Page 106 of Heal
"I'd be happy to help with that. I'm assuming since you have the same friends as Beau, the paperwork and waiting periods won't be an issue?" Parson glanced at Carter.
"Correct." Carter grinned.
"Boy or girl?" Beau asked, looking over at Parson with a hopeful look.
Parson could read Beau's face and was sure what he was thinking. Not wanting to get his hopes up, he waited for Noam or Kasey to answer.
"A boy." Kasey glanced at Xander and Matt who sat across from them. "We've watched what you've dealt with raising a girl. No way could we handle all that."
Noam laughed. "We could, but why would we want to?"
Xander tossed a piece of breadstick at Noam. "Because she's pretty amazing."
"She is, but our child will be too." Noam tossed the piece of bread on the coffee table in the empty pizza box.
"Do you have an age preference?" Parson asked.
"Not a baby. Neither of us wants to deal with diapers and late-night feedings, but we've talked about a younger kid, someone who can grow up with us. I don't know, eight or so?" Kacey said.
Beau grinned.
Parson laughed. "It can't be this easy."
Beau shrugged. "Fate has a way of making things work."
"What?" Becca asked as she sat on the floor in front of the couch Bryon was lying on.
"I think I know the perfect kid. You'll have to meet him, of course, see if you guys get along, but he's nine. He was one of the kids that were at the ranch. He knows Beau's son, Jeff. They became friends at those horrible parties. Leaned on each other for support it sounds like," Parson told them.
Beau nodded. "We went to the hospital today to visit him. Cute kid. He's got his issues, just like Faith or my kids did at first, trust is going to be a major factor with this one I think. He doesn't seem to have much faith in finding a good home."
"And he's available to adopt?" Noam asked.
"I'm not his caseworker, but I know the lady who is. He gets out of the hospital tomorrow and will be put on the list to be placed in a new foster home, once one opens. He said his mother died, and he lived with his aunt, but can't remember where. He told us the police that his mom just told him to go with this guy and he never saw her again. I doubt anyone is looking for him, but they'll have to make sure." Parson went on to explain how everything worked, and what needed to happen before Eric could come home to them.
"When can we meet him?" Noam asked.
"Let me talk to Janice tomorrow and we'll see what she says. We're so overcrowded now that there's a chance they could rush things. Though, after all the investigations going on, they might change the rules as we go." Parson glanced at Beau. "I haven't met Eric. Think he'd be a good match?"
"I didn't get to spend enough time with him, but if he's anything like Jeff, I think he'd be a perfect match. He's very malnourished right now, has some anal injuries that are almost healed, and he's going to need some counseling, but that's nothing we all aren't used to." Beau rolled his eyes at Bryon.
"Speaking of which, Dyson and Becca, you're both late on your sessions with Katie. Make sure you get in to see her this month or your both off the team until you do," Bryon told them.
"Thanks for reminding him, Beau." Becca stuck her tongue out at him.
"Hey, he was after me a few weeks ago. What's fair for the goose is fair for the—"
"Yeah, yeah, we get it." Dyson sighed. "I'll call her tomorrow."
"We're going to take the last two weeks of the month off, unless something major pops up. We're all tired, and we need the break. That goes for your team too, Noam. The world won't fall apart without us for a couple of weeks. We'll start fresh after the new year." Bryon shifted, grunting as he moved wrong.
"I can up your pain meds," Beau offered.
"Nah."
"How about his sleep meds so he settles down?" Becca smacked Bryon's leg.
"I'm bored." Bryon frowned.
