Page 36 of Call It Love (Sterling Mill #5)

I eased him into a chair and put a glass of cold milk and several cookies in front of him. I knew it couldn’t fix everything, but I didn’t know what else to do. I sat beside him, staying close but not touching him, hoping to remind him he wasn’t alone in whatever he was dealing with.

The door opened, and Chase and Reid appeared. Both of them froze the moment they saw Jordan hunched in his chair.

Reid hung back in the doorway while Chase moved forward slowly and lowered himself into the chair across from Jordan.

“Hey, kid,” Chase said, his voice warm and calm. “Glad to see you here. We were worried.”

Jordan barely looked at him.

Jack shifted closer, resting his head on the boy’s leg. Jordan immediately latched onto his fur like it was an anchor in a storm .

“Jordan,” Chase said, his voice even softer. “Can I ask what happened?”

Jordan’s jaw flexed.

“Can you tell me who did that to you?”

Still nothing.

Chase looked helplessly at me.

Clearing my throat, I shifted in my chair. I knew what it was like to carry something so burdensome and think no one would understand. To think that silence was safer than the truth. To feel trapped between right and wrong.

“You know,” I began, keeping my voice soft as I picked up a cookie and took a nibble, even though I wasn’t hungry, “before I came here, I didn’t tell anyone what I was going through either.”

Jordan’s gaze flicked to me, uncertain.

“My story isn’t the same. I didn’t have bruises anyone could see. But I still hurt. For a long time, I thought it wasn’t bad enough to talk about. I thought no one would believe me. Or worse, if I did say something, it would just make everything harder.”

Jordan turned his head, eyes wide. “Someone hurt you?” His voice held a mixture of surprise and something else—anger, maybe. Or protectiveness.

I swallowed and nodded. “Yes. He didn’t hit me, but he made me feel small. Like I was a burden and not worth listening to. He made me feel unworthy of him. And even though I knew something was wrong, I didn’t know how to leave. I was scared of making it worse.”

I glanced at the cookie in my hand, feeling Chase’s anger grow. I knew my words were probably killing him a little. But it was worth it if it helped Jordan. “Eventually, I thought maybe I deserved to be there. ”

I could feel Reid’s eyes on me as well. It was uncomfortable, but I kept my focus on Jordan.

“But I was wrong. Not saying anything didn’t protect me. It just kept me stuck and alone.”

Jordan’s fingers tightened on Jack’s fur.

“I know how hard it is to speak up,” I continued. “But you’re not alone now. You’ve got me.” I nodded toward Chase and Reid. “And you’ve got them, too. But we can’t help unless you let us in.”

A long pause stretched between us.

“We want to help,” I whispered. “But you have to let us.”

His shoulders trembled. Then his voice cracked. “It was my uncle.”

The room went still. No one said a word.

“He always tells me I make life harder for them. That I take up too much room. Eat too much. Cost too much.”

I saw a quiet, almost dangerous tension coil inside Chase.

His jaw clenched, and I knew he was thinking what I was—that they didn’t spare enough food for him to be worried about expense.

Reid stood motionless in the doorway, his expression grave.

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying.

“The other night, they all laughed at me. Told me I was stupid for wanting to help clean out the barn for the dance. They said it was stupid and only for losers. They started to push me around. I told them to knock it off, but that just made it worse.”

Reid finally moved to sit next to Chase. “I’m so sorry, son. Has this been going on since you moved in?”

Jordan gave a defeated nod.

Reid’s brow pulled together, and his voice was filled with regret. “Why didn’t you tell me or the woman from CPS when we were there?”

“I didn’t want you to know.”

“Why not?” I asked, stunned. We could have helped him so much sooner.

His eyes grew red as he sniffled. “I don’t want someone—” he looked pointedly at Reid—“to take me away from here . I didn’t want to lose this. You guys. Jack. The farm. All of it,” he blurted. “I was afraid they’d make me live somewhere far away. With strangers.”

My breath caught. He wasn’t just scared of his family. He was scared of losing what he had found here. Tears formed in my eyes. I couldn’t hold back. I opened my arms to him.

He hesitated, then leaned in, and my arms immediately went around him. I felt him sink into the hug as a shudder passed through his slender body.

“You’re not going anywhere,” I said fiercely. “I’ll fight anyone who tries to take you. Or hurt you. I promise.”

Reid insisted we take Jordan to the clinic in town, not just to have him checked out, but also as further documentation of what happened to him.

Doc Moser had been quiet as he checked out Jordan’s injuries, including an X-ray of his bruised ribs.

Fortunately, nothing was broken, but it would take some time to heal.

It felt like hours later before we finally got back to the farm.

Jordan walked between Chase and me. Reid trailed just behind, never more than a step away.

Jordan stared at the path, saying nothing.

Jack greeted us with tail wags and gentle licks, getting the first reaction out of Jordan we’d seen in a while.

Inside, I went straight to the kitchen. I needed movement. Purpose. Something to keep my hands busy before my thoughts caught fire.

I pulled together a simple breakfast—scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. It wasn’t just about hunger. It was about offering comfort in the only way I knew how in that moment. And selfishly, I needed the distraction. I was too angry to sit still.

Angry that anyone, especially family, could treat a child that way. Angry that he’d had to endure it in silence, terrified that asking for help might mean losing the one place where he finally felt safe.

I plated the food, setting it on the table in front of Jordan without a word.

He offered a small, polite nod, but his eyes stayed fixed on the napkin he was shredding between his fingers.

He didn’t know what was going to happen to him next.

Neither did I, which was why I leaned against the door frame and tilted my head slightly, doing my best to catch every word coming from the living room.

“Obviously,” Reid was saying, “I have to involve CPS. I already called Rhonda, the caseworker who coordinated placing him with his extended family when his mom died. She’s aware of the concerns we flagged previously and was the one who made the house visit.”

“But she couldn’t see what was going on?” Chase growled.

Reid held his hands up. “I know. The system’s flawed. Case workers are overloaded, and the courts push to keep kids with family whenever they can.”

“I get it,” Chase mumbled, but his frustration was clear .

“But now, based on what Jordan told us, along with what we’ve seen, there’s enough to petition the court for an emergency placement. Rhonda says you can request temporary guardianship through juvenile court. She’ll back it.”

“Temporary?”

“It’s called an emergency ex parte order of guardianship . It allows someone—usually a relative or reliable adult—to be granted temporary custody if there’s a credible risk to the child. Obviously, that’s the case here.”

Chase crossed his arms. “And you think the court will give that to me?”

“There aren’t a lot of other options with so few foster families in this area.

And moving him to an entirely new place when he obviously feels safe here isn’t logical.

You’ve got a stable home, a clean record, and good standing in the community.

Jordan trusts you. And I’m willing to back you on it.

That holds weight. It’s Sunday, but we could have an emergency hearing tomorrow if we move fast. Rhonda is already working on it, assuming that’s what everyone wants. She’ll be here soon with more details.”

Chase looked toward the kitchen, where Jordan’s fingers had gone completely still, and I knew he was listening in as well. Jordan’s eyes followed Chase as he eased into a chair next to him at the table.

“Hey,” Chase began, resting his forearms on the table. “Sheriff Braxton and I were talking about what happens next. He thinks there’s a way, if you’re okay with it, for me to become your temporary guardian.”

Jordan stared at him, his expression blank. “What does that mean?”

“It means you would stay here at Silver Creek Farm. With Anna and me. ”

“But what happens after that? Can they still make me leave?”

Chase looked at Reid, who walked over and also sat and leaned toward Jordan.

Even if he didn’t recognize it, they were closing in protectively around him.

Not trapping him, but sheltering him. They weren’t deciding for him, but with him.

And I understood better than anyone else in the room how that mattered.

“Let’s focus on now,” Reid said. “But I’ll say this. We’re going to make it hard for them to move you away from here, especially if staying is what you want. And I know Chase will look into doing whatever it takes for you to remain as long as you want.”

Chase leaned forward. “The truth is, you can’t stay where you are now. I would love for you to choose to stay here with us, but the choice is yours.”

Jordan blinked rapidly. “You…you really want me to stay?”

“Definitely,” Chase answered with conviction.

Jordan nodded quickly. “I swear, I won’t cause trouble. I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll work hard. I won’t eat a lot?—”

“Whoa,” Chase interjected with a chuckle. “You don’t have to earn your place here. You already have it. I want you here. You’ll have your own room. You can eat as much as you want. I’ll teach you more about the farm, but only if you want to learn. No pressure.”

Suddenly, Jordan leaped from his chair and launched himself into Chase’s arms. “Thank you,” he whispered fiercely.

Chase’s arms gently enclosed the teen and held him. I didn’t think there was a dry eye in the room.

Reid cleared his throat softly. “One more question we need to answer today. Where’s he staying tonight? ”

Chase opened his mouth, but I beat him to it.

“With us,” I said firmly. “He’s not leaving here. He’s been through enough.”

Chase smiled at the steel in my voice. “She’s right.” He looked at Jordan. “You’re safe here. And you’re home.”