“Yes, tonight. Like I told you a few days ago, Grant has been with a wonderful foster family for four years. His parents signed their rights away at that time. There was no drug use, but they were a mess.”
Who was Grant? Why was she calling Jax?
“His current foster parents are older, and we’d started to seek out a permanent placement for adoption because they know they won’t be able to keep up with him long term due to health issues. Grant’s been aware of this, but now we’re in a tough spot.”
Jax stared straight ahead, soaking in each syllable.
“Today, his foster mother fell and broke her femur. She had surgery, and the prognosis is good, but she’ll need to be in a rehabilitation facility for a week and then will be non-weight bearing for three months.”
“That’s horrible.” Jax ran his fingers through his hair.
“Her husband will be her caregiver, along with some home health workers, but with his age, he’s not going to be able to handle all of this.”
“Poor guy.”
I took Jax’s hand in mine.
“The foster parents are heartbroken about this and made me promise we’d find the right home for Grant.”
“So, you want me to take him for a while?”
Jax taking in a child? What was happening?
I could hear the smile on the other end of the phone. “Grant felt so comfortable with you that he asked if he may be able to stay with you until this is resolved.”
A slow smile made its way across his face. “Really? Me?”
Warm laughter echoed against the walls. “Yes, you. Jax, I had a feeling the first day I met you, all those years ago when you were a little tyke, that you were special. And here you are, ready and willing to do what you can to help.”
Jax wanted to adopt a foster child? Be a single father? I couldn’t completely wrap my mind around the conversation.
“One of our goals is to keep Grant in the same school, which is very important. Since we’re a smaller community, we don’t have many foster families. Because of this, and the fact that Grant has been with you before, we’re wondering if we could consider you for a longer-term placement?”
“Absolutely. So, we don’t know how long, though?”
“Let’s just take it one step at a time, and we’ll touch base often. Is that okay?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“He was at the hospital tonight and is relieved his current foster mother will make a full recovery. I told him you would make sure he got to visit them often. I think that’s really important to him.”
“Of course, yes, I can make that happen.”
“Jax, is there anythingyouneed for tonight? I know you didn’t expect this.”
“Nope, I have everything.”
Jax is going to be a dad? Like, today? The Hot One had gone to a store, picked out, and purchased dad shit to take care of a kid? Is “stunned” a feeling? If so, that was me.
“Alright, we’ll see you in a bit.”
Jax disconnected the call and turned to me with shock written all over his face.
“Wow,” was all that came out of me.
“Yeah, wow.” He stood up, extended his hand, and pulled me up into a hug. “Well, this isnothow I expected the night to end.” He pulled back and kissed my lips gently.
“Yeah, me either.” I was focusing on keeping my eyes from looking like softballs. “It looks like, uh, the universe has a son for you tonight.”
