Page 69 of The Cannon
“That’s one of the hardest things about being a foster. I know.”
“The thing is, Dan and I had started considering adoption. It was probably going to happen.”
“Was?”
I hear the intake of her breath first. Then she begins to cry softly.
“I’m sorry. Let me just get this out. Dan is having some health problems. He’s undergoing tests to determine what’s wrong, but we think it’s pretty serious.”
Oh shit.
“How awful. I’m so sorry, Julie. God.”
“Anyway, the adoption is off the table. I’m going to be struggling with my three biological children and I’ll be lucky to function at all if…”
She dissolves in tears and I realize I need to end the conversation for now. Just for her benefit. I wouldn’t care if she cried for an hour to me, but I can tell it’s getting to be too much for her.
“We’re not going to involve the children till we need to. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry to do this,” she says between sobs.
“Listen, Julie. Don’t apologize for crying for Dan. Or for yourself. I know you’ve taken good care of Jude, I’ll be watching over Jude and trying to help in any way I can. I’m so sorry you have to go through all this. Call me anytime…”
But the phone disconnects. Crap.
I don’t go back inside because I need to think this through before I do. What if it’s serious? What’s the news going to do to Jude? And most importantly, what’s going to happen to him when he’s no longer a member of that family? Where will he land?
Fuck. I know the answers to those questions too well.
The door opens and Jude peeks his head out. Surprisingly I get a wide smile.
“Bristol said to say get your butt back and join the party.” He chuckles when he says it.
I adjust my attitude and pretend everything is fine.
“What? She talked about my butt? How dare she. Let’s go steal her popcorn.”
“Yeah!”
He leads the way back inside, rushing across the room.
My brain is working furiously to come up with some sort of plan. The best way to handle the situation. But nothing’s coming. I need to talk with Bristol tonight. I’m counting on her having something brilliant to add. A suggestion I haven’t considered. We need to work together.
As I walk up to the group of kids and take the empty seat next to Bristol she puts on a fake angry expression.
“Did you tell Jude you were going totryto take my popcorn?”
She holds the bag close to her chest.
“Maybe.”
“Just you try, Mr. Man. I’ll make you sorry you did.”
The kid finds her statement funny.
“I might reconsider, but it’s not ‘cause I’m scared of you. I’m just not in the mood for popcorn.”
It’s relatively simple to make kids this age laugh. It has a lot to do with self-deprecating humor.
Jude and Bristol break out in laughter. It’s a party. Everyone is having a great time. Everyone but me.
