They no more had that all planned out, when the phone rang. Logan Taylor had been able to get tickets for World of Wonders, an amusement park about fifty miles away. Would Seth like to go and ride the rides with Trevor? Seth jumped at the chance, an afternoon at the arcade with his aunt forgotten.
So she was left to her own devices.
After cleaning out her closet and preparing a box for Goodwill, she decided to go through Seth’s. He had outgrown so many jeans and shirts—somebody might as well be getting some use out of them.
She was just fastening the flaps on the box from his room when the doorbell rang.
Jan’s heart raced when she opened it and saw Vanessa Tate, Seth’s protective services caseworker. What was she doing there on a Saturday?
“Is something wrong?” Jan couldn’t keep from asking.
Vanessa smiled gently. “Even though you’ve had Seth for over a year now, I still have to make a spot check every once in a while.”
“Oh.” Jan breathed a little easier. “I’m sorry you missed Seth, then. He went to World of Wonders with Logan Taylor and Trevor Ryman.”
“I’m very glad to hear Seth is getting out and interacting with other young men,” Vanessa enthused. “The last time I was here, it was like looking at a different boy than the one I left with you. You’ve done wonderfully with him.”
It was then Jan noticed the strain around Vanessa’s smile.
“What’s going on?’ she asked. “Just tell me, please.” She could handle anything except Seth being taken away from her.
Vanessa hesitated. “I understand you and your mother parted ways as soon as you turned eighteen.”
This was about Jan’s mother? Her heart went into her throat. “If you know that, you must know why. She is an alcoholic and was a neglectful parent. If I stayed, I would have lived my life doing nothing but enable her. I took care of her from the time I turned thirteen until my eighteenth birthday. Then I just couldn’t do it anymore.”
“Jan, your mom, Patsy Sellers Edwards, has contacted the agency. Several months ago.”
Jan felt the blood drain from her face. “Why didn’t I know about this? What does she want?”
“The director didn’t think notifying you was necessary before your mother was thoroughly investigated. The fact of the matter is, Patsy Edwards has been sober for over four years now. She sought treatment shortly after you left her, and she remarried a few years ago. She is recently widowed, and somehow found out about Seth—”
“She can’t have him.” Jan stood straight, ready to do battle. “I won’t let her do to him what she did to me. He’s not going to live like that.”
“Calm down.” Vanessa spoke soothingly. “She hasn’t said anything to make us think she has the slightest inclination to remove him from your custody. She has bought a house here in Ransom, though, and wants to be a part of Seth’s life.”
“She can’t be.” Jan’s bravado fled as she sank to the couch. “You don’t understand what kind of person she is.”
“Was,” Vanessa countered. “Remember, I told you she’s been investigated. Your mother is a different person from the one who raised—or failed to raise—you. And Jan, I’m sorry, but we have to be realistic here. She is Seth’s grandmother. Don’t you think he deserves to have somebody else in his life to love him?”
“He has me. He has Bo.” Jan’s mind raced. “Mrs. Harper loves him. He has lots of friends now. He doesn’t need my mother. I don’t need my mother.”
Vanessa leaned down to look into Jan’s eyes. “Janet, from the second you first took Seth in, I’ve watched you make every decision in your life for his benefit, not your own. I’m not going to tell you what to do here. You have to decide on your own. But you have the facts. Please consider them carefully when you choose whether or not to allow Seth’s grandmother into his life.”
Jan felt tears burn behind her eyes. She was not going to cry. It never did any good in the past, and it certainly wouldn’t at this point.
“I’ll just look around the house a bit so I can write up a report about what a good home you’re providing your nephew.” Vanessa spoke softly. “You just think about what I’ve told you.”
Jan sat there in a daze. Her mother—if that term could actually apply to the woman who gave birth to her—was in Ransom. And if protective services was right, which she knew deep down they were, Patsy was sober. But to let her be in Seth’s life? She just didn’t know. Jan wanted to talk to somebody else about this so much.
She nearly picked up the phone to call Bo, but then she remembered his plans for the next day. It no longer felt like the two of them presented a united front for Seth. They were just two individuals doing what was best for a boy they both loved. Bo’s plans didn’t include Jan.
She put her head in her hands and fought the tears. Janet Sellers had never felt more alone in her life.
“Look at the giraffes, Bo!” Seth pointed at the animals as they stretched their long necks to reach leaves.
“If you don’t stop growing, you’re gonna be that tall,” Bo proclaimed, ruffling the boy’s hair.
“Do you like giraffes, Miss Zimmers?” Seth politely asked Liz.
Liz’s smile looked forced, but at least she produced one. “They’re a pretty color, I guess.”
“That dark color on some of them kinda reminds me of Aunt Jan’s hair. Don’t you think so, Bo?” Seth innocently asked.
Bo looked at the color Seth was referring to. He chuckled as he imagined Jan’s reaction when she found out her beautiful, deep auburn hair was compared to the spots on a giraffe. “She might not appreciate being compared to a giraffe.” It sure would have been fun to see Jan’s face right about then, though.
“Your hair is pretty.” Seth’s cheeks reddened as he complimented Liz.
“Thank you,” she stiffly replied.
“Can we go see the lions next?” Seth asked Bo.
Bo grinned at his enthusiasm. “Sure. As long as you don’t think your aunt’s hair looks like their mane when she gets up first thing in the morning.”
Seth’s grin was huge. Bo still couldn’t equate the happy young man in front of him with the scared little boy who refused to come out of their tent last summer. And it was because of Jan.
“I’m rather thirsty, Bo,” Liz commented. “Could we get something to drink before we see the lions?”
“There’s a stand right back over there,” Seth suggested, gesturing toward the path they’d just traversed.
“You want to come with me, or wait here?” Bo asked them.
“I think Seth and I can wait here for you.” Liz’s smile was a little brighter. Maybe Seth was starting to win her over. How could she resist him?
Bo left the two of them standing as he walked back to the stand and purchased two large drinks in souvenir cups. He figured Seth was probably thirsty by then, too, but he wouldn’t ask for anything.
As he walked up, he knew neither of them saw him.
“I don’t want to hear another word about your wretched aunt.” Liz spoke with a venomous, hateful voice Bo had never heard her use. “She’s not with us, and she doesn’t belong with Bo—ever. Neither do you.”
Bo was too stunned to do more than stand and stare at the woman he’d been dating.
“I’m sorry,” Seth mumbled.
The teenager’s heartbroken voice snapped Bo out of his stupor. He walked over and shoved a soda into Liz’s hand, actually finding satisfaction in the black liquid splashing onto her pristine, white top before turning his back on her to face Seth.
“I’m sorry, buddy, but I think I’m all zooed out for the day. How’s about if we come back another time?” He barely refrained from turning to glare at the woman behind him. “Just you and me—and your aunt if she wants.”
Seth’s expression told Bo all he needed to know. Liz’s cruel words had hurt the boy. And Seth had done nothing—absolutely nothing—to deserve them.
“We’re leaving?” Liz asked innocently. “B
ut we haven’t seen the lions yet.”
“No.” Bo still couldn’t bring himself to look at her. “But I’ve heard enough from a snake in the grass.”
He handed Seth the other drink. “Come on, Seth. Let’s get you home.”
Seth accepted the cup and silently followed Bo. It reminded Bo too much of the child who had done everything asked of him because he was used to being hurt otherwise.
Bo finally glanced back to see an unmoving Liz, staring at Bo.
“You can either come with us or find your own way home. Seth and I are leaving.” Bo honestly didn’t care what she did.
She perked up and spoke in a falsely cheerful voice. “Seth and I were just getting to know each other, weren’t we, Seth?”
“Like I told you, I heard enough.” Bo ushered Seth on ahead, leaving Liz to follow them. Right then he would gladly leave her there. Maybe she could call Kim or Yvonne or one of her other friends with cobs up their rears to come get her. He didn’t care. He just wanted to take the hurt look off Seth’s face.
“I think you misunderstood—” Liz began.
“Seth, you go on ahead.” Bo stopped and waited until Seth was several yards away, but still kept his voice down just in case. “Shut your hateful mouth, Liz. You’ve just undone something it’s taken Jan and me over a year to do.”
He turned and jogged to catch up with Seth. Knowing Liz, she was probably still standing there, certain her father’s favorite “cute little pout” would win Bo over.
She was right behind them when they reached the truck, though. Once again, Liz had to get herself into Bo’s vehicle. He might have felt guilty about not helping a lady if he considered Liz anything but a shrew at the moment.
There wasn’t a word spoken during the entire ride from the zoo to Liz’s house. Bo sat behind the wheel and let Liz find her own way out of the truck. Maybe she could just slither on out of there.
“Will I see you later?” The tears in her voice moved him about as much as Mason’s dry heaves after his last bender.
He leveled his gaze at her. “Not tonight.”
She walked around the truck. As soon as she was on the sidewalk, Bo gunned the engine and headed to Jan’s house.
“Seth, I’m sorry for what Liz said to you.”
Seth shifted in his seat. “She doesn’t like me.”
Bo wanted to hit something. “She doesn’t know you.”
“She doesn’t want to know me.” Seth’s eyes were focused on his feet. “I talked about Aunt Jan too much.”
Bo remembered his own words about Jan. “You know what, Seth? You can talk about your aunt all you want. We both can. It’s Liz’s problem, not ours. Don’t let what she said make you feel bad, because you didn’t do anything wrong. Not one single thing.” He glanced over and waited until he had direct eye contact with Seth. “Got it?”
Seth slowly smiled and nodded. “Got it.”
“How about next Sunday we take Jan and go back? We can see if her hair really is the same color as those spots on the giraffes.”
Seth’s grin looked almost normal. “I’ll tell her not to brush her hair when she gets up, and we can see if she looks like a lion, too.”
At the sound of Seth’s laughter, Bo breathed a sigh of relief. The teen seemed okay. Thank heavens Bo heard Liz’s words and was able to fix things.
“What’s Aunt Jan doin’?” Seth asked as Bo pulled his truck into her driveway.
Bo looked over and saw Jan sitting on the front porch swing. He wasn’t sure, but from the look on her face, it appeared she’d been crying. As odd as it was, even when faced with all Seth’s past trauma, Bo had never saw Jan shed a tear. Something really bad must have happened.
“Seth, why don’t you go in and email Kaleb? I’d like to talk to Jan for a few minutes.”
Seth willingly agreed, obviously not wanting to see his aunt upset and having no idea how to help her.
After Seth walked on into the house, Bo sat on the swing beside Jan.
“Have fun?” Her voice was so low Bo barely heard her.
He thought about lying, but then just couldn’t. “Liz isn’t cut out for the zoo. I’m not sure she’s cut out for…What’s wrong, Jan? Did I upset you with my stupid idea for taking Seth on our family day without you?”
She slowly shook her head. “It’s my problem. I’ll deal with it. You’d better get back to Liz. I know Sunday evenings are your time with her.”
“Not tonight.” He didn’t even want to hear her name at the moment. “Does your problem have anything to do with Seth? Because if it does, you know it’s my problem, too, don’t you?”
“I don’t think so…not anymore.”
He had really gone and done it this time. The two of them had worked closely, taking care of Seth all this time, and he threw it away for what? Just to let Liz act like a spiteful witch toward the teenager.
“Tell me,” he urged her. “I want to know what’s wrong.” Bo just couldn’t give up on the past year of his life like this.
She finally turned troubled eyes toward him. He could see how red and swollen they were. She had definitely been crying.
“Please, Jan…let me help.” It was all he could think to say.
She took a ragged breath. “Vanessa was here yesterday.” Jan looked small and…defeated.
“Wasn’t she happy with the way things are going for Seth?” Bo couldn’t imagine the caseworker finding one single thing to count against Jan. Seth was thriving.
Jan nodded. “She thinks he’s doing great.”
“Then what is it?” Surely the pond scum “raising” Seth before he surrendered his parental rights wasn’t trying to take him back. Bo would gladly put the fear of a vacation far to the south of heaven in that monster’s head.
Jan’s eyes met his again. “You don’t want to hear this. Really. Go on back to Liz’s.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on. I’ve been here for Seth every step of the way, and I’m not about to walk away now. I know this has something to do with him, or you wouldn’t be this upset.” Bo reached over and took her hand in his. “Now, tell me.”
For a few moments, he didn’t think she was going to say anything. But then she practically whispered. “It’s my mother.” A lone tear fell from her eye. “She wants to be a part of Seth’s life.”
Bo was confused. He had never heard a word about Jan’s mother. Hadn’t they said Jan was Seth’s only relative when the state granted her custody?
“I don’t understand.” He tried to use a soothing voice. “Where’s she been?”
Jan sighed. “Drunk.”
“Drunk?” Bo couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice. “You mean she’s an alcoholic?”
She shook her head and laughed derisively. “Protective services investigated her, and it seems she’s been sober for over four years now. She moved here and wants to be in her only grandchild’s life.”
That was a good thing, wasn’t it? But if it was, why was Jan so upset? “Can you explain this to me a little more?”
She looked into his eyes, and it was like the floodgates opened and words came gushing out.
“From practically as far back as I can remember, my mother loved her vodka more than she cared about me. She’d get so drunk, she’d be sick and lie there in her own filth. I was cleaning her up before I was Seth’s age. I didn’t get to have friends, or date, or go anywhere. I was too busy worrying about my mother staying alive. Do you know what it’s like to rush straight home from school just to make sure your mother hasn’t passed out and choked to death on her own vomit?” Jan shuddered. “Until I turned eighteen. Then I realized I wasn’t living. I was enabling her. So I left. And I didn’t look back.”
His thumb caressed her hand. “I’m sorry, Jan.” She spent the first eighteen years of her life living for her mother, and now she was living for her nephew. He couldn’t fathom the depth of this woman’s soul.
“Well, now they’re telling me she’s sober. A
nd I should let her be a part of my nephew’s life. What if I do, and she lets him down? He’s already been let down by too many people.” She turned her hand over and laced her fingers with his. “I’m scared, Bo.”
“I’m here, and I won’t let anything happen to Seth…or you.” He leaned forward, and his lips gently brushed hers.
She jerked away.
“I’m sorry, Jan. I don’t know what got into me.” He dropped her hand and stood up.
“You’re worried about Seth. We both care about him. You were just comforting me.” It sounded like she was listing possibilities.
Bo was really rattled. He hadn’t planned to kiss her. It just felt natural, so he did. He was with Liz, no matter how angry he was with her, and he wasn’t a cheater.
“I’m sorry, Jan,” he repeated. “Whatever you decide, please let me know. I’ll be there for…Seth…no matter what.”
“Okay.” She stood up and fussed around with the cushions. “I’d better get inside and see to Seth’s dinner.”
“I’ll see you later.” Bo turned around and practically sprinted to his truck. It wasn’t until he was halfway home when he realized he hadn’t explained why he was bringing Seth home so early. His efforts to get Liz and Seth to bond had been a dismal failure.
“This bites,” he muttered.
Here it was. Jan’s mom wasn’t even technically back in her life yet, and she was changing everything. After Bo left the day before, Jan and Seth made a quick trip to a drive-through, settling for junk food they shouldn’t eat and couldn’t really afford. She figured it would be better than burning down her house while trying to cook, though.
After Seth went to bed, Jan sat up—thinking. What was best for him? That had to be her only concern. After hours of contemplation and a pretty much sleepless night, she reached the conclusion she needed to see her mother for herself. Jan believed Vanessa, but she just needed to see Patsy.
If…and that was still a really big if…she decided to let her mom see Seth, there were going to be some ground rules. She had worked too hard to give him a consistent, safe, and loving environment. She couldn’t allow anything to harm that.
Just Practicing (Hearts for Ransom Book 2) Page 4
