“Today’s Pizza Saturday with Uncle T.C. Do you and Jasmine want to go?”
Lucas glanced up from his bowl of cereal and eyed Wyatt seated across the table from him. “What’s Pizza Saturday?”
Wyatt explained, “All the kids in town get together at Leah and Tiffany’s house one Saturday a month and we make homemade pizza with their uncle T.C. It’s a lot of fun and you’ll get a chance to meet everybody before they split tomorrow.”
“Where are they going?” Jasmine asked.
“Amari, Devon, and Brain are adopted so they’re going to see their bio fams. Leah and Tiff’s parents are divorced, so they’re heading to their mom’s place in Atlanta. Alfonso and his sister Maria are going to Mexico to visit relatives.”
Lucas looked at Jasmine, who shrugged in reply. “I guess so.”
“Good. Uncle T.C. is a boss.”
“Does your grandmother know we’re going?” Jasmine asked. Ms. Gemma was at work.
“Yes. She and I talked about it last night after you two went to bed.”
“Is it at one of the houses across the street?” Lucas asked.
“No. It’s a little way away. Eli said he’ll drive us and bring us back.”
“Who’s he?”
“One of the older kids. He has his own car. He taught me how to ride a skateboard. He’ll be leaving for college next month.”
Lucas noted the sadness in Wyatt’s tone when he spoke of Eli going away and guessed he was important to Wyatt. “He a good friend?”
“Yes.”
Lucas wondered if he’d ever have friends again but pushed the thought away.
Jasmine asked, “How many kids here are adopted?”
Wyatt counted off on his fingers. “Zoey, Brain, Amari, Devon, and Crystal. Five.”
“Were they in foster care?”
“Yeah. They’re all from different places and were already living in Henry Adams when Gram and I moved here last year. You won’t get to meet Zoey, though. Her mom’s a famous singer and they’re on tour in South America. Zoey’s bio dad is an English rocker.”
Lucas wondered how long they’d been in foster care and if they’d hated it as much as he had.
Jasmine asked, “Are the other kids nice?”
Wyatt said, “Yeah. Nobody gives you attitude or tries to make you feel bad. We’re like cousins almost.”
“Lucas and I were in homes where the kids were really mean. They took all of Lucas’s clothes.”
“They did?” Wyatt asked.
Lucas nodded. It was another thing he didn’t want to think about but the memory rose anyway. He hadn’t been raised to fight, so when the two other boys in the foster home started going through his stuff on his first day, they’d laughed at his pitiful efforts to defend himself. Pushed him down, called him names, and took his clothes, shoes, watch, and everything else he’d brought with him from home. He was left with only the clothes on his back. When he told the foster mother, she shrugged and said, “This is how life works, little rich boy. Man up.”
When the memory faded, he came back to the present and found Wyatt watching him intently. As if having seen the scene played out, Wyatt said, “You and your sister will be okay here. Promise.”
After the sadness of the past two years, Lucas very much wanted to believe that. “How old are you?”
“Twelve. You?”
“Ten. Jaz is eight. What about the adults?”
“Real nice, too. We’re like the whole town’s kids. Wait until you meet the OG.”
“Who’s he?”
“His name is Malachi July and he owns the Dog—the town diner. He’s the town grandfather.”
Jasmine said, “Our grandfather didn’t want us to live with him after our parents died.”
“Why not?”
“Said he was too old to be raising little kids.”
“Wow,” Wyatt said softly, looking between them. “So he let you go into the system?”
Lucas nodded. It was the first of many heartbreaks to come.
“That’s pretty wack. Do you have a grandmother?”
“No.”
“Well, you’re here now, and if Ms. Bernadine gets her way, you’ll be here forever.”
Lucas asked, “You’re okay with us living here?”
“Yeah. I’m okay.”
Because Wyatt sounded so sincere, Lucas replied, “Then I’m okay with it, too. How about you, Jaz?”
She smiled. “Me, too.”
When it came time to leave the house, they poured into Eli James’s old car. After Wyatt made the introductions, they drove off. From the backseat, Lucas listened to Wyatt and Eli’s conversation, most of which centered on Eli’s going away to school. At one point, Eli asked Lucas if he knew how to ride a skateboard. When Lucas said yes, Wyatt pumped his fist like Tiger Woods.
“Do you have a board?” Wyatt asked.
Lucas shook his head. It too was taken from him at the foster home, even though neither of the two boys knew a thing about riding.
Wyatt said, “I’m sorry, that was a dumb thing to ask. Maybe we can get you a new one.”
Eli said, “I’ll see what I can do.”
As they entered the house, Lucas wondered if Jaz was as nervous as he was about meeting the other kids. But he didn’t have to worry; the first one to approach introduced himself as Amari July.
“I’m Lucas Herman.”
Jaz said, “I’m Jasmine.”
Lucas saw what appeared to be a sea of smiling faces turned their way. One of the faces belonged to Crystal, who they’d met the day before. She nodded in greeting and Lucas nodded back.
Amari said, “That’s Preston Payne over there. We call him Brain.”
“Hey, you two. Welcome to Henry Adams.”
“The one with the round head is my little brother Devon.”
“Shut up, Amari. Pleased to meet you.”
He then introduced Alfonso Acosta and his sister Maria. Alfonso looked like Harry Potter. “Hola,” he and his sister said in greeting.
Amari pointed out two girls. “That’s Leah with the glasses, and the shorty is her sister Tiffany Adele. We all think her name sounds like a store in the mall.” Tiffany laughed and stuck out her tongue at Amari in response.
Amari continued, “This is their house, and the big guy with the apron over there is Uncle T.C.”
The tall dark-skinned man called out, “Good to meet you, Lucas and Jasmine. Glad to have you with us. Ever made pizza?”
They both shook their heads.
“Then you’re in for a treat. Everybody get those hands washed so we can get started.”
As they got to work, Lucas had to admit it was the most fun he’d had since the death of his parents. Jokes flew back and forth, people laughed and called each other out. He and Jasmine were grating mozzarella and parmesan cheese with Wyatt, who explained, “We switch jobs each month so nobody gets stuck doing the same thing every time.”
Some of the kids, like Eli, were helping Uncle T.C. with the dough while others, like Devon and Brain, were cutting up toppings. Leah and Crystal were putting together the ingredients for the sauce. While they waited for the pizzas to cook, they played video games, watched baseball on TV, and talked about what they were going to do while they were gone. Lucas was surprised to learn that the grandmother Amari was going to visit lived on a Sioux reservation in South Dakota, and that Brain was going to Florida to hang with his mom, who worked for NASA.
And then the pizzas were finally out of the oven and Lucas was chomping down on the best pizza he’d ever eaten.
“This is so good,” Jaz said.
Lucas couldn’t believe they’d made their own pizza. “It is.”
Amari said, “You and Jasmine are going to like it here.”
Leah teased, “Not if you keep talking with your mouth full. Yuck, you!”
Amari rolled his eyes.
Brain said, “When we first got here it was kind of slow, but it was better than where we were.”
Wyatt said, “Lucas got all his stuff taken by the other kids at the foster home.”
“Damn,” Brain said.
Lucas wished Wyatt had kept that information to himself, but Amari said in bitter tones, “The wonderful world of foster care.”
Brain added, “My foster mother refused to buy me an inhaler. I had to set the house on fire so Social Services would move me to another place.”
And for the next few minutes, Amari and Brain shared their terrible experiences as wards of the state. Lucas saw the sadness on the face of Uncle T.C. and guessed this was the first time he’d heard the stories.
And when they finished talking about their times in foster care, Amari said to Lucas and Jasmine, “Let’s hope Ms. Bernadine can work it so you can stay because you’ll get a lot of love here.”
“And a lot of chores from Tamar,” Tiffany tossed out from her seat next to Jasmine.
“That, too,” Amari said.
Lucas had no idea who Tamar was or what kind of chores they meant, but he figured he’d find out if he and Jaz stayed.
Amari continued, “But you’ll be safe here. No pee-stained mattresses, nobody dissing you or stealing your clothes. Nobody making you carry drugs to the crackheads down the block, like I had to do a couple of times. None of that. Folks here are great. I even learned to read here.”
Lucas wondered if he’d ever be as open about what he’d lived through as these kids.
Brain added, “We’re all leaving here tomorrow but we’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, W. W. Dahl, you’re running the show. Take care of our new crew members.”
Wyatt grinned. “Gotcha.”
Crystal loudly cleared her throat. “Am I invisible?” But she was smiling. “Lucas and Jaz, I’m in charge here. Always. But if you run into something Dubs there can’t handle, let me know.”
Lucas nodded, as did his sister. He made a mental note to remember to ask Wyatt why he was called W.W. and Dubs.
When Eli announced he had to go to work, Lucas sadly thought he and Wyatt and Jasmine would have to leave, but Uncle T.C. said, “If you kids want to stay a bit longer I can run you home when you’re ready.”
Lucas looked to Wyatt, who asked, “Do you want to stay?”
Lucas nodded eagerly.
Her shift over, an exhausted Gemma was just about to turn the key in the ignition when a text came through. It was from Bernadine. Stop by on your way home. Herman kids’ info. Texting back an OK, Gemma dashed off a text to Wyatt to let him know she’d be making a stop before coming home. He texted back that he and the Herman kids were still at Leah’s and that Mr. Barbour would be giving them a ride home. Once again thankful for Genevieve’s new husband, T.C., Gemma drove to the Power Plant.
“So,” Bernadine began after Gemma took a seat in her office. “I spoke with Mr. Gleason’s wife. I told her the kids were here, gave her our condolences, and apologized for intruding on her grief.”
“She must be devastated by the death of her husband.”
“She is and doesn’t want to go through with the adoption. I asked her if she might want to wait until she feels better to make the decision. She said no and that if he hadn’t been driving those children he’d still be alive. She’s going to get with her lawyer asap.”
Gemma had been wondering what the wife would do about Lucas and Jasmine. It never crossed her mind that they would be blamed for Jake Gleason’s death. “They’ll need to know.”
“Yes.”
Gemma sighed. One more blow to their fragile psyches and hearts. “Did you talk to Judge Davis?”
“I did and explained the circumstances. She’s giving me temporary custody until we contact Social Services. She’s been an angel to the kids in Henry Adams, and they have a special place in her heart, too. Off the record, she said, she’ll do whatever she can to help.”
“Good to know.”
“I agree. But there’s no telling what Social Services will do. They’ve been good to us over the years, too. In a perfect world, we’ll get you certified as a foster parent and the kids will stay with you. I’ll reach out to them Monday morning, first thing.”
Gemma knew how imperfect the world could be, though—wasn’t her daughter Gabby buried at Arlington National Cemetery? “Do you think they’ll deny me because I’m not Black?”
“I will hurt someone if they do.”
Gemma smiled. At least she knew where Bernadine stood. Not that she’d had any doubts. “Anything else?”
“How’d their first night go?”
“No problems that I know of. Lucas slept on the floor in his sister’s room. I’m sure he was being protective. He’s had to shoulder a lot for a ten-year-old.”
“I can only imagine. Let’s hope we can get this custody thing straightened out so he can go back to being a regular carefree youngster—as much as he can.”
Gemma agreed. “I’m hoping they had fun making pizza with the kids and T.C.”
“I’m sure they did. We need T.C. to come to a Ladies Auxiliary Meeting and teach us how to make scratch pizza, too. Why should the kids have all the fun?” The Auxiliary was made up of the town’s female residents.
“I really appreciate your help on this, Bernadine.”
“And I appreciate your open heart. I’ll keep you posted. Are you coming to Rocky’s shower tomorrow?”
“No. I think I need to hang with the kids. I hope Rocky won’t mind.”
“I’m sure she won’t.”
At home, Gemma enjoyed listening to the spirited recap of the kids’ pizza making adventure.
Jaz said, “The pizza was so awesome!”
They all laughed and Wyatt said, “Uncle T.C. said Lucas and I can help make the dough next time.”
“Very good. Then you can come home and teach me.”
“How was work?” Lucas asked.
The unexpected question surprised her. “Pretty good. Saturdays are always busy.”
“Do you work tomorrow, too?”
“No. I have Sundays off.”
Wyatt asked, “Can we spend the day at the pool and eat at the Dog?”
Gemma was watching her pennies but didn’t think Wyatt’s plan would put her in the poorhouse. “Sure. Lucas, can you and Jaz swim?”
He nodded. “We used to have a pool at home.”
“Really?” Wyatt asked.
Jaz added, “Our parents taught us to swim when we were little.”
Gemma noted the shadow that crossed Lucas’s features at the mention of their former life and the urge to pull him into her arms rose again. “We’ll have to get you some swim gear.”
“I have an extra pair of trunks Lucas can have,” Wyatt offered. “You bought me two pairs, remember?”
She did and was pleased by his generosity. “Jaz, let me call around and see if I can find you a suit. Doc Reg’s daughter Zoey might have an extra one.”
“Her mom’s the singer?”
“Yes.”
“And I know Zoey won’t mind,” Wyatt told them. “She got a bunch of gold coins last year and gave everybody in town some.”
“Gold coins?” Lucas asked.
Wyatt nodded. “Yeah. I’ll tell you about it upstairs while we play Minecraft.”
“What about me?” Jasmine asked.
Wyatt said, “You can play too if you want?”
She asked instead, “Do you play chess?”
Wyatt’s brow furrowed with confusion as he studied her. “No.”
Gemma was also surprised by the question. “You play chess, Jaz?”
“Yes, ma’am. My mom taught me. She was on the chess team in high school and college.”
Wyatt said, “Brain and Amari play. I think Leah does, too. You can hook them up when they get back from vacation.”
“Okay,” she said, but her disappointment was obvious.
Gemma wondered if the Paynes had an extra chess set she could borrow? She’d ask him the next time she saw him at work and made a mental note to ask Gary, too.
The kids trooped upstairs to play their game and left Gemma downstairs pondering the future. Unlike many of the other kids in town, Lucas and Jasmine had apparently grown up in a wealthy, well-educated family. A part of her wondered how they’d deal with being potentially fostered by a lady who worked as a cashier in a grocery store, but another part didn’t think that would matter if they felt safe and loved. She knew she needed to tell them Gleason’s wife didn’t want to go forward with the adoption, but she decided to postpone the news until later. They’d had such a good day, she wanted them to continue to enjoy it.
That night, just before bed, she knocked on the door of the room the Herman kids were sharing.
“Come in,” Lucas called.
Dressed in a pair of threadbare pajamas, he was lying on his mattress bed on the floor, and Jaz, in pajamas too, was sitting on her bed. They were watching The Princess Bride on TV.
“I need to talk to you two about something.”
Jaz picked up the remote and paused the movie. “Do we have to leave?”
Gemma sat on the edge of the bed. “No honey, but I have some sort of bad news.”
Lucas sat up, tensed and wary.
“Your Uncle Jake’s wife doesn’t want to go ahead with the adoption.”
“Oh,” Jasmine said softly.
Lucas turned away but not before Gemma caught a glimpse of the bleakness in his eyes. Face still averted he asked bitterly, “So what happens now? We go back to foster care in Ohio?”
“Not necessarily. Ms. Bernadine is trying to work things out so I can be your foster parent.”
Neither responded.
“I know things have been hard, but try and keep a good thought.”
“Why?” Lucas demanded, his voice raw. “Nobody cares about us! Nobody wants us! I’ll run away if I have to go back to foster care!” He leaned forward and sobbed. “Why did Mom and Dad have to die?”
Unchecked tears rolled down Jasmine’s cheeks. She scooted off the bed and went to her brother. He put an arm around his sister and they both wept. Gemma did, too. She turned and saw Wyatt standing in the doorway. His eyes were wet. He held her gaze for a long moment then disappeared. She wondered if their grief reminded him of his own. He’d been Jasmine’s age when they buried Gabby. Gemma put her head in her hands and drew in a shaky breath. Blowing it out, she went to the kids, took them both in her arms and held and rocked them while they cried out their pain.
Later, she knocked on Wyatt’s door.
“Come in,” he called.
He was lying on his back on the bed, his attention focused on the ceiling. His red eyes told all. “We have to help them, Gram.”
She came in and sat beside him. “I know.”
“We have a lot in common.”
“Yes, you do.”
He was silent for a few long moments and finally said in a soft voice, “I miss her a lot.”
“Me, too.”
Tears filled his eyes. “Why does stuff like this happen?”
“I wish I knew, babe, but all we can do is go on and hope the pain dulls at some point because I don’t think it will ever go away.”
He turned his face to her. “It still hurts.”
“I know.”
“But at least I have you. Lucas and Jaz don’t have anybody.”
“Ms. Bernadine and I will do everything we can for them. I promise.”
“Eli said Reverend Paula lost her mom too when she was a kid. He talks to her every now and then about how much he misses his mom. Do you think I can talk to her?”
“That might be a good idea. I’ll call her and ask. Maybe she’ll let me talk to her, too.”
He focused on something only he could see and nodded distantly.
“Will you be okay?” she asked. At times like these she felt so inadequate.
“Yeah. I want Lucas and Jaz to be okay, too. Maybe Reverend Paula can help them, too.”
“I’ll ask her.”
“Being here will be good for them.”
“I agree.”
He turned back to her. “Thanks, Gram.”
“You’re welcome.” Leaning over she kissed his cheek. “Don’t stay up too late. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
She stood, gave her remarkable grandson a last look, and left him to his thoughts.
In her room alone, Gemma did something she hadn’t done since Gabby’s death. She prayed—for the Herman kids, for Wyatt, and for strength to do whatever it took to help the three make it through.