I frown. I know he’s not, but he’s not my first reluctant kiddo, and I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. “No worries. I’ll just order in, if you don’t mind.”
He shakes his head. “That’s fine.”
I stand up and head into the other room, ordering from the little sandwich shop a couple of doors down. I get my usual, a BLT with fries and two chocolate chip cookies, but I double the order.
When I go back into the lounge, Eli’s sitting in the same place, still wrapped in the blankets. It’s getting close to the time that Beck gets off work, and I didn’t even realize how late it was getting, so I shoot him a quick text.
Me
Hey, baby. I’ve got a kiddo here who needs some help. He’s not talking yet, so we should probably let Hold know we won’t be able to make it tonight. Tomorrow should be better.
This is the only part of the job that gets a little wild occasionally. I won’t leave until the kid with me feels at least a little safe, and I can find them a temporary placement. I have connections with two group homes in the area. Beck and I got our foster licenses last year, just in case we wereever in a situation where we needed to keep a kid while we worked something else out. It’s happened a few times, but never for more than a night or two. Liam was actually one of the kids who stayed with us.
His response comes in a few moments later.
Beck
I’ll let them know, beautiful. I’m about to leave the hospital now. Please be safe and let me know if you need anything. I’ll see you when you get home. I love you.
Me
Thank you. I love you too.
I’ve just hit send when there’s a knock on the front door that has Eli letting out a little yelp and burying his face in the blankets. “Hey, it’s just my food. It’s okay. No one will hurt you here,” I say, waiting until he finds my eyes and nods before I step out to get the door.
I tip the guy who delivers it extremely well because fuck the cold, and head back toward Eli. This time when I walk into the room, he doesn’t jump. I sit down and set the delivery bag on the table. Pulling the first box out, I make a confused face. “Oh.”
I watch Eli out of the corner of my eye. When the scent of the fries and cookies reaches his nose, his stomach growls again, and he sits up a little, peeking toward the table.
“They accidentally gave me two,” I murmur, pulling out the second box and making a show of opening it like I have no idea what’s inside. After glancing back and forth between the two boxes, I let out a sigh and look up at Eli. “There’s no way I’ll be able to eat all this. Are you sure you aren’t hungry? I’d hate to see it go to waste.”
He stares at the food for a long while, and when his stomach lets out another loud growl, he finally nods. Without a word, I slide the container over to him. Instead of bringing attention to him, I look down at my food and pick up my cookie, shoving half of it in my mouth in one bite. I’m chewing when there’s a small gasp from Eli. I look up at him, worried, when I see he’s looking at me like I’m crazy. “You can’t eat the cookie first,” he whispers. He sounds absolutely scandalized, and it almost makes me laugh, but I don’t even have time to because his face goes ghost-white, and he shrinks away from me. “I… I mean, you can… You can do whatever you want. I’m sorry.”
“Eli,” I say, swallowing quickly. “Eli, it’s okay. I know you were being playful. I’m not going to hurt you, okay? I promise.”
He takes a couple of deep breaths as color slowly returns to his face. “I’m sorry,” he whispers again.
I grin. “No need to be sorry. You don’t eat your dessert first?”
He gives a single shake of his head. “You should,” I say. “The saltiness of the bacon is perfection after eating the cookie. That’s why I always order two. One for before and one for after. A pre-dinner cookie and a post-dinner cookie.”
He watches me for a second, so I wink at him and shove the rest of my cookie in my mouth.
The ghost of a smile touches his lips and he picks up his cookie, taking a small bite.
We finish our meals in silence. Eli clears his entire tray and, like me, saves his second cookie. When he’s done, he sits back and lets the blankets fall away from his shoulders. “Can I have some water, please?”
I nod. “Of course. I’ll be right back.”
When I get back with his water, he looks a little more comfortable—less scared, for sure. He takes the water from me with a mumbled, “Thank you.” I sit back down on the floor across from the table. He sips his water for a second and then looks at me. “My dad hurts me.”
That sends a sharp pain through me. “Yeah?” I ask softly.
He nods, tears welling up in his eyes. “My friend, Molly, let me wear some of her lip gloss.” He stops talking and looks at me like he’s waiting for judgement. He won’t find any. Taking another shaky breath, he continues. “Anyway, he didn’t like it. It’s… it’s not the first time he’s hurt me. But it’s the worst time.”
I nod. I understand that completely. We can take a lot from our parents. That unconditional love is difficult to break, truly. But undoubtedly, there isalwaysa last time. A final straw. It seems Eli has found his.
“How old are you?” I ask.
