“Binky!” He smiled and cuddled the toy. It had definitely seen better days and had likely been used to comfort him a lot.
“You found it?” Marty said.
“Yeah, and I brought the rest of his things. I was also able to get the background check crossed off because it had already been done, like you said. So that part of the process was easy.” He handed Marty a small stack of forms. “Go ahead and fill these out.”
“Who are you?” Cameron asked.
“I’m Donald. I’m with Social Services.”
Cameron grabbed Binky and disappeared under the blankets in about two seconds. “What’s going on?” Marty asked.
“Don’t let them take me back there. Billy is mean, and he kicks and steals stuff.” He sounded in distress.
Marty gently placed his hand on top of what he thought was Cameron’s side. “He’s not taking you there. Mr. Donald is helping me with all these forms and applications so that I can be your foster dad and you can come home with me to live. You’ll have your own room, and I have a backyard that you can play in.”
“And Billy won’t be there?” Cameron asked.
“Nope. No Billy. Just you and me.” Marty was excited. He’d always wanted a family of his own but didn’t really figure it was in the cards. He knew there were ways he could have children, but they were complicated and, in his mind, involved him having a husband and partner first.
“Good. Billy is a doo-doo head,” Cameron said as he came out from under the blankets. “He’s mean.”
Cameron went back to playing with the Legos while Marty and Donald reviewed the forms he’d need to complete. Then, while Donald and Cameron had a talk, Marty got started on the paperwork. It wasn’t as daunting as he might have expected, though there were questions about his background and family life as well as references. He added a number of them, including his former foster parents as well as his father. He expected that a lot of the info was for the background check, which had beendone before, but he completed everything and signed all the forms before handing them back to Donald.
The social worker looked everything over, and Marty wasn’t surprised that Donald paused when he saw his references. “You were a foster?”
“Yeah, for three months in Baltimore. The family I was placed with was wonderful, and we’re still in touch. She was the best cook. She always said I was too skinny, and the entire time I was with her, she tried to fatten me up. I’ve still never had cornbread or greens like hers. They were special, and she always makes some for me when I see her.”
Donald tilted his head toward the door, and Marty followed him out. “Everything looks fine. A home visit will be necessary, but I can place him with you on an emergency basis, and we’ll conduct the home visit in the next week or so.”
“No problem. I need to get the room made up for him. It’s just a guest room now, and I want him to be comfortable.”
Donald rolled his eyes. “I was in that group home today, and I expect that Cameron would be more than happy with whatever nice room you have for him. I am going to have that place reviewed, because I did not like what I saw. Maybe a little pressure will encourage them to clean it up.” He seemed determined.
“I have a question. After breakfast, Cameron didn’t eat his second pancake or the box of cereal. He hid the cereal under the covers and wrapped up the pancake. We know he was malnourished when he was brought in. So maybe they weren’t feeding these kids enough too.”
Donald sighed. “Unfortunately that’s all too common. If he was hungry, then hiding the food would be kind of expected. That behavior is likely to pass once he knows he doesn’t have to worry about food. He’s been through a lot. His parents died, and his grandparents on one side were too old, and on the other side,his grandmother is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s, so she wasn’t able to take him. He went into foster care and stayed with his first family for almost a year. Then she got pregnant with twins, and they didn’t think they could handle Cameron and their own babies. After that he went into the group home, because that was all there was available. He’s been moved a lot, and what he really needs is stability and what every child needs—care and love.”
“I may not know too much about being a parent, and I suspect I’ll mess something up, but I will care for him.” That Marty was sure of. “I know the difference stability and gentleness can make.”
“And what about Officer Grant? Is he in the picture?” Donald asked. “He’s a really good guy. Carter has been working with him for a while, and they get along pretty well.”
“He and I just met a few days ago.” He was not going to explain to Donald that the K-9 officer made his heart beat faster every time he looked at him. That was something he was not ready to share with anyone. “But he seems like a stand-up guy.”
Donald nodded slowly, “He’s more than that. Red and Carter have been partners for years. They know each other really well. Both of them have said that if they had to get a new partner, they’d want Grant. He’s smart, and they know he’d have their back. That says a lot.”
“I know.” He was aware that Grant was a good guy… and sexy as all hell, but Marty wasn’t ready to let himself go down that path. Dating was one thing, but his past was littered with losers, and he didn’t want to add one more to the list, no matter what anyone said.
Marty returned to Cameron, who had made something with the Legos. He was about to explain when a nurse came in with the blood kit.
“No!” Cameron cried. “No poking.” He began to shake. “No poking.”
“Cameron, it’s okay. They need to do it so they can make sure that you are okay, and once they know that, you get to come home with me and see your new bedroom.”
Tears ran down his cheeks. “No poking.”
“I’m really good, and you’ll hardly feel anything,” the nurse said. She got everything set up outside of Cameron’s line of sight. Then she put on the stretchy band, and when she was about to insert the needle, Marty called him and told him to hug Binky. By the time Marty put the penguin in Cameron’s other arm, the needle was in and she was drawing the blood. “See, it’s over already,” she told him. “And you were good.” She put a dinosaur bandage over the spot and quietly left the room.
“Was that so bad?” Marty asked.
