Page 2 of Saint
“So, what’s with the serious faces?” I still don’t make a move to sit back at the table.
“When you sit down, I can tell you.” He waits patiently while I move back to my seat. “We’ll talk about what just happened in a moment, Saint, but for now we have something to discuss as a family.”
The tension drains from my body as I slump down in my chair. Robin’s hand doesn’t leave my shoulder, comforting me.
“We have new kid joining us this afternoon. He’s in hospital at the moment, but I’m going to collect him in a little while.”
“Is he okay? What happened?” Knox asks, worry plastered all over his face. He’s been in hospital, too, and hates them.
“I think we should wait to see if he wants to share his experience. His name is Royal, and he’s fifteen.”
“How long is he staying?” I ask. This seems more serious than when we’ve had other kids stay—they just slipped in and out of our lives.
“He’s going to be here long term. He’ll be in the room next to yours, Saint. Can you make sure that the bathroom is clean and tidy and stocked up?”
I nod and stand up. “I can do that now.”
But Kip shakes his head, then to Knox and Drake, he tells them they can go. I don’t want to talk about why I was so scared. Kip and Robin are big on talking through our issues, I’ve always shut down, hiding my emotions. My dad would’ve given me aslap around my head if I’d tried to talk to him about anything. It was his way or no way.
“I think we need to talk about your reaction, Saint. You’re with us, buddy, and we want you here. There’s no way we would or could send you away. If you decided you didn’t want to live here anymore, then we would find you another safe place to live.” Robin holds my hand as he speaks. Kip reaches over the table to take my other one.
“I don’t want to leave here. I love it with you. But I still get scared. He’s still out there, and he’ll be so pissed off that he’s lost his punching bag. I’m always waiting for the day he grabs me.”
Kip squeezes my hand. “Do you know that we have a court order that stops you from ever having to go back to your father.”
I stare at him, then look at Robin. He smiles as he nods his agreement. “I knew you’d done something, but I didn’t know it was that serious. I’m really here for good?”
“For as long as you want.” Robin chuckles, and our shoulders bump.
I look at the kid when he walks in with Kip, and I know him. Not him the person, but the pain, humiliation, and a nervousness that’s rolling through his body like a tidal wave. I know he’s been in hospital, and he’s hurting. Knox and Drake are behind me; they’ll behave for once. They’re younger than me and too loud for my liking. But we all get along; we know it’s a million times better than where we came from.
Robin introduces us. “Royal, this is Saint, Knox, and Drake.” He turns to us. “Boys, this is Royal. He’ll be staying with us for a while.”
Royal looks at me, and there’s a spark of recognition. He’s seen the same kindred spirit in me. He’s going to be my best friend. “Hi, it’s good to meet you.”
He smiles tentatively but steps inside. “Yeah, you too.”
Robin and Kip follow him. “Saint, can you show Royal to his room?”
“This way. Cool name by the way,” I say, and he blushes, shaking his head.
“Says the guy called Saint.”
“It’s an abbreviation of a name you don’t need to know. I think it was another way of my dad hating me.” I haven’t thought of my full name or seen my dad in a long time. The last time was when he showed up at the gym about a month after I got here. He was steaming drunk, demanding that I went home with him. That I’d ‘turn gay’ living with Kip and Robin, which was funny since I already knew I was.
“This is my room.” I point to the open door, and Royal steps towards it. “Your room is next to mine, and we’ll have to share a bathroom, but I’m not a shower hog. If you were sharing with Knox, then you’d be waiting forever.”
“I’m not sharing with you?” He speaks quietly, but with surprise.
“No, we all have our own rooms. Sometimes we buddy up if there’s an emergency, but there are a couple more rooms upstairs.”
“I’ve never had my own room.”
We stop walking as I look at him. “You’re going to be okay here, they’re awesome people. There’s always food in the house, and you can have as much as you want. I haven’t been hungry since I got here.”
“How long is that?”
“’Bout a year. My dad’s an arsehole, too quick with his fists and usually drunk. I had to do some bad shit when I lived with him, but I’m safe now.” Now that’s a word I never used before coming here, I was always waiting for the police to turn up at our door. I knew that my dad would let them take me rather than him. Hell, he’d probably be the one that called it in.
