“So, you’re here, I take it, to drop off the kiddo until you can find a family to take him in?”
“No, Mr. Abernathy. You have been named Braeden’s guardian in their will.”
I choke on my coffee, spilling it everywhere. I abruptly stand, grab some paper towels, and clean up my mess. “Apologies. Hey, Braeden, would you like to watch some television so I can have a chat with Mr. Williams?”
He looks at the lawyer, who nods. The boy stands, and I lead him to my living room, turn on the TV, and hand him the remote. “I have all the streaming channels, so whatever you want to watch.”
He takes it from me, and I head back to the kitchen.
“I don’t understand,” I say, keeping my voice down. “I haven’t seen them or talked to them in years.”
“The will was written many years ago after Braeden was born. At the time, they may have seen you as their best option, since you all were apparently close. Mrs. Cox has no contact with her adoptive family, and she made it clear in the will that they would not care for Braeden. Mr. Cox grew up in the foster care system, as you’re probably aware, and has no family to speak of.”
I recall that now. That was what drew Robert and Marisa together. They’d both been in the system.
Mr. Williams spreads his hands and shrugs. “Maybe they planned to change the will down the road, but now we’ll never know. You’re listed as the sole guardian of Braeden.
I reflect on when Marisa was pregnant. She and Robert had asked me to be the boy’s godparent, but I didn’t take it seriously. I thought it was in name only—something best friends do.
“Jesus,” I mumble and run a hand through my still sweaty hair. “I never intended to have kids, and I’m not even sure where to begin or what to do. I can’t tell you how unprepared I am for this.”
“We’ll help you with that. I have legal documentation you must sign so I can hand the boy over to your care. After which, you’ll need to go to court to show you’re capable of caring for him and agree to be his permanent guardian. I highly recommend that you contact your lawyer or hire a family lawyer. Social services will need to visit your home to see if it’s suitable for Braeden.” The man looks around my house, then back at me. “But it’s clear you do well for yourself. The court will then decide if you’re fit. The likelihood of the court allowing you to be Braeden’s guardian is very probable, unless you… decide not to watch over him, which you’re within your rights to do.”
My head is fucking spinning. All that information is making me sweat more than I already am. It’s a clammy sweat that tickles along my back. “And what happens if I don’t?” I’m sure I already know the answer, but I need to hear it from him.
“Then Braeden will be put into the system. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, Mr. Abernathy. Foster care is rough. The chances of success in adulthood are minuscule. The chances of substance abuse, dropping out of school, and suicide are high.”
I wince, already familiar with the system after being friends with Robert. Despite asking, I already know I can’t put Braeden into the system. The boy is mine whether I want him or not. The thought of being a sudden father is freaking me out a little. No, I’m freaking out a lot. Not gonna lie. I don’t know the first thing about being a parent.
“May I offer some advice? It’s clear you weren’t expecting this, and they never talked to you about it. And it appears you’ve never had kids before. Are you single or married?”
“Ah, single.”
“I understand it’s a bit of a shock, but my concern is for the boy only.”
I take another sip of my now-cold coffee, then I stand and pour a fresh cup. “Yes, some advice would be welcome.”
“There are resources you can use to help a child transition into a new home and for basic parenting. On top of that, you have to help him manage his grief. This won’t be an easy road for you or Braeden. I have enough experience to know there will be days you both will want to rip out your hair. That’s normal. But he needs someone to lean on now, someone he can trust. And I also highly recommend you get him some therapy. There are also family counselors to help you both with the process.”
I lean against the counter and nod. “That’s a good plan. Thank you.”
“Be quick about setting up a court date. It will take up to three months to get the final verdict, though it may happen sooner. The quicker you do this, the faster Braeden can get settled into his new life,for you, too. My office will reach out to you soon to go over the will. Braeden also has a trust fund for when he turns eighteen.”
“Okay. How old is he now?”
“Fourteen.”
My hands wrap around the warmth of the mug, and I swallow the growing lump in my throat. “Can I ask… how they died?”
“There was a pile-up on I-10 in Houston involving a tractor-trailer. They, along with five other people, died. Braeden was staying the night at a friend’s house when it happened.”
It’s suddenly hard to breathe as the panic tries to settle in. The heart palpitations are making my chest hurt. I take some deep breaths to calm the fuck down. One thing I’m good at is compartmentalizing.Shut it down and focus on the task at hand. My worry isn’t about providing for the boy, but about giving him what he needs emotionally, like love. Love is the one thing I stink at. On top of everything else, the pain of losing my friends grows like wildfire.
Mr. Williams opens his briefcase and pulls out a manila folder. “Let’s get this paperwork signed, and I’ll be on my way.”
Chapter 8
Calvin
