“I second what Sawyer just said,” Ford chimed in. “You guys have so many ideas.”
“Can we help with them?” Savanna looked between them. “I think it would be cool to help make the ideas a reality.”
Sawyer considered them seriously before breaking into a wide grin, “We would love that. Actually, Ford and I think it would be awesome if you guys were a part of it. We’d already planned on bringing you over to the resort once it is closer to being finished for hands-on involvement.”
“Cool.” Savie’s eyes sparkled.
Ford and Sawyer leaned against each other and watched the kids. This was their first joint family project, and would be the first of many.
“We need to talk to the kids about Cynthia,” Ford said as Sawyer came out of the bathroom.
“Is Callum down for the night?” Sawyer asked.
Ford nodded “I just got him down.”
He lowered himself to the bed. “I think, then, it’s time we speak to the older two.”
Ford let out a sigh. “You grab Savie, and I’ll get Gav.”
He headed to Savanna’s room and knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Was she already asleep? Sawyer knocked again. “Savanna?”
He slowly opened the door, and there she was, lying on her stomach with her legs crossed in the air, earbuds in her ears and a book open on the bed.
“Savanna.” This time he called out a little bit louder. She startled and looked up, then laughed as she pulled the earbuds from her ears.
“You scared me.” Savie sat up in bed. “What’s up?”
“I didn’t mean to scare you, but maybe the music was up a little too loud,” he said, arching an eyebrow.
“Perhaps.” The corners of her mouth turned up. “All ears now. What’s up?”
“Ford and I need to speak with you. Can you come into our room, please?”
“Gavin too?” Her brows drew together.
He nodded. “Yeah. You’re not in trouble. It’s just something important we need to discuss. I promise everything is fine.”
Her shoulders sagged, and she smiled. “Okay. Good.” She got off the bed and traded her earbuds for her phone, because, of course, they were surgically attached. He let her walk ahead, following behind her out of her bedroom to his and Ford’s.
Ford and Gavin were already there, so she sat next to Gav while Ford got to his feet.
“Okay… so I guess I’ll start,” Ford said when Sawyer nudged him. “Yesterday, I talked to the lawyer who is handling your mom’s case.” He paused to look at both of them before going on. “I know you both realize that your mom is in some trouble, the same as the man who tried to hurt me after our family night a while back, and they made things worse because when they kidnapped your brother. Well,” Ford hesitated, and Sawyer shot him a look he hoped conveyed ‘you can do this. I got your back.’ Sending a shaky smile to his boyfriend in return, Ford looked back to the kids and finished. “Your mother took a deal and has been transferred to a jail in New York City to serve her time.”
“Are we ever going to see her again?” Gavin's voice was small.
Ford hesitated, and Sawyer felt it was time for him to jump in. “It’s complicated, Gav. First off, Ford and I have no problem if you see her again, but…” He squatted in front of Gavin. “Buddy, it won’t be till she’s better.” He took Savie’s hand in his from where it lay on the bed, “She needs to get the right help.” He looked between them before going on. “She’ll be in jail for a while, and hopefully, she gets the help she needs while she’s there. It’s up to her to get better. Then, she can definitely see you guys, if that’s what you want.”
“How long?” Savanna asked. Sawyer turned his attention to her. He didn’t quite know what she was referring to and was about to ask, but Savie clarified, “How long before she’ll be out of jail. Any ideas?”
“Uhhm well. A minimum of eight years.”
Jesus fuck, the kids looked gutted, and that helpless feeling washed over him again.
Ford knelt beside him. “But we want you guys to know that if you want, you can write her and tell her about your lives.” Ford squeezed Sawyer’s thigh as he carried on, “We want you guys to be kids. We want you to have a good life, and like Sawyer said… if she gets better, we have no problem with you seeing her. If that’s what you want. You will each have a chance to make that decision.”
“We’re kids,” Gavin sniffed. “Are they really going to let us decide?”
Sawyer actually wasn’t sure how that worked. He would have to check. He read that parents who were convicted of kidnapping or child abduction could also lose rights to that child. So, if the kids were no longer legally hers... Yeah, they needed to talk to the lawyers.
“I will find all of that out and let you guys know. I promise.” Sawyer didn’t want to lie to them.
“Let’s worry about that when we get to it,” Ford was quick to chime in.
Ford. He was always there. He always knew what to say.
“We just really wanted you to know what was happening. We never will lie to you. You’re both old enough to hear the truth, but we also don’t want you worrying because you don’t have to.” Sawyer squeezed the kids hands. “Everything will be alright, okay?”
“Do you have any more questions for us,” Ford asked.
Gavin and Savanna shook their heads.
“Okay then, well, you can go back to your rooms,” Ford said.
They got up and started to leave, but then they turned around. Without a word, Savanna ran to Ford to hug him, while Gavin ran to Sawyer. Sawyer squeezed the kid tight, then he pulled back and left.
Sawyer turned to Ford, and he looked as relieved as Sawyer felt. Ford moved closer
