Chapter 84: Chapter 15

EDDIE

Time has a way of slipping by unnoticed. Weeks and months have passed, and we’ve all settled into a rhythm between home and school. I’ve found myself working for the Maxwells, handling miscellaneous paperwork at their house.

Initially, I had my sights set on their office, but the warmth and camaraderie of this family have made me reconsider. They’re nothing like my biological mother. Their focus on family is so intense, it’s almost strange.

They’ve equipped me with holstered guns for our outings, barring school, of course. I’ve been training with the guys, learning hand-to-hand combat and how to handle my weapons. Growing up, I was always overshadowed by my older brother, constantly compared to him.

My mother never missed an opportunity to belittle me. Nothing I did was ever good enough. I was a waste in her eyes.

I sought out my father, pleading with him to take me in. But he simply turned his back and walked away. I never saw or heard from him again.

The hell I endured with my mother, her attempts to mold me into a “better man,” I never shared with anyone. I didn’t want to be judged or pitied. But then I met Penny, the therapist, here.

I poured out my heart to her, and she just listened. The relief I felt after unburdening myself was immense. So much so, that I decided I wanted to be part of a family that actually cared.

The Maxwells could have easily ended my life that day, but Eva saw me for who I truly was, not the person my mother was trying to shape me into. They gave me a roof over my head, food to eat, and didn’t think twice about it. They even offered to adopt me, but I asked for time to think it over.

Now, after these past few months, my decision is clear. I want to be a Maxwell. I’m not sure how that would work with my biological father still out there somewhere.

I decide to talk to Caden about it. As I approach his office, I hear Caden, Eva, and Nate inside. I knock and enter when prompted, finding Jace and Jessie also present.

I take a seat, gathering my courage to ask. “Caden, Eva, I’ve given your offer a lot of thought. If you’re still willing, I’d love to be a Maxwell. I just don’t know how that will work with my biological father?”

The room falls silent, all eyes on me. Caden is the first to respond, nodding. He opens a drawer, pulls out some paperwork, and slides it across his desk.

I stand and walk over, looking down at the documents. The first is a letter from Caden’s lawyer, Andy, to my biological father. It essentially asks if he wants me.

The response is brief and heart-wrenching. “Keep Him!” I struggle to breathe, my heart shattering. How could he be so callous?

The next document is a termination of parental rights, signed by my biological father. Tears well up in my eyes. There’s one more paper behind the termination.

I flip it over, and Caden comes to stand beside me. It’s an adoption petition, already filled out with my new name: Eddie Romero Maxwell. I can’t hold back my tears any longer.

I lean on the desk for support, feeling Caden and Eva comforting me. “All we need to do, Eddie, is sign it. Then Andy will file it, and it’ll be official. We wanted to do everything by the book and give your father a chance to step up. Once we had our answer, we prepared all the paperwork.”

I hug Caden, then Eva. They sign the document, and Caden turns to me. “You are now my son, Eddie. MY SON! You’re a Maxwell now and always will be. Don’t ever think otherwise. I have many children, only two of them biological. But they’re all my children. And now, you’re mine too.”

Jace, Jessie, and Nate pull me into a group hug, with Eva and Caden joining from behind. I finally have a family. A real fucking family that cares about me.

We decide to celebrate and deliver the paperwork to Andy. We pile into several SUVs and head to a local ice cream shop in town. After an hour’s drive, we arrive at the ice cream shop where Andy is waiting.

We hand him the paperwork, and he congratulates me. We head into the shop, and I notice a girl from school sitting with a friend. I’ve seen her from a distance before, but up close, she’s stunning.

Dark hair, dark eyes, and a captivating presence. I can’t help but steal glances at her. Caden notices and nudges Jessie, Nate, and Jace, pointing in my direction.

They chuckle, as if they’re in on a secret I’m not privy to. As we’re placing our orders, a car screeches to a halt outside. The girl gasps and mutters a curse.

A few men rush in after her, and she tries to escape through the back. I quickly step in, pushing her behind me. We all draw our weapons, aiming at the intruders.

“Rosa, you stupid bitch! You didn’t think we’d find you, huh? You’re lucky you’re here right now! Just wait till you get back to your fucking group home! I’ll be waiting for you! You’ll regret this shit!”

Rosa clings to my shirt, trembling. I holster my gun and turn to her, pulling her into a comforting hug as she cries. Once she calms down, I sit with her and her friend, my ice cream forgotten.

The rest of the family joins us. “Rosa, right? What was all that about?”

“Angelo is a kid from my group home. He got kicked out for gang activities. He tried to take me with him, but I wouldn’t let him. I keep hiding from him because he keeps trying to take me. My group home does what they can, but it’s getting harder and harder for them.”

“What group home is this?”

“The group home on Fifth Avenue. My caseworker, Trent, doesn’t seem to care. They’ve informed him about the situation, but he just brushes it off, saying it’s not a priority right now.”

Tears well up in her eyes and I instinctively pull her onto my lap, trying to comfort her. She’s so small compared to me that even when she’s sitting on my lap, she barely reaches my shoulder. She quietly consumes her ice cream, and when she realizes it’s all gone, I hear her sigh.

I hand her mine to finish and she looks up at me, tears streaming down her face. I wipe them away and press my forehead against hers.

I lean back and plant a kiss on her forehead. I don’t know why, it just feels right. I want to wrap her in bubble wrap and take her home.

Spoil her and shield her from the world. I don’t know why, but I feel this strong urge to do so. I notice Caden on the phone, talking to Andy for a bit before hanging up.

He then dials another number and puts the call on speaker.

“Caden, what do you need now?”

“Nice to hear from you too, jerk! Guess who I bumped into at an ice cream shop, Trent? A lovely young lady named Rosa! And guess who else we ran into? A kid named Angelo and his friends, trying to kidnap her. So, you still think her situation isn’t a priority?”

“What do you want, Caden?”

“You’ll be receiving some paperwork from my lawyer soon. Also, an email that’s been sent to your boss and their boss. My lawyer is filing criminal charges and calling for your immediate removal. Oh, and have a nice day!”

He ends the call and we all stare at him, trying to process what just happened. Eva grins widely as he turns to me.

“Rosa, darling, you’re going to have a family now. We’re filing paperwork for your adoption!”

She sits up, tears streaming down her face, and looks at her friend who is also crying. I think Caden is putting the pieces together as he turns to her friend.

“Sweetheart, what’s your name? Do you also live in the group home?”

“My name is Mary Alvarez, and yes, I do, sir!”

Caden quickly dials Andy again, asking him to add Mary’s name to the paperwork. He hangs up and she just stares at him.

“You’re coming with us today, too! No more group homes for either of you!”

They both leap up, hugging him, then each other, crying. Eva stands and wraps her arms around both of them.

“I have more daughters now! I’m so thrilled!” Eva exclaims.

We all finish our ice cream—well, Rosa finishes mine—and we get ready to leave. As I stand, Rosa wraps her arms around my waist, thanking me.

“Rosa, I hope you know who we are. We’re the Maxwells and I’d be honored if you’d be my girl.”

“You’re like my guardian angel, huh? Swooping in to rescue me!”

“Every guy here who has a girl, he was their guardian angel. They are the guy’s goddesses. Just like you are mine! But we have plenty of time to get to know each other.”

I see her smile as she reaches up, pulling me down to her level to plant a kiss on my cheek. She intertwines her fingers with mine and we walk out with everyone else, heading for the cars.

Everyone gets in and I slide in next to Rosa, who snuggles into my side. I wrap my arm around her shoulder, thinking about how lucky I am, and how surreal this all is!

I get adopted and while celebrating, they adopt two more and one is my girl. I thought they were crazy when they first mentioned it, but now I understand.