Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen Hope I awaken with a startle to find that I'm still in Caleb's bed. The door to his room is closed and I'm alone. Standing up, I make my way to the bedroom door and crack it to see if everything's all right. I hear cartoons blaring from the living room and the sound of Nathan giggling. Being careful not to make a lot of noise, I tiptoe down the hall and into the room. The sight before me warms my heart. Caleb is sitting on the couch with Nathan, wearing a pair of pajama bottoms and a white undershirt. Nathan's still in his pajamas also, resting his side against Caleb's as both boys eat a bowl of cereal that they're holding. I stare for a minute as something funny happens on the TV and both Caleb and Nathan laugh out loud. It's so different to see this side of Caleb. He's playful at times, but never like this. I watch as he spoons another bite in his mouth and wonder what he's like when I'm not around. Adjusting my stance, the floor beneath my feet creeks and both boys turn to look at me. "Hopey! SpongeBob's on. Look how big he is on Caleb's TV!" I smile to him and glance up at the huge TV. When I smile back at Caleb he just shrugs his shoulder unimpressed with the enormous yellow sponge character that's larger than Nathan has ever seen. "When you finish that cereal you need to brush your teeth or they're all going to fall out." I pretend to scold but Nathan says a small ok and returns his attention to the show. "Sorry. I love sugary cereal in the morning. I guess we should stop and get something else if you don't let him have it." Caleb turns his upper body so he's facing me. "He loves sugary cereal too. It's fine. You don't need to buy anything extra for us." I tuck a strand of my messy hair behind my ear. He's already done too much and I feel guilty at the thought that he would spend more money when I know we can't stay long. Nathan's stuff is all over our apartment. If my mom is home, she knows he is too. "I called my sister this morning. We're all set to meet her for lunch to talk about your options." Caleb lowers the cereal bowl to his lap and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. It's so cute and childish that I can't help but to smile. "I don't have anyone to watch Nathan. She doesn't have to spend her Sunday with us, maybe we could just call her." I know that it won't matter anyway. I'm not willing to take the chance that they'll take Nathan from me. "I tried for the phone call—she wasn't having it. She knows he'll be with us it's no big deal. Go take your shower so we can get out of here." With that, he turns back to the show on TV and Nathan moves back over to him, bouncing on his knees on the couch. He's going to tear this place apart if we don't get him out of here. After my shower and a trip to the grocery store to buy a few more items to keep around for Nathan, we pull up to the restaurant around noon. I'm so nervous I can hardly think. I can only imagine what his sister's going to have to say about Caleb picking up a stray and a small child, assisting in a kidnapping and hiding a fugitive. This lunch might get real ugly. Nathan runs into the restaurant ahead of us and Caleb grabs my hand. "Relax, Hope. She doesn't bite I promise." His words do little to ease my apprehension. As the front door opens, I spot her immediately. I've seen her once before having lunch with Caleb at the café. She's beautiful and looks so well put together even though Caleb told me last night that she has two new babies at home. I immediately pull on my work uniform since it was the only outfit I have at Caleb's house. "Hi, you must be Hope. I'm Madeline." She shakes my hand before giving her brother a big hug. "That must be Nathan over there." She nods her head and I follow the direction over to the large bench where Nathan's currently standing to get a better view of the large fish tank that lines the wall of the restaurant. "Yes, that's him." I walk over and retrieve him, guiding him back to where Caleb and Madeline are standing with the hostess. "We're ready." We're sat at a small square table and I make sure that I have Nathan on one side of me. Caleb takes my other side and Madeline sits down in front of me. I feel so intimidated. Once Madeline smiles and messes Nathan's hair I begin to relax. Caleb puts his hand on my leg under the table and I tell myself that I need to be honest with her so that if there's any possibility that I don't have to leave Caleb I can hear it. Madeline goes over my story with me and has nothing but empathy on her face the entire time. When I'm all done telling her the events up until last night, Caleb jumps in and addresses his sister, "What are her options? It can't be that she has to run in order to keep him." I see the look of compassion Madeline has as she stares at her brother. "Caleb, it's a messed up system. The social workers will probably have two options: give him back to the mom until she really messes up and it can be documented, or say she's unfit and send him into foster care. Once he's in foster care, Hope can establish a home and a better job, but that takes time. I don't think she'll get him out of there for at least six months to a year. Also, moms don't just lose their kids. Our system gives them a chance to get them back. Short of her mother signing over her rights, if she can get it together she can ask for him back." I feel the last bit of hope float away and the heavy feeling of dread sit low in my stomach. I knew all of this, but I had hoped that maybe there was some small loophole somewhere. Now I know there's not and the pain that truth causes me is almost unbearable. I nod my head to Madeline and put my hand on top of Caleb's under the table. "That's bullshit. I'll get her a lawyer. We can fight this." He looks quickly at me before training his eyes back to Madeline. She just shrugs her shoulders. "You can, and you should. It's a long shot though, Caleb. I honestly don't think it'll work." Madeline says apologetically. I close my eyes and take a moment to calm down my turning stomach. I'm not giving Nathan to anyone. It doesn't matter what happens to me as long as I can make sure he's safe. When I open my eyes I can feel that there are unshed tears brimming them but I hold back and look to Nathan as he dives into the lunch he ordered. I pick at my food but can't bring myself to eat much. Lunch is quiet from that moment on and I don't feel like it's from Madeline's judgment of me, but her concern for Nathan. When we have all finished, we make our way to the front of the restaurant and Nathan announces he needs to use the restroom. Caleb tells me he'll take him and the two of them head over to the hallway at the rear of the restaurant, leaving Madeline and I standing in the front together. When the boys are out of sight Madeline turns to me and the urgency in her features has my heart racing again. "Hope, he won't let you go and he's too stubborn to see what might be best. I have a small condo about two hours from here that I use as a rental property. There's no one in it right now. Take this key and give me your phone number so I can text you the directions. He'll fight this for you and you would be surprised at what money can buy, but in the mean time do what you need to do for Nathan." I can't believe the kindness she has just showed me but the guilt I feel for being a part of her hiding something from her brother crushes me. "I don't think I can. We'll be fine." "It's your choice. I'll text you the directions tonight and now you have the key. Sometimes the men in my family think that they're more powerful than they really are. Don't let his ego get your brother taken from you. I'll do what I can to help also. Go to my place. He'll never look for you there and it will keep you safe until you can get on your feet." I nod my head as the tears start to fall and she pulls me into a big hug. "Thank you so much, Madeline." I manage to get out before my voice cracks. "You leaving will absolutely devastate him and I know that for a fact, but having to watch you be destroyed if they take your brother while he's helpless to help you will kill him. That's why I'm doing this. I can't save him from heartache, but I can help contain how long it will hurt." And in that moment, I know with all of my heart that she is absolutely right.