Fire and Rain (5 page)

Isaac let go of the Legos he was holding and turned to him, lower lip trembling. Jos knew exactly how Isaac felt, but they didn’t have any other choice. People said they wanted to help, but that either came with a price or they simply got his hopes up only to dash them once again. He lifted Isaac into his arms and carried him up the stairs. He now had a few bags of things, but he wasn’t sure what he was going to do with them. Maybe he could find a shopping cart or something.

“I wanna stay and play Legos,” Isaac told him.

“I know you do. But we have to go. It was nice of Kip to give us breakfast and a place to sleep last night. Maybe if we’re lucky, we can get into a shelter for a few days.” It seemed pathetic that his hopes and dreams had been reduced to trying to find a shelter that would take in the two of them for more than one night. Jos sat on the edge of the bed and held Isaac tight in his arms, ready to burst into tears. This was not how his life was supposed to be, and certainly not what he wanted for Isaac.

“You don’t have to go,” Kip said from the doorway.

“I saw what you really thought, and I don’t need your pity. Isaac and I will be fine. It’s still warm and I’m going to try to find a job.” How he was going to do that with Isaac along with him he had yet to work out, but he’d figure something out.

“It’s not pity, and you need to quit jumping to conclusions. I didn’t even answer and you were out of there like a shot. Donald is getting ready to leave, but he needs the information he requested so he can help. Maybe you could let Isaac go down and say good-bye to Alex.”

Jos wanted to believe that Kip wanted to help him. Lord knew he wasn’t doing all that well on his own. “Go on,” he said to Isaac, putting him down. Isaac hurried to the doorway and then ran back to Jos.

“Don’t be sad,” Isaac said and then hurried away, plodding down the stairs. Jos put on his bravest face, even though he felt like a scared rabbit, and followed Kip down and back into the kitchen. Isaac was helping Alex put the Legos back into the bag, the two of them talking. “I wanna keep my horsey,” Isaac said, protecting his group of blocks from going into the bag.

“Those are Alex’s blocks,” Jos said and gently took them away and put them into the bag. Isaac whimpered and reached for the bag, scattering everything on the floor. The horsey went to pieces, and Isaac sat on the floor, wailing that he’d killed his horsey. Jos picked him up and tried to comfort him, but Isaac was inconsolable, reaching down toward the blocks. Alex put the spilled ones back in the bag while Donald helped him.

“Daddy, why is Isaac sad?” Alex asked as he began scooping up pieces of the horsey. He put it back together and then handed it to Isaac, who took it and clutched it to him.

“Thank you,” Jos said to Alex.

“Don’t be sad,” Alex said and stepped back to Donald, looking up as though he was trying to figure out what had happened. Jos felt the same way, but he had noticed that Isaac tended to get attached to inconsequential things, or things that didn’t
seem
important, and held on tight.

“It’s all right,” Donald said, gently rubbing Isaac’s head. “You keep the horsey.”

The pity Jos saw in Donald’s eyes nearly sent his blood boiling.

Isaac continued clutching the Lego horsey, his cries turning to whimpers, and then he rested his head on Jos’s shoulder. “I want Mama,” he whispered, and Jos sighed and continued soothing him, having no idea what to say. “Mama,” Isaac whispered in his ear over and over, like a wish whispered on a prayer.

“It’s okay,” Jos said and turned to Kip, who seemed as confused as he was.

“We’re going to go,” Donald said.

“I need to give you that information.” Jos carried Isaac up to the bedroom and found his jacket. He propped Isaac on his hip as he fished inside the lining for the envelope that held his most vital pieces of documentation. It was damp, but the cards inside were dry, and he carried them back down the stairs. “I wasn’t able to save much at all. They gave me an hour to get out, and I had to take care of Isaac.” He handed over the envelope. “Can you really help us?”

Donald looked at what was inside and smiled. “You have Isaac’s birth certificate. That’s awesome. It will prove his relationship to your mother. You might have to get a copy of yours to prove common parentage, but we’ll see. As long as no one contests that Isaac is with you, then….”

Jos said a silent prayer and let Donald take the documents. “Okay. As long as I get them back.” It seemed stupid, but it was all he had of his life—well, that and Isaac. Everything else was gone. Even his mother’s necklace, the one Kip had returned, was gone, taken by his attacker.

“You will,” Donald said. “Let me do some of my magic so I can see what I can come up with.” Donald looked at Kip, who followed him and Alex out. Jos knew they were talking about him, but there was nothing he could do about it.

When Kip came back, he sat at the table and made phone calls. Jos stood with Isaac in his arms, watching and listening. When Kip was done, he turned to Jos. “Did Adamson, umm, Tyler, take anything from you?”

“Yeah,” Jos said. “He said I belonged to him and then rummaged around in my pants pockets. He took everything I had in them. I don’t know what he did with any of it, though. Was it on him?”

“I need you to come to the station. He had a number of items on him, including one I know was yours because I gave it back to you.” Kip got up from his chair. “Let’s get you down to the station so you can give your statement and we can press charges. If he has your things, then it will be easier to press assault charges, and we can add theft as well.”

The last thing Jos wanted to do was go near a police station, but he had to get his stuff back. He also needed to know that Tyler was going to be off the streets. That guy gave him the creeps completely. “He didn’t really hurt me.”

“No, but he could have, and if I hadn’t gotten there, he would have taken something from you that I don’t think you were willing to give.”

The thought of being raped was bad enough, but having it happen where Isaac could have seen him…. Jos shivered and swore for the hundredth time in less than a day that he had to be strong for Isaac. He needed him; Jos was all Isaac had. “We should go,” Jos said.

“Then you need to get dressed. Go on and use the bathroom upstairs. I’ll watch Isaac for you. Then you can get him dressed, and we’ll go.” Kip stood, looking at him eye to eye. Jos stood stock-still, wondering why he was doing this, and then his mind immediately snapped to the soft kindness in Kip’s eyes. Kip could be strong and harsh; he’d seen that in the alley and the way he’d dealt with Tyler. There had been nothing but power and force in his voice and body. But now there was none of that. Yes, Kip was still strong and his arms filled his shirtsleeves, but he was caring and his features were much gentler now. His lips curled up slightly and his broad shoulders were relaxed, the power Jos knew was there resting until it was needed.

“Jos,” Isaac said, pulling him out of his thoughts. Jos hoped he hadn’t been too obviously checking Kip out.

“Will you go to Kip? He’s going to play with you and the horsey. I’m going upstairs to clean up, and then we’ll get you dressed, okay?” Isaac nodded, and Jos handed him over to Kip, who began talking to him, asking him what the horsey’s name was. Jos wasn’t sure how long Isaac would be quiet, so he hurried upstairs and got the kit Donald had given him. He went into the bathroom and, damn, he hadn’t remembered how good it felt to brush his teeth, shave properly, and just feel clean and fresh once again. When he was done, he went back into the bedroom and pulled on some of the clothes Donald had brought for him. The jeans and T-shirt were a little big, but that was better than too small. He’d even included a belt for him so he could keep his pants from falling down.

He went back downstairs and found the dishes cleared from the table and Kip playing with Isaac. There was a big smile on Isaac’s face as he chattered away about what his horsey was doing.

“Do you have to go?” Jos asked Isaac, and Isaac slid off Kip’s lap, telling him all about the adventure they’d had. He took Jos’s hand, still holding the horsey in the other, and Jos led him up the stairs to the bathroom.

While Isaac went, Jos got his clothes from the bedroom and then ran some water in the bathtub. Isaac liked taking a bath, and Jos put him in and let him play for a couple of minutes.

“I want the horsey,” Isaac said, extending his arm and making a “gimme” hand.

“Okay.” Jos handed him the horsey and a washcloth and let Isaac clean himself. “We don’t have a lot of time. Mr. Kip needs to get going.” Jos just hadn’t been able to pass up the chance for Isaac to get clean. When Isaac had washed, he stood, and Jos wrapped him and his horsey in a clean towel, dried him, and then helped him dress in new, clean clothes.

“How long can we stay here?” Isaac asked. “I like it.” He smiled. “I’ll be good, I promise. Can we stay if I’m good?” Isaac reached for the Lego horse as Jos finally got the squirming youngster into his clothes. He could be a handful at times, and Jos gave him a hug.

“I don’t know. Let’s go see Mr. Kip so we can get things done with the police.” Jos cleaned up the bathroom as best he could, hanging up towels and then rinsing out the tub. Then he opened the door, and Isaac raced to the stairs and started descending.

“Mr. Kip, I have the horsey,” he called. Jos followed him, watching. Three steps from the bottom, Isaac slipped. Jos grabbed him to prevent a fall, but the horsey slipped from his hand, then shattered into pieces at the bottom of the stairs. Isaac stared at the individual pieces, then turned to look up at him, lower lip trembling.

Kip hurried in. “It’s okay. They’re not broken. Now you can make a new horsey with them.”

Jos lifted Isaac and waited for the meltdown he was afraid was coming, but Isaac nodded, eyes still watery, and Kip picked up the blocks. He put them in a small bag and handed it to Isaac.

“We have horsey fun-ral like Mama fun-ral,” Isaac said.

“How about we get you a different kind of horsey,” Kip said right away.

Jos turned away, trying not to let Kip see the pain that must have flashed on his face. His mother had never been much of a parent. Even when he was young, Jos spent a lot of time at his friend Amy’s house. She didn’t have much more than he did, but Amy’s mom was a lion. She made sure Amy got to school and did her homework, something his mom never, ever asked about. Amy’s mom told her, and by extension him, that the only way any of them were getting out of the hellhole they lived in was to get smart and learn all they could.

“Yay!” Isaac broke into song and scrambled to get down. Then Isaac did a little dance, wiggling his butt and bouncing up and down. “I’m getting a real horsey, I’m getting a real horsey.” He twirled and stomped until he got dizzy and fell down. After a few seconds, he got up and did it again.

“Isaac, where are we going to keep a real horse?” Jos asked. He hated to be a killjoy, but he had to set Isaac straight. Their lives were bleak enough, and Isaac needed to know things like real horses weren’t in their future.

“Let him be happy. I know what he means, and we’ll get him a ‘real’ horse, just as soon as we finish at the police station.”

Jos looked at him skeptically but nodded. He’d let Isaac be happy for a little while. He’d had too little of that lately. “I’m ready to go when you are.”

“Let me get my wallet and shield, and then we can go.” Kip scooped Isaac into his arms, making helicopter sounds as he zoomed him into the kitchen. A few seconds later, they zoomed out again, to peals of laughter and giggles from both of them. Jos even allowed himself a smile, although he could already see the heartbreak and hear the crying when all this came to an end and they had to leave.

“Jos is my big brother,” Isaac was telling Kip as Jos checked that he had what little he needed. “He’s not my whole brother, though, only half.”

“Which half, the top half or the bottom half?” Kip said to giggles from Isaac. “Or is it this side or that side?” More giggles from Isaac. “Maybe…,” he said dramatically, “it’s the back half.”

“I’m not Jos’s butt brother. That part’s stinky,” Isaac said, holding his nose, and Jos had to laugh at that. There was no way not to.

“You know,” Kip said, turning to him, “you’re beautiful when you smile.”

Jos didn’t know quite what to make of that. “Um, thanks.” He smiled slightly.

Isaac tapped Kip on the side of the head to get his attention. “Jos had a boyfriend once. It made Mama mad.”

“Isaac,” Jos said sternly.

“Why was she mad?” Kip asked Isaac, but he shrugged and made a thinking motion. “She said boys should be with girls.” Isaac made a face. “They’re yucky, though.”

“Come on, let’s go,” Kip said. He glanced at Jos with a quick wink, and then he carried Isaac out the door. He locked it behind them, and then they went to Kip’s car. Jos got Isaac strapped into his seat and then got into the car, and they rode to the police station, Jos’s nervousness increasing by the second.

KIP HAD
no idea why he’d made the comment about Jos being beautiful when he smiled. He should’ve known better than to say something like that without thinking. In those few seconds, he’d outed himself to Jos. Granted, he hadn’t seemed taken aback and hadn’t recoiled, so maybe he hadn’t scared Jos off, but he hadn’t helped himself either. Jos was handsome enough, with deep eyes and a sculptured nose, and plump lips that would be perfect for kissing and other things he didn’t dare think about. Jos was a guy he was trying to help and a witness to a crime. It was a terrible idea for him to have these kinds of thoughts about someone like him. He’d help Jos get the support he needed because it was the right thing to do, and then he’d move on with his life.

Thank God the drive to the station wasn’t very long. Even with the air-conditioning on, Kip more than once tugged at his collar, warmth spreading through him. His heart pounded and he was hyperaware of the way Jos’s leg bounced nervously as they rode. “It’s okay. No one is going to hurt you or try to take anything from you.”