The Outsider Series

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

“We never finished any formal assessment, but here’s the preliminary information from a pediatrician who assessed Gabriel. He lists it all in there, but basically he notes a serious developmental delay, an inability to establish and maintain relationships with his peers, a serious delay in language development. He plays by himself, gets agitated, and screams in fits, and his foster parents were unable to comfort him. We can only assume how long the mother’s ignored this.” Hank Walker, the social worker, handed the manila envelope to Andy.

“You take a child away from his mother and stick him with a bunch of strangers in some shack that’s barely livable, with how many other kids in the system, locking him in a bedroom—all that behavior sounds pretty normal to me.” Andy was barely able to control his rage, but he didn’t much like how the social worker alluded to Laura being an unfit mother. It was unfair what had been said about her. She did the best she could, and she loved Gabriel. “Maybe you should ask yourself how and where a single mother who struggles to feed her kid, to shelter her child, and then work herself to the bone is going to afford any medical help—let alone get it. She didn’t have your resources, but you can bet she now has mine. I’ll make damn sure both Gabriel and Laura are taken care of. But, Mister Walker, please don’t ever make the mistake of judging my wife again. She is my wife, and you will treat her with respect.”

The man had the good grace to flush, at least, but he didn’t say a word as he turned away and left. Andy shut the front door and pressed his hand against it, taking a deep breath to calm down. The fact was he couldn’t stand that guy, the social worker. The prick had treated Laura as if she was a nobody, but the only crimes she had were being poor and getting pregnant at fifteen.

Andy pushed away from the door and started toward the library to join his wife and Gabriel, but he stopped when he spotted Aida standing outside the room, smiling at Laura, who was on her knees beside the Christmas tree with Gabriel beside her, playing with the train that circled the track. Gabriel stared at the mountains of gifts wrapped with shiny bows and paper that glittered. Andy moved beside Aida, and when she gazed up at him, there were tears in her eyes. For the first time ever, she smiled at him, showing her crooked teeth, and then patted his arm with her bony, wrinkled hand. “Merry Christmas, Andy, and bless you and your family. You did right by her. Didn’t expect you to marry her. Never saw that one coming, Andy. First time in a long time someone surprised me as you did.” Aida shook her head. “You brought a mother and child together. You take care of her and Gabriel.”

“I will, Aida. I do care for her.” He didn’t look at Aida when he said it but felt his heart leap when Laura glanced up and met his gaze from across the room in a private moment that was theirs alone, a glimmer of peace and hope in her eyes.

“Oh, I think you more than care for her. Her, too. Love lives there. You need a chance to get to know each other.” She patted his chest where his heart was. “You may not realize it yet, but you’re building something deep and meaningful that will last a lifetime. It can be really good if you let it.” The old cook’s expression changed, and she nodded as if holding back a tide of emotions, then walked away.

“Merry Christmas, Aida, and thank you,” Andy called out.

She paused for a second and glanced over her shoulder, giving him an amused smile. “There’s hope for you yet, Andy Friessen,” she said, and then she retreated into the kitchen.

Andy joined his wife and stepson on the floor beside the tree, watching the toy train zoom around the track. He slid his arm around Laura’s waist, and she leaned back into him, and he kissed the top of her head. She smiled up at him with those glimmering green eyes, and Gabriel reached out and touched Andy’s hand, grinning with innocence and such love. Andy ran his hand over Gabriel’s dark hair and over his shoulder as the innocent little boy’s smile reached out to him, as if Andy were his hero and somehow Gabriel knew that Andy would keep him safe. It was in this moment, as he watched over Gabriel and Laura, his family, that he realized he’d been given the greatest gifts, trust and love.

Secrets

The Outsider Series (Diana & Jed)