Page 2

Chapter Two

Ford

Branford Thomas picked up the phone on the second ring. Jax mentioned he had a line on where Cade might be that morning and he was going to check it out. Ford agreed, reluctantly. If it didn’t pan out like a few of the other leads hadn’t, he knew Jax would be more depressed than ever.

Since Cade had disappeared from their lives, Jax had been in a slump on the field. Tony O’Brien, the defensive line coach, had put him on the Injured Reserve List to try to give him time to get himself together, but Ford knew it was depression, plain and simple. He’d been depressed as well, leaving the day-to-day running of Fairytails to Cleveland and Griffon, who seemed to be a couple.

Finally, one night, Ford had overheard them talking about Griffon’s houseguest. “Just give him the goddamn key and move in with me, baby,” Cleveland pleaded.

Griff kissed him and ran a hand over his handsome, bald head. “Baby, he needs a little TLC right now because he has a broken heart, twice over, okay? I’ll do it soon enough. Let’s just give the kid a little time.”

Ford knew they were speaking of Cade, and he wasn’t proud of his next steps, but he’d threatened both of their jobs to get them to tell him where Cade was hiding. Unfortunately for him, they’d called his bluff and refused.

Fortunately for him, he had Griffon’s home address in his personnel file, or so he thought until he showed up there and a sweet little lady of about seventy-five opened the door, hurrying him away because she was going to be late to her Bingo game.

The two men didn’t want to bully Kincade into coming back to pick up the relationship where they’d left off. Something had gone wrong the first time, but they wanted him back… desperately. They loved him as much as they loved each other. He was the other piece of their hearts, after all.

“Hey, babe. I found him. He’s in Boystown but I’m afraid he’s not going to come easily. He has a conviction about working at this place. What do you want me to do?” Jax was on the line, and Ford was desperate for more information.

“Text me the address and then go to practice. You have a career, love. Go to work and leave it up to me.”

Jax laughed. “I did that before and you ran him off.”

“He didn’t have the full story. I’ll explain everything this time before he gets away, I swear. Be safe. Love you.” They ended the call.

They’d been in a holding pattern since Cade had left them because, without the beautiful brunet, it was impossible to move forward. They hadn’t acted on the plan to marry since he’d left. Without Kincade, it didn’t seem right to make any plans.

They had, however, bought the large house Ford had heard about in the Historic District. It had been refurbished and the bathroom in the master was to his precise specifications, with three sinks, a huge marble shower with a bench seat which doubled as a steam room, and a four-person Jacuzzi tub. They’d selected some furniture, but they were holding off until they could find Cade and bring him home. There was no ambition to carry forward with major changes without their heart.

Once the text came in, Ford ran down the stairs from his office, yelling in Cleveland’s direction. “I’ll be out.” He ran to his BMW and took off toward Boystown. He’d missed Cade as much as Jax. It was time to set things back on course.

When he pulled up in front of Clark Street Shelter, Ford noticed the building needed repairs and upgrades. He knew Jax and a group of his teammates had partnered with local philanthropist, Kenneth Shaw, to sponsor one of the shelters, and Ford wondered if Clark Street was the one? If it was, they had a long way to go to bring it up to code.

Kenneth Shaw was said to organize and open shelters like Clark Street all over the city, while being an accomplished artist, or so it was reported on his gallery’s website. He was developing a reputation as a charitable man and it was reported he hired only capable people to run the shelters in his absence. The fact their Cade ended up working at one of the shelters wasn’t a surprise at all. He was the most compassionate, loving person Ford had ever met, so for him to be working with kids between sixteen and twenty wasn’t a surprise at all.

The blond went to the front door and rang the bell. When Kincade opened it, Ford nearly fell to his knees in joy. The younger man looked the same, though he was a bit thinner. Ford remembered the love the three of them had shared, and he couldn’t hold back. He pulled him down the stairs to kiss him with everything in his body. When Cade kissed him back, Ford felt himself relax for the first time in months.

He kissed his way over the younger man’s jaw to his ear then down his neck. “My God, Kincade. We’ve… I’ve missed you like air.” Ford continued his tender assault.

Cade pushed him away and glowered. “Branford, you’re engaged to Jax. I’m only in the way.”

Ford stared into those beautiful amber eyes and felt his soul shift. “No, and you’re not. It only worked if you were with us, sweetheart. After you left, Jax and I didn’t pursue it. We bought a house together, but we’ve barely done anything except set up a bed. Without you, nothing’s the same, Kincade. You’re the missing parts of us. You might not want to think about it, but it’s the truth. God, I’m begging you to take us back.” Ford tightly hugged the younger man to him, hoping the words seeped from his body into Cade’s.

“But you proposed,” Cade whispered as he pulled away and took a step back, out of Ford’s arms.

Ford sighed. “You left before I could finish explaining the plan, Kincade. I wanted Jax and me to adopt you so we could legally be a family. It’s the only way, really. I know it sounds creepy, but gays and lesbians used to do it all the time before civil unions were legal.

“Adult adoptions were the one way they could guarantee the familial bond would hold in the event of illness or death. If something happened to either of them, the other was allowed to make the important choices necessary without outside family or anyone else stepping in to challenge those decisions.

“If you allowed Jax and me to adopt you as an adult, things would be legal without any interpretation from a court, okay? A family bond, whether it’s by blood, marriage, or adoption, is stronger than anything. I don’t want my family coming after anything I have worked for or stepping in if I end up in a coma. Everything I have belongs to you and Jackson.

“Jax doesn’t have any family left to step in, and I don’t think you’d want your father to interfere either, though we would include Katrina in any decisions concerning your welfare. This way, we make our wishes known to each other, and we have the comfort of knowing they will be followed by the two people we love and trust the most. That’s what I was going to explain to the two of you before Rosa Torres went into labor.” Ford had offered his best argument, and if Cade didn’t accept it, he wasn’t sure what he could do. He wasn’t a magician, after all.

When Cade charged him, he took him into his arms and met his mouth. His tongue probed until Kincade accepted it inside, and when he kissed Ford back, he didn’t hesitate to ensure the younger man knew he was loved, greatly, by both men. Without Kincade Hayes, they didn’t stand a chance at happiness.

A woman cleared her throat behind them to break up the make-out session Ford and Cade were enjoying on the stoop of the building. When they parted, Ford noticed the flush of Cade’s cheeks, another thing he’d missed seeing during the absence.

“Sorry, Roberta,” Cade introduced. “This is Branford Thomas. Ford, this is Roberta Stubbe from CPS. She works with us to try to place some of the underage kids who come through the shelter,” Cade explained as the three of them went inside the building.

Once they were at the front desk, Ford shook her hand and she stared at him with an unrelenting gaze. After a second, he caught her drift.

“I’m here to tour the facilities. I’m considering hosting a fundraiser at my bar like I did for Rainbow House a few months ago. We raised over two hundred grand for them. Anyway, if you’ll let me steal Kincade away for a moment to make some arrangements, I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Just a minute.” Cade hurried upstairs where Ford imagined the residents were located.

The social worker eyed him, so he continued. “How long have you worked for CPS?”

“I know who you are, Mr. Thomas. I read the papers. I don’t judge people, trust me. The things I’ve done in my life preclude me from doing it because I won’t be labeled as a hypocrite. I will say I believe Kincade Hayes is one of the finest young men I’ve met in a long time. The empathy he has for the young men who come through here is admirable. Most people his age only care about themselves.”

Ford smiled, proud to hear the woman’s glowing praise for the other man he loved. “Ms. Stubbe, you don’t have to sell him to me. I love him very much.”

She smiled. “See that you do. So, what are your intentions with Kincade?”

Ford grinned back at her. “No offense, Ms. Stubbe, but that’s a discussion we owe Katrina Seiler-Hayes. Trust me, I know how easy it is to feel protective of Cade. Funny thing is the young man seems to have a good handle on how to take care of himself. I’ve learned the hard way to give him my respect and allow him to handle things until he asks me for help, which is something he’s going to have to learn to do just a little better.”

Before she could respond, Cade came down the stairs carrying a backpack with his arm around the neck of a cute, sandy-brown-haired boy with bright blue eyes. “Branford Thomas, this is my little brother, Ashton. I’m scheduled to be here until seven when Sammy comes back. Would you take him home with you and keep an eye on him? I need to call Hudson and speak with him. Don’t let him get back on the streets, please, and don’t take him to the club.”

“Uh, Kincade, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Mr. Thomas isn’t a certified foster parent. I believe it would be better…” The woman’s protests weren’t without merit, but Ford would do whatever Cade asked.

Ford interrupted her. “No, I’m not a foster parent, but I’ll watch over the kid this afternoon while Cade takes care of things here and speaks with their father. You sticking him in a home for runaways starts a train that’s nearly impossible to stop. I know very well how difficult the juvenile court system can be, and I don’t believe Kincade wants his brother to be caught up in it.”

Cade nodded. “No, I’d rather not. Don’t worry, Roberta. Ford’s not looking to add to the harem.” Cade was teasing, bringing a laugh from the three of them, but Ford could see the look of confusion on the young boy’s face. Obviously, Ashton was unaware that Cade had the love and devotion of two men if he wanted it.

“Come on, kiddo. You hungry? There’s a great place not far from here. We’ll get food and then maybe we can go to this place in Andersonville where there are other kids your age who get together to play games, do community projects, tutor other kids in school classes and just hang out. It’s a cool place. Let’s go see what they’re up to. You can tell me about school.”

Ford took the backpack from Cade and kissed his forehead. “I’ll text you the address to the house later. Come over after you get off.”

Cade nodded and followed them to the door to let them out.

Ford directed Ashton to the white BMW parked on the street. When he hit the fob to unlock it, the kid startled. Ford opened the trunk and dropped his backpack inside before heading to the driver’s side. The kid eyed the car skeptically.

“What?”

“You’re rich like my dad.” The boy’s disapproving expression prompted a grin from Ford.

Ford laughed. “Nobody’s rich like your dad, but I can pay my bills. My boyfriend bought me this car for my birthday last year.”

Apparently, what Ford had said got the kid’s attention because he hopped into the car without any coaxing. Ford pulled into traffic and headed toward Edgewater to Bob & Betsy’s Hideaway, near Fairytails . It was unseasonably warm for December, especially with Christmas only three days away. Ford had high hopes Cade would spend the time with them because Jax had a home game on Christmas Eve, though he’d be away for the New Year. Maybe he and Cade could go up to Minnesota?

“How do you know my brother?” Ashton asked as they made their way through the late-morning traffic.

“He worked for me a while back and I fell in love with him. Why are you here in Chicago?” Ford was unsure of where Cade’s father lived with his second family.

The kid turned to him with huge eyes. He looked a lot like Cade. “He bought you this car?”

Yes, Ford had stepped in it up to his knees. As far as he knew, Katrina’s divorce action was still pending. He’d have to ask Kincade about the status because he didn’t want to make any missteps with the young boy. “Actually, no. It’s a long story. Enough about me. You?” He weaved in and out of traffic Wednesday morning traffic.

Ford imagined many people were doing last-minute shopping, which reminded him he hadn’t bought any gifts for anyone. He and Jax had agreed not to exchange gifts since they’d purchased the house, but he’d like to get something for Kincade and of course, Winnie Oakes still worked for them, though only as a cook and supervisor of the cleaning crew they’d hired to care for the larger house.

In the warm months, they’d hire a lawn-care service because neither of them had any desire to cut grass. Also, a pool company was on retainer because their new home had an indoor-outdoor pool.

“What about me? I got sick of living under Hudson’s thumb, so I ran away like Cade.” The boy didn’t hesitate to answer.

Ford moved into the right lane to turn onto the side street leading to the restaurant. “Who told you Cade ran away?”

“Father. He said his rules were too strict at Kincade’s mother’s home, so he ran away after babysitting us that weekend while Father took Mother for their belated honeymoon.” The young man was telling the story the way it was told to him, but it was all news to Ford. The kid was only thirteen so it wasn’t Ford’s place to burst the boy’s bubble.

“Okay. Well, which rules are you protesting that brought you… how’d you get here? Do your folks live in Chicago?”

“We live downtown in the penthouse of the Dailey Building. Where do you live? Does Kincade live with you?”

Ford parked in a spot near the restaurant, avoiding the boy’s questions.

“I’m starved. Let’s go in.” Ford got out of the car and went around to be sure the kid got out okay. He locked the car and the two strolled down the block.

“So, which rule ticked you off enough to leave home so close to Christmas?” The kid seemed nervous, which wasn’t Ford’s goal.

He didn’t want Ashton to be uncomfortable around him. “You don’t have to tell me, okay? I’m just trying to get to know you. No pressure.”

“I’ll think about it,” the boy said as they went inside.

Ford hoped to hell Jax came straight home from practice. He wasn’t sure how to entertain the boy by himself, but Cade had entrusted him into Ford’s care, so he’d do his best.