When Katie arrived, another emotional round of goodbyes ensued between the children and Skyler, and Stephen and Skyler. Rebecca kept her distance and settled the remaining paperwork with Katie. When it came time for her to say goodbye to Skyler—after everyone else—Skyler didn’t want to hug her. Thankfully, she simply nodded at him and said, “God Bless.”
With Skyler’s bicycles mounted on the top of Katie’s SUV and all of his belongings loaded into the cargo bay and back seat, Skyler was ready to go. Katie walked around to the driver’s side and climbed in. She started the engine and waited as Skyler climbed in. Before shutting his door, he glanced back at the Tinsdale family one last time. He watched Rebecca turn and rest her face against Stephen’s chest, her shoulders heaving up and down with emotion. He waved as he put an arm around his wife. Noah awkwardly saluted and walked into the house as Grace turned to hug her mother. Vickie stood alone, frowning and waving goodbye to Skyler with the fingers of her right hand.
PART TWO
7 | Third Time's A Charm
SKYLER SIGHED AND SHIFTED HIS legs, attempting to stretch them out. Six hours was a long time to be in a car, even if it was Katie’s spacious SUV. They had made pleasant small talk throughout the trip, but Skyler didn’t feel talkative. Thankfully, Katie didn’t push him. There was nothing easy about an awkward three hour trip the universe prolonged into six hours. Adding to the stress of moving out, unexpected Saturday construction near Worcester, Massachusetts and a horrible accident on the Mass Pike shut down westbound traffic for almost two hours. After they grabbed lunch at the Ludlow rest area, they eventually crossed the state border into New York.
He rested his right elbow on the top of the passenger door and let his hand fly in the wind, feeling it pass over his fingertips. The warm spring air smelled of fresh flowers. As they drove through his new suburban neighborhood, he heard birds chirping from the trees that lined the streets. A squirrel caught his eye. It was furiously biting at something while maintaining surveillance of the world around him. Or her. The squirrel looked directly at Skyler and sniffed the surrounding air. You’ve got it easy there, little guy. Bet your life isn’t the shit-show mine is.
“We’re here.” Katie said, slowing the SUV to a stop near the curb. She shifted the SUV into park and shut off the engine and looked at Skyler. “Are you ready? Do you want to come meet them now or do you need a few minutes alone?”
I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, I guess. “I just want a minute to myself,” he answered. “Can you go ahead without me?”
Katie smiled. “Sure thing, take your time. Come on over when you’re ready. They won’t bite, I promise.”
Ha. “Which house is it?”
“The blue one across the street,” she said. “See you in a few minutes, then.” She grabbed her briefcase and stepped out of the SUV, closing the door behind her. As she walked away, the click-clack sound of her slingback heels faded into the distance.
Skyler closed his eyes and took a deep breath. So far the day had been a whirlwind of events that included last-minute early morning packing, loading his stuff into Katie’s SUV, gut-wrenching goodbyes, and the six-hour car ride. Now, at sixteen, everyone expected him to pick up his life for a third time and leave the family he had come to love over the past five years and trade them in for strangers and a completely different life. He realized, despite the recent bullshit, he had grown into a good guy who had survived an overdose of Christianity that had proven itself to be hypocritical. They pretend to love you until they find a reason to hate you.
Now he had to put on a smiley face and meet his new foster family. He wanted to jump on his bike and pedal out his anxious energy but he probably wouldn’t have time for that today. He banged his head on the headrest of his car seat a few times, but it didn’t help.
Skyler watched a neighbor lady attack the dirt in one of her flower gardens with a trowel. She reminded him of one of the eccentric church ladies who always wore bright and obnoxiously cheerful outfits to church services. I shall call you the Plant Lady.
Skyler blinked himself back to reality and looked across the street at the Kelley’s two-story blue house. There were no balloons this time. A large farmer’s porch spanned the length of the craftsman-style house. It was decorated with flowers that were strategically placed along the porch railings and steps. It looked like it would be the nicest—and largest—house Skyler had ever stayed at so far.
He saw Katie standing in the front yard, talking with a man and woman who had come out of the house to greet her. The thin woman had long brown hair and sun kissed honey-brown skin. She wore jean shorts and a white t-shirt. The tall man wore glasses and had sandy brown hair and barely tanned white skin. He wore khaki shorts and a beige t-shirt with some writing on it Skyler couldn’t make out. They kept looking at the SUV and at Skyler. The hopeful expressions on their faces starkly contrasted with the sad expressions on the Tinsdale’s faces a mere six hours ago when they stood in their front yard and waved goodbye.
Those are probably my new parents.
Whoa, who are you?
Skyler’s eyes locked on to a muscular teenage boy with long shaggy brown hair in the front doorway. He jogged down the steps, walked over to his parents, and shook hands with Katie and looked at the SUV. He wore plaid shorts and a gray tank top that showed off his well-developed biceps. He had inherited his mother’s tanned honey brown skin.
Right. My new brother, I guess. Kinda hot, but…not going there. Okay, let’s get this over with. Hopefully it won’t be that bad. All I want is to feel normal, but I don’t even know if I would recognize normal if it hit me in the face.
Skyler grabbed a duffle bag from the back seat and stepped out of the car. He stretched his back and rose to his full height of six-foot-one. He cracked his neck and then walked across the street toward his new family.
Here goes nothing. Everyone’s staring at me. Awkward much? Maybe I should have gone with Katie.
The teenager moved first and closed the distance between them. “Hi,” he said, smiling and extending his right hand. “I’m Colton Kelley, your, um, new brother.”
“Hey, I’m Skyler. Nice to meet you.” They shook hands.
Katie hung back as the parents stepped forward to greet him.
“I’m really glad you’re here,” Colton said, looking at Skyler with piercing dark brown eyes set under full eyebrows.
Skyler forced a smile. “Thanks.” Not sure I can say the same thing yet.
The mom spoke next. “Skyler, it’s so nice to finally meet you. We’re so happy you’re going to be living with us. I’m Liara Kelley,” she said warmly. She hesitated momentarily but decided to give him a hug anyway. Skyler noted how soft and gentle Liara’s temperament seemed, and her brown eyes matched Colton’s.
“Thanks,” Skyler said, surprised, returning the hug.
The dad, Skyler presumed, stepped forward and extended his hand. “I’m Dale, Skyler. I’m happy to meet you, too. Welcome to our home, which is now your home as well.” They shook hands. Dale’s brown eyes sparkled when he smiled at Skyler.
Skyler felt anxious with the awkward silence that filled the air between them. I don’t know what to do now. You all want me to do something, to be happy…I guess I can pretend…
Colton spoke up, “Um…yeah. Come on. Let’s go get your stuff. I wanna show you your room.”
“Okay,” Skyler answered, relieved. He turned around to follow Colton. The sound of his flip-flops smacking his heels pierced the silence. At least I get my own room again. That’s nice.
“Save a box or two for me,” Dale said.
Colton turned and winked at his father. “We got it, Dad.”
Dale shrugged and the adults hung back to chat as two the boys walked to the SUV. Skyler could still hear them talking.
“I really think your family will be the right place for Skyler, with all he’s been through over the last six years, and the year before that,” Katie said. “It will also be good for him to hav
e a teenager as a foster-brother, too. He hasn’t lived with anyone his own age, yet.”
“Well, we certainly hope to provide him with everything we can, even if it is only for two years,” Liara said. Dale nodded in agreement. “But we certainly hope he comes to know our family as his own and comes back whenever he wants to.”
Did I hear her right?
Skyler and Colton crossed the street and approached the SUV. When Skyler opened the trunk hatch, Colton said to him, “You owe me now.”
Caught off guard, Skyler asked, “I do? For what?” Great, I’m already in your debt?
“Saving your ass,” Colton answered. “Do you have any idea of how awkward that was about to become?”
Um, sure.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Skyler admitted. Colton smiled at him. There was something comforting about Colton’s smile that reached Skyler’s soul and told him things would be all right, that this family would bring him a much better life. I can dream, right?
Something poked him in the chest and he looked down. It was Colton’s finger. “Earth to Skyler, I’m helping you, not doing it for you.”
“Sorry, I…I just…”
“Relax, dude. It’s probably been one of the worst days of your life. I’m only giving you shit. I wanna make you laugh. You gotta get used to that. So, uh, let’s get this stuff up to your room.”
Katie moved the SUV into the driveway and the boys made several trips and brought Skyler’s stuff up to his room. Dale worked with Katie to get Skyler’s bikes down from the SUV’s roof rack. When the sound of car doors closing indicated the boys had grabbed the last of Skyler’s stuff, Katie said her goodbyes to Dale, Liara, and Colton. Then she walked up to Skyler. Colton backed off and followed his parents into the house to give them privacy. Skyler set the box in his hands down on the ground.
“If you need anything, call me, okay? I’m here for you, Skyler.”
“Thanks. I’ll be sure to call if it’s another nuthouse,” he quipped. “But I’m a hostage here. I don’t have a phone anymore.” He wrapped his hands around his neck and pretended to strangle himself.
“They’re going to get you a new one. You will do fine here, I promise you. We worked hard—I worked hard—to find the right family this time. I wasn’t going to take a chance with another challenging family. You deserve the best, and I honestly believe this is the right place for you. The Kelleys are wonderful people, and they specifically asked for a boy your age, Skyler. You are special, and they know that. That’s why you’re here.”
“Thanks,” Skyler said. I hope you’re right.
“I’ll be in touch in two days, then two days after that, then each week. They know I will be speaking with you alone, and you know of course I’ll be checking in with them. But you’re sixteen now, you can and should always speak your mind to me.”
“I won’t have a problem now, I’m sure,” Skyler said. A tinge of annoyance rattled in his voice. I shouldn’t have to worry about where you put me.
“Good,” Katie said, nodding at him. “With what Rebecca told me, you can hold your own in a fight.”
“She never had a chance,” Skyler said, grinning.
She smiled and extended her arms. Skyler nodded and hugged her back.
“Thanks,” he said.
“See ya, kiddo. Have fun tonight.”
“Yup.”
Skyler let go and Katie climbed into her SUV. Skyler picked up the box at his feet and watched his only escape back out of the driveway. He sighed and scanned the neighborhood before walking into his new home.
* * *
Skyler stacked the box in his hands onto another box and took a moment to breathe as he glanced around his spacious and furnished room. A big bed with a plaid blue comforter was placed in one corner of the room. It was a serious upgrade from his twin bed at the Tinsdale’s. There were basic things like a nightstand, lamp, plants, and art on the walls. There was also a modern looking wooden desk with a brand-new, unboxed iMac computer on it.
What? They bought me a new computer?
Some weird hooks on one of the walls caught his eye and he walked over to investigate them.
“Those are for your guitars,” a voice said. Skyler turned around, surprised. Colton leaned against the doorframe of his room. You know I play guitar? But I don’t have a guitar…
“How did you…” but his voice trailed off as his eyes noticed a brand-new guitar resting against the bureau. Colton grinned and walked over to the guitar, picked it up, and hung it in one of the hooks. “We know you don’t have a guitar, so we bought one for you. I’m sure mom will tell you about it later.”
“Wow.”
“Just so you know, mom and dad got the 411 on you from Katie. Basically, they did the adult version of 20 questions about you. I got my own questions, but Dad said I’m not allowed to interrogate you until after dinner, which is in a couple of hours. So if you want to rest up, or shower”—Colton pointed toward a closed door—“that is where you can do that. We share the bathroom, by the way. I hope that’s not weird for you. There’s a clothes hamper in there, too. The white one is mine and the blue one is yours. Although I’ll tell you right now, mom will mix the laundry by colors if she does it, or if I do it, although we’ll have to take turns doing laundry.”
Skyler raised his eyebrow at Colton. “So, blue for colors and white for whites?”
Colton chuckled. “Uh, sure, that works.”
“And we do laundry, too?” Skyler asked.
“Yeah, dude, we’re sixteen…we get to do laundry. Woohoo, big fucking deal,” Colton exclaimed as he waved his index finger around in the air.
“Colton!” Liara’s voice boomed from somewhere in the house.
Caught, Colton made a guilty face and smiled. “She can hear quite well, as you just found out.” Colton turned his head in the general direction of Liara’s voice and yelled, “Sorry, mom!” Looking back at Skyler, he asked, “Do you want help unpacking or do you want to chill alone? I know you had a long drive to get here. You’re probably tired or whatnot.”
“Young man,” a deep voice said from the hallway. Skyler blinked when a muscular colossus of a teenage boy with a model-like jawline that could cut through steel, striking blue eyes, and short, styled dark brown hair filled the doorframe of his bedroom. His head rested between thick neck and shoulder muscles that helped the yellow tank top he wore show off his powerful physique and large biceps. His look was finished with blue shorts and light beige flip-flops. Skyler noted the guy had some of the largest calf muscles he had ever seen before. “Do you kiss your mother with that potty mouth? You must stop this bad habit of swearing, bro.”
“Hey, Cody.” He and Colton fist bumped and then did some sort of handshake Skyler had never seen before.
Colton stepped into the room to introduce them. “Skyler, meet Cody,” he said excitedly. “Cody, meet Skyler. He’s finally here!”
“I see that. Good to meet you, man. I’m Cody Byrnes.” He extended one of his muscular arms and offered Skyler his hand.
“Hi, I’m Skyler Phoenix.” They shook hands. Cody leaned against the white doorframe of Skyler’s room.
“Cody is my best friend,” Colton said. “You’ll see him around a lot.”
“Oh, okay, cool,” Skyler answered. Okay, best friend, got it—he’s off limits.
“We’ve been waiting for you,” Cody said. “Glad you’re finally here. Hope it wasn’t too rough a day for you.”
Skyler shrugged. “It hasn’t been a great day.”
Cody smiled and continued, “I understand, dude. Sorry you’ve had to go through this mess. But hey, If you need some dirt on this guy,”—he pointed at Colton—“I’ve got plenty of it. Just ask me.”
“Okay, asshole, that’s enough,” Colton teased. “Do you wanna stay for dinner?”
“Nope, not tonight. I wanted to swing by and meet the new guy. Do you need help moving anything else upstairs?” He turned and looked into the hallway behind him.
Skyler smiled. “Nope, we got it all earlier. Thanks, though.” You’re sweet. Colton’s lucky to have a best friend like you.
“Sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?” Colton asked. “We’re grilling out and stuff.”
“Aah, you’re killing me man. Yeah, I’m good. You two need tonight to bond. Besides,” Cody pointed at Skyler, “your boy here looks pretty tired.”
“Yeah,” Skyler said. “I could use a power nap. I feel lame about it though, you just got here…”
“Just to say hi, that’s all. And really, you just got here. No worries. We’ll meet again when you’re not tired. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
“Fair enough,” Skyler said, smiling.
“Oh, and Tracy sends her love.” Cody blew Skyler a kiss and then looked over at Colton. “Have they met?”
“Not yet. I think she’s out visiting family in Albany today.”
Cody nodded. “Must be why she insisted I say hi for her. Well, Tracy sends her love. You’ll meet her really soon, so get ready because you’ll have to pass inspection and all that.”
“Tracy?” Skyler said. Inspection? Blowing kisses? I’m so confused.
Colton laughed. “Tracy is a unique flower. But you’ll see for yourself. She doesn’t hold back and that’s part of her, uh, charm, I guess.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Skyler asked. I honestly have no idea which way you’re going with this.
“Good thing…mostly. You’ll see,” Cody said. He and Colton chuckled at an apparent inside joke.
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