by Zavi James
“Well,” Ezra started tentatively. “It’s not like either of us were planning on college. Wouldn’t it make sense for us to join Dad permanently?”
“Us?” Mom asked. “Ezra, you have over a year left. You don’t want to go back? Start fresh?”
“When have these two done anything without each other?” Dad asked her.
There was less than a year between us. As corny as it sounded, and I would never admit it to anyone else, Ezra was my best friend. We trusted each other implicitly and I knew no matter what came my way, Ez would have my back before anyone else could even digest the situation.
“Okay,” Mom said slowly, and I couldn’t believe we’d gotten away with it. “On one condition.” All my hope deflated quickly. “You will not be paid until the end of the school year.”
“Fuck,” I hissed.
“Lincoln,” she scolded me.
“It’s not fair,” I argued with her. Ezra turned his head and tried to signal for me to stop, but I’d already put my foot in it.
“What’s not fair, Lincoln,” Mom told me steadily, “is that despite the fact that we have a responsibility in our line of work to keep our public image as clean as possible, you and Ezra saw fit to get into yet another fight with a high-profile politician’s son. You aren’t about to be rewarded for that by being added to the books. Be thankful it’s a few months and not a year when Ezra should be graduating.”
“Please keep your mouth shut,” Ezra pleaded, and I bit my cheeks to stop from getting into an argument that I’d never win.
“You can see it as an unpaid internship,” Mom finished, shooting us both a winning smile. “If you have any questions, concerns or comments, you can take it up with your boss.” She rose from the seat and gestured towards Dad who stared at her, half impressed and half astounded that the problem had been shifted back onto his plate. “You can all fend for yourselves tonight.”
“Where are you going?” Dad asked, catching her wrist before she could get too far.
“Dante’s.”
“No. No, no, no.” Dad pulled her back into him.
“Okay, we’re out,” I told them as he kissed her.
It was almost sickening to watch my parents when they were like this. Arguments were kept to a minimum in the house, or at least, away from our ears. Whatever had drawn the pair of them together hadn’t dimmed after years of marriage. As disgusting as it was, I’d rather have this than the alternative. So many of our friends were products of arrangement and sat through silent dinners. It might have been chaotic in this home, but it was never lonely.
“Do not cause any more trouble,” Mom called, turning her head away from Dad as I grabbed Ezra by the collar and dragged him out of the room.
“We got away with that way more lightly than I expected,” Ez said when we made it far away from the kitchen.
“We’re not getting paid for months.”
“You heard Mom. It could have been worse.”
Mom didn’t make empty promises. We needed to watch our every step if it meant that we weren’t going to extend the sentence she’d just passed down.
“Link,” Ez started as we walked up the stairs, “how do we know Miles is going to keep his mouth shut?”
“We don’t,” I answered honestly and watched my brother pale. Miles Ford took after his father in sticking his nose where it was least wanted. “Which means we need to find a way to make sure he does.”
“How are we meant to do that without getting up to our necks in it with the Fords?”
“He knows your secret, now all we need to do is find a few of his,” I explained.
“And if we can’t find anything?”
“We’ll engineer it, Ez. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
The fight had been a blessing in disguise. School had been stifling. The constant need to conform had been near suffocating and I tried my best for Mom, but this felt right. A few months unpaid but no more wearing a mask. I’d be able to flex my fingers and greet every demon that lingered under the surface. I’d seen Dad and Uncle D after late nights at work. We’d witnessed more than the average child should and none of it struck a fear in us. All it did was prepare us for the inevitable. Prepared us for the day that we’d step up and help Dad make sure the Foster name remained one that was spoken in revere.
Miles Ford was just the start. A small fish in a much larger pond, but the first problem we’d work on alone and without Mom and Dad’s direct blessing. They would deal with Monty Ford the way they saw fit, but Miles was our problem. I would make sure he knew that he’d messed with the wrong family, and that he’d think twice before ever uttering my brother’s name again.
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Acknowledgements
Alhumdulilah. I'm forever grateful to God for the abundance of blessings in my life.
Mam and Dad and little sis – the consistent interest and support in all aspects of my journey, from writing and editing to marketing and publication, spurs me on every day. Thank you for the never-ending love you’ve given to me. (Also, thanks for correcting my Maths so my word count goal per day didn’t look so impossible…)
Thank you, J, for keeping my head on straight and for championing this story whenever you had the chance. I consider myself lucky to work with someone who cares about me and my work. All my future plans seem a little more possible when I chat to you about them.
For the stunning cover and teasers, I extend a heartfelt thanks to Val and Mary at Books and Moods. The entire Foster Family series is so beautiful and I’m grateful to have worked with you on them.
To my editor and friend, Zainab from Heart Full of Reads Editing Services – I have vowed to never learn the difference between effect and affect so I can keep you for life! Thank you for working so diligently on my script and for explaining things to me. You were as invested in editing this story as I was in writing it and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
My dearest friend, Ellie - there are no words to tell you how grateful I am to have you in my life. You have gone through every iteration of my work and helped me to improve. You hold me up when the world seems too much. It’s rare to find a soul as beautiful as yours. Thank you for dealing with me. Thank you for your kindness and patience. Thank you for being you. We’re a step closer to our pirate ship.
To the person who knows my writing better than I do – Sarah! Your honest feedback and the fact you keep my timelines better conserved than me means that this book isn’t a complete mess. Keep on being unapologetically you.
I am the worst person for making introductions but Laura Sunday, you broke through my anxious exterior and became the extrovert to my introvert! Thank you for the laughs and the writing sprints. Without you and those weekends and evenings I’m not sure I’d have finished the book on time! Love you, bub – let’s get back in the room so we can get yours done and out there, my friend!
Sometimes friendships blossom without even realising it and those are often some of the best. You read books and join projects and learn to become better at your craft because people inspire you. Shanjida, Anna and Bree, you are three utterly talented and badass women and thank you for inspiring me daily to keep improving my work.
Tori, Lizzy, Rach, Katie, Stacey, Kelly – I don’t say it often, but I love you guys. There! It’s been said. We’re not an overly emotional lot but I would be lost without you all. Thank you for reminding me to jab, sending memes, finding thirst traps and being such wonderful people. Nothing makes me happier and prouder than seeing the way we’ve all thrived and continued to grow.
To the goats who have kept me going and kept me laughing when I needed it – thank you for being so wonderfully weird.
Finally, the biggest thank you I have is for the readers. I never thought this small idea would interest people. I didn’t realise how much readers would fall in love with the ch
aracters and the plot. You’ve all been incredible. The messages, edits and sheer love you’ve given this series sometimes makes me stop and pinch myself. As always, I hope I’ve done you proud and here’s to the next adventure!