“Both sides?” Jedidiah looked confused so he elaborated.
“I grew up in the foster care system.”
*
“You were afoster child?” Jedidiah asked him. That had never occurred to her but now that she knew she wondered if having grown up in the system hadn’t helped push him to join Bikers For Kids.
“Yep. My parents died when I was nine. They were in a car wreck. I wasn’t with them.”
“You didn’t have any relatives to take you?”
“Not that anyone could find. Both my parents were only children. Their parents had all passed away not too long after I was born. I don’t remember any of my grandparents.”
“I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine losing your parents so young. How hard that must have been.” She didn’t want to think about losing her parents now much less when she’d been a kid.
“The first year after they died is a blur. Probably because I don’twantto remember it. I went through three sets of foster parents that first year and a half.”
“Poor little boy.”
“I was a little shit. I remember that. The official term for me was troublemaker,” he said, air quoting the last word. “They said I was acting out. After the third set of parents, I figured out I was only hurting myself by acting the way I did. So I straightened up. Even so, I still bounced around a lot.”
“You must have hated it. I’ve always heard such sad stories, and then of course, there’s Ricky.”
“Ricky was unlucky. It happens. Most of my foster parents were decent. No one abused me. I’m sure they tried their best but I just couldn’t connect with any of them. Probably because I didn’t want to connect with them. When I was fourteen, though, I hit the jackpot. The Holts became my foster parents. Roy and Selena Holt.” He smiled. “They were great.”
“Tell me about them.”
“Roy was a computer specialist. Selena was a writer and a stay-at-home foster mom. I’d never really done anything with computers before but he could see I was interested. It was because of him that I became interested in making apps. I started studying and learning and eventually went to college. All because of them.”
“When did they adopt you?” Since he had the same last name as his foster parents she assumed he’d been adopted.
“Not for a couple of years. At first they couldn’t afford to. Roy got laid off and Selena was barely making enough to pay the mortgage. Eventually Roy got another job but money was still tight. But we talked about it and decided if I got a job and could contribute they could swing it. They adopted me when I was sixteen.”
“What a great story. Where are they now?”
“Roy’s in San Antonio. Selena passed away a couple of years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too. She was a great mom. I’ve tried to get Roy to move closer to me but he won’t leave the house he and Selena bought together.”
“So you really do understand Ricky.”
“To some extent, yeah. Like I said, I was never abused but I knew other kids who were. And until the Holts took me, I do remember moving from home to home. Like Ricky’s been doing.” He paused and added, “I got lucky. Ricky’s due some good luck, don’t you think?”
“I think Ricky’s luck turned when he met you.” She didn’t think she could have convinced the child to allow them to call either the police or CPS without Trevor’s input.
“You’re the one who found him and convinced him not to run.”
“I guess we both played a part in it,” she admitted. “I’m just so glad I reached you. Thank you so much for helping me today.”
Trevor got up and started toward the door. Jedidiah followed. “I told you,” he said, “you don’t need to thank me.”
“Yes I do. You went above and beyond.”
He shook his head.
“Yeah, you did.” She put her hand on his shoulder, rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
