Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Bennett
“Hardwood in every room, tile in the bathrooms,” I say as I rattle off my plans to my uncle and my dad. “I did sheetrock on the interior walls to help break up so much of the wood look. Plus it adds a little brightness.”
They both nod in agreement as we all look around the space.
It’s coming together, faster than I thought it would. I was worried that with the new jobs coming in, we’d have to put my place on the back burner for a while. But all it meant was that there were a lot of late nights and long weekends.
The cabinets and countertops are going in. The bathroom fixtures will be later this week and the flooring is currently being installed.
“Have you brought up the idea of Lexi and Camryn moving in yet?” my father asks when it’s only him and I standing alone. I only shake my head, feeling the nervous energy course through me.
“You still planning on it?” I nod, still fighting the rush of fear.
“What’s the holdup?”
“The idea that she might say no,” I confess and hear his immediate chuckle.
“Boy if you live your life fearing the what-ifs, you’ll be running every day.” He places his hand on my shoulder, offering it a squeeze. “There will be hoops, you know this when it comes to Camryn. You have to go through the state, go through the same classes that Lexi had to.”
“I know.”
“Then what’s the damn holdup, if you know?” He gives me a little shake. “You aren’t having second thoughts are you?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Then get your shit lined up and get it done, son.” He walks past me leaving me staring after him. “I didn’t raise a man that runs from his fears, you face ’em.”
“Yes, sir.” I smile and watch as he climbs up in his truck and starts backing up to leave offering me a little wave out the window.
“Dad telling it like it is I see.” Brantley walks toward me, standing in the open doorway as we both watch him leave. Buckley O’Shay is a good man. He raised two sons and took care of my mother like she deserved. Still to this day she is his queen.
“Can you do me a favor and ask Sutton to quietly get me Rose’s information. Phone number or email, whatever she can.”
“Camryn’s caseworker?”
“Yeah.” I glance over to find my brother grinning knowingly.
“I need to find out from her about getting my foster parent license. I want to show Lexi I’m serious when I ask her and Cam to move in here with me.
The best way I think to do that is get my ass enrolled in the program and line up my classes. ”
“I’d say that’s a start.”
“What else you suggest?”
“Getting the fucking house done.” He chuckles, pushing me along and making me laugh. “Can’t move a pretty lady in and a sweet kid without having a place for them to lay their heads at night.”
“Here is the list of classes that you’ll be required to complete.” Rose hands me a pamphlet. “They are more sessions than courses. Lots of hours logged, a few quizzes, more questionnaires of different scenarios and how you’d approach them. I think you’ll do great.”
I take a deep breath and nod as I thumb through the pamphlet.
“Bennett.” I look up to find Rose watching me. “Are you going to tell Lexi about this?”
“After I finish,” I tell her. “I want to know that everything is good and that there is no legal reason why her and Camryn can’t move in.”
“Do you think she’ll say no?”
“I like to think that the only reason she would is because she isn’t sure Camryn can too.
I like to think they both want to, and if I’m honest I’ve been building this house with them in mind.
Maybe not Cam from the start, but from the minute she became part of our little family, I have.
She’s got a room already, a kid zone upstairs in the loft.
I’ve got a treehouse going up in the big tree outside.
I want them there, both of them. When the day comes that Lexi is free to adopt Camryn I hope that I’m right by her side and am able to do that with her.
God forbid if she and I don’t work out, then I at least hope I’ll still be able to be a part of Camryn’s life. ”
“Why wouldn’t you work out?”
“Oh we will,” I say with a smile. “It would take God himself to keep us apart, but my point is I love Camryn, and I love Lexi. I want them sharing my home with me.”
“Get online, set yourself up with a schedule.”
“Will do.” Rose smiles as I stand and grab my keys off the chair at my side. Holding the paperwork in my hand I leave with a smile, and excitement coursing through me.