Full Balance (The Peachtree Series Book 3)

by Brigham Vaughn

  Dan scowled. “I think it could be argued that the vast majority of them aren’t really runaways. Few children leave their home for any length of time unless the situation there is truly dire. Are there a few who have such deeply ingrained behavioral problems or drug addictions that they choose to leave an otherwise stable and loving home? Sure. But for every kid like that, there’s probably a hundred who were abused or forced out by their parents or guardians, especially when we’re talking about LGBTQ kids.”

  Stephen nodded.

  “What would we need to do if we did decide this was something we wanted?” Russ asked.

  “This isn’t really my area of expertise,” Dan said. “Some things may have changed since I went through the process ten or twelve years ago. But, off the top of my head, I know you have to be at least 25 years old—no issue there for either of you—you’d have to go through an in-depth screening process to ensure there aren’t any red flags that pop up.”

  “Oh, like the fingerprint check and criminal record screening we did before we could work here?” Russ asked.

  “Yes, exactly. Though it’s even more comprehensive. I believe there’s a medical component to it as well to be sure you’re in adequate health to look after a minor, plus meetings with a counselor to discuss your mental fitness and support systems. They’d do a home assessment and review your financial stability.” Dan shrugged. “I can’t imagine the two of you would run into any issues with any of that though.”

  “That seems fairly straightforward,” Stephen said. “I think my concern is that I have no experience as a parent. Taking on a teenager full time seems daunting, to put it mildly.”

  “Sure,” Dan said with a grin. “No matter how much you love the kid, teenagers are a handful. I’ll be the first to agree it would be a huge shift for you both, especially since you’ve never raised a child before. But there is an orientation and a training program to prepare prospective foster families for their role. It covers the basic skills and information you’d need.”

  “That’s reassuring.”

  Dan’s grin widened. “I promise, they don’t just throw a teenager at you and hope for the best. That would be setting all of you up for failure. There’s no denying everyone at DCFS is overworked and underpaid, but they do try to prepare foster and adoptive parents for their role to the best of their ability.”

  “Of course,” Stephen said. “I should have known that.”

  “It seems daunting at first, I know. And I won’t deny it’s a hell of a lot of work.”

  “Is it worth it?” Russ asked.

  “For me? Without question,” Dan said. “You know I love all of the kids here at the center, but the ones I’ve brought into my home over the years? There’s nothing to compare to seeing them begin to flourish and thrive and move on to be happy, successful adults. And knowing I played a part in that is very rewarding.”

  “How long have you been doing this?” Russ asked.

  “I was about your age, Russ, when Benjamin and I began. So more than ten years. We’ve had—” A sad expression flickered across his face. “We had a number of kids come and go throughout the years.”

  “Did it ever not work out?” Stephen asked. “Were there ever kids you couldn’t help?”

  “I think it depends on what you mean by help. There were some who were only there for a few nights or a week or two, so I have no idea if we made much of an impact in their lives overall, but we did give them a safe, loving place for a short while at least. It’s tough when they go back to parents who you aren’t confident will properly take care of them and a year or two later, they get bounced back into the system. It isn’t perfect, unfortunately.” Dan leaned forward. “But even during those very dark nights after Ben was gone where I wondered how the hell I was going to parent alone, I knew I had to keep going. These kids need foster parents. Desperately. And the more couples like you two who are willing to step up, the better. You have all of the resources to help, and you know where these kids are coming from. I can’t think of anyone better to support an LGBTQ kid who has been rejected.”

  “Well, when you put it like that …” Stephen laughed weakly. He was having a difficult time thinking of a reason why they shouldn’t do this. Except for the looming fact that it would completely upend every plan they’d made for their futures. Which was no small thing.

  “The other thing you need to discuss is if you want to provide a temporary home or are looking to offer a more long-term placement, or one where adoption might be an option.”

  Stephen’s eyes widened, and Russ reached out to touch his leg.

  “Don’t rush into it,” Dan said with an understanding smile. “Take your time. Think the whole thing over. Discuss all of the options thoroughly. If you want me to arrange a meeting to talk to someone who has been working within the system, I’d be happy to do that. Making this decision would be a huge adjustment to your current lifestyle, so you’d have to prepare yourself for that. But if and when you’re ready, let me know. I’m happy to help however I can.”

  “Thanks, Dan.” Stephen leaned forward to shake his hand. “I appreciate that.”

  “Of course.” He chuckled. “This is the kind of topic I could talk about until I’ve bored everyone else to tears.”

  “No, it was interesting,” Stephen assured him as he and Russ stood. “I’m glad you had some time to meet with us. I think it’ll help us make a more informed decision.”

  “Good.” Dan stood too and offered them another smile. “I think this could be a great thing, and if you do decide to do it, I’d only be a call away if you had questions.”

  “That would be fantastic,” Russ said. “We’ll let you know when we make a decision.”

  Stephen’s head whirled with thoughts as they left Dan’s office, nodded at Marsha, who gave them a cheerful wave though she was on her headset answering phones, and walked toward the exit.

  Dan stuck his head out of the door. “Hey, hold up. I had an idea.”

  Stephen turned back. “Sure, what’s that?”

  “Why don’t you come over for dinner some night this week?” Dan said. “You can meet my kids. See what it’s like.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Russ said. “What do you think, Stephen?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I agree. That would be great.”

  “Thanks, Dan.”

  “Happy to help. I’ll text you with some dates, okay?”

  “Sounds great.”

  “What do you think?” Russ asked as they walked to the car.

  A gust of January wind made Stephen zip his jacket more tightly. He glanced over at Russ. “I think … I think Dan had a hell of a sales pitch.”

  Russ chuckled. “He did. But the question is: are you sold?”

  “I’m getting there,” Stephen admitted. “It seems selfish for us not to do this.”

  “No,” Russ protested, slowing to a stop. Stephen turned to face him. “I don’t think Dan feels that way at all. Or at least I didn’t get that impression.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so either but it doesn’t stop me from feeling like if we have the means to do it—and we certainly do—we should.”

  “There’s a difference between having the means and being ready, willing, and eager.” Russ looked down at the sidewalk. “And I think my mom is a prime example of someone who made a huge mistake of having kids when she didn’t really want them.”

  “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad she did have you,” Stephen said.

  Russ smiled. “I am too. But that doesn’t mean it was a good choice for her. And it was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for my parents’ marriage.”

  “I know.”

  “Meeting my mom again as an adult really made me see that people who don’t desperately want kids shouldn’t have them.”

  “I will heartily agree to that.”

  Russ gripped his elbow. “I know I tend to dive headfirst into things I’m enthusiastic about, but this is something we have to
take slowly. We have to be sure. Because I don’t want to get six months in and decide this isn’t for us. I don’t want you to resent me for pushing you to do this if you wind up regretting it. And I sure as hell don’t want to welcome in a kid who desperately wants to find a home and change our minds when it gets to be too much. So don’t do this for me, Stephen. If you aren’t a hundred percent on board with this, tell me. Don’t do it because you think it’s what I want to hear.”

  “I won’t,” Stephen said firmly. “I absolutely won’t go through with this unless I’m convinced this is the right decision for all of us. You, me, and any kid who might come to live with us.”

  “Good.” Russ kissed him. “I’m glad to hear it.”

  They’d gone out for drinks with Dan and a few other people from the center on a few separate occasions and Stephen knew Dan favored dark beers. Now, Stephen carried a six-pack of a well-recommended porter up the brick sidewalk of his imposing Greek Revival house. It loomed large as they walked up the half a dozen steps to the wide porch.

  “I knew Dan had to be pretty well off to do the kind of work he does for the center without pay but wow,” Russ murmured.

  Stephen nodded. The home was an incredible piece of historical architecture—early 1900s, he’d guess—and its location in the Grant Park neighborhood meant its value was likely sky-high. Grant Park was one of Atlanta’s oldest areas. It was over 130 acres, with a zoo and museums. The park had miles of walking and jogging paths and hosted several of Atlanta’s biggest annual festivals and a large farmers market. It was an incredible area to live in, and the house was a jewel.

  “I would assume he comes from a very well-off family,” Stephen agreed. He fell silent as they approached the door. Russ knocked quietly on the leaded glass door.

  “Hey, glad you could make it,” Dan said with an easy smile as soon as he swung open the large wooden door. “Come on in.”

  “Thanks for having us over,” Stephen said. “Gorgeous home you have here.”

  “Thanks. The kids are upstairs right now. Would you like a quick tour of the first floor before the whole place becomes utter chaos?” His smile was fond though, like he reveled in it.

  “That would be great.”

  As they walked around, Dan told them about the renovation that had been done several years ago. Many of the home’s original details had been preserved, like an enormous pair of solid-wood sliding doors and numerous fireplaces. But it had been given a fresh update as well, with crisp white walls and black window trim. The decor was a blend of antique and new, and it was stylish but neither fussy nor pretentious. It could handle the wear and tear of an active family. “Actually, you want to talk about chaos,” Dan said with a little chuckle. “You should have seen it when we had half the house under construction and six kids at home.”

  Stephen winced at the thought. That was a lot more chaos than he could imagine. Or handle.

  “The nice thing is, by comparison everything after that feels calm and peaceful.”

  Russ chuckled. “I would imagine.”

  “Would you like a drink?” Dan asked as they circled around to the large open kitchen again.

  “That would be great.”

  “Beer okay? With teenagers around, I don’t keep a lot of liquor. I don’t see any reason to tempt fate.”

  Stephen chuckled. “Sure.”

  Dan placed the six pack they’d brought inside the refrigerator to chill, then ran through a list of what else he had on hand. Stephen chose something a little lighter, and a few minutes later they were clustered around the enormous kitchen island drinking. He could hear the kids’ voices drifting down the stairs.

  “This really is an incredible house,” Stephen said. He lifted the beer bottle to his lips and took a sip.

  “Thanks. I inherited it.” Dan shrugged. “It might not have been my taste initially, but Benjamin and I were in a much smaller home that was bursting at the seams, so when I found out this had been left to me, it seemed like a blessing. And it’s grown on me. It isn’t necessarily what I would have picked out, but I have some very happy memories here from my childhood.”

  “The location is spectacular too,” Russ said. “I mean, Grant Park …” He whistled lowly.

  Dan looked a touch uncomfortable. “Yeah, it’s hard to beat having a zoo and a park within walking distance.”

  Stephen changed the subject, worried they’d touched on an uncomfortable subject. “Do you think it’ll be a problem that we only have the condo? It’s on the sixth floor of a building. We do have a nice balcony, but it’s definitely city living.”

  “As long as you have proper bedroom space for a kid, no. As long as your home is clean and all of their other needs are getting met, not having outdoor space isn’t going to be an issue whatsoever.”

  “Good.”

  Dan leaned his elbows on the counter. “It sounds like you’re seriously considering it then?”

  Stephen glanced over at Russ. “We are. There’s still a lot more research and discussion ahead of us, but we’re both in agreement we want to keep looking into it.”

  “That’s really great to hear. I’m excited for you both. It’s a big step, but I promise, it’s worth it.”

  “We did some digging around on the DCHF’s website and it’s pretty comprehensive.”

  “It is.” Dan took another sip of beer. “Are you thinking about fostering short term or a potential adoption placement?”

  They exchanged glances.

  “We haven’t made a final decision on that yet,” Russ said. “We looked over the possible options and we both agree that we’re leaning toward adoption. I mean, the idea is, you take in a foster kid who is available to be adopted and then after they have some time to settle into the home, you decide if you’re going to go forward with it, right?”

  “Essentially.”

  “That seems more our speed,” Stephen said. “We like the idea of taking in one kid who could become a permanent member of our family. I mean, I think it’s fantastic people offer kids short-term placements, but that route doesn’t feel right for us.”

  “I get it,” Dan said. “And frankly, it can be very heartbreaking to bring a kid into your home and have them leave again just as you start to get attached.”

  “I would imagine,” Russ said. “Honestly, the whole idea is just nerve-racking. The more I learn, the more I am worried we aren’t ready for it. I want to do this, but I’ve never been a parent before, so it all seems a little overwhelming, you know?”

  “I understand. You would have a network of people you can reach out to though, both through the foster and adoption communities and with those of us you know at Open Doors. Do either of you have family in the area?”

  “I do,” Russ said. “My sister and her boyfriend are both pediatric nurses here in Atlanta. My father is nearer to Macon, and he recently moved in with a nice woman named Patty. My mom’s in the Atlanta area, but she’s not in the picture.”

  Stephen thought about Cynthia Bishop and tried not to grimace. No, she wouldn’t be offering to be a loving grandmother to any child they welcomed into their home. Not because she had an issue with them being gay, but because the woman didn’t have a maternal bone in her body. She was a virtual stranger to Russ and other than the occasional card on birthdays or holidays, they didn’t communicate much.

  Dan offered Russ a sympathetic smile.

  “Both of my parents have passed and I’m an only child,” Stephen said quietly. “We have some great friends though. You know Evan Harris and Jeremy Lewis.” They volunteered at the center as well.

  Dan’s expression brightened. “I do. They’re great guys. And they’d be a fantastic resource and sounding board if you needed help, I’m sure.”

  “They would,” Stephen agreed.

  “Do you have many friends who are parents?”

  “Unfortunately, no.” Russ shook his head.

  “Just my assistant at work,” Stephen said. “She’s a fantastic mother, but we d
on’t spend a lot of time socializing outside of work.”

  “Well, as long as you think she’d be open to it, it can’t hurt to have her as a resource to reach out to if you have questions. Of course, I’m always willing, but the more people in your network the better.”

  “I don’t mean to poke at a sensitive subject, but how do you do this on your own?” Stephen asked quietly. “I mean, four kids at home with your husband gone and the kind of work you do …”

  “I don’t sleep a lot.” Dan let out a rueful little chuckle as he brushed his hand over his hair. “But mostly I rely on other people. My family is …” He grimaced. “Well, let’s just say they’re not lending a helping hand, but I do have some really great friends, and actually Benjamin’s sister and parents are very helpful. They love the kids and have never acted like now that Benjamin’s gone, that changes anything.”

  “That’s great.”

  “I did hire a nanny finally though. She comes by after school to supervise homework and get dinner on the table. I’m home on the weekends, and I deal with breakfasts every weekday morning and make sure everyone gets off to school, but it really made a huge difference to have someone to take care of the stuff before I get home from work.”

  “That makes sense.”

  “It took me a while to accept that’s what I was going to have to do. After Benjamin was gone, I was convinced I could do it all. I could run the center and be two dads rather than just one, and it was …” He sighed. “It was too much. Way, way too much. It took some yelling from some people who care about me to get through my tough skull.”

  Stephen nodded.

  “I’m just saying, don’t make it harder on yourself than need be. There’s no shame in asking for help. For hiring help, even, if it’s just a few hours a week. It doesn’t make you a bad parent. Making sure you’re looking out for what your kid needs and putting your pride aside is great parenting.” He flashed them a brief smile. “Now, speaking of, would you like to meet my kids?”

  “I’d love that,” Russ said, and Stephen nodded his agreement

  “I wonder what Dan’s history is like,” Russ said thoughtfully as they pulled away from the curb a few hours later after a pleasant, if somewhat loud and chaotic dinner.