"Honey, you can bring your whole craft room down here for the big favor you are doing for us. He seemed interested in my art in the living room. Maybe you could encourage his interest. He needs something positive in his life now."
*****
Isaac and I agreed that when we got home from work, we would have dinner with Andy and discuss what our options were. We would put to Andy our idea of taking responsibility for him. If he agreed we would contact Arthur. If he liked the idea, we would approach him about several long-term goals. Getting him back in school would be first, then looking at the possibility of one of us being his guardian.
I was home first and once I dropped my things by the front door, I went to check on him. Making my way down the hall, I heard laughter and paused. “That’s right. It was scandalous. Almost a third of my students drew marijuana plants as their subject.” Andy’s laughter was light and infectious.
I called out to them, as I approached the door, letting my presence known. “Hi, everyone!” I walked in the doorway to see a half-completed dreamcatcher in Abby’s hands and both of them were sporting a grin.
“I was just telling Andy about what it was like my last year of teaching at Lowell High School.”
Andy’s mouth was full, and he handed me a cookie. “These are awesome! Chocolate chip with macadamia nuts. She is the best baker.”
“Well it looks like I left you in excellent hands.” I took a bite of the cookie and it was delicious. “How about we have pizza tonight? What toppings do you like?”
Abby stood up. “Well, young man. I think it is time for me to head upstairs. When I took a break earlier, I baked another batch of cookies. This time with twice as many chocolate chips!” She knew we were having the talk tonight and whispered in my ear to call her if I needed her, or wanted more cookies.
“Sebastian, can she stay for dinner?”
Abby patted him on the head. “That is a very nice offer, but I have things to tend to at home. I’ll be by to see you in the morning.”
“Maybe you can tell me more about being a teacher tomorrow?”
“I think we can do that.” She went to the door and waited for me in the hall.
“Back in a second.” Abby let me know the swelling in his knee was going down and she had been icing it for most of the day with breaks to let the blood flow more freely.
“Andy is a wonderful young man. I enjoy spending time with him. If there is anything I can do to help with…, you know, then please ask. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Returning to the room I sat on the edge of the bed and heard the front door close. “Tonight, we’ll eat together in the dining room. Now, what toppings do you want on your pizza?”
*****
We talked for a while until I heard the front door open. Excusing myself I went to greet my man. Wrapping my arms around his neck I gave him a big kiss as he dropped his briefcase, then I rested my head on his shoulders. "Why don't you go say hi to Andy while I order our pizzas. I'll get the Hawaiian, and I suspect you want your meat lover's, Andy wants a pepperoni with sausage. We'll either have leftovers tomorrow or we can take what we don't eat for lunch."
"Three pizzas? We'll be having it for a couple of days." Isaac grinned and leaned in for another kiss before heading to Andy's room.
Dinner arrived forty-five minutes later and Isaac helped Andy to the dining room. He offered to carry him, but Andy refused, wanting to try on his own. He leaned on Isaac once they reached the living room.
I sat at the head of the table with Isaac on my left and Andy on my right. We dug in and held off on talk until we finished our first slice. For a little guy, Andy had a voracious appetite. Isaac was the first to speak, bringing up a favorite story about me. "When I met Sebastian, the first time we had pizza at my house he was looking everywhere for a knife and fork. It took a lot of training for him to eat it with his hands." Andy burst out laughing and it looked wonderful on him.
There was no time like the present. "Andy, we'd like to talk to you about something." He stopped eating and put down the slice. I thought he would cry. "There is nothing to be concerned about. Please don't worry."
Isaac could see that the conversation was going south fast. "Andy. We are hoping you will like our idea. We aren't kicking you out."
"You telling me the truth?"
I breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes. We wanted to know what you would think about finishing high school here in San Francisco?"
His face lit up like the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. "Really?"
When I looked at Isaac, there was a grin from ear to ear. I felt everything would be all right. Isaac reached out and held my hand. "We wanted to know if you would like to stay here and finish your education."
Tears formed and before I knew it Andy was crying. "Why? Why do you want to do this for me? I ain't your kid."
"Andy." How could someone put their child through the hell he has gone through at a young age? The bruise around his eye was there, but I could see his angelic face more clearly. "We want to give you the opportunity to have a real life. My parents were ashamed of me. Isaac's…" I looked over at him and he nodded. "His parents died when he was young, and the state shuttled him to different foster homes growing up."
Isaac patted my hand before turning to Andy. "We want to make sure you have every opportunity to have a good life. That is..., if you will let us."
Andy wiped his eyes and avoided looking us in the eye. "I want that. I want what you said. If you'll let me."
I was bouncing in my seat and clapping my hands. "Wonderful!" I must have looked like an idiot, but I didn't care. Andy pushed his chair out and hobbled over, throwing his arms around my neck. I could feel his cheek getting wet. Isaac came around behind me, and I felt his strong arms around me as he leaned down and enveloped us in a giant hug. I have a family. My mind reeled at the thought.
When Andy looked up at me, his beautiful hazel eyes were bright. This time it wasn't hope, I think it was actual happiness. "I have to ask you a very important question, Andy. What is your full name? I need to let our attorney know so he can start the paperwork for you living with us."
"Well…, uh…." His face was turning bright red as he pulled away and shuffled back to his seat. When he looked back he had a difficult time meeting our eyes. "It's… it's… Ludlow. My middle name is Remington."
Isaac looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders. There was something he wasn't telling us. My lover must have taken pity on me. "Is Andy your actual first name?"
His shoulders slumped, and he stared at his plate. "No. My first name is Andrus. I hate it."
I forced myself to not laugh and caught Isaac grinning. "Andrus, it's an interesting name."
"Andrus was a favorite uncle of my mother. My dad chose Remington for my middle name after that guy with all the metal statues."
"Andy." I tried to reassure him. "We only need your full name for the attorney and paperwork. Other than that, you can use whatever name you want." I winked and Isaac chimed in. "Agreed."
CHAPTER FOUR
Moving Forward
Isaac
Now that we knew Andy wanted to be a part of our family, I breathed a sigh of relief. The other night gave me a high better than anything I could have imagined. Well, maybe except for making love to Sebastian, or having him curled next to me in bed, or watching his excitement over Andy saying yes. Sebastian called me at lunch and told me Arthur Hargrave would stop by around seven to meet Andy and talk with us about gaining temporary custody so we could provide for his needs and get him enrolled in school. He also reminded us that only one of us would have custody and we needed to decide before proceeding. Not wanting any hiccups, I already made my mind up it would be Sebastian.
Sebastian ordered a large sausage lasagna from Mama Sofia’s restaurant and arranged for it to be delivered. They did not deliver, but since we were such regular customers, they made an exception. Abby showed up after I arrived at home to drop off a chocolate cake for us, expecting a
successful meeting. Andy was dressed in jeans and one of the new knit shirts Sebastian picked up for him.
He was now more independent, being able to bathe himself once he wrapped a plastic bag around the cast on his forearm. His knee had healed enough to enable him to make his way around the house on his own. With the added independence, his confidence was growing. Abby still visited him several times a day and told us how he was delightful company and was grateful for the efforts we are making for him to have a chance at life.
Once we cleared the table, the doorbell rang. I was loading the dishwasher and Andy yelled out, “I’ll get it!” Sebastian looked at me and smiled. I didn’t expect him to answer the door, but it was a sign he felt comfortable in our home.
“It’s Mr. Hargrave! I’ll show him to the living room.” Our young man was full of surprises. I wiped my hands as Sebastian went to greet our guest.
When I entered the living room, Arthur was chatting away with both of them and smiling. When he noticed me, he stood up, offering his hand. “Andy seems like an intelligent young man.” When he sat back down, he opened his briefcase, pulling out a legal pad and a small tape recorder. “Shall we get to work and see about making this Andy’s home and you his guardian, Sebastian?”
Arthur was so efficient. He also did his best to make Andy feel comfortable. He recorded a statement from Andy regarding his wanting to stay with us and attend school, then told him he would have it typed up and would need his signature and have it notarized at his office. When he asked if Andy had any kind of identification, Andy pulled out a plastic sleeve and handed Arthur his Social Security card. “My parents got me this when I turned fourteen.”
“And when was that?”
“A little over a year ago on August 22nd.”
I could see Arthur running the math through his mind. “So. Just to confirm. You are currently fifteen.” Andy nodded. “Being a minor, it is understandable you have little identification. We can start with this.” After writing the number down, he returned the card to Andy. “I need your address in Arkansas to send your parents notification of what we, meaning you, intend to do, and the necessary documents they have to provide, and sign, if they don’t object.” Andy rattled off his parents' address in Buford and their telephone number. “Thank you, Andy, that will be a big help in getting this started. We will have the notary make a note of this information in the letter we send them, and in her records. I’d like you to come into my office to sign this tomorrow, if possible, so we can begin.”
He turned to Sebastian and me. “I will have James prepare everything in the morning. He should have the documents ready in the early afternoon for Andy to sign so we can get this started.”
The plan was to have James contact the police in Buford to find out if they ever reported him missing. If there was no report it gave us additional leverage in case his parents wanted to play hard ball. If they agreed to the guardianship, then his parents were to provide Andy’s birth certificate and sign a power of attorney so James could also obtain a certified copy of Andy’s birth certificate, just to leave nothing to chance. James would then get his school records and we would plan on enrolling Andy in a local school. It was too late to have him enrolled for the fall, but I emphasized to Arthur we wanted him back in school by the spring semester. We could always hire a tutor to help him catch up with his schooling.
I proposed having the requests faxed to the Legal Aid Center instead of Andy going downtown. I was hesitant after everything that had happened about shuttling him around. We had an in-house notary where I worked, and we could arrange for Abby to accompany him in a taxi. If she wasn’t available, I would take the time off from work. Once signed, we would have a courier take the documents to Arthur’s office. If we can get this out of the way tomorrow all the better for moving forward. Once he had the papers all we could do was wait. And we waited.
*****
It was now almost the middle of August, a Friday night, and the wait to hear anything was unbearable. Arthur’s associate, James Alexander, had sent the inquiry to Andy’s parents almost a month ago, and we hadn’t heard a thing. Andy was doing well, but getting restless. I knew the uncertainty was getting to him. James approached a friendly judge in family court and had Sebastian appointed as temporary guardian so Andy would not have to be removed from our home. That gave the kid some peace, but not knowing how his parents would react to the request for guardianship was eating away at him. He had no clue we were planning a surprise for him on his birthday.
One evening, as Andy, Sebastian, Abby, and I were sitting around the dining table playing Monopoly, Abby brought up how Andy showed great talent in his drawings. Sebastian and I looked at each other in shock. She asked Andy if he would like to learn to paint to help pass the time. It surprised Sebastian and I at how he jumped at the suggestion. Some of her paintings were in galleries around the city. Her late husband converted their living room at the front of their flat into a studio for her years ago, changing the dining room into a make shift living room. Before she left, we agreed that he would join her the next day.
She was about to return to her flat later that evening when I tried to give her money for Andy’s supplies, and she took the money and tucked it into my shirt pocket. “Isaac, I have everything he needs upstairs. If he becomes serious about painting, we will talk about it then. Let me do this for him.”
When I returned to the living room, Andy was very animated as he talked about when there was a school outing a few years ago to visit a small gallery in a neighboring town. “So, do you like to draw?”
Andy stopped and looked at me. “I used to draw a lot when I was a kid. As I got older, my Dad said it was for sissies, and took my colored pencils. He said I needed to be more of a man.”
“Well, Sebastian and I don’t believe that. If you want to draw, or paint, we will get you whatever you need.”
I watched as Andy’s expression morphed into something beautiful. His hazel eyes brightened, and his face glowed. “You mean that?”
Sebastian placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "Yes, Andy. We mean it. We'd like to see some of your drawings if you'd let us."
"Maybe later, if that's okay? When they get better."
I looked at Sebastian and he nodded. "Okay, Andy. Time for bed."
*****
We needed relief from all the stress and Sebastian decided a picnic in Golden Gate park was the solution. Andy asked if Abby could go, and I told him to call her. It turned out that Abby had a showing of her latest work at a small gallery in North Beach. She was hoping to tap into more of the tourist trade. Her latest works were scenes of San Francisco, from Victorian homes, the bay, and various well-known landmarks. She had an oil of the Painted Ladies across from Alta Plaza Park that should attract a high price, and it was on display at the opening.
After the call I could tell Andy wanted to go to the opening and pulled Sebastian aside. “The gallery is not too far from Saints Peter and Paul Church. We could picnic in the park across from the church and then visit the gallery.” The church had gained popularity from the 'Dirty Harry' movie a few years back.
“Why not?” He grinned and then slapped me on the chest. “Why don’t you help me make sandwiches, and then we can head out. But first, go tell Andy.”
An hour later, Betty was packed, and we were on our way. The park was green and lush, and busy. We found a spot to open the blanket under the warm sun. I brought sun screen, knowing how easily Sebastian burned. I also suspected that Andy’s fair skin and freckles meant he would burn as well. Andy and I stripped off our shirts and stretched out while Sebastian and his modesty kept him covered. I passed the sunscreen to Andy; his skin was pale, and like his face, was covered with freckles. Sebastian was wearing a dove gray T-shirt that brought out his eyes. I reached out and squeezed his thigh. “You are the most beautiful man here.”
Smirking at my compliment he patted my arm. “Just here?”
“Anywhere, bitch.” We laughed, and I hea
rd a sigh next to me. Andy’s expression was wistful. “Everything okay, Andy?”
“You guys.” He pulled at a dandelion, twirling it in his fingers. “You guys. I hope I can find someone and be like you guys some day.”
“Hey.” I ruffled his hair. “Give yourself time. Things will be different now. In a few years, maybe later in high school, you will find a boyfriend.”
That catching smile of his returned. “Can we eat and go see Abby?”
I laughed and opened the picnic basket. “Sure.”
*****
Being the weekend, as well as the nice weather, the gallery was busy. We spotted Abby holding court next to her painting of the Painted Ladies. I still had a hard time calling her Abby. She wore a brightly colored caftan and several strings of colored beads around her neck, and a multitude of rings and bracelets. Her short gray hair was styled in a bob, and she looked every bit the artist. Making our way through the crowd, we waited while she talked to someone. She stopped talking and waved her arms at us beaming, leaving the person alone as she made a beeline for Andy. “My young protégé!”
She looked up at us. “Don’t be jealous, boys, I’m happy to see you, too.” She laughed. It was loud, vibrant, and warmed my heart.
When she let go of Andy, he looked back at us and then Abby. “We decided it was more important to be here for your showing.” He stood up straight. “We still have some sandwiches, if you’re hungry.”
Abby turned him around, facing the back wall. “We also have pastries, cheese, crackers, and drinks. Why don’t you check them out?” He looked at us and we nodded before he took off. “Thank you for coming today. That boy is much happier now than when I first met him. He also has a lot of talent. You’ve seen his drawings.”
We watched as Andy had become more comfortable around us and Abby. The few drawings he showed us had real promise. He may not have said anything about wanting to be an artist, but we felt, in time, he would tell us. I slipped my hand in Sebastian’s and gave it a squeeze. "If he decides he wants to pursue it, would you mind mentoring him?"
An Unexpected Gift Page 5