As much asit pained me to do so, I got in my car after checking in on James. Poor Theo looked helpless as James crammed everything he owned into his backpack and a couple of suitcases. Thanks to my mother, he’d amassed a fair bit of stuff since he’d arrived.
Michael told me he’d wait until the boys were done, and then he’d run to the grocery store while I took care of making sure the house looked lived in by the time the caseworker arrived. I didn’t even argue when he said we’d order pizza for dinner tonight because there was too much going on to make a home-cooked meal.
Before I even pulled out of the driveway, I called Danny. “Hey, can you meet me at my place?”
“Um, sure?” Danny sounded confused. “Is everything okay?”
“No, nothing’s okay right now. Just get your ass over there and I’ll explain. And bring Blake.” I thumped my head against the head rest, wondering how in the fuck this was all going to go down. James had made it pretty clear he was sick and tired of bouncing from one house to the other. He’d pleaded with us to let him stay.
But Danny and Blake… I should have known everything was going too well up to this point.
“We’ll be there in ten.” It was Blake who responded. “Whatever’s going on, we’ll sort it out.”
I'd always been one to keep my promises, and I wasn't about to break that habit now. As I watched the rearview mirror, the sight of Michael standing on the porch faded away, replaced by the winding road leading back to my house. My grip tightened on the steering wheel. The last thing I wanted was to stir up trouble, but James's words echoed in my mind, sparking an urgency I couldn't ignore.
As the familiar façade of my old place came into view, my stomach flipped, and I wanted more than anything to head back to Michael’s. The chipped white paint, the lopsided mailbox—it was all a testament to how I’d put everything I had into building up Harmony House, ignoring the fixer-upper I’d wanted to be a project to keep me busy. Now, it just looked run-down and not welcoming at all.
I parked the car and took a deep breath, bracing myself. Calling Danny had been the easy part. Explaining the mess we were in would be a lot harder. He and Michael were just starting to get along again, and now I had to tell my brother the boy they were getting ready to welcome into their home wanted to stay with us.
When I got out of the car, I could see Danny's vehicle pulling into the driveway. Beside him was Blake, his expression unreadable. I gave them a small wave but couldn't manage a smile.
“Alright, Billy,” Danny said as soon as he stepped out of his car. His blue eyes, filled with concern, mirrored my own. “What the hell is going on?”
Blake simply clapped a supportive hand on Danny’s shoulder, his silence a steady reassurance. And there I stood, on the doorstep of my old home, trying to figure out where to start. I let out a sigh, running a hand through my hair.
“Some of James’s friends got in trouble, and we’re dealing with the fallout,” I began. It was going to be a long afternoon. “As much as I’d love to sit out here and shoot the shit while I explain, a caseworker is on their way out to verify James and I actually live here.”
Danny kicked a shriveled, dried up plant on the porch. “How do you plan on convincing them of that?”
“If I’m lucky, my brother and his husband will help me knock some of the dust down,” I deadpanned.
“And while we clean, you’re going to explain the sudden change of address?”
“Yes.”
Inside, I didn’t even have to tell Danny or Blake what to do. Blake took charge of the situation, handing Danny a rag and a bottle of furniture polish. I was given a bucket and a bottle of cleaning solution, and Blake grabbed a broom. “You’ll want to make it look lived in but not too perfect. Otherwise, they’ll think you’re trying too hard.”
“Good plan.” I was grateful to my brother-in-law for having a clear head.
While we cleaned, I explained about my visit from Roberta McKinney, and the complaints that had been filed. I also told them about the confrontation between Michael and Mayor Thompson. It could be coincidence, but the timing suggested otherwise. Through it all, I tried holding off on telling them about what James had said this afternoon.
“There’s something you’re not telling us.” Danny's voice cut through my explanation. He hadn’t always been the most observant, but he was getting better at reading people.
I sighed, putting the bucket down and leaning against the back of my worn-out couch. I glanced over at Blake, who paused in his cleaning and met my gaze with a calm, patient look. I could always count on him to provide a steady anchor amidst the chaos.
“Yeah, there’s more,” I admitted, scratching the back of my head nervously. “Something James blurted out when he was ranting about his parents today.”
“What did he say?” Blake asked, his tone gentle yet insistent.
I glanced at my brother who was watching me, an expectant look on his face. Taking a deep breath, I finally spilled the beans. “James… he doesn't want to move in with you and Blake. He wants to stay with Michael and me.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Danny was the first to react, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
“I'm sorry,” I quickly added. “I didn't mean to just spring it on you like this, but James made it clear… and I promised him we'd take his wishes into consideration. I just… I didn't know how else to tell you.”
For a moment, they just stood there, processing the unexpected news. Then, Danny let out a soft sigh. “Well, that's a curveball.”
“Curveball, fastball, screwball, you name it,” I muttered, collapsing back onto the couch. “This whole situation is one big, messed up ball game.”
