Page 62 of When Ben Loved Jace (He Loved Him #2)

The next stage of welcoming Jason into our lives is a supervised visit out in the community.

We’re currently sitting with him at a table in a rock-themed restaurant.

Framed instruments decorate the walls, as do autographed photos of famous musicians and their gold records.

The menu items have ridiculous names like Fretboard Flatbread and Hi-Hat Hummus.

All of this gives the impression of trying much too hard.

Which is highly appropriate, since I desperately want Jason to think we’re cool.

Michelle suggested a trip to the zoo or a day out at a theme park.

Not good enough. After dinner, we’re taking him to a concert.

His first ever! Jason seems genuinely excited by the idea.

We’re not getting nearly as much pushback as we did at that initial meeting.

Although he is proving himself to be rather mischievous.

“So,” Jason says, dipping a chip in some Slam-Dance Salsa. “Has Michelle told you guys what exactly you’re signing up for? You won’t be my first foster family. Not by a long shot. I’ve left a trail of carnage in my wake.”

I look to her for an explanation.

Michelle raises her palms. “Hey, I’m simply a silent observer. Pretend I’m not here.”

“That’s very convenient,” Jace says, nudging his sibling playfully before returning his attention to Jason. “Okay, what’s the story?”

“None of my placements last long. I always make sure of that. Some of us actually like living in an orphanage.”

I love that he calls it that.

Jason leans back with a smug expression.

“Take for instance foster family number seventeen. They were super-controlling about the clothes I wore. Like it was a big production every morning. There was actually an approval process . For real. I never passed it, so they started choosing my outfits for me.”

“We expect you to wear a uniform when you live with us,” I tease. “One of my own design. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but sequins are involved.”

Jason grins. “You better hold that thought until you’ve heard the rest of the story. I got so sick of being bossed around about what I wore, that I went home early from school one day so I could cut the crotches out of all their clothes. And I really mean all of them. Pants, dresses, shorts…”

“What about underwear?” Jace asks.

“Yup, although those are harder to do without them falling apart. And they could have put them on backwards, so I ended up cutting those into pieces, just to be safe. And yeah, before you ask, I took care of the bathrobes too. Those I shortened to waist-height, so there was no chance of covering up. I made sure to put everything back and cleaned up the mess. My foster parents didn’t notice when they got home.

I waited until they were asleep and cut the crotches out of the clothes they’d worn that day.

The next morning…” Jason starts laughing so hard that he struggles to continue.

“You should have seen their faces! They kept running around, trying to find something I’d overlooked.

The absolute best part was when one of them ran to the kitchen for the apron, but I’d done that too!

” He’s snickering now, tears pouring from his eyes.

The rest of us are also laughing, me with an edge of panic.

“They had to leave the house with bath towels around their waists!” Jason howls. He sobers up suddenly. “You know, that might be my biggest regret in life. Not thinking of the towels."

“I would have made a toga out of a bed sheet and told people I was from Greece.”

“Good call!” Michelle says. “Sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you this time, Jason.”

He splutters laughter. “I’ll think of something. I always do.”

“How come?” Jace asks. “Seventeen foster families is a lot. None of them were better than your current situation?”

Jason’s eyes flit to Michelle and away again. “I like the way things are now.” He considers us briefly. “Nothing personal.”

“We want you to be happy,” Jace assures him. “Even if living with us doesn’t do the trick.”

“It might,” Jason says hurriedly.

He glances at Michelle again, but I don’t think he’s seeking her approval. Jason seems to really like her. I’m guessing she’s been the most stable presence in his life for a very long time. Ever since… Well, we don’t really know yet.

“If you don’t like staying at our place,” I say, “please let us know instead of doing something crazy, like rolling the trailer into a lake.”

Jason perks up. “Hey, that’s not a bad idea! ”

“Doesn’t he get a say?” Jace asks, looking to his sister in confusion. “He should be able to choose when he wants to leave a family without having to go to such lengths to escape them.”

“There is a way,” Michelle responds. “Formal requests and group conferences. We try to make the current situation work before attempting to find a different placement. His method expedites the process, to say the least.”

Jason shakes his head. “It’s not just that. I uh…” He swallows. “I’ve always done this. Since the beginning. I figured if I was bad enough, and no one could handle me, they would let me go home. To my mom.”

I finally ask the question that has repeatedly come to mind. “How come you couldn’t?”

Jason presses his lips together and begins to glower. “I’ll tell you. But only if you promise not to judge her, because she was a great mom.”

“I’m sure she was,” Jace says. “She must have been because you’re a great guy.”

Jason studies him a moment. Then he looks at me. I don’t make any promises. I want to be real with him. My instinct tells me that’s what he needs.

“She was a single mom,” Jason says at last. “Got pregnant at sixteen. My dad enlisted in the army after he found out, and not because he was worried about supporting a family. I never saw him. My grandma helped raise me. Everything was fine until she died of a heart attack. My mom started drinking after that so…” He turns his attention to the nearest wall, as if more interested in the memorabilia there, but his head whips back toward us suddenly.

“It wasn’t her fault! My mom started dating this guy and some bad stuff happened.

She never hurt me. The bruises came from him.

Yeah, she drank a lot, but so what?” He gestures around the restaurant.

Most of the patrons are indulging in beers or cocktails.

“Are you gonna take their kids away too?” Jason snaps, rounding on Michelle.

Who thankfully shares her brother’s unshakeable patience. “I’m not the one who makes those decisions,” she says softly. “Only a judge can.”

“I know,” Jason grumps, crossing his arms while glaring at his half-empty plate. “I really loved her. She was a good mom. The best. ”

“Is there any possibility—” I begin.

Jason cuts me off. “No.”

Michelle delicately shakes her head. Which considering how tight-lipped she’s been, really underscores the severity of the situation. A stifling silence falls over the table.

Jace clears his throat. “You know what?” he says. “If you do want to roll the trailer into a lake, that’s fine with me. Sounds like you’ve earned it. We’ll even drive the thing there for you. Just give us a chance first, because they don’t make Airstreams like that anymore. It really is a classic.”

Jason snorts. The constricted arms loosen again.

“I don’t know about you,” I say, pushing my plate away, “but I plan on dancing my ass off tonight, and that means I can get away with having dessert. Maybe two or three.”

“We could order one of each kind so we can try them all,” Jace suggests. “We’ll share.”

“Great idea!” Michelle enthuses. “This is the best part of my job. Helping kids is nice, I suppose, but I’m only really in it for the free meals.”

This rouses a smile out of Jason. We end the meal the way it began—in high spirits. After the sizable bill is paid (being a parent is expensive!) Michelle and I step outside while the others use the restroom.

“What do you think?” she asks.

“I really like him,” I admit.

“So do I,” she says with transparent fondness. “He’s one of my favorites.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t snatch him up for yourself.”

“I might have,” she admits. “He was in a really good placement when we adopted Preston. I thought Jason had already found his people. And now…” Her hand moves to her stomach, which is elegantly round. “It’s going to be a full house.”

“You could always give us the baby and adopt Jason,” I suggest, but only jokingly. I’m over the idea of needing a younger child.

“I’m half-tempted,” Michelle murmurs before covering her mouth. “That sounds terrible! I want this baby. Of course I do! I just worry about stepping away from my career after giving birth. Even for a little while. Too many kids need my help.”

“You’re awesome,” I tell her. “I’m sure you’ll find a way. ”

She smiles. “Thanks. You can help me by taking one more troubled teen off my plate.”

“Trust me,” I say, watching as my husband walks toward us with Jason at his side, his green eyes filled with pride. “I’m already sold on the idea. We both are.”

— — —

“You know what we need?” my husband asks before leaping up from the kitchen table. “A list!”

“Can’t it wait until after breakfast?”

“There’s still so much to do.” Jace rifles through a drawer, apparently not having heard me. “And I do love a list.”

“I love pancakes,” I murmur. After taking a sip of my coffee, I add, “Which you promised to make.”

“Oh right!”

My expectations soar. Then they plummet when my husband sits across from me again.

“We’ll need to go grocery shopping,” he says before writing something at the top of a small notepad. “What do you think Jason likes to eat?”

“I bet he’s crazy about pancakes. We should practice making them before he gets here.”

Jason is coming to stay with us tomorrow. Just for a sleepover, but it’s a test we’re both eager to pass.

Jace shakes his head. “You better let me do the cooking this weekend.” He glances up apologetically. “Or we could keep it simple. Cereal, for instance.”