A Home For Timmy (boyxboy)

Chapter 10: Making waves.

Chapter

His feet propped on the dash was strong evidence of just how much had changed since the first time we’d met. Back then he’d been cautious, distrusting and defensive at every turn. I remembered him huddled in the backseat with Timmy wherever we went.

Uninterested in simple small talk and afraid that at any moment his son would be snatched from his arms. Now, he had no qualms about raiding the refrigerator for a late night snack, leaving his shoes just about everywhere around the house and turning on the TV whenever he felt the drive for some entertainment.

He initiated conversations with me at will and wasn’t afraid to prepare a meal without asking. He’d grown comfortable in my home, I could see that he was happy and even though we had a long ways to go before he completely loosened up. We’d made extraordinary progress.

I smiled at the thought and glanced at him briefly. He was reading another book he’d found on the shelf. This one was a mystery novel I’d bought years before and had never gotten around to reading. Every so often he would glance over to ask me the meaning of a word he didn’t know and like some attention-deprived kid, it brought me a sense of satisfaction every time he did.

I thought of those nights I’d stayed up with him in the family room; me doing paperwork in one couch while he curled up in another reading a novel with a glass of orange juice and a dictionary by his side. His interest in books and his thirst for knowledge was astounding and I thought of what a shame it was that he’d dropped out of school at so young an age.

He could have really made something of his life. In fact, he still could.

I glanced into the rear-view mirror when Timmy laughed and grinned when I saw his amused expression. About an hour before, Jason had set up the portable DVD player and slipped in one of his favorite cartoons. He’d been lost to his own machinations after that.

It hadn’t taken very much for him to adjust to living in a new environment as it had Jason. In fact in a matter of days he’d adapted so well one would have thought he’d spent his whole life in my home. He was a trooper. They both were and I wanted—no I needed it to last.

“What if they left already?” Jason questioned, sticking a finger between the pages to keep his place.

“They haven’t.”

“But we’re a whole hour late. Why would they wait?” 

His eyes were wide with uncertainty as he watched me. “You worry too much.”

“You’re too sure of yourself all the time. One day you’ll be wrong.” He told me with confidence and I could help but grin at his words.

“Maybe, but today won’t be that day.”

He continued to stare as the moments ticked by and I kept my eyes on the road, allowing him his moment. He did this so often, I’d long ago stopped wondering what he was looking for when he did it.

“Maybe you could call them back and make sure.” He continued.

He’d picked up my phone and was twirling it around in his hands. I suppose I could understand his anxiousness. He’d never been on a boat before, and the second I’d told him about this trip his excitement had been obvious.

He was looking forward to it…more than I’d seen him look forward to anything before. It told me just how many experiences he’d missed out on. Big things, simple things… I’d make sure he one day experienced them all. He deserved it.

“Alright, it’s the first number in the call log, just hit call and confirm with them.” I told him and of course he froze.

“Me?”