Page 49 of Her Saviors

“Are you tryin’ to steal my Nanny?” Goliath asks, walking in with his kids in his arms and a teasing smile on his face.

“No. She’sourNanny, silly man,” Kyler states, turning to finish working on setting the table. “Nanny loves us all and takes care of us like she did you and Uncle Hulk.”

“That she does, Kyler. You’re a smart man,” Goliath says, praising him as we’ve all done since the day we brought him home with us.

“I know. My Brooky tells me that every day,” Kyler states as we all start laughing because this boy already has an ego the size of the Grand Canyon and I’m okay with it because he’s sweet as fuck and protects everyone around him.

We manage to finish breakfast so we can shower and get ready to go to the courthouse when Anguish and Hulk make their way in the house with Robynn, Fetch, and the kids. Jethro rushes to find Bear and the two of them follow Kyler upstairs with Hulk so he can get in his suit. He made sure to tell everyone he didn’t stink because he took a shower but needs his hair done and some of my smelly stuff so he smells good. I lose my shit because my brother is making all of us bend to his will so we’re all prepared to face the judge. He also reminds Anguish, Hulk, and Fetch they need to have suits on or they can’t go in the courtroom with us.

“Who the fuck is the President of this chaos?” Anguish whispers to me. “Seems that’s on my patch, Brother.” He may be glaring at me, but I see the twinkle in his eye. All of my brothers have stepped in to help Kyler adjust to his circumstances.

“Kyler is. Today is all about him and we’re gonna let him have his say,” I respond to him with a smile on my face before I go upstairs to get a shower, leaving our family in the kitchen with Mia and the baby monitor.

Pulling into the courthouse in town, Jayce parks as close to the door as he can. Spring is almost here and there’s still snow on the ground. With Brooklyn and the other ol’ ladies wearing heels, we don’t want them walking too far and slipping. Not that they won’t be holding on to their man on the way inside. Every single man and woman is dressed in dresses with heels or a suit. We’re all wearing our cuts under our suit jackets and the women have their rags on over their dresses. Including Brooklyn. Just before she went into labor, her rag finally came in and we gave it to her in front of our kids and the club. It was actually at the baby shower the club threw for us.

We make it through security as Mrs. Deville, Doc, Darren, and Dr. Matthews show up in support of us. Maude and Miriam also show up for our big day. Kyler has told everyone he comes into contact with about his adoption day and I’m not surprised when we get to the room we’ll go in to see his teacher and the principal sitting there waiting for us. Theresa strolls in behind us with a file in hand in case the judge wants to talk to her. I can’t hold back my emotion as I walk into one of the small, private rooms so I can get myself together.

“Son, are you okay?” Nanny asks me, walking in behind me and closing the door behind us.

“I am. So many people showed up for him, Nanny. All of them are wearing dresses and suits because it’s what he feels needs to be done so the judge doesn’t take him from us. How did we get so fuckin’ lucky to have Kyler in our lives?” I ask her, a few tears sliding down my face.

“You’re not lucky to have him, Gavin. Kyler is lucky to have the three of you in his life. You’ve all shown him how to love without exception, have given him unwavering support, and are nurturing his need to have ways to get out his feelings when he can’t express himself. You’ve had him in counseling to help him through the grief of losing his parents and brought that boy out of his shell. He no longer feels the need to watch over his baby sister because he’s the ‘man of the house’. That’s because of you and Jayce. Every single person out there loves Kyler because of the boy you’re raising with Brooklyn and Jayce. Not because of the boy he was before coming here,” Nanny says, pulling me into her arms and holding me as I finish pulling myself together.

“Thank you, Nanny. I don’t know what we’d do without you in our lives,” I tell her honestly when I pull back from her.

“You’d all be bored to death,” she returns before heading back out to the hall to wait with everyone.

By the time I walk back out to the hall to join my family, we’re being called in to see the judge. Kyler takes Brooklyn’s hand in his and leads her inside like a full grown man instead of the little boy he is. Goliath and Hulk carry in the car seats holding Dax and Adoline as Jayce has Mia in his arms. We’re shown to the table in front as our family sits down behind us with everyone else who is here for us today. Doc, Mrs. Deville, Theresa, and Kyler’s teacher all sit in the front row across the aisle from our family in case they’re called up to speak to the judge on Kyler’s behalf.

“All rise,” the bailiff says as a door opens behind where the judge sits while he’s in court.

Kyler is the first one up and he motions for everyone else to hurry up and follow his lead. I can see his little body trembling with the nerves that he’s been trying so hard to hide from us all. That’s why he wants us all dressed up and looking our best so no one can take him from us. The man in front of us taking his seat has the power to remove him and I think Kyler understands that.

“You may sit,” the judge says, looking up at the filled room with wide eyes. “My goodness, we have a lot of people in here today. Who is Kyler Calhoun?”

“I am, Sir,” Kyler answers, remaining in his seat while sitting taller as the judge focuses on him.

“Young man, are you responsible for all these people being in here this morning?” the judge asks, a smile on his face as he speaks to Kyler.

“I think so, Sir. They my support system,” he says, his words reverting a little bit in his nervousness. I watch him stand since the judge is talking to him and wonder if he’s doing the right thing. When the judge doesn’t tell him to sit back down, I focus on him to make sure he’s alright. His little body is trembling and I wish I could take his fear away, but that’s going to be up to the judge as he’s gotta make the decision of whether or not Kyler and Mia will become our children.

“You have quite the support system. Kyler, are you happy living with Mr. Sord, Mr. Calhoun, and Mrs. Sord-Calhoun?”

“Yes, Sir. But you forgot baby Dax and Baby Addy. They’re the twins and my brother and sister in a way. Not like Mia is though,” Kyler responds, his voice loud and strong as he speaks with the judge.

“I’m so sorry, Kyler. I wasn’t aware the twins were born yet. How are you all adjusting to them being in the house?”

“They cry a lot. And they stink. Not today though. I made sure we all smell good and are dressed up so you don’t get mad at us,” Kyler responds with complete honesty as several people behind us try to hold in their laughter at his response.

“I see. I think babies are all like that. If you could choose anywhere in the world to live, where would it be?” the judge asks with a smile on his face as he waits for Kyler’s response and I know he’s already made his decision but is loving the interaction with our Little Man.

“With my Brooky, Jayce, and Gavin. They love us and take me to all my things. I do martial arts, ride a motorcycle, and they come to all my school things. Brooky won’t let me do wheelies though. She says even when I’m a man I can’t do wheelies. I think when I’m an adult I can do them though,” Kyler responds, his voice full of censure as he looks at Brooklyn instead of the judge.

This time there is no holding anyone back from laughing out loud. Including the judge. Even Mia joins in and she has no clue what’s so funny.

“Young man, you are a joy to have in my courtroom. I want to tell you that I have received reports from everyone you’ve talked with and see in school. Everyone agrees that Mia and you are thriving in the care of Jayce, Gavin, and Brooky. I am going to grant this petition for your adoption. Kyler and Mia, you are now permanently the children of Mr. Sord, Mrs. Sord-Calhoun, and Mr. Calhoun. I hope you love living with them and continue to grow and thrive as they guide you into adulthood so you can finally do your wheelies,” the judge says with a smile on his face as he hits the gavel on the stand in front of him.

“We really get to stay with them, Sir?” Kyler asks, shock and happiness filling his face as tears fill his eyes.

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