“Mmm. My stuff is already here, and since I have the most to move, Sunday should be easy,” Ford said, leaning back into his body.
Sawyer nodded. “Not that you have that much stuff.”
“What can I say? I travel light.” Ford shrugged, then called out to the kids. “Savanna, Gavin, come and pick out your rooms." Sawyer couldn’t help grinning at the excitement in Ford’s voice.
The kids had been roaming around outside since they’d gotten to the new house, checking out the huge backyard and the surrounding woods. Ford had already mapped out a space in the back for a play area, and even had picked where a tree house could be constructed.
He kept reminding Ford that they were just renting, even though the owners made it clear they were interested to sell. Sawyer had set up a tentative rent-to-own agreement with them, so he would build whatever Ford wanted for him and the kids.
“I want the biggest room!” Gavin took off into the house. If he hadn’t gotten out of the way, the kid would have flattened him on his way up the stairs that led to the house.
“Careful,” Ford called. “We don’t need a trip to the emergency room before we even get moved in.”
“Um no!” Savanna came through at a run. “Hey, I’m the oldest. I get the biggest room!”
“If you wanted it, you should have moved faster,” Gavin called already up the stairs.
Savanna made a sound like an angry cat and took off after her brother. “You little jerk.” She actually laughed. “Come back here.”
Sawyer sighed. “Did you see that? She does have a smile.”
Ford chuckled before adding, “They should both run track with how fast they jetted past me.”
Fuck, Sawyer was worried his face would lock in a permanent smile.
“What time did they say the sofas and dining table would be here again?” Sawyer asked as they walked up the stairs and into the house to join the kids.
Ford snorted, “Sometime today.”
Yeah, not even late delivery people could ruin his mood.
It was late Sunday evening, and they were all moved into their new home. They’d spent most of the day making sure the rooms were sleep ready for the kids since tomorrow was a school day.
They’d just finished their first dinner that Barb had made for them before she left. Once everyone was good and full, Ford smiled and rubbed his hands together. “Who’s up for a family game night?”
“I am. I am.” Gavin eagerly shouted. Over the past week and a half, Gavin had come out of his shell even more, and Sawyer even made a call to his teacher, Mrs. Harper, to confirm that she had noticed a drastic improvement already.
“One down… who else is on board?” He turned to Savanna.
She groaned and rolled her eyes. “Pass. Sounds boring.”
Gavin was practically vibrating in his seat, and he nudged his sister. “Come on, Savanna. It will be fun. Stop being a party pooper.”
Did the kid know they meant board games not video games?
Her lips curved, and Sawyer was relieved to see her smile, even though he had to admit it was becoming more frequent. “Okay… I’m in.”
Ford cheered. “Okay, you know the drill. Rinse your dish and put them in the dishwasher, and I’ll go get the game.”
Ford hopped out of his seat like an eight-year-old on a sugar high and disappeared into the smaller living room that held most of the boxes that didn’t belong to anyone in particular. Sawyer knew he was grabbing the one with board games Barb and Doug had given them as a housewarming gift.
“Okay, let’s get this tidied away and then we’ll have our first family game night.” If someone had told him a year ago this would be his life, Sawyer would have snorted and told them to get their head checked.
The kids picked up their plates and walked over to sink without complaint while Sawyer grabbed Ford’s before joining them.
Ford walked back with his hands full. He had chosen Monopoly, Scrabble, and Clue. When Sawyer looked up at Ford with a brow quirked, before he could speak, Ford said, “Babe, can you get the Jenga and Yahtzee please.”
Sawyer shrugged and nodded before disappearing into the living room to find the box marked “board games” still open. Sawyer looked in the box and saw there were a couple more options in it. He shook his head. Of course Doug and Barb had bought them every game they could think of.
Sawyer grabbed what he’d been sent for. Man, when was the last time he’d played board games? Maybe cards in college, but not since.
He hadn’t exactly grown up the family-game-night type. His mom was either working or sleeping after coming in from work. In between, she was helping him with homework or endeavoring to get whatever extras he needed.
Sawyer closed his eyes. Gosh, he wished that she was here, both to enjoy everything he’d achieved and to meet Ford. Sawyer wondered what she would think of him now… would she be upset that he’d taken in his siblings?
He thought about how kind she was, how she’d go shopping for their neighbor, another single mom, even when they were struggling.
“Sawyer.” Ford’s voice brought him out of the memory, and he hurried back to the kitchen.
“Take your pick.” Ford gestured at the games laid out in front of him, and Sawyer placed the ones he’d brought in next to them.
Both Gavin and Savanna reached for Jenga.
Ford’s lips curved in a wide smile. “All right, Jenga it is!”
“You know we can play all these on our iPhones, right?” Savanna shot them a look.
“Yeah, but this is family game night,” Ford said. “Which means we all play together.”
Sawyer lowered himself to the seat beside Ford, muffling his laughter and kissing the top of Callum’s head.
“When did he wake up?”
Ford bounced Cal on his knee. “Like a minute ago.”
“Oh, I guess that means we are going to be up for a while till he goes back to sleep.” Sawyer groaned. Okay, he already missed Barb.
Savanna and Gavin opened up the box and set everything up with their game pieces. When Sawyer’s eyes met Ford’s, they shared a smile, and Sawyer motioned for him to lean in closer to him, and their lips met gently.
“Home sweet home,” Ford whispered.
Sawyer turned back to the game, and Gavin started barking out the rules.
“I think we all know how to play,” Savanna said, rolling her eyes.
Sawyer snorted and whispered to Ford, “It’s a miracle her eyes aren’t at the back of her head at this point.”
Ford snickered but covered it with a cough.
“Okay, fine…” Gavin looked at them. “We’ll go this way from Ford.” His brother motioned clockwise.
Sawyer shared another look with Ford, and they both grinned at Gavin taking charge. Maybe Gavin shared more in common with Sawyer than just looks.
Ford stood up and leaned forward, pulling the first piece out. Sawyer watched with his lips held between his teeth when Callum reached forward too.
He went next, then Gavin took his turn, then Savanna.
The first game ended with him making the blocks come tumbling down on his second go. He thought the kids would leave then, but to his surprise, Gavin started stacking and Savanna helped.
The next game started and ended just as quick, with Callum knocking it over.
“That wasn’t me.” Ford shook his head. “Doesn’t count.”
Sawyer looked at Gavin and then Savanna, and in unison, they chanted, “Yes it does.”
Ford reached to his neck and gripped at imaginary pearls, mouth hanging open and eyes wide, and in a mock-hurt voice, he stage-whispered, “Traitors.”
The kids laughed at his theatrics, and Sawyer’s heart soared seeing them having fun.
“Okay, final game then,” Savie said. “Sawyer and Ford are losers.” She shot them a triumphant look before moving to Gavin. “Game on, little bro.”
“Bring it.” Gavin got in his sister’s face, and right when Sawyer was about
to tell them to break it up, they both burst out laughing.
The next game went on longer, and no one looked at their phones. The kids were super engaged, whooping when one of them pulled a block out and gasping when the tower threatened to fall.
They each had three more goes, and somehow, no one had knocked it over. Sawyer’s heart raced the more blocks that got pulled out. How was it possible that his blood kept pumping overtime over a simple game? No one could have prepared him for that one.
It was no night at The 40/40 Club in New York, but he was having an amazing time.
Who knew game night could be so exciting?
A few times during the game, Callum got restless, and Ford got up and moved around with him until it was his turn.
Sawyer shot him a teasing look. Apparently, his family was competitive—good to know.
“Gavin you’re up.” Savanna called out to her brother.
Gav had stayed standing since his last go, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
They all watched as Gavin worried his lip. He moved like he was going to pull one block, but he shook his head and went for another one. Sawyer saw it happen almost like it was in slow motion.
Gavin threw his hand out like it would stop the blocks from toppling over, but of course, it was done.
When the game was over, Savanna was the big winner.
“In your face.” She jumped to her feet, punched her fist in the air while shimmying from side to side and singing, “I won. I won. I won.”
Gavin was a good sport and let his sister enjoy her victory. Sawyer and Ford grinned, loving that Savanna was getting so into it.
“All right guys.” Sawyer clapped his hands. “Let’s pack everything away and get ready for bed. It’s school tomorrow.”
“I’m just going to take Callum and put him upstairs so he doesn’t wake up again,” Ford said.
He looked up and saw that the baby was asleep in Ford’s arms.
“Do you want me to take him?” Sawyer walked up to Ford where he stood bouncing the baby by the door.
Ford shook his head. “I’ll get him changed, and you can make sure Gavin brushes his teeth. He can shower in the morning.”
Sawyer nodded and pecked Ford on the lips before he left, then turned back to Gavin and Savanna to find them on their phones.
“Guys, put everything away. It’s time to get ready for bed.”
“But, it’s not late. Can’t we play another game?” Gavin looked at him with pleading eyes.
Sawyer checked the time on his wrist, considering. “Well, it’s only eight…” Sawyer wasn’t about to turn down the kids wanting to spend time with them. “As you wish.”
“I’ve never played Clue.” Gavin picked up the box and turned it around to read it.
“Savie, you going to join us?”
Before she could answer, Sawyer’s phone started to ring.
“Read the rules, guys. I’ll be just a minute.” He got up from the table and pulled his phone from his pocket. Sawyer frowned when he saw Madison was calling. They had a new case worker in Colorado, and he’d spoken to her earlier in the week, giving her their new address.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Sawyer?”
He looked over to the table where Gavin and Savanna were laughing and putting the pieces of the game together. He turned back to his call. “Yes?”
“It’s Madison, the social worker for Savanna and her brothers,” she stated.
“Yes… I’m aware. How’s it going?” His heart started to speed up. Why was she calling out of the blue?
Why did he feel like it could only be bad news, right after everything was starting to go right for them?
“Fine, thank you.” She cleared her throat. “I’m calling because I wanted to make you aware of a situation.”
Fuck, he knew it. She wouldn’t call on a Sunday for no reason.
“The kid’s mother, Cynthia, has left rehab,” Madison said.
“Oh…” That wasn’t bad, right? “So, she’s been released? That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
There was a long pause. “She didn’t exactly get released. There was a group therapy session yesterday, and she didn’t show up. Her roommate said she was under the weather, and by the time it ended and someone checked on her, she was gone.”
Sawyer wasn’t sure what to say to that.
“Okay, what does this mean?”
“Well, she still has eighty-seven days left to her compulsory six-month program.”
“Okay…”
“In all likelihood, she’s already back to using.” Madison’s voice was knowing. “I just wanted to warn you because she might try to meet up with the kids.”
“She knows where we are?” Sawyer frowned. Why would they give that info out?
Again, the pause ensued. “Well, her parental rights were never revoked by the court when they removed visitation and ordered her to rehab. ” Madison cleared her throat before adding, “So their location would not have been kept secret from her by this office if she requested it.”
“You told her?” Sawyer didn’t bother hiding the anger in his voice, and he moved further away from the kids.
She took a second to answer, “As I said, she is still allowed parental rights and thus can be told their location. We had no idea she would leave the rehab in violation of the court order. The facility notified the local authorities as soon as her unauthorized absence was discovered, and they are on the lookout for her.”
He decided not to point out how stupid and pointless he thought that line of thought was.
“Does that mean she can…?” Sawyer didn’t want to finish the sentence but he pushed through, “Does that mean she can take them?”
“No,” Madison replied. “Absolutely not. Cynthia is on probation, and her rehab was court ordered, and since she is now in violation of it, it will revert to a prison sentence of an already predetermined length of time. She won’t be able to get custody, especially as you were named guardian by the children’s court ordered sole custodian. ”
Sawyer nodded and felt the weight on his chest lighten, but just a little.
“I think you should just be on the lookout, though,” Madison added. “She may try to contact the kids.”
Sawyer nodded and turned around to where Savie and Gavin sat at the table. They had abandoned Clue and were now on their phones. Ford walked into the kitchen and immediately sought him out with his eyes.
When their eyes met, Ford’s brow creased, and he quirked them at Sawyer.
“Later,” Sawyer mouthed to him, and Ford nodded.
“If I have any more information, you’ll be my first call.” Madison’s voice had him turning around again. “I will be advising your contact at the social services office in Colorado of this as well.”
“Thank you,” Sawyer replied.
“You’re welcome. Call me if you need anything,” she added.
“I will.” Sawyer disconnected the call, and he closed his eyes for a moment trying to center himself.
“What’s going on?” Ford’s voice behind him had him turning around slowly, putting his phone in his pocket as he did.
“We’ll talk about it when the kids are in bed.” He looked in their direction.
Ford studied him briefly before nodding slowly. “Okay.”
Sawyer wanted to act like nothing was wrong because he didn’t want to worry the kids, but the minute he could, Ford and he needed to devise a game plan because his gut was telling him that everything was not okay.
And it hadn’t steered him wrong yet.
“Goodnight, Savanna,” Sawyer called out. He saw her walking past the open door of the living room towards the stairs.
She turned around and paused at the door to the living room. “I had a good time tonight.” She shot him a shy smile. “Goodnight,” she added, then turned and disappeared.
When it was just him and Ford, his boyfriend grinned. “Now, look at that,” Ford said. “Told you she’d come arou
nd.”
Sawyer laughed. “I wasn’t sure she would.”
Ford chuckled and took Sawyer’s hand in his. “Everything in good time, babe.”
“Oh, wise one, I shall never doubt you again.” He tickled Ford in his side.
“I will remind you that you said that,” Ford said, waggling his brows once he got his laughter under control.
Sawyer laughed and nodded toward the stairs. “Ready to go up?”
Ford nodded. He lifted the remote and turned the TV off, not that they’d even been watching.
They both got to their feet and stretched.
Ford groaned, and man did he get it. It had been a long day.
“I’ll just make sure everything is locked up,” Sawyer said.
Ford nodded. “See you upstairs.” Ford stopped at the door that led out of the room. “I am so glad we made the bed or I swear we would be sleeping without sheets tonight.”
Sawyer’s mouth opened in a yawn before he was able to respond. “I know.”
While he checked the doors and windows downstairs were locked, he prepared himself for the conversation he had to have with Ford.
Now that all the children were in bed, Sawyer knew it was the right time to tell Ford what was going on. It had been weighing on his mind since he hung up the call earlier, but together they would weather this possible hurdle.
When he got to their room, Ford was in the bathroom brushing his teeth at his sink.
Yup, he was now one of those people with a double sink and someone to share it with. The thought warmed his heart.
Ford’s eyes caught his in the mirror, and he lowered his head and spat. When he straightened, he turned and faced him.
“So… what’s going on?” Ford’s eyes were serious. “Who was on the phone?”
Sawyer blew out his cheeks. Well it was now or never. He couldn’t hide it from Ford. “It was Madison,” Sawyer replied. He took his t-shirt off and dropped it in the hamper.
Ford hadn’t moved, though, his toothbrush still held at his side.
“Turns out that their mother escaped rehab today. I’m worried she could be headed this way, and she also may be back to using, so we need to be extra vigilant.”
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