Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(52)

Gideon might have laughed more quickly, gotten involved with the community. He might have trusted more easily. She knew there was no way she could begin to imagine all he’d been through. Torture was not an intellectual exercise. She’d been through mock imprisonments as part of her training. She’d been held in a windowless room, tied up and yelled at. But she’d known it wasn’t real, and she’d been unable to summon any real fear.

No one had hurt her. No one had cut her or beat her. She hadn’t thought she was going to die. Gideon had spent two years in hell, and that experience would have changed him forever. The question that remained was how much humanity remained and was it enough, now that he had a son.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE NEXT MORNING Felicia signed the paperwork to enroll Carter in the summer camp. Somehow Mayor Marsha had come through, and both Felicia and Gideon were cleared to be emergency foster parents. They’d been given joint custody of Carter until the DNA test confirmed what they all knew. But for the next few weeks, she was a mother, albeit a temporary one.

Dakota Andersson checked the form, then smiled. “Sorry this is going so slowly. Our normal clerk is out sick today, so I’m pulling front-desk duty. I’m not so good with the paperwork.” She put the paper down and nodded at Carter.

“You’re in. The way our camp works is we divide kids by age, interest and sometimes gender. You’ll be with a group of guys who are your age. We have a buddy program. We assign you a fellow camper for the first week so you can meet people and fit in.”

Carter leaned against the counter. “What happens on the first day of camp? Isn’t everyone new then?”

“They are, which makes the buddy program pretty fun. No one knows where anything is and sometimes both buddies try to be in charge.”

Felicia privately thought that was a flawed system, but she decided not to mention that. If Dakota wanted help, she would ask for it.

“Reese Hendrix is going to be your buddy,” Dakota said. “He’s my nephew, so he has to behave.” She looked at Felicia. “He’s Kent’s son. Have you met Kent?”

“No, but I know who he is. I met your mother when she applied for the booth.”

Dakota groaned. “That was not a fun weekend. Ford nearly went through the roof when he found out. Kent and Reese were out of town, so Kent missed the whole thing.” She turned her attention back to Carter. “You ready?”

“Uh-huh. I left my lunch in the car. Let me go get it.”

Felicia followed him back to her car. “You have the cell phone if you need to reach me. There’s coverage up here, although I suspect the counselors frown on personal calls. An emergency is different.”

Carter grinned. “I know the rules, Felicia. I’ve done this sort of thing before.”

“That makes one of us.”

She gazed at him, at his shaggy hair and disproportionate body. He’d reached the stage of growth where he was all arms and legs. Her chest felt tight again—a not unpleasant sensation.

“Don’t worry,” he told her. “I’ll be fine.”

“You’re very brave.” She paused, wrestling with the truth. “Is it all right if I give you a hug or would you consider it inappropriate?”

He surprised her by stepping close and wrapping his long arms around her. She hugged him back. He was so skinny, she thought. All bones, but strong. As they hung on to each other, she understood that she would do all she could to protect this boy, no matter what.

He stepped back. “Better?” he asked.

She nodded and collected his lunch.

“I’ll be back at five,” she told him.

He waved and walked toward Dakota. Felicia watched him go, her chest still tight, but this time with too much emotion rather than its usual emptiness.

She might not be very good at the traditional aspects of mothering, but she wanted to learn. And being around Carter made her believe she really had a shot at being like everyone else.

* * *

“I TOLD YOU before,” Gideon grumbled. “Beige is a color.”

“Not for a thirteen-year-old boy.”

Felicia looked at the striped comforter set. The shades of blue were trimmed with a masculine burgundy. The bed skirt was navy, as were the pillow shams. She’d already picked out sheets and a blanket. Next up were towels.

She put the comforter set into the large cart and followed the signs to the bath section of the huge store. She chose yellow towels with a blue trim, then spotted a bath accessory kit.

“I love it!”

Gideon followed her to the shelf. “Isn’t he too old for dinosaurs?”

Felicia picked up the brightly colored toothbrush holder. There was a matching trash can and tissue box holder.

“Yes, by several years, but that’s not the point. It will make him smile. In a few months we can replace it with something more age appropriate.”

“If you say so.”

She wasn’t sure, but the decision seemed right. Carter would understand that she didn’t see him as a little kid, but instead wanted him to feel comfortable. At least that was her hope.

After they paid for the purchases and loaded Gideon’s already full SUV, they stopped for lunch before heading back to Fool’s Gold.

They were seated in the outdoor patio of a small restaurant. Gideon leaned back in his chair, more relaxed than he had been in the past couple of days.