Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

AUSTIN

Nine days away from home, and I was about ready to tear my hair out. Just Dad and I remained in Chicago, as my sisters had returned home to their families, and I still hadn't received an answer about the "emergency" meeting. It was apparently the last.

They'd turned the very word into a mockery, though, with how much their feet were dragging, but my lawyer was fiercely driving our case, and I hoped to finally hear from her this afternoon.

"How's your pain today?" I asked my brother. He looked so much better than the first time I'd seen him. No longer in ICU, he'd since been relocated, needing the small private room to prevent infection. It was also the reason why I was kitted out in protective wrappings over my clothes to make sure my brother was safe during his healing.

His skin graft was just yesterday, and the surgeon had said it had gone well and he didn't foresee any problems. It was unusual for someone to remain in the hospital for so long too, but with the range of his other injuries, he was deemed a special case.

While my brother was tearing his hair out, desperate to be released, I was grateful. Caring for my brother while dealing with social services to be granted custody was as much as I could handle right now.

"Manageable," Frankie said. "Did she say what time she'd call?" Anxiety wove through his voice, something rare for my brother. Usually relaxed to the point he was almost horizontal, the worry now gnawing at him, tightening his eyes, clouding his face was disturbing. It made me edgier.

"No. Just this afternoon."

"I'm sorry I'm asking you to do this for me." Genuine guilt poured off him, and I exhaled.

"It's okay. I just wish things had been different." When Frankie's sorrow beat at me from across the room, I internally scolded myself. I needed to shut up and get this dealt with.

He cleared his throat. "Thank you. I mean it. "

My gaze softened, and I reached out and squeezed his uninjured hand. "I can't wait to meet him."

The grin spreading across his mouth pushed the shadow of hurt away. "He's amazing. Smart as hell." He exhaled. "I know this is all levels of screwed, but I'll be the best dad I can be. As soon as I saw him, I loved him." A small laugh followed. "How's that even possible?" He shook his head, ever so lightly, and I imagined the movement hurt.

"I think you'll be a great dad," I said.

Wetness filled his gaze. "You think?" He didn't shy away from the doubt. "I know since forever I've been a pain in the ass for everyone in our family, but it's not like I've been a bum, right?" I smiled at that. "I've paid my own way, worked my way around the world."

"And just think of all the adventures you'll be able to tell Tyler as he's growing up," I added. It was the right thing to say. His gaze cleared. And while I didn't want to ruin the moment, I had to ask again, "You sure you want me to take him home with me?"

"Yes." Certainty bled through the one word. "I know everyone else thinks I'm crazy, but the thought of settling back at home, near Dad, Robin, and Debbie…."

The horror on his face left me laughing. "They're not that bad."

"They'll interfere too much and drive me to distraction. I'll lose my shit and make everything worse. I just need to do this my way."

I did understand, I admitted reluctantly. He clashed a little with Debbie, especially. And Dad was known to worry. But…. "You know I'm a pain in the ass, too, right?"

"Ha. I do, but you now have Jasper and are so in love you're all sappy and mellow and shit." He quirked his brow, no doubt waiting for me to argue, but there was no point in doing that, as he was absolutely right. "See. Proof and point right there in your silent agreement. Plus, a small town might be kind of cool. I thought it's a much better place to raise a kid."

"I agree. I do. But what about work, a place to live?"

"I'll be out of your hair soon enough, and I'll figure something out. I always do. I may even start to use that degree of mine. You know, the one everyone is always reminding me was a waste unless I use it."

I smirked at him, believing if anyone could pull this off, it would be him. "Okay. I'll take Tyler, get him settled, and then wait until you're well enough for the flight to move." There was so much to organize, but all that mattered at the moment was getting Tyler out of the foster system and back with me, to my brother, where I had no doubt he belonged.

"It's happening." Shock registered in my voice, the reality of the situation setting in. I was going to be collecting my nephew tomorrow and then heading back home with him. I was terrified. Put me in a hall filled with four hundred teenagers, and I handled it like the boss I was. A three-year-old, not so much. "Shit, what if he freaks out?" I said. "Of course he's going to freak out. The poor kid doesn't know me, yet I'm whisking him away."

"Hey." Jasper's placating tone fed through the line. I was relieved we hadn't video-called, where he'd see just how worried I was. "You will be amazing and comforting and do the best for that little boy. I know you will."

A heavy exhale rushed out of me. "You think?"

"I know." I heard the smile in his voice and reconsidered the voice chat. Seeing his happiness for myself had a way of working wonders on my nerves. "Billy needs a raise, by the way," Jasper said. "He is a miracle worker. I have no idea how he's managed it, but he's set up the two rooms, one for your brother, the other for your nephew. He didn't want to paint Tyler's room in case there was still a smell, but he sorted out Frankie's."

"That's amazing, and he totally does," I agreed. "Did you reach out to Tanner?"

"I did. I'm meeting him at home in an hour so I can show him the building out the back. "

My heart tumbled over itself that he'd called my place home. Not wanting to call him on it and for him to backtrack, I said, "That's great. Thank you."

"No worries. I think it's a great idea if you could get the building converted to a two-bedroom house for Frankie. You know you're incredible, right?"

Heat hit my cheeks. "Well, I'm not su—"

"No, you really are. That you're doing this, hell, looking at converting the old brick storage shed, which, by the way, I hadn't realized just how huge it was until I started poking around in it a couple of days ago, is amazing. You're a good brother."

"Thank you." My words were soft, and happiness from his praise settled around me like a hug. "Even if he only needs it for a couple of years until he's ready to move on, I'm just trying to do my part. I'm lucky I'm in the position to do it." It was true. I was also lucky that Mom and Dad had instilled in me the need to save, to not be frivolous. "After that, it just means we have extra space. Great for when my family visit or your mom stays over and I ply her with red wine so she tells me embarrassing stories about you."

Jasper's laugh carried through the line, sweet and familiar. "So that's the big plan, huh?"

"Yep. And you know, for kids and such, for when they get older and get fed up with us."

The hitch of his breath was audible. After a beat of silence, when I worried I may have pushed too quickly, his response hit me with so much emotion and affection it took all I had not to scream that I wanted it to happen now. "They won't be running from me. I'm too fabulous and cool. You'll be the one going all principal on their asses so they'll be begging me to work my magic on you to get you to chill out."

Quiet and filled with awe for the man who unequivocally had my heart, my words traveled the distance to him. "You think?"

"I know."

I smiled at his response. "I get to see you tomorrow."

"I'll be there waiting."

A beep sounded in my ear, and I pulled my phone away. Seeing Frankie's name, I said to Jasper, "I have to go. Frankie's calling. I'll talk to you when I'm at the airport. I love you."

"Love you, too," I said quickly, and ended the call, accepting the incoming one.

"Hi, Frankie."

"The doctors have said you can bring him by the hospital," he said in the way of greeting. Excitement vibrated through every word.

"That's great news," I said immediately. "We should have a couple of hours before we're due at the airport, so we'll come by as soon as possible."

"Thank you."

"All good."

"No, I mean it."

"I know you do, and you don't need to keep saying it. I'm happy to do this for you both." While I'd been hesitant when my brother had first asked, I was now fully on board. Tyler needed stability and happiness. From what I'd learned about Delila, she'd been a good mom, loving. She'd also had no one and had struggled. But she'd done her best, and from what her neighbor had said when I met her as Dad and I had helped pack up her belongings and collected some of Tyler's things, which the lawyer had made happen for us, she'd loved her son something fierce. I'd previously said to Frankie I wished things had been different for her and for him. But wishing for that was pointless.

The present, this moment, was what we had, and we could only deal with it the best we could. While we could plan for the future, I knew so well how unpredictable that could be.

Dad had paid for Delila's funeral, since nobody stepped up and there was no registered next of kin. It had been just the two of us and two of her neighbors who'd attended a few days earlier. The affair had been the epitome of somber, and I'd never been more grateful to have been loved so completely by my family.

It was now up to us all to make sure Tyler felt that same love and support as he grew into what I hoped was a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted man. And more importantly, had a childhood filled with only happiness.

"Okay. Listen, I have to go since the nurse is here. See you tomorrow."

"Will do."

The call finished, and I continued to gather my things. Earlier today, I'd boxed up a few items of Tyler's and got them to a courier to be sent home. I'd made sure to collect any personal belongings I could that one day Tyler would need and most likely appreciate, as well as clothes and toys.

It wasn't lost on me how quickly we'd been able to pack up their one-bedroom apartment. The reality of what the young woman and my nephew had dealt with had hit me hard, Dad even more so. I liked to think we were good people, and knowing that if only she had been able to reach out to us so we could support her, we wouldn't have missed out on this time with Tyler—and likely things wouldn't have turned out the way they had.

I shut those unhelpful thoughts down and rechecked my bags. We still had the rental car, so I'd load up what I was taking on the plane tomorrow before Dad and I went and collected Tyler.

Somehow, I needed to manage some sleep. I had no idea what was in store for me, and honestly, it didn't matter. Tyler was what was important, but my initial survival through the unknown meant I needed to hit the hay so I was alert for tomorrow.