Page 29 of Heal
"Hello?" Parson sounded tired.
"Did I wake you?" Beau glanced at the clock, seeing it was almost seven at night.
"I fell asleep doing some research. I should have known better than to sit on the couch." Parson sounded like he was stretching. "You free?"
"Yeah, where do you want to meet up?" Beau asked.
"You can come here if you don't mind or if it's not too far." Parson gave him the address. "We can meet somewhere if it's easier."
"No, you're actually not too far from where I am right now. I can be there in five minutes or so, if that's not too quick." He tried not to imagine what Parson looked like after just waking up. He was good about not letting his mind taking him places it shouldn't go, and sleeping men was something he really shouldn't be thinking about.
His body didn't necessarily agree though. He'd been single a long time, and his body was more than ready for any attention. It had been a while since anyone, male or female, had caught his interest, but he'd noticed Parson from day one. He'd always had a thing for redheads. Still, he tried not to get involved with people. It was usually a mess. With his family's fame, wealth, and the media interest in everything they did, it made dating hard. He either found people who wanted his money and the fame, but not him, or people who wanted him, but couldn't handle the money or fame that went with it. It was easier to stay single.
"No, that's perfect. I'll see you in a few minutes then," Parson told him. "I'm about to order pizza. Anything you don't like?"
"I'm good with everything. See you in a few." Beau disconnected the call and pulled out of the driveway.
He was a bit shocked by the offer of food. It was late, but he was starving, and at the mention of pizza, his stomach growled. He really needed to do better about taking time to eat during the day. He hadn't even worked much today and still hadn't bothered with food since breakfast, and that was only a muffin.
Parson's house was only a few blocks from the STK house, which made it easy to get to. He pulled into the driveway, smiling as Parson opened the front door as he got out of the car.
"No problem finding it?" Parson asked.
"Not at all. I have a friend a few blocks away who I was visiting. How long have you lived in the area?" Beau took in the two-story home in a quiet middle-class neighborhood. He liked that even though Parson came from money, nothing about the home screamed rich.
"A few years. Mom and Dad tried to get me to get a place closer to them, but this area felt more like home to me. I like that I can blend in here." Parson held the door open for Beau.
"Thanks. It's a nice place. Something I would have chosen if I'd been able to. Dad bought me a house as soon as I moved back here. Said I needed a place that represented the family. I argued, but ended up with a six-bedroom home not too far from where your parents probably live." Beau sighed. "I've thought about moving, but honestly, it's not worth the fight, and I'm not home enough for it to matter. When I am home, it's to eat and sleep. I'll let my dad get his way on a few things."
"Sad we're in our thirties and still can't make our own choices. Dad refuses to come to visit me. I have to go to them whenever I want to see them." Parson led them into the living room. "Can I get you a drink?"
"Just water." Beau sat down on the couch as he looked around. He liked what he saw. Parson's simple furniture and basic decorating were exactly what Beau would have done if the place was his. He liked how comfortable it felt. He could relax back and enjoy himself without worrying about appearances or ruining anything fancy or expensive.
"Pizza should be here in about fifteen minutes." Parson handed him a glass of ice water before sitting down in a large reading chair beside the couch. "Sorry to drag you out on your night off."
"No, I'm sorry that I couldn't get time to talk earlier. It sounded like what you have to tell me is important. I was just exhausted after my shift last night, and today I had to catch up on all the little things. What have you found out?"
Parson sighed. "It's not good. I've never had to deal with a pregnant child before, so I wasn't sure of the procedure. I looked it up today and…" He shook his head.
"What?" Beau sat forward, trouble by Parson's expression.
"We have to split Jeff and Lisa up. Lisa will be placed in a home for young mothers. Once the child is born, then she can either choose to keep the child or she can give it up for adoption. If she chooses to keep it, since she's sixteen, she has six months to stay at the home, find work, and get on whatever programs she can. Then there is a program where she gets to move to another home where she'll have help with things, but pretty much learn how to make it on her own. She'll pay a small fee for rent there, but food and everything is provided with that fee. She can stay there as long as she follows the rules, keeps employment, and is under eighteen. The day she turns eighteen, she's out and on her own, hopefully with the skills to make it alone."
"And if she gives it up for adoption?" Beau asked.
"Then she still goes to the home for pregnant girls, then once the baby is born, she'd placed back in the system, but chances of her getting back with her brother are slim." Parson folded his hands on his lap. "I've looked for any way to keep them together, but there is nothing. No matter what she chooses, they're going to be split up."
"They're being punished for something that isn't even their fault." Beau's chest ached. "How am I supposed to tell them this?"
"It's my job to tell them. You don't have to be the bad guy." Parson didn't sound any happier about him being the one that had to deliver the news. "There is a slight chance that if I can find a foster home willing to take her in pregnant and keep Jeff also, and keep her and the baby once it's born, that I can bend the rules a bit, but it's hard enough to find a home to take two kids, let alone two with another on the way. Taking care of a pregnant teen isn't something people will want to take on."
Beau nodded, sinking back against the couch. This couldn't happen. There had to be another way. "This is going to kill them. You've seen them. Lisa won't even leave him alone for ten minutes. I know it's not healthy for them to be together like that all the time, but splitting them up for good isn't an option."
"I know. I'm still trying to find any way around it, but I haven't found anything. I have yet to bring up her pregnancy with the agency. Keeping it quiet is the best option right now. As soon as I report it, the agency will start working on placement for her and refuse to let me continue to search for a home for both of them. I won't be able to hold back the information for long, but I will keep quiet while I can." Parson stared at Beau. "I'm sorry. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear."
"It's not your fault. You have a job to do, and there are rules for all this. I'm sure this works for most cases, but…" Beau shook his head. "I've let myself get too attached to these kids. I know better, but it just happened. Lisa clung to me and instead of putting boundaries, I let her. I told myself yesterday that I needed to step back, but then I look into their eyes and I just can't bring myself to let them get lost in the system again."
"I don't know how you do it. I thought it was hard enough just placing kids. Most have had a rough start in life and faced abuse, but I've never had to deal with anything like this before. What was done to those kids was horrendous. I'm sick thinking about what they've been through. The fact that Lisa told us there are others going through the same thing makes me want to single-handedly visit every foster home and inspect the home and kids myself for signs of abuse. I swear if I find out that another caseworker is involved in this and covering things up, I'll kill them." Parson stood, his anger showing on his face.
