“Madden was in and out at the hospital, but from what Toby told me, they’ve been on the streets for almost two years now. They ran from home when their mom overdosed, so that they wouldn’t be separated.”
“Jesus…that’s horrible. What was Mona then? Four?”
“Barely. And Madden was just fifteen.”
I couldn’t imagine it. Knowing how I’d been at that age, hell, how we’d both been.
Before I could say anything, River continued, “And if you think of us at that age, think of either of us orbothof us being responsible for a kid that’s a preschooler…”
It pleased some part of me that he’d thought of the same thing I had. “We couldn’t have done it with the two of us in a proper home, probably. We were such typical teenage boys.”
I felt him smile against my chest, then press a kiss there. “True.” He sighed again. “Yet that’s what Madden did, alone on the streets with no money.”
To think what that boy must’ve had to do to keep his sister fed and clothed…To keep hersafe.
“What do you think Toby will want to do with them?”
“I think he sees them as his kids already. I feel like he fell in love with them the first time we met them and it’s only gotten worse, or better I guess, since then. But he works a lot, sometimes nights, too.”
“While Madden heals, maybe they should be here instead? My old room is available.”
River chuckled. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure Lake and Theo made that offer to Toby already. I was thinking that he could always have the kids over the days he doesn’t work and he could always visit.”
“And maybe he could foster them after a while?” I knew my tone was hopeful, because I wanted nothing more than for those kids to be safe and loved.
“Yeah. I bet they all would love that, eventually.”
“What do you mean?”
“I assume that it will be really hard for Madden to trust anyone enough to be a kid again. He’s had to be the adult for so long. Certainly since way before their mom died.”
I had been an actual kid until my cousin died. After that, the way my mom changed had changed me. I’d had to grow up, and the loss of River from my life certainly hadn’t helped with trying to stay positive and childlike until I was a legal adult like most kids did. Or maybe they didn’t? What did I know about other people’s families, hell, I hadn’t known the secrets of my own until recently.
“Sometimes I wonder what would’ve happened to Rey if we hadn’t found him,” River said in a small voice. I could feel his body tremble slightly and pulled him impossibly closer.
“But you did find him and managed to get him back after he ran, too,” I reminded him calmly. “He’s safe and happy, and he’s been outside several times with Cook—”
River lifted his head to look at me. “He has?”
“Yeah, I’ve seen them walking around the outside of the house a few times when it’s quiet around here. When you’re at work and Theo and Lake are somewhere riding, mostly.”
“I’m glad.” River put his head back down and sighed. “It’ll take time, but I’m hoping one day he’ll be able to get to the stable at least. Theo is itching to give him more lessons about horses, and I think Seb would gladly let him help with things, too.”
“To think that a kid from…wherever he’s from in the city, would be so into horses.”
River chuckled. “Yeah. From what Seb says, Rey seems to have a talent for it, too.”
We cuddled until we fell asleep, and then the next morning River left for work and I wandered into the house for the good coffee.
Cook and Rey were discussing something when I walked into the kitchen. They didn’t even notice me at first, but then Rey did and jerked back from how he’d been leaning in towards Cook where they stood on opposite sides of the island.
“Morning,” I said casually, aiming for the coffee pot.
“Morning,” Cook replied, smiling briefly. “What can I get you?”
“Whatever works for you.”
“Can you make me cocoa?” Rey batted his lashes at me.
