Chapter 27 #2
“They didn’t say why, just that they were very sorry to hear she’d passed, but it was for the best to keep their distance. Wish I had better news.”
It pained him that her parents had shown no interest in their grandsons, but then again, they never had, even before the shit hit the fan.
“Thanks for the info, Dan. Appreciate you doing what you could. I guess I’ll ask Seamus and Carolina to put the boxes aside until the boys are old enough to deal with them.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. Lisa was a wonderful person.”
Jace felt guilty accepting condolences on Lisa’s behalf, but that was his issue, not Dan’s. “Yes, she was. Thank you for all you did to help her at a difficult time.”
“It was my pleasure.”
After they ended the call, Jace took a few minutes to get himself together before he picked up the boys. He couldn’t wait to see them.
Jace drove into Seamus and Carolina’s driveway around four thirty, bearing two dirty boys who’d enjoyed a trip to their favorite park. “You’d better get in there and let Burpy out,” he told them as he noticed another car parked in the driveway.
The boys burst out of the truck, backpacks in hand, and headed for the house to get their best pal.
Jace got out to meet an older woman wearing a suit that seemed wildly out of place on the informal island. “Mr. O’Grady? I’m Justine Deavers from the Department of Children, Youth & Families. We spoke last week?”
“I’m not Mr. O’Grady. He’s on the mainland with Mrs. O’Grady, who broke her leg in a fall two nights ago.”
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry to hear that. We had an appointment this afternoon.”
The boys came bursting out of the house with Burpy, who squatted to pee a river right outside the door.
“Seamus must’ve forgotten.”
“And you are?”
“Jace Carson.”
She shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Carson. You’re helping with the boys while the O’Gradys are away?”
“I am.”
“And you’re a… friend?”
He wasn’t sure what to tell this woman from the state who’d appeared out of nowhere. “I’m the boys’ biological father.”
“Oh. I see.” Her expression changed from friendly to guarded, and he immediately feared he’d made a huge mistake telling her the truth. “Do you know when the O’Gradys will be returning?”
“Probably not until later in the week. She had surgery two nights ago, and they were told to expect about four days in the hospital. But I’ll let him know you were here.”
“Yes, please do. I’m sorry to have come all this way to not get to see them.”
“Is there something wrong?”
“No, this is a routine part of them becoming the boys’ legal guardians. We’re required to do two home visits the first year. This was to be the second one.”
“I see, well, knowing Seamus and Carolina, they’ll be upset to realize they forgot about the appointment. They’re doing a great job with the boys. They’re very happy and well-adjusted after losing their mom.”
“That’s good to hear. I won’t keep you any longer. If you’d ask Mr. O’Grady to get in touch to reschedule, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’ll do that.”
The minute she drove off, Jace pulled his phone from his back pocket to text Seamus. There was a lady here from the state department for children about an appointment you guys had…
Seamus wrote back right away. FUCK. Totally forgot. Was she pissed?
I told her what happened, and she asked you to call to reschedule.
Damn it. I can’t believe I forgot that.
You’ve had a few things on your mind. How’s Carolina?
In a lot of pain this afternoon. They’re working on trying to address that. We’re both eager to talk to the boys.
Give us a call when you’re ready. They’re looking forward to it.
She’s taking a rest now, but we’ll call when she wakes up.
Sounds good.
Jace put his phone in his back pocket and went to check on the boys, who’d disappeared into the trees with the dog.
Seamus could not believe he’d forgotten that appointment.
Ugh. With Carolina sleeping after a rough day, he stepped out of her room and into the hallway to call Ms. Deavers on the cell phone number he’d programmed into his phone after their first meeting.
This would’ve been the last hurdle before their legal guardianship became final.
As he waited for her to pick up, he hoped they hadn’t screwed things up.
“Justine Deavers.”
“This is Seamus O’Grady. I’m so sorry we missed the appointment today. Jace told me he filled you in on what’s happened to my wife.”
“He did, and I’m so sorry to hear that. Is she doing okay?”
“She’s on the mend, but it’s going to be a long road. Could we possibly reschedule for next week? And again, I apologize. I know it’s a lot for you to come out to the island.”
“Yes, next week should be fine, but, Mr. O’Grady, I have to express my concern about the fact that you’ve left the boys with Mr. Carson.”
Seamus’s stomach went into a free fall. “What? Why?”
“Our records indicate he’s a convicted felon on parole.”
“Yes, I know.” Seamus tried to keep his voice calm when he was freaking out on the inside. “He’s also the boys’ biological father and has made a genuine effort to be part of their lives since he was released from prison.”
“But to leave him in charge of them when you’re off-island…”
“We left them with someone who loves them very much, who they’re comfortable with and who was able to drop everything to be there when we needed him. We trust him implicitly, or he never would’ve gotten near them.”
“I understand, but I’ll need to discuss this with my supervisor.”
“Discuss what?” He was no longer trying to remain calm.
“The situation.”
“Ms. Deavers, I understand you have a job to do and that your job is to protect those kids, but when I tell you Jace Carson would take a bullet for them, I mean that. He made a mistake, paid for it with years of his life and lost his wife and children. He’s a hardworking guy who’s trying to put his life back together and be there for his sons.
If you make something of this, you’re going to cause more problems than you’ll fix. Trust me on that.”
“I hear what you’re saying and appreciate your point of view, but I’m required to report this development to my supervisors.”
“I’ll be on the first boat or flight home if you’re going to make an issue of it. I’ll leave my ailing wife in the hospital and go home to our boys.”
“I… I don’t know what to say. I could lose my job if I don’t report it.”
“There is nothing to report. Do you honestly think that either of us would leave them with someone we don’t trust?”
“No, but…”
“No buts. We trust Jace to take care of our children. End of story. Now, do I need to arrange to get home right away?”
“I, um, I’ll give it a day and then check back on the status.”
“What does that mean?”
“You need to get someone else to take care of your children, Mr. O’Grady. Someone who isn’t on parole.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Please notify me when you’ve made other arrangements.”
“I will.” He ended the call, feeling infuriated and unnerved.
It had never occurred to him that asking Jace to watch the kids could lead to something like this.
And how in the world would he tell Jace that he couldn’t stay with them anymore?
“What the hell do I do now?” He thought about that for a few minutes before he found Joe’s number in his contacts and put through the call.
“Hey, is that offer to come home still good?”