Hiraeth

vii

Foo Fighters- My Hero

His heart pounded fast against his chest like it was trying to beat its way out as he stood in front of the court with a recording and his mother's statement. Kaleb had no idea how Carter got him here or how she just made his one wish come true but he knows one thing. He owes her big time. 

"Mr. Wright you are granted full custody of Helena Margaret Wright with supervised visitation should the mother ever wants to see her. The decision is up to the two of you. You have one hell of a guardian angel Mr. Wright. Don't make us regret this," the judge said looking him over. 

The last time he stood before him. Kaleb had been a complete mess and this man had taken everything from him. Kaleb couldn't thank him enough as Helena rushed over to him wrapping her arms around him crying like she had the day he arrived. There was no way to console her. She feels rejected by the one person who was supposed to love her no matter what. 

His mother took care of Helena's paperwork and started looking at schools and doctors back close to Carter's house back in St. Louis. He watched as Helena put her things in boxes that were going to be shipped over. His mom wanted him to stay a little longer but he had made a deal with not only Carter but the chief and he really needs to get back. 

"Are you sure you can't extend your stay for a couple of days?" she asked when he started putting his thing back into his duffle bag. 

"I wish could, ma. I'm on a short leash as it is. My new partner is kind of a hard-ass," she laughed. 

"Coming from you she has to be," 

"She's something else. I've never met anyone like that. One second she can be out of her mind and the next she's the most level-headed responsible person I've ever known and I was just around her a few hours for a couple of days," 

"Maybe she's just gone through hell. What's bad for us can be nothing compared to what others have gone through," he nodded motioning her to sit down next to him. She pulled out the file he had one of his friends down at the bureau run for him. 

"She has gone through hell, Ma. It says she witnessed her parent's murder at nine. Spent the rest of her youth in the system until she ran off on her own for two years. Straight A's never missed a day of school. Got into Saint Louis University. Has a master's in counter-terrorism, and criminal investigations. A bachelors in criminal psychology and another in sociology. She is fluent in Russian, Japanese, Korean, German, Spanish, and Arabic. This girl isn't just kind of smart," 

"You sound worried," he nodded.

"I am. You should see the way she speaks and how she moves. It's like she doesn't have a care in the world and is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders at the same time. She didn't help me out of the kindness of her heart. She wants something. I don't know what it is and I don't think she knows what it is either," 

"Maybe, she wants to feel the way you do," his mother said leaning into him. 

"What?" 

"If what you're telling me about this girl is true. She's probably been through hell and back. I would know. I worked for social services for thirty-two years. Some of these kids are lucky to make it as far as she has even if they are borderline geniuses. 

"People like Carter Madison spend their whole lives trying to fit in somewhere. Trying to chase what they once had. That sense of completeness. The innocence they were deprived of growing up the way they did. 

"Maybe, all she wants is help to find that again. I'm not saying she wants you to complete her. What I'm saying is just be there. Show her that you've fallen off your mighty horse, son. But also show her that you can get back on. Show her that even when you thought all was lost there is a way. Show Carter Madison that in all this darkness there is a light. Just teach her,"