CHAPTER TWO
Ava sat in one of the stiff leather chairs in Judge Holten’s chambers. Her fingers twisted the thin silver bracelet she wore around her wrist. She tried to appear calm for Christian’s sake, but her stomach churned with unease.
The walls in the office were lined with shelves of law books and framed degrees, but there was something cozy about the place, with a few potted plants and photos of her grandkids breaking up the formal austerity.
Beside her, Christian, a fifteen-year-old boy, stared at his hands, fidgeting with the frayed cuff of his sweater. Ava could see the nerves in his tight posture, though he tried to mask it with indifference. His dark brown eyes would periodically shift toward the door the judge had disappeared through just minutes ago. He reminded her so much of herself at that age—quiet, observant, trying not to get too attached to anything or anyone. It was a survival tactic. It broke Ava’s heart.
Ava hated this part, the waiting, the uncertainty. It was a cruel limbo for a boy who had already been through too much. Christian didn’t need to say it out loud. She knew he was bracing himself for more disappointment. His track record with foster parents was abysmal. Time and again, he’d been let down by people who had no business fostering in the first place. She’d seen the damage it had done to him, how each rejection chipped away at his ability to trust. And now, here they were, waiting to hear if his latest set of foster parents were going to give up on him, too.
She shifted in her chair, glancing at Christian. “You holding up okay?” she asked softly.
He shrugged but didn’t look at her. “It’s not like this is the first time,” he muttered. She could hear the sadness in his voice.
“I know,” Ava replied, her voice stead. “But it doesn’t make it right.”
When he didn’t say anything, Ava decided not to push. They sat in silence.
The door to the judge’s office remained closed, and the low hum of voices behind it was barely audible. Ava’s stomach continued to churn. She didn’t have a good feeling about this. The last time she’d seen Christian’s foster parents, they’d been all smiles and reassurances, but she did catch the edge of disdain in their tone when they talked about him. They had made small, subtle comments about him—he was a bit difficult and a little defiant.
It had made her furious. Christian was a bright, resourceful kid who’d been let down by every adult who was supposed to protect him. He didn’t need perfect parents. He just needed someone who’d stuck around long enough to earn his trust. He needed someone like Evelyn.
“Do you think they’re gonna keep me?” Christian asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
He was trying to sound indifferent, but Ava could hear the tiny thread of hope buried underneath. “I don’t know, Christian,” she answered honestly. “But whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together. You’re not alone in this.”
Before either one could say another word, the door opened, and Judge Holten stepped in carrying a file in her hands. Her expression was carefully guarded, but Ava had spent enough time in her courtroom and outside the courtroom to recognize the slight crease in her forehead that meant bad news.
Judge Holten, a woman in her mid-fifties with sharp eyes softened only by her familiarity with Ava, sat behind her desk.
Being that Christian’s foster parents hadn’t joined them, told Ava everything that needed to be said.
Even though she didn’t show it outright, Ava could tell that Judge Holten appeared clearly irritated by the situation as well.
Ava sat up straighter, bracing herself for the news.
Christian’s shoulders tensed, and he shot Ava a quick glance before fixing his eyes on the judge. She’d never seen him look so young and vulnerable as he did at that moment.
Judge Holten looked at Christian and then at Ava. “I just spoke with the Hodges,” she began, her voice calm but serious. “And I think we need to have a frank discussion about what happens next.”
Ava noticed how Christian’s shoulders slumped in defeat, and she reached over and gave his hand a quick squeeze. He didn’t pull away, and that gave her the smallest glimmer of hope. Whatever came next, she would fight for him. He deserved that much and so much more.
“Christian, can you tell me a little about how things have been at the Hodges’ house?”
Christian shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “It’s been okay, I guess,” he mumbled. Ava shot him an encouraging look, and he continued, “They just don’t really get me. I like different stuff than the other kids. I’m not like them. I keep to myself, but they say I’m causing problems.”
The judge nodded, her gaze softening as she listened. “What kind of problems?”
“I honestly don’t know. I try not to bother them. They want me to be more like the other kids in the house. But I’m not. I’m me, and I have different interests.”
Ava clenched her jaw. She knew this story too well. Christian’s foster parents didn’t understand him, and instead of working through it, they labeled him a problem. The fact that they couldn’t even be bothered to sit in on this conversation proved how little they cared.
Judge Holten leaned back in her chair, her expression hardening slightly. “I won’t lie. I’m a little disappointed in this situation. However, that is not directed at you, Christian. Looking over your file, it appears you are a very smart young man. You have all A’s and B’s in school and taking Honors classes. That is amazing for someone in your situation. I don’t see that often, and that alone tells me that you are not the problem.” She paused for a moment and took a deep breath. “The issue we have is finding a better solution for you, Christian.” She glanced at Ava, and Ava gave her a tight nod in agreement.
“After speaking with the Hodges, they are petitioning to return Christian to the state.” She turned her attention to Christian. “Christian, I don’t believe the problem is with you,” the judge said kindly, and Christian’s face lifted ever so slightly.
“I agree,” Ava chimed in, her voice firm. “Christian is a good kid. He’s respectful and smart, and he is just trying to figure out who he is. He’s a normal teenager. Though maybe a little more mature than most at his age.” She looked over and winked at Christian, which earned her a small smile in return.
Judge Holten sighed. “It seems the best course of action is to return Christian to the state’s care effective immediately.”
Ava had known this was coming, but hearing it still felt like a punch to the gut. Christian didn’t flinch, but she saw the way his shoulders hunched just a little more.
The judge turned her attention to Ava. “Ava, are there any suitable placements available for Christian?”
Ava hesitated, already knowing the answer. “Unfortunately, there are no vacancies for teens at the moment. Group homes are at capacity, and with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, it’ll be hard to place him anywhere before the new year.”
Judge Holten frowned, clearly displeased. “So, what do you suggest?”
Ava’s heart raced. She hadn’t fully thought it through, but the answer was clear. She glanced at Christian, his downcast face breaking her heart. This wasn’t just some kid she was responsible for. This was a boy who reminded her too much of herself—lost, alone, misunderstood. And she had the power to help him the way Evelyn had helped her.
Taking a deep breath, Ava looked back at the judge. “As you know, I’m approved to foster, but I’ve never taken a placement before, as I didn’t want to risk getting too attached.” She paused, feeling the weight of her own words. “But Christian is different. He deserves someone who understands him, especially through the holidays. With the court’s permission, I’d like to foster him until the New Year, at least.”
Christian’s head snapped up, his wide eyes locking onto Ava. He was shocked, and she didn’t miss the way his lips twitched upward, the hint of a smile crossing his face.
Judge Holten looked equally surprised, her eyebrows raised as she considered Ava’s proposal. “You want to foster Christian?”
Ava nodded without hesitation. “Yes, absolutely. Someone once took a chance on me, and it changed my life. I want to do the same for him.”
The judge was quiet for a moment, flipping through Christian’s file. She was no longer just a judge. At the moment, she was Ava’s friend, and Ava knew the weight of what she was asking. After a long pause, Judge Holten looked up, her gaze serious. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”
Ava didn’t blink. “Yes.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Judge Holten’s mouth. “Very well. I approve your request, and Christian will remain in your care throughout the holidays. We will schedule another meeting for the first week of the new year. I’ll have a few documents for you to sign now, and then I’ll have the rest sent over to your office this afternoon.”
Christian let out a breath, the tension draining from his body. He turned to Ava, his eyes shining with a mix of excitement and nerves. “Really, Ava?”
She smiled. “Really.”
Before she could take her next breath, Christian pounced on her, giving her the biggest hug.
“Thank you, Ava. I promise I won’t let you down.” His voice was full of emotion.
Hugging him back, she smiled softly as her heart swelled. “I know you won’t.”
About an hour later, and after signing a few documents and handling some legalities, Christian looked at her with a mix of curiosity and hope. “So, what’s next?”
Ava stood, gathering her things. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. How about we go and get some lunch.”
For the first time since they’d entered the chambers, Christian grinned. And for the first time in a long time, Ava felt like she was exactly where she needed to be.
◆◆◆
The cozy pizzeria smelled of freshly baked dough and garlic. Ava and Christian sat in a booth near the window, a large meat lovers pizza between them.
Christian had been quiet since they left the courthouse, and Ava assumed he was still processing everything that had happened. After all, she was still sort of shocked herself. She definitely didn’t have “agreeing to foster a teenager” on her bingo card for the day.
She took a bite of her slice, watching him as he slowly ate his pizza, glancing out the window every few seconds.
“So, Christian,” Ava began, trying to ease the tension she could feel from him. “Let’s talk about your room. What are you thinking? Any particular way you want to set it up?”
Christian looked at her, clearly surprised. “My room?”
She smiled. “Yeah, your room. You’ll have your own bedroom at my place. I figured we could pick out some stuff you’d like. You know, make it feel like yours.”
Christian blinked, then sat back in his seat, staring at her in disbelief. “I thought I’d just sleep on the couch or something. I mean, I don’t need a whole room.”
Ava smiled softly, shaking her head. “Christian, of course, you’ll have your own room. I want you to feel at home. You deserve that.”
He seemed stunned, his eyes darting around as if he was still processing what she’d said. “I’ve never really had my own space like that,” he mumbled. “At all the foster homes I’ve lived at, they just kinda put me wherever.”
Ava’s chest tightened. She knew how that felt, being shuffled from place to place, never really feeling like you belonged anywhere. “Well, that changes now. My home is your home for as long as you want it. I want you to be comfortable. So, what do you want in your room?”
Christian was quiet for a moment, then hesitated before speaking. “Maybe…I don’t know, a desk? Somewhere to do schoolwork and stuff.”
“We can do that,” Ava nodded. “Anything else? You can go all out, you know.”
He shrugged, his nerves showing in the way he fidgeted with his napkin. “I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it.”
Ava leaned forward, her tone gentle. “Take your time. We’ll figure it out together.”
Christian shifted again, clearly uneasy with the attention on him, but then his gaze met hers. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Why’d you take me in? I mean, you didn’t have to. You could’ve just let me go back to the state and let them deal with me.”
Ava set her slice down and wiped her hands, her expression softening. She had known this question was coming eventually. “Because I’ve been where you are,” she began, her voice quiet but steady. “I grew up in foster care too. I bounced around a lot, just like you. When I was seventeen, I ran away from my foster parents. They were not good people. They were abusive, both physically and verbally. And the system I was in didn’t really care. So, I saved up some money, and I took off.”
Christian’s eyes widened as his attention was fully on her now. Ava continued, her voice calm, but the weight of those memories was still heavy in her heart. “I didn’t know where I was going. I just knew I couldn’t stay. Then, I met Evelyn on a bus heading toward Virginia Beach. Long story short, she took me in, no questions asked. She gave me a home when no one else would. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.”
Christian was quiet, digesting her words. After a few seconds, he asked, “So you think I’m like you?”
Ava smiled. “I think you’re a lot like me. You’re tough, but you don’t need to do it all on your own. And more importantly, I don’t want anyone telling you what you have to do when it comes to your interests. Your foster parents tried to make you someone you’re not, and that’s not okay. You deserve to be yourself, Christian. Always.”
Christian’s expression softened, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a folded brochure, handing it to Ava. She took it, unfolding the paper. It was a brochure for a college and career fair being held that weekend in the city. But she noticed that on the brochure was the U.S. Navy’s emblem with some pictures that Christian had circled.
Ava looked at him curiously. “College fair, huh? Does the military, particularly the Navy, interest you?”
Christian nodded, his face lighting up with a rare enthusiasm. “Yeah, I want to be a Navy SEAL. I’ve been reading up on it. There are a lot of requirements, like physical fitness, leadership skills, and teamwork. It’s tough, but I’ve been preparing.” He leaned forward, his voice gaining more confidence as he spoke. “You have to be really dedicated, but I’ve been running and working out every day. I know I still have a long way to go, but I want to be ready. And I want to go to this event and learn more. Plus, I heard that one of the SEAL teams are going to be there and will be doing a demonstration.”
Ava was genuinely impressed by Christian’s ambition, his research, and his drive. It all reminded her of herself when she was his age, determined to find her way despite everything. “Wow, Christian,” she said, her tone full of admiration. “I had no idea you were so into this. I’m really impressed.”
Christian blushed a little, not used to the praise. “Thanks. I just think it’s something I could be good at.”
Ava smiled. “I think you’d be great at it. And I’d love to take you to this.”
His eyes lit up. “Really? That’d be awesome.”
“Absolutely. We’ll make it happen.”
They continued eating, and the conversation flowed more easily now. Christian seemed more relaxed, more open. As they finished lunch, Christian looked at her with a curious smile. “So, what’s next?”
Ava chuckled, wiping her hands with a napkin. “Next? We’re going grocery shopping.”
Christian’s eyes widened with excitement. “Really? That’s awesome!”
Ava laughed, a little surprised by his reaction. “You’re excited about grocery shopping?”
He nodded quickly. “Yeah! My last foster family never asked me what I wanted to eat. They just bought whatever they liked, and I had to eat it.”
Ava’s heart ached at that. The idea of Christian never having a say in something as simple as what food he liked felt so wrong. She was determined to make sure he knew that her home, his home, would be different.
“Well, you’ll definitely get a say this time,” she said warmly. “We’re going to make sure you have the best home life and the best holiday season that you’ve ever had.”
Christian smiled, and for the first time, it seemed like he believed her.