That night, after kissing each boy a good night and tucking them in with individual words of wisdom just for them, she made her way back downstairs. Turning out the house lights and lamps, the Christmas tree was the only thing sending shards of color about the room. She didn’t need to turn around to know that George was there.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“I never doubted you for a moment, my dear Ethel. Do you finally now believe that you have enough love to give?”
She nodded slowly. “Yes, I believe together we are stronger than one.” She felt the slight movement of air in the room and knew that George’s presence had left for the moment. She also had no doubt that he would reappear anytime she needed him.
As she moved to the bedroom on the first floor where she continued to take up residence, she said aloud, “Yes, together we are stronger than one.” That was why, a year later, another little boy sat on her living room floor listening to stories. Her quiet little Asher, having been abused, was welcomed into their home by her and the other boys.
6
Five Years later
The boys were on their way home from school, and Ethel finished sorting the laundry. Eight plastic baskets lined the table across from the large load washer and dryer. Eight. Her house was filled to capacity with laughter and love abounding, mixed in with the occasional squabble.
A few emergency placements had come and gone, but besides her six boys, she’d added two more to her loving family. Zeke came to her at the age of thirteen, when Zander was seventeen. A kind, goodhearted young man, he was afraid of becoming as angry and abusive as his father had been. He relished the time with the older teens, developing a camaraderie with them he’d never felt with his birth home.
Castiel was the last one to join them, a quiet, introspective, artistic teenager. His carvings amazed her, and she had no doubt he would continue to work with wood the way his father had. Like the others, he bonded quickly.
Just as she finished the sorting, a knock on the door surprised her, and she walked toward the front of the house. Opening her front door, she spied a tall man, his glasses perched on his hawked nose as he peered down at her. To his side stood Mrs. Barker, one of the social workers that had placed a few of the boys with her. Prickles of concern moved through her as she saw the man’s narrowed-eyed gaze and Mrs. Barker’s lips pinched into a thin line.
“Mrs. Barker, how may I help you?”
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Wiseman. This is—”
“I’m Wallace Smith, assistant to the director of the Department of Social Services. We are here to do an unannounced inspection of your home.”
“Okay,” she agreed, “but I need to ask you to step aside for just a moment.”
“I won’t step aside for anyone—”
“Miss Ethel!” came the shout from the boys as they jogged up the front walk, backpacks slapping against her shoulders.
“I’m afraid you will step aside,” Ethel continued, “at least until I’ve had a chance to greet my boys.” It appeared that Mr. Smith was not going to move until he turned around and saw the size of the boys. All large, tall, well-built, athletic. He jumped out of the way as though afraid of them, his glare evident as they nodded toward him and Mrs. Barker but headed directly to Miss Ethel. Hugs and warm greetings ensued, and she ushered them inside. “Boys, please get your snacks and take them to the dining room.”
The boys headed down the hall to do her bidding, but Zander held back, his protective gaze landing on her. Patting his arm, she said, “It’s okay, Zander. Mrs. Barker and Mr. Smith are here today for an unannounced inspection.” Zander narrowed his eyes on them but obediently followed his brothers down the hall.
Turning back to her visitors, she said, “Please, come in. I’m used to my annual visits but wonder if there’s a particular reason for this unscheduled one.”
“When I took charge and was reviewing cases, I was shocked to see that a single woman—a woman of your age—was attempting to raise eight boys! Eight! I immediately questioned Mrs. Barker and was told that the situation here was well in hand and considered one of the best in the city.” Looking down at her he sneered. “Somehow, I doubt that. I would say the money you get for being a foster parent of eight children is what keeps you taking these boys in.”
Forcing her voice to remain calm, she replied, “You’ve seen the size of my boys, Mr. Smith. I doubt they would be fed so well if I only relied on the money that came in from the state.” Before he had a chance to speak again, she added, “But I welcome you into my home. Please, look around.”
“We will!” Mr. Smith pushed his way inside.
Mrs. Barker stepped forward and whispered, “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s fine,” Ethel assured, but she wished her heart would not beat so loudly. One word from this man, and she knew one or more of her boys could be taken from her.
“I’ll inspect the upstairs first,” he announced, and his leather shoes tapped a harsh pattern on the wooden stairs. Mrs. Barker hurried after him, and Ethel turned to see all of her boys standing in the hallway, their expressions a mixture of shock, anger, and fear.
Before she had a chance to reassure them, Zander spoke. “Someone complained, didn’t they?”
Forcing her voice to remain steady, she said, “No, I don’t think that’s what happened. Mr. Smith is new to the supervisory job at the Department of Social Services and was simply surprised to see that eight boys are living here.”
Zeke’s hands flexed into fists, and she captured Zander’s gaze and slightly jerked her head toward the younger boy. “I need all of you to remain calm, let them do their inspection job, and they’ll see what a wonderful place we have together.”
“I don’t want to go anywhere else,” Asher said, his voice shaky. He tugged on the long sleeves covering his gangly arms, always hiding the cigarette burn scars from years of abuse from his mother’s boyfriend when he was younger.
He had come so far in learning to trust her and the other boys, she felt fury moving through her over Asher’s concerns. She knew he was only voicing her own fears, but she refused to give into them. Stepping closer, she placed her hand on his shoulder. “My dear boy, let’s not jump to conclusions. But always believe, I’ll fight to the death to keep my family together.” Lifting her gaze back to Zander, she was glad when he accepted her silent command and herded the other boys into the dining room. Turning, she hurried up the stairs and remained in the hall as Mr. Smith moved through the bedrooms.
“My oldest, Zander, has a room to himself. It has a private bathroom, but he readily shares it with anyone who needs it. The other two bedrooms are quite large, easily accommodating the bunk beds, as you can see. The closets are also large, and the chests of drawers are shared.
With the two large bedrooms upstairs, she’d placed bunk beds and a single into the rooms, allowing for the six boys. Zander, Rafe, and Cael filled one, and Jaxon, Jayden, and Asher filled the other. When Zeke joined them, she’d offered Zander the smaller room where he would not have to share his space with the others since he was the oldest and had Zeke take Zander’s bed. When Cas came along, she’d added another bunk to the younger boys’ bedroom. In one of her many conversations with George, he had assured her that the boys would bond into a brotherhood with the shared space.
The rooms were so familiar to her, but she tried to look at them through new eyes. The furniture was slightly worn but clean, and the beds were covered with warm comforters and firm pillows. A bookcase stood in the corner, filled with the books that they were currently reading or wanted to have close at hand.
Mr. Smith lifted the mattress of one bed and peered underneath, finding nothing.
“May I ask what you’re looking for?”
“Cigarettes. Drugs. Pornographic magazines.”
A gasp left her lips, and she blinked in surprise. “If the boys were smoking cigarettes, I would smell it. They care too much about their health for smoking or drugs.”
He stood and sneered
, once again staring down at her. “And pornography?”
“I assume you think that I, being an older woman, know nothing about pornographic magazines.” Her lips curved slightly, and she said, “My boys are normal and healthy, and I have no doubt that they have an interest in what others might pass around at school. But if they choose that particular reading material, I hardly doubt they would bring it into my house. There’s a level of respect we have for each other.”
Not finding anything untoward in the room, he pushed past her and walked across the hall, finding an almost identical room. Giving it the same scrutiny, he then moved to Zander’s room after inspecting the bathroom at the end of the hall.
“Eight boys and only one bathroom?”
“Since I’ve already stated that Zander’s room stays open and is welcome for anyone, there are two full bathrooms up on the second floor for the eight boys. I have my own bedroom and bathroom downstairs and there’s a powder room as well. So, two showers, three toilets, and multiple sinks in the house have not proven too few for the boys to share. I dare say our servicemen and women in the military have less.”
“I wouldn’t know about that,” he retorted.
Her lips twitched. “I didn’t think you would.” She caught his look of irritation and choked back the words that wanted to fly out. It was evident he was on a mission. A mission to find some reason to take any of her boys from her.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and a whisper in her ear. “Stay calm, Ethel. All will be well.” Recognizing George’s voice, she inhaled deeply before letting her breath out slowly.
Leading the social workers back downstairs, she led them past the dining room where the large table was filled with the boys whose expressions still ranged from anger to fear. The anger she could deal with later, but the fear only amplified hers.
Following Mr. Smith into the kitchen, she observed as he opened the refrigerator, finding it filled with milk, juice, vegetables, meat, and cheese. She opened her pantry door, exposing its packed contents of food as well. “I also have a freezer in the laundry room, where I occasionally will cook a meal ahead of time, especially if the boys have a variety of sporting or school events to attend.”
“This is all very impressive,” Mrs. Parker said. Casting a glare toward Mr. Smith, she added, “Just as I have always reported.”
Taking a look into the laundry room, he glanced over his shoulder toward Ethel. “Who handles all this?”
“I usually do the washing, and each boy is tasked with putting his own clothes away. And before you ask about outdoor chores, all the boys share in the mowing, but the flower gardens responsibilities are mine, shared with Rafe.”
With him still glowering, they walked back toward the front of the house, passing the dining room once again. Once in the living room, he looked around, carefully walking past the wall of bookshelves filled with books of every kind.
She felt another presence at her back, but this time it was not George. That was confirmed when Zander spoke, “We sit in here every night and read. And discuss. Discuss books, what we read, what our dreams are. Each of us came from a place that was not so good, but landing here was the greatest gift we could have been given.”
Tears pricked her eyes, but she could see Mr. Smith was not impressed. The boys formed a wall behind her, and she battled back her tears, praying for strength.
“I have concerns about eight boys living together. If they get out of hand, how would you ever be able to control them?”
“I don’t have to control them,” she bit back. “I love them, care for them, and respect them. That’s what I’ve taught them, and that’s what I get in return. That’s what they get from each other.”
“Mrs. Parker, you know,” Cael said, turning toward the social worker. He towered over her but managed to keep his intimidation in check. “Why are you letting this happen?”
“It’s not her decision, it’s mine. Mine alone,” Mr. Smith interjected. “And if I’m not satisfied that this house is the right place for you, I can have you removed.”
The blasting heat of anger from behind her radiated out, and Ethel lifted her hands gently to the side, knowing the boys would follow her lead.
Another knock at the door sounded, and her heart pounded even more. Before she had a chance to send one of the boys to see who it was, the door opened slightly.
“Miss Ethel?”
Turning, she saw one of her long-time neighbors and former close friend of George, who lived down the street. Smiling, she called out, “Judge Nelson, what can I do for you?”
“It was the strangest thing,” he exclaimed. Stepping inside the house, he greeted the boys by name, and they, in turn, politely greeted him. Turning toward Ethel, he continued, “I was in my toolshed and suddenly remembered that your George had given me a chisel when I was determined to learn how to make table legs. I suddenly thought about your young Cas and thought he might like to come over sometime and give it a try.” He looked at Cas and added, “I know you’re particularly good with woodwork, and it was never a gift of mine. If you’d like to try it, I’ll be more than happy to let you set it up over here. It belonged to my good friend and Ethel’s husband, George, so it really belongs here.”
“Mr. Smith, have you met Judge Nelson, my friend and neighbor?” Ethel asked.
“Um… no… um…” he stammered.
“Judge Nelson has assisted in making sure my boys are well taken care of.”
The judge turned toward Mr. Smith and Mrs. Barker. With a wide smile, he said, “Oh, are you visiting Miss Ethel? Best foster home in the city, I can tell you that! I’ve known her for more years than I care to count. Knew her husband, too.” Looking back at Ethel, he said, “Like I said, it was the damnedest thing. It was as though George just came to me this afternoon and said that I needed to go have a chat with Ethel and the boys. So, here I am.”
“Cas, why don’t you and the others take the judge back to the dining room and offer him something to eat and drink? I’ll be along shortly.” She waited as her boys dragged their feet, evident that they preferred staying with her. Once they were all down the hall, she turned back to Mr. Smith. “I realize that in your position you see many heartbreaking situations. Some children have backgrounds similar to a few of my boys. Others, foster families that are not offering their homes and lives for the right reasons. I don’t resent you coming here to find out about me and my boys. I can’t control what you decide to do, but I will let you know that I will never give up these boys. They will tell you that I saved them… but, quite the contrary. They have given me a new lease on life.”
“We’re family,” Rafe declared.
She startled at the sound of his voice close behind her. Turning, she saw the anguish on his face and reached out, placing her hand on his arm. He jerked at her touch, his gaze swinging from Mr. Smith to hers. “Sweetheart—”
“No, Rafe’s right,” Cael said. “I thought social services was supposed to help kids, not split up families. We are a family.”
“Would you be doing a search of the house if we were all related by blood?” Zander asked, his words hard and clipped.
“We know a family that had six kids,” Jaxon piped up. “And their grandparents live with them, too, so they had a lot of people in that house. I bet you never went in there to snoop around.”
Asher, pale and visibly shaking, slid in front of Cael. His eyes darted to Miss Ethel’s, and he almost lost the battle to keep from crying. “She’s Mom. She wanted me when my real mom didn’t. You can try to take me away, but I’ll always come back.”
Heart threatening to rip into pieces at the emotions pouring from her boys, she whirled back around, stepped toe to toe with Mr. Smith, and shook her finger under his nose. “Mr. Smith, you are no longer welcome in my home. You do what you have to do, but remember, if you try to separate this family, I’ll fight you every step of the way. I’ll bleed and die until my boys are all safely under my roof again.”
“Now,
now, I’m sure no one’s thinking about separating this family,” Judge Nelson said as he walked back into the room, his hand gently resting on their shoulders as he maneuvered between the boys.
Her stomach was in knots, but she had known the judge for many years. On the outside easy-going and fun-loving, but he ruled his courtroom, often putting blowhard attorneys to shame. She recognized the firm statement he was making in spite of the smile on his face.
“No, no,” Mr. Smith said, shaking his head emphatically, his eyes wide as he stared at the judge. “I never meant to imply that I was going to separate the family. It is a large group of boys, and we do have to be sure. I think from now on Mrs. Barker can make her annual visits.” With that, he offered a short nod and made his way quickly out the front door. Mrs. Barker grinned and winked at the others before following him out.
Shaking, Ethel stood in silence, staring at the door. Judge Nelson patted her arm and said, “Funny thing, George coming to whisper in my ear today, don’t you think?” With a nod, he followed the social workers out as well.
Choking back a strangled sob she tried valiantly to quell, she pressed her fingers to her lips. Zander’s hand clasped her waist as he assisted her to her chair. Dropping into the seat as her shaky legs gave out, she quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes. The boys rushed to her, gathering around, most plopping awkwardly onto the floor at her feet while Zander and Rafe perched on the arms of her chair.
“I’ll get you a cup of tea,” Zeke said, hopping up.
“I’ll be fine… I’m so sorry,” she stammered, her face flaming as she reached out to place her hand on his arm. “Stay, please.”
Forcing her breath to ease in and out of her lungs, she remained silent for a moment until her hands no longer shook. The reality that no one was taking them from her slowly settled into her mind, allowing her body to relax slightly.
“I couldn’t believe how you stepped right up to him,” Jayden said. Pressing his lips together, he stared up at her.
Holiday for a Hero (Heroes at Heart Book 9) Page 5