Grace Under Pressure

Chapter Twenty

We spent three hours the next day in my English solicitor's office, filling out paperwork and getting the ball rolling on preparing to take Nathan home to America. After that, with custody papers in hand, we drove to the group home on the outskirts of Kent, where Nathan was currently staying.

"You good, baby?" Perry asked as I put the car in park.

I took a deep breath before I answered him. "Yeah, I think I am." I was being honest. The group home was lovely. It was nothing like the hellscapes that I lived in as a child. The house was a nicely maintained old manor house that sat on perfectly manicured grounds that featured a playground, tennis court, and swimming pool. Maybe Nathan's childhood hadn't been as nightmarish as mine had been. Maybe he wasn't as damaged as I had been at his age.

We were met in the entrance hall by the house mother. She was a jolly and warm older Scottish woman who seemed to be absolutely delighted that one of her 'wee ones' was getting a permanent home.

"Where is Nathan?" Perry asked politely, but I could tell that he was impatient. He hated playing nice with people and wholly detested perky, talkative people like the house mother.

"He's up in the dorms saying his goodbyes," the house mother responded. "He'll be along in a jiffy."

"What can you tell us about Nathan?" I inquired. "What's he like? Is there anything in particular that we need to be concerned about?"

"Oh, he's a very well-behaved lad," the dorm mother assured me. "He likes school and comic books. He's a wee bit shy and quiet at first, but he'll warm up rather quickly with a soft hand and a touch of patience. He gets scared of being left behind and left out of things. Just be sure to reinforce with him that he's home with you and that you're not going anywhere."

Wonderful. Dear old mum had given my baby brother the same abandonment issues that she had gifted me with, the fucking bitch.

"Miss Bonnie? Is she here yet?" With an accent not at all unlike my own, a little voice called from the top of the stairs.

"She sure is, Nathan, dearie," 'Miss Bonnie' called back. "Why don't you come down and say hello? Your sister's excited to meet you."

Perry reached over and took my hand as the sound of little feet on the stairs drew closer and my moment of truth arrived. Please, God, let this child like me.