Chapter Text
The living room smelled faintly of old books and cold coffee, an oddly comforting scent amid the tension that now filled the space. I sat rigid in my favorite armchair, arms crossed tightly, trying to keep my thoughts collected even as frustration simmered beneath the surface. Martha leaned against the doorframe, her posture weary but steady, eyes flicking between Lafayette and me with quiet concern. Lafayette himself flopped dramatically onto the couch, his phone abandoned beside him as if it had no place in this moment.
“So wait,” I finally broke the silence, voice low but edged with disbelief, “you just agreed? Without even consulting us first?”
Lafayette rolled his eyes, the motion heavy with teenage exasperation as he drummed his fingers against the worn fabric of the couch. “Yeah. Because who else was supposed to say yes? Social services called me out of the blue—there’s a kid, twelve years old, tossed around like some damn tennis ball, and they needed someone to take him. I didn’t have time for a family council.”
Martha pushed off the doorframe, folding her arms with the air of someone who had heard far too much before breakfast. “But don’t you realize what this entails? You’re fifteen yourself, Laff. That’s barely being a child.”
“Exactly,” he shot back, voice rising a notch, “so don’t expect me to suddenly become some saint or miracle worker. I didn’t ask for this. I’m just trying to stop the kid from ending up on the street because you two are too scared to say yes.”
I rubbed my temples, willing myself to remain calm. “It’s not fear, it’s responsibility. What do you actually know about him? How can we be sure he’ll be safe here? What if he runs away, or worse?”
He scoffed, voice dripping with impatience. “You think he hasn’t already run away? Or worse? From what I’ve heard, the kid’s life is already a mess. So yeah, maybe you’re afraid of the chaos coming into our quiet house, but what about him? You know how silent it gets when you’re both gone. He could use some company, even if it’s temporary.”
Martha’s eyes softened briefly, but her tone remained firm. “Lafayette, where exactly is he supposed to sleep?”
Lafayette waved a dismissive hand. “Guest room. It’s empty. The only option. I don’t even know what ‘temporary’ means—could be a week, a month, maybe longer. But it’s better than nothing.”
I exhaled slowly, tension easing just a fraction. “Very well. The guest room it is. But we do this properly. No surprises.”
Lafayette smirked, the faintest edge of mockery in his voice. “Surprises? You’re acting like this is the end of the world.”
Martha smiled slightly, a hint of patience returning. “None of this is easy, Laff. We’re just trying to figure out how to make it work.”
He threw his hands up in exaggerated surrender. “Well, figure it out fast. I’m just tired of people getting screwed over.”
I stood, stretching muscles stiff from the weight of the conversation. “Then let’s begin with the guest room. It’s been collecting dust for months.”
Lafayette groaned but rolled off the couch. “Finally, some action. I’ll get the vacuum.”
As we set to work, the atmosphere began to shift. Lafayette tossed pillows and sheets, while I wiped down furniture that hadn’t been touched in too long.
Martha’s voice broke the quiet, soft and careful. “Do you think he’ll like it here?”
Lafayette shrugged, a shadow crossing his features. “I don’t know. But it’s better than the hospital or wherever he’s been stuck before.”
I nodded slowly, considering. “We won’t fix everything, but perhaps we can offer him a place to start. A foundation, however fragile.”
Lafayette glanced around the room, the reality of the situation settling over him like a weight. “Yeah. One messy step at a time.”
Martha smiled gently, folding a blanket with quiet resolve. “That’s all anyone can do.”
I chuckled softly, the sound unfamiliar in the heavy room. “Welcome to the family, kid. Hopefully, this time, it sticks.”
Lafayette shot us both a sarcastic grin. “Yeah, yeah, don’t get all mushy on me now.”
Despite the humor, a small flicker of hope warmed the space—a fragile beginning amidst the uncertainty.