There was a long pause. “She didn’t exactly get released. There was a group therapy session yesterday, and she didn’t show up. Her roommate said she was under the weather, and by the time it ended and someone checked on her, she was gone.”
Sawyer wasn’t sure what to say to that.
“Okay, what does this mean?”
“Well, she still has eighty-seven days left to her compulsory six-month program.”
“Okay…”
“In all likelihood, she’s already back to using.” Madison’s voice was knowing. “I just wanted to warn you because she might try to meet up with the kids.”
“She knows where we are?” Sawyer frowned. Why would they give that info out?
Again, the pause ensued. “Well, her parental rights were never revoked by the court when they removed visitation and ordered her to rehab. ” Madison cleared her throat before adding, “So their location would not have been kept secret from her by this office if she requested it.”
“You told her?” Sawyer didn’t bother hiding the anger in his voice, and he moved further away from the kids.
She took a second to answer, “As I said, she is still allowed parental rights and thus can be told their location. We had no idea she would leave the rehab in violation of the court order. The facility notified the local authorities as soon as her unauthorized absence was discovered, and they are on the lookout for her.”
He decided not to point out how stupid and pointless he thought that line of thought was.
“Does that mean she can…?” Sawyer didn’t want to finish the sentence but he pushed through, “Does that mean she can take them?”
“No,” Madison replied. “Absolutely not. Cynthia is on probation, and her rehab was court ordered, and since she is now in violation of it, it will revert to a prison sentence of an already predetermined length of time. She won’t be able to get custody, especially as you were named guardian by the children’s court ordered sole custodian. ”
Sawyer nodded and felt the weight on his chest lighten, but just a little.
“I think you should just be on the lookout, though,” Madison added. “She may try to contact the kids.”
Sawyer nodded and turned around to where Savie and Gavin sat at the table. They had abandoned Clue and were now on their phones. Ford walked into the kitchen and immediately sought him out with his eyes.
When their eyes met, Ford’s brow creased, and he quirked them at Sawyer.
“Later,” Sawyer mouthed to him, and Ford nodded.
“If I have any more information, you’ll be my first call.” Madison’s voice had him turning around again. “I will be advising your contact at the social services office in Colorado of this as well.”
“Thank you,” Sawyer replied.
“You’re welcome. Call me if you need anything,” she added.
“I will.” Sawyer disconnected the call, and he closed his eyes for a moment trying to center himself.
“What’s going on?” Ford’s voice behind him had him turning around slowly, putting his phone in his pocket as he did.
“We’ll talk about it when the kids are in bed.” He looked in their direction.
Ford studied him briefly before nodding slowly. “Okay.”
Sawyer wanted to act like nothing was wrong because he didn’t want to worry the kids, but the minute he could, Ford and he needed to devise a game plan because his gut was telling him that everything was not okay.
And it hadn’t steered him wrong yet.
“Goodnight, Savanna,” Sawyer called out. He saw her walking past the open door of the living room towards the stairs.
She turned around and paused at the door to the living room. “I had a good time tonight.” She shot him a shy smile. “Goodnight,” she added, then turned and disappeared.
When it was just him and Ford, his boyfriend grinned. “Now, look at that,” Ford said. “Told you she’d come around.”
Sawyer laughed. “I wasn’t sure she would.”
Ford chuckled and took Sawyer’s hand in his. “Everything in good time, babe.”
“Oh, wise one, I shall never doubt you again.” He tickled Ford in his side.
“I will remind you that you said that,” Ford said, waggling his brows once he got his laughter under control.
Sawyer laughed and nodded toward the stairs. “Ready to go up?”
Ford nodded. He lifted the remote and turned the TV off, not that they’d even been watching.
They both got to their feet and stretched.
Ford groaned, and man did he get it. It had been a long day.
“I’ll just make sure everything is locked up,” Sawyer said.
Ford nodded. “See you upstairs.” Ford stopped at the door that led out of the room. “I am so glad we made the bed or I swear we would be sleeping without sheets tonight.”
Sawyer’s mouth opened in a yawn before he was able to respond. “I know.”
While he checked the doors and windows downstairs were locked, he prepared himself for the conversation he had to have with Ford.
Now that all the children were in bed, Sawyer knew it was the right time to tell Ford what was going on. It had been weighing on his mind since he hung up the call earlier, but together they would weather this possible hurdle.
When he got to their room, Ford was in the bathroom brushing his teeth at his sink.
Yup, he was now one of those people with a double sink and someone to share it with. The thought warmed his heart.
Ford’s eyes caught his in the mirror, and he lowered his head and spat. When he straightened, he turned and faced him.
“So… what’s going on?” Ford’s eyes were serious. “Who was on the phone?”
Sawyer blew out his cheeks. Well it was now or never. He couldn’t hide it from Ford. “It was Madison,” Sawyer replied. He took his t-shirt off and dropped it in the hamper.
Ford hadn’t moved, though, his toothbrush still held at his side.
“Turns out that their mother escaped rehab today. I’m worried she could be headed this way, and she also may be back to using, so we
