’ll listen to you.”
“Yeah, that’s easy to say now,” he scoffed. “I’m sorry if I have a hard time believing that. I just want to be left alone. It’s so stupid that I can’t stay here with you guys because of their beliefs. Why do they even get a say at this point?”
“Because they’re your parents, unfortunately,” I tried explaining. Foster situations like this weren’t the same as cases where a child was removed from a home because of neglect or abuse. Even though what they were doing absolutely qualified as abuse, the system didn’t see it that way. “From what Ms. McKinney told me, everything will work out, but we have to show them you’re safe and happy. Otherwise, it could throw a wrench in you going to stay with Danny and Blake, too.”
James shot up from the couch and started pacing. “And what if I don’t want to go and live with them? Why can’t I just stay here?”
I looked to Michael, who simply shrugged.
“I know you didn’t want a teenager cramping your style, but we all get along. I like it here. Would it be so bad if I stayed with you guys through the school year?” This was the first time he’d voiced opposition to moving in with my brother, and I wasn’t sure what to say. There had been a plan in place, but we’djusttold James his wishes would be taken into consideration.
“If that’s really what you want, we can talk about it,” Michael promised him. Now, I was the one sitting there with my mouth hanging open. “But first, we have to get through tonight and tomorrow. And as much as I don’t want to rush you, that means we have to get your stuff loaded into the car and over to Billy’s house. One of your parents’ complaints was that you’re living here when this isn’t the address of record they have for Billy.”
“That’s bullshit,” James protested. “If they don’t want me, they shouldn’t get to dictate who I’m allowed to stay with, either.”
“James…” The sound of his name on Michael’s lips was laced with frustration, sadness, and anger, none of which were James’s fault.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just… I hate all of this!” He stormed down the stairs to his bedroom and Theo followed.
“It’s going to be okay, right?” Michael collapsed into my arms. I hugged him tightly as his body shook with rage. “What are we going to do now?”
“We take things one step at a time,” I told him. That was the only thing we could do.
17
BILLY
