Page 64 of Freeing Hawk
My little rag-tag family embraced Keegan, brought him into the folds and showed him more love than I was sure he’d ever felt before.
The first night he spent at my place, Hawk sent me in to speak with him. She thought Keegan and I needed more time with each other. I sat silently on the side of his bed. Everything I thought of saying to him felt flat and unnecessary.
I didn’t want to give him words that didn’t add anything meaningful to his life.
“I didn’t think you would sign the papers,” Keegan said.
“Is that right?”
“Yeah.” Keegan went silent and I thought for sure he wouldn’t say anything else.
As I sat there, I still wasn’t sure what to say. Interacting with him over the past few months had gotten easier and easier. But a month before we’d gotten the news that he was officially ours. Then my heart filled to the point of bursting and I found myself trying to be perfect for him.
“Did you do it for her?”
“Partially.”
“The truth…” Keegan scoffed. “Sorry to sound like a jerk. It’s still a little new to me.”
“Keegan, I’m not going to lie. Adopting a teenager was never on my bingo card for any year.” I pressed my lips into a thin line trying to make sure I didn’t screw up. Deep down, I knew this moment was important and I didn’t want to drop the ball. “But here you are. It would definitely be a lie to say I didn’t do this partially because I’m in love with Hawk. But you don’t deserve to have a crap life because your parents couldn’t get it together. I want you to have everything.”
Silence.
“It’s a little hard, you know?” Keegan told me. “I get nightmares that you guys sent me back.”
“That won’t happen.” I tried assuring him.
“You don’t know that.”
“Once we signed those papers and went to court, you’re ours.” I explained to him. “No going back.”
“What about when I get difficult?”
I smiled. “You’re forgetting one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I used to be fifteen years old too.” I told him. “So whatever little crisis you’ll have, whatever test you plan on putting us through, just know—been there—”
“Done that?”
I glanced over at him and smirked. “Precisely.”
He groaned.
“Life isn’t always perfect.” I explained to him. “If you’ve learned nothing else from me, learn this. Life isn’t always perfect. We have to find moments that make us happy, people who make us smile and those who love us and hold on tight.”
Keegan nodded. “Thanks.”
“I’ve been here a day.” Keegan’s voice trembled. “And I can honestly say I’ve never felt more loved and cared for.”
“Really?”
“Eris gets this grin on her face when I call her aunty Aisha—it’s almost like she’s so proud of herself.” Keegan admitted. “Ghoul treats me like the nephew he’s always wanted. Romeo and Leta don’t talk down to me. Dude was so happy to see me—and you and Hawk…”
“What about us?” I turned to look into his tear-filled eyes.
“You fall into this role of parents without question and I—I feel like I can be a kid now.”
