I take his advice and don’t say a word to Jude before we’re well underway and far enough way that her screams won’t deafen us all. Poor George.
“I’ll arrange everything, Clari. Don’t you fret. My tennis buddy Jill has a grandson with autism and she knows everything about it, so we’ll put our heads together and make sure that everything is perfect when Joshie comes home.”
That goes on for a good hour before a laughing Miah finally takes the phone and tells Jude that she’s overwhelming me.
“Babe, when Ma gets that way, it’s just best to cut that shit short and save yourself more pain.” He chuckles, falling into the seat beside me and slinging one arm across my shoulders.
Jared is also smiling and I’m relieved to notice that he, like his family, does not seem averse to taking in my brother who happens to be… God, I hope he likes me enough not to go nuts. I’ve seen those programs on TV about kids with this condition, and it would really suck if he were to hate me.
“It’ll be okay, Clari. You’ll see. You’ll be lucky if Ma lets any of us near her newest baby, not to mention that Josh now has four uncles who’ll adore him and a grandpa who’ll have to fight Ma just to take the kid fishing and man him up a little.”
“You’re so sweet, Jared.” I sniffle, still reeling from it all.
How is it possible for me to have found this family? If any of this had happened a few weeks ago, I would be a wreck just wondering how I’d keep a roof over our heads and get my brother the care he’d need while I’m at work. Now it seems like they’re all lining up willingly to welcome us into the family, and…I’m just overwhelmed.
“Deep breaths, babe. There you go, just take some nice deep breaths and forget whatever nonsense is running around in that pretty head of yours, okay? We’ll do just fine, and if not, well we’ve always got Jude to fix these kinds of things,” Miah croons when I start hyperventilating.
I suddenly imagine Jude holding up paint samples in a guest bedroom and the thought makes me giggle.
“See, that’s better.” He pulls me closer and I start to feel a hundred times better.
I love kids. I can relate to them. I can guide them. I’m just not sure I know how to be a mother to them.
Chapter Twelve
Miah
The kid looks half-starved and crabby as hell when we finally get through all the paperwork and that uppity Chase woman brings him out to us. I love him immediately and can tell from the way that Clari’s face softens that she’s also in deep from just one look.
The kid’s hair is a messy shag of carroty brilliance and his eyes are the exact same shade of green that brings me joy every morning.
His mulish expression is priceless and a feat since he steadfastly refuses to meet our eyes or respond to anything being said.
“Hi, Josh.”
Clari keeps crooning and goes down on her haunches to try and catch his eye, but the kid just grunts and turns away with a sneer that I’d find amusing if not for the fact that Clari’s eyes just started tearing up and it looks like she’s about to start bawling all over again.
Like I need this shit after only just getting her sniffles under control. The way I’m feeling right now, Mary Elms is lucky she passed from an overdose or I’d have brought Ma down here to take care of her lying self.
“Hey, Josh, buddy, I’m Clari, your sister.”
She keeps trying and failing and the more he turns away, the harder it’s getting for me to just stand here and watch her shoulders sag in defeat. I’m just about ready to start pulling out my hair when Jared walks in.
And wouldn’t you know it, the little terror takes one look at Jared and runs past Clari’s open arms, making a beeline for my grinning ass of a sibling.
The kid flings himself at the meathead and starts babbling a mile a minute, his gibberish so high pitched and indecipherable that all I can do is shrug when Jared throws me a questioning look.
“Me Josh.”
“Good to meet you, Josh. I’m your uncle Jared. You ready to go home now, buddy?”
That gets a nod and Josh’s arms go around his neck like two clinging vines that I don’t see coming off anytime soon.
“Oh brother. That is not going to be a good combination,” Clari mutters, pursing her lips in chagrin. “What’s up with that?”
“Don’t hate the player, Clari,” Jared sings over his shoulder, grinning from ear to ear when Josh mimics him and finally looks down at Clari with a smile.
“Me Josh.”
Her smile finally bursts free and I decide not to beat Jared after all for that little betrayal. All I care about now is getting my family home and ensuring that they’re all okay while I wrap shit up as soon as possible.