Page 103 of Heal
He nodded. "So, any question for me or things you want to know?"
"I don't think so." She reached for her ice cream which was now melted.
"Would you like me to sign you up for some young mother classes so you know that what you're feeling is normal?"
"Not yet." She furrowed her brow. "Not because I don't want to know, but there would be a lot of women in the class, and I don't think I could handle that yet."
Parson understood. Beau had made sure to find a male OBGYN to handle the pregnancy. It was easy to forget Lisa's fears. He was glad she was brave enough to speak up. "You let me know if you need anything then. And once you decide what you're going to do, we can start planning one way or the other."
"Thanks, Parson." She smiled. "I hope it does work out with you and Beau. You'll make a good Dad."
Parson's heart melted a little hearing her say that. "I hope so too, I really do."
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Beau ignored the hospital staff as he and Jeff walked down the hospital hallway. He wasn't here for work. Lisa was home with Parson, doing a follow-up that CPS needed. It gave Beau the perfect chance to spend some time with Jeff.
While Lisa seemed to be adjusting well to the changes in her life, including the pregnancy and dealing with her past slowly through therapy, Jeff still wasn't opening up. He wouldn't talk about the abuse, his prior foster families, or anything that happened before he'd come to the hospital injured. Beau didn't push, but it was hard, especially when the nightmares were still happening.
The only time Jeff ever mentioned what had happened to him was to ask about his friend, Eric. Which surprised Beau because from what he'd been told, Eric was there during the worst of Jeff's abuse. The two had been forced to perform sex acts together for the cameras. It turned Beau's stomach to think about what the kids had faced.
Still, since Eric was such a concern to Jeff, Beau hoped that finding Eric would give Jeff some kind of closure or healing. Maybe help him move on from what had happened to him.
"Do I have to have more tests?" Jeff asked as he looked at the nurses.
"No, we are here to visit someone." Beau stopped outside one of the room doors. "Go on in and see." Beau glanced nervously at Parson as he released Jeff's hand.
Jeff bit his lip, but slowly stepped forward. It took him a moment to realize who he was seeing, but when he did, he ran toward the hospital bed. "Eric!"
Beau watched as Eric jumped down from the bed and hugged Jeff. The two started talking so fast that Beau couldn't keep up with what they were saying.
He swallowed the lump in his throat as the two boys hugged.
"Thanks, Beau." Jeff glanced back at him.
"Thank the police, they were the ones who found him." Beau figured it was best to use that story so there was no risk of anyone finding out that Beau knew anything more than the average citizen.
"You're okay?" Jeff asked Eric.
Beau stepped back, letting them talk. The moment he'd found out that Eric was one of the kids who had been found at the ranch, he made sure that he could bring Jeff in to see him. Eric was thin and had some internal injuries, much like Jeff had when he'd been brought in. Beau wasn't Eric's doctor, but he would do what he could to make sure Eric was placed in a good home, hopefully, one where Jeff and he could get together and play if they wanted to.
He'd played around with the idea of adopting him too, but decided two was enough for now. Parson promised to help find Eric a good home, and Beau trusted that he would.
It was a shock to the community and to CPS after everything had come out in the media. Again, the police had kept the castrations secret, but the news of a child sex ring being taken down had made the front page. The fact it was linked to CPS made the public more upset, and from what Parson was hearing at work, there were going to be huge changes to how the system was run.
Beau could only hope that was true.
The fundraiser had brought in more than enough money to build a new Children's Center, and Beau was thinking about doubling the beds he'd planned for the building. It was the least he could do for all the kids who were in need. It wouldn't help all the kids taken from the ranch, but hopefully, it would be up and running in less than a year.
He watched the boys talk and laugh until his cell phone pulled his attention away, he stood, gestured to Jeff he was going out in the hallway, and answered. "Hello?"
"Beau, it's Bryon."
"Are you okay? Do I need to come in?" Beau was immediately in doctor mode.
"No, I'm fine, other than no one will let me do anything," Bryon grumbled.
"That would be because I ordered you not to." Beau smiled, imagining the hard time that Bryon was giving everyone.
