25. Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-five

Hey Cowboy. Can you come to Richmond this weekend? Terry has that thing at the jail, and we need you. Love you, Jonny.

Jon sent the text, hoping he'd get a response this time. Mickey had been busy at the Circle C all week, or so he'd told Jon, who'd actually asked if Matt had fired everyone else because it sounded like it was a one-man show when Mickey gave his excuses regarding why he didn't have time to respond to the texts or return phone calls from Jon.

Megan had been through rigorous medical tests, including eyes, heart, hearing, blood work, along with cognitive tests at the new occupational therapy center they'd been directed to by the pediatrician. The results would be sent to the new specialized school so they could place her properly in the correct class. She'd done well, but Jon could tell she was missing Mickey, just like him. Terrence, however, was a totally different story.

On Friday evening, Jon had to take Terrence to the County Jail for the juvenile crime deterrent program. He could see the poor boy was ready to shit himself when they pulled into the parking lot where several other boys and girls were lined up next to a large bus outside the fence and wires surrounding the large facility. When the huge deputy came over to the car to check Terrence in, Jon realized he'd have been scared shitless as well. He felt his soul collapse when he looked at the fear in the boy's eyes.

"I swear I ain't gonna give you no more trouble, Jon. Please, don't leave me here. I've behaved since you took me in, ain't I? Why I gotta do this?"

Before Jon could say a word, Terry continued. "I swear I won't get in trouble anymore. I know I'm a ghetto kid, and I don't fit into your life, but I'll try harder, I promise. Please don't make me do this. It's ‘cause a me Mick ain't comin' back, ain't it?" The boy was pleading, and it broke Jon's heart.

Jon cried all the way home, having arranged for his mother to pick up Meggie from school and entertain the girl until he could join them for dinner after dropping off Terry. Instead of heading directly to their home in Henrico, he went home to the condo to try to pull himself together but ended up sitting on the side of his bed, losing his mind with worry for Terry and wondering where Mickey was and why he hadn't called him back.

Jon's mind and heart were crushed at having to leave Terry in that awful place, but he hadn't been successful in his appeal to Judge Morrison for reconsideration to alter the sentence when he'd met her in chambers that Friday afternoon. He felt like the failure was his, and he desperately needed Mickey's warm arms and gentle assurances to help him keep from falling further apart. He didn't know why Mickey hadn't responded to his texts, but he needed him more than he'd ever needed anyone in his life.

I had to take Terry to the lock-up program, and I really need to talk to you, Mick. Can you please call me? Jon

Jon went to pick up Meggie at his parents' place and after dinner, they came home. He read her a story before bed. After he was sure she was asleep, Jon went to his room and lay in his own bed, praying for Mickey to call him. He was sure just hearing the cowboy's voice would ease his soul.

He ended up falling asleep against his will and was startled awake by his shoes being pulled off and his jeans being unbuttoned. He opened his eyes to see Mickey standing next to the bed in a pair of pajama pants and a T-shirt.

"You must not have slept last night, baby. Get up and get ready for bed. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you, but my phone got stomped on by Charlie when I was tryin' to clean him up. They left him out in the rain, and he was filthy.

"As I was cleanin' him up, Matt came into the barn and pitched a fit like I've never seen. He got all the hands together and gave ‘em a lecture to beat the band, I'll tell ya. I was about ready to just take the stallion, but he assured me that horse would be well cared for, and then he fired me." Mickey stood next to the bed holding Jon's hand.

Jon shook his head, unsure if he'd heard Mickey correctly. "Did you just say he fired you? You're here for real?" Jon hopped up and stood next to the tall cowboy with the shamrock-green eyes.

"Yep. I told Tim about the offer for you, me, and the kids to move onto the farm in Dillwyn and how I didn't think I could leave because who would take care of the horses at the Circle C, pointing out the shit shape I'd found Charlie in when I got home last weekend. Seems he and Matt had a discussion and at the end of it, they told me they loved me, and we would always be a family, but I was fired. Tim told me it was for my own good, as a matter of fact.

"I think I had cold feet, and they knew it, so they pushed me to take the step they knew was best for me. I'm here, with you, for the duration, Jonny, and on Sunday, we'll go get Terry from that awful fuckin' place, and we'll smother him with love to let him know he has family who will be there for him and make sure he never has to endure anything of the sort ever again. We're doin' this together, right?" Mickey looked deeply into Jon's eyes.

After a deep swallow and an exhale, Jon grinned at him as the tears fell. "Yep."

Mickey kissed away his tears and sent him to the bathroom to do his nightly business, even though it was about five in the morning. After Jon was finished, he climbed in next to Mickey and relished in the love he felt when the man wrapped his arms around him as they settled in together. It was just what Jon needed, and he should have known Mickey would be there for him—for all of them.

The man Jon loved, and who returned his love exponentially more, had shown himself to be more loyal than anyone Jon had ever met, and the lawyer kicked himself for his lapse of faith. There was no need for it, ever again.

Jon and Mickey stood in the parking lot of the Henrico County Jail on Sunday afternoon, waiting for Terrence. Megan had asked about him a million times on Saturday, and they had told her he was doing something for school. She was too young to understand, so there was no need to worry her, or so Mickey had reasoned at breakfast on Saturday morning. They took her to the park near Jon's condo that afternoon, and they watched movies that evening, careful not to mention the missing member of their family.

When they tucked the beautiful child into bed that night, she asked, "When is Terry home? Can he be home tomorrow? I miss him." They both chastised themselves for thinking she wouldn't notice his absence. He was her brother, after all.

Thankfully, Audrey had volunteered to take Megan for a girl's day, so she didn't have to witness Terry being led out to the parking lot in shackles. It was part of the program, and when Jon looked at the boy, he could see he was totally broken.

"We're going to have our hands full," he whispered to Mickey as the guards began unlocking the handcuffs and leg chains on each of the thirteen kids in the group. They were dressed in the clothes they'd worn when they were incarcerated, but Jon could tell Terrence had lost that spark in his eyes.

Mickey smiled at Jon and pulled him into a hug. "Yep, but we'll love him and make sure he knows we have faith in him. This whole thing was unnecessary, and I'd like to get my hands on that judge, but we're Terry's family, and we'll get him through this. He'll be okay."

They walked over to the deputy who was standing with Terry, holding a clipboard. "Jon Wells. Terrence Reynolds is my foster son."

The man looked over the report and turned to the young, fragile-looking boy standing next to him. "This one was a puzzle to me because he wasn't like those other thugs. I see Morrison got his case, so it's not a surprise she assigned him to this program but take this young man home and make sure he never has any reason to get in her courtroom again."

He unlocked Terry's handcuffs. "No more taggin' anything. Keep your art on paper, young man. Don't make this your reality."

Terry nodded and turned to Jon, tears on his face. Jon pulled him into his arms and held him as tightly as he could, crying right along with the boy. They both felt long, strong arms around them, and Jon knew, for a fact, they would be okay. Family love would win over any other outside influences that would come their way. He'd banked his future on it.