By the time they made it to one of the malls in Castlebrooke, most of the movie showings were over.

“Damn…” Kayden grumbled, rubbing his eyes, frustrated. “Should have checked online before dragging you out here.” He looked Eric up and down, raising a brow when his gaze settled on the boy’s hair.

“What?” Eric questioned, fidgeting, still upset about his guardianship not being finalized. He thought all the paperwork was in order. While he had his issues with Mrs. Laje, he knew she was very thorough when it came to adopting any child into a family. She would never overlook something like this, right? He hadn’t expected his first family dinner to be so cutthroat. More than anything, he didn’t want to go back. Susan’s distrust of him was better than the alternative.

Anything was better than the alternative.

“You’re getting a haircut.”

Except that.

“What? No. I like it long and shaggy.”

Kayden shrugged, pulling Eric down the mall’s long hallway.

Eric groaned when he realized Kayden was serious.

“Don’t look so alarmed,” Kayden laughed, “you get to decide the cut and style. I can tell it’s been a while since your last one.”

There was that, at least. Resigned to his fate, Eric followed after Kayden, content to people watch on their way to the hair salon. He hadn’t had the chance to explore any of the malls in Castlebrooke due to a number of reasons outside of his control.

A lot of the store names brought up memories from his previous high school where students bragged about the different name brands they bought. He used to feel envious of their lives.

After thinking on it more, he figured out expensive items didn’t make life better. What he wanted was a friend. Not someone who wanted to be his friend out of obligation like Kayden. But someone he met for the first time who saw something in him. Saw the beginnings of a potential friendship. Now that he was on the opposite side of Castlebrooke surrounded by new people and new places, he had hope he could find at least one friend.

He'd gone without for ten years. Maybe his new life would be kind to him.

The hair salon wasn’t busy when they arrived, much to Eric’s relief. He was seated in front of a hairstylist and answered a number of rapid-fire questions thrown his way.

Thirty minutes later, with hair much shorter than before, Kayden dragged him off to the food court where they got ice cream and sat down at the large fountain in the center of the mall.

“I’m sorry—”

Eric held up a hand. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. Let’s enjoy our ice cream and people watch.” He hoped his wish to remain silent would be granted.

Kayden looked like he had a thousand things to say, but contented himself with sitting next to Eric and people watching while they ate their ice cream.

Eric blushed every time he accidentally made eye contact with someone. He couldn’t help it. When his eyes landed on an interesting person, like the girl with neon orange hair, or the man with lots of tattoos and face piercings, he was enraptured. He paid attention to snippets of conversation, finding himself smiling when as he got a peek into their lives.

They were all so different and each so fascinating. He never got the chance to enjoy moments like this. Eric was often in trouble, so he missed out on the trips Mrs. Laje took the children on. He could watch pedestrians from the second-floor window back at the orphanage, but there wasn’t as much variety since those people usually lived in the same neighborhood. He'd occasionally spot someone interesting beyond business attire and casual dress. It wasn’t the norm, which was disappointing.

Sitting here with Kayden was an unexpected treat. He was getting to do something he’d always wanted to do. It was a bright side to the otherwise shitty evening.

After eating, they got pizza to make up for their short-lived dinner. Eric wasn’t surprised when Kayden started up another conversation. They were seated at a booth across from the pizza stall at the edge of the food court. Foot traffic increased the longer they sat there. Both had been quiet, lost in thought.

“I know you don’t like these types of questions. I hated them when I was your age. But I have to ask. Are you excited living with us? For the school year to start? I know what happened at dinner isn’t the best introduction to the family…”

Eric watched him struggle and decided to answer his questions. These were easier than the one’s Susan demanded from him, and less invasive. “Yeah, I mean, I would have to be blind not to see how life-changing this is. No one on this side of the city knows me. It…um…it’s nice…to…”

Wow. He had no idea it would be this hard talking about his feelings. He couldn’t even express how nice it was that no one knew him and he could be himself because of it. Why was talking about this so difficult?

Kayden grinned, like he understood Eric’s struggle. “Yeah, I get that.”

Eric caught the tired note behind his words. It made him wonder about how Kayden left the orphanage. He was eleven the last time they saw each other. “Um…how…why?” His face reddened the longer he tried to form his question. He knew it was a private one and didn’t want to make Kayden uncomfortable.

Kayden smiled. “I think that’s a story for a different day.”

Eric waited for more until he realized he wasn’t getting more. He figured that would be the case. He set aside his curiosity and let the conversation die.

After another round of people watching, Kayden gathered up their trash. “We should probably head back. Unfortunately, I have to be an adult and stick to my bedtime.”

Eric startled himself by laughing. “Yeah…that sounds like a you problem.”

Kayden snorted. “Come on, let’s try to beat the traffic.”

Feeling a bit better, Eric followed him out to the parking lot to head back…home…could Eric even call it that? He hadn’t expected to feel so unwelcome, especially coming from a couple that promised him a safe place and a second chance.

If anything, it brought out all the fears he kept hidden under lock and key inside his mind. Fears he didn’t think he’d have to worry about after returning to the orphanage four years ago. So much happened today. From meeting Roth and feeling elated, thinking he’d left hell behind forever, to crashing hard with despair, then rising back up to an almost non-existent hope.

He couldn’t take any more twists and turns.

Not today.

Kayden bypassed the living room when they arrived, heading straight for his office. Eric, not wanting to be left alone with Susan or Roth, followed.

Kayden took a seat at his desk, laughing when Eric threw himself onto one of the chairs across from him. “Sorry,” he leaned back, frowning. “I’m not in the mood to put up with my mother’s antics. She had a bad experience regarding adoption when she was a kid. She hasn’t shared all the details with me. I think it’s affecting her more than she realizes. I love her. But she can be a pain.” He pointedly ignored the fact his own past had followed him five years later after he was adopted. Not to mention the fact he had never been cleared for adoption. At least not by Mrs. Laje. His doctor’s professional opinion never mattered to her.

“Thank you, Kayden.”

“For what?”

“Sticking up for me.”

Kayden looked at Eric, shocked. He honestly hadn’t expected that. Especially since they started off on the wrong foot. “I won’t let you go back, Eric. I spent seven years of my life there wondering what was wrong with me because I couldn’t get adopted. Mrs. Laje is amazing, but she’s no substitute for a family.”

Eric looked down at his knees, trying to hide his real opinion about Mrs. Laje. There was nothing amazing about her, in his mind. He didn’t think running a successful orphanage made her a good person. “I’m on a trial. I’ll be sent back with or without your consent.”

Kayden frowned. It was true Eric could be sent back. But it was also true Kayden could intervene should it ever come to that. Eric wasn’t on a probationary period, like his mom tried implying. The paperwork was set in stone.

“I could…” Kayden trailed off when he realized what he was about to offer. He doubted if he would even pass his own criteria for becoming a legal guardian. He had high standards. His only flaw was that he couldn’t provide a stable home. Not with the way his mom was acting. He’d have to move out and have a stable income and home for at least three years…no, it was best not to mention it. Besides, Eric was too old. If Kayden’s parents did end their guardianship, he would already be eighteen. “Never mind. Just know from now on, I’ll always be here for you, whatever happens.”

Eric ran a hand through his hair. “Thanks.”

He wasn’t holding Kayden to his promises. In fact, he thought it best if he didn’t hold anyone in his life to any of the things they promised him. He’d been offered too many, and every one of them had been broken.

Kayden stretched, then pushed to his feet. “I’m gonna take a shower. You can watch TV or read any of the books I have on the shelves. My laptop has an HDMI cable and access to streaming services you can use. The password for the laptop is 12345. I keep it simple when I’m at home. I use the desktop for work-related things, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally seeing something you shouldn’t.”

Eric nodded, shocked Kayden trusted him enough to give free reign of everything. Eric gave a wave and slipped inside their bedroom where he flopped down on his bed, content to do nothing productive. Today had been too much. He wanted it to end.

Kayden entered a few seconds later, laughing when he saw the state Eric was in. He grabbed his pajamas and headed to the bathroom. He was doing his best to ignore what his mom said. Even after all these years of her caring for him like he was her own flesh and blood, he didn’t approve of her morals regarding adoption. It wasn’t like Kayden could do anything if Eric was sent back. And since he was flagging his parents, he would have a hard time keeping Eric with him.

It was a delicate process. Which it needed to be, considering the types of people trying to adopt, and the unique situations of each child. Adopting shouldn’t be an easy or simple process.

His mom should also understand that a person’s past is a complicated thing. Whatever Eric went through as a child, it was traumatic to say the least. He didn’t even want to contemplate what might have happened. It wasn’t his place to question Eric. It seemed fair since he was keeping his own past hidden. Besides, his parents had overreacted when he was eighteen and his past caught up to him just a bit. No one was injured. It was a simple stalking issue and was resolved within weeks. His mother loved making things more dramatic than they needed to be.

After showering, Kayden sat himself down at his desk and pulled up the forms he didn’t want to fill out on his computer, and got to work halting the adoption process for the two siblings in Florida and making it impossible for his parents to adopt again.

He hated doing it.

His dad loved children and, despite his mom’s complex past, knew she really wanted a houseful of kids. Well, they’d have to be content with two little ones, a slightly bigger one, and himself. He wouldn’t put other children through the same thing Eric experienced at dinner. That entire situation should never have happened. Angela and Sam should have been sent to their rooms.

Nothing about today was acceptable. He’d have to give his parents the professional spiel alongside his personal one. What happened at dinner could never happen again. He wouldn’t allow it.  

After the forms were complete, he settled in for all the phone calls he had to make. Once that was taken care of, he stepped into his bedroom, surprised Eric wasn’t there. He assumed he went to take a shower or go explore the house. Laying down, Kayden thought through all the different possibilities or options he could offer Eric. He became frustrated once he realized there was nothing he could do. His hands were tied.

If he called any of the government officials in his contacts, Eric would be facing bigger problems than his mom’s line of questioning. The best course of action would be to wait and see what tomorrow brought.

By the time Eric returned, Kayden was huddled in the blankets, sulking about his failure. “Welcome back,” Kayden mumbled.

Eric stopped, taking in the scene with raised eyebrows. Kayden was clearly upset about something. He didn’t care enough to pry. He did find it amusing to see him cocooned up in blankets. It kind of made him want to do it too.

Eric wiped at a few stray drops from his hair, pleased the water pressure in the shower was strong. The one at the orphanage was weak, and he was often without hot water because he always offered to go last. He hated that place, not the children stuck there.

He climbed into bed, snuggling into the covers. A sigh escaped his lips.

Kayden emerged from his cocoon. His voice took a serious tone when he spoke. “Don’t let Mom’s words get to you. It’s okay if you have a bad past.”

Eric’s body tensed. He must not have done a good job hiding his emotions during dinner. He pulled the blanket closer to his body. “What if I’m not ready by the time school starts?”

“I’ll take care of it. I’ve never been a fan of probationary periods but they are necessary for some. My parents have only used it on me. I’m not sure if they’re doing it with you. I’ll find out tomorrow. My sisters were immediately adopted…partly because of their clean past.”

Eric could hear the bitterness in his voice. “Does this happen often with adoption?”

“No,” Kayden huffed out, “it doesn’t.”

“Is that why you created your business?”

“Partly, yeah. My job is to find families that are willing to adopt ‘unwanted’ children. Part of that process involves the potential family coming to whatever orphanage or adoption agency and spending time with potential family members. I never send children out on probationary periods. If the families are serious about adopting, taking a short trip to visit the children and spending time with them shouldn’t be a problem. There are circumstances that may prevent families from traveling, so I arrange for easier travel and let the children know it isn’t a guarantee. That’s separate from the house inspections we do and follow ups during the first three years after a child’s been adopted.”

“Guarantees should be banned,” Eric muttered under his breath. “How many children have you helped?”

“I’ve helped almost one hundred children since I started little over a year ago. The planning and research took me about a year before I felt comfortable launching my non-profit. I guess that’d be about two years, give or take a few months.”

“Wow.” Eric exclaimed in awe. “That’s amazing! How’d you manage to help so many?”