No shock there, I think sardonically, struck anew by the irony that Mary has another kid and never bothered to tell me. To hear that she passed away is painful, because no matter how at odds we were, the woman was still my mother and I loved her in my own way.
A brother, though…in need of a guardian…
“If you decline, we will understand. In fact, I’ve taken the liberty of lining up a few good foster families who are familiar with caring for children with special needs.”
“No, uh, I’ll come down there immediately and sort this all out. Um, let me give you my e-mail address so you can send me the details.”
I ring off feeling numb and drained by this turn of events. I just started a relationship, one in which Miah and I agreed we did not want kids, at least not for the foreseeable future, and now I have to call him and tell him I’m about to become a mother to a four-year-old little boy who seems to need a lot more than just parents.
I decide not to call him immediately and leave school under the guise of a family emergency after calling Jude and begging a lift.
“Clari, dear, what’s wrong?”
We’re almost home by this time, and she keeps giving me sidelong glances filled with concern. I can’t say I blame her since I must look like I just saw a ghost and am losing my marbles.
“I…I need to call Miah, and…I need to talk to Miah.”
“Okay, honey. Would you like me to call him and get him home?”
I nod. It’s all I can manage when she leaves me at the stairs and runs off towards the study at the end of the long hall. The trip upstairs is a blur and I only come to when half a bag is packed and I’ve got tears streaming down my face.
That’s how he finds me. When he takes me into his arms, his eyes filled with concern, I can’t help but cling to him and sob.
“Clari, babe, what’s wrong?”
I cry harder, not wanting to tell him, not ready to lose him yet because of something that I shouldn’t resent but silently do. The sentiment is not fair to poor Josh and I know it, but it doesn’t make this any better.
“I…my mom died.”
“Oh, babe, I’m so sorry.”
“No, it’s not, I’m not crying because of that, Miah.”
He watches me carefully, waiting for me to explain.
“I have to go to Philly and fetch my baby brother, Joshua, who has autism and doesn’t have anyone else.” I wipe my nose with my sleeve. “So you see, I need to pack all my stuff before I get to the airport.”
He stiffens and pushes me away.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Clari? You only need an overnight bag and then we’ll ask Wyatt for his jet so we can get to Philly quicker. That poor kid must be terrified and alone. Man oh man, Ma is going to be in seventh heaven about this shit.”
“Miah?”
He jogs to the closet and comes back out with an overnight bag and his shaving kit and I’m still struggling to grasp what the heck is going on here.
“What’s up, babe? Listen, I think we should call Wyatt’s attorney and let him meet us at the airfield so as to get this stuff squared away as quickly as possible. Oh, and I think we should get Jared to come with just in case that asshole Grimes makes an appearance.”
He’s already on the phone and making plans. I take the time to center myself and get my thoughts in order.
“Babe?”
“Miah, I…I’m a little confused here. I thought…I thought you didn’t want kids, and…you know that if I take custody of Josh that I’m going to be a mom, right?” I ask hesitantly, more than little out of my depth here.
He rolls his eyes and pulls me in for a hug and a quick kiss that leaves me wanting more.
“Clari, your little brother is even now sitting somewhere with strangers, scared and alone and God knows what else. We need to go get him. Oh, and if you’re about to make some cockamamie statement about how you thought this would scare me off, I suggest you keep it inside under lock and key, because even suggesting that this would end us will just piss me off. Now come on, Jared is going to meet us at the airfield along with the attorney.”
“I think I love you, Jeremiah Lane,” I whisper, smiling through the tears trailing down my cheeks.
He smiles back and kisses me again before pulling me behind him.
“Don’t say it unless you know it for sure, because I know I love you and I want nothing less in return.”
“I know I love you, Miah.”
“I love you, too. Now stop bawling and get a move on, woman. We have a kid to get, and Jesus, you’re calling Ma from the plane to tell her about her new grandbaby. I’d rather chew my own leg off than listen to her squeal for an hour straight.”