Love Comes in Darkness (23 page)

“I know everything. Now wipe the dirt off the bedspread.” He heard her run her hand over the fabric. “Now, do you know where your suitcases are in the car?”

“Yes,” she answered and was already running out of the room.

“Stop,” Howard said with a smile, and she skidded on the floor, her shoes squeaking. “Bring in one of them and I’ll help you put things away.” She ran off again. Howard sat on the edge of her bed, contentedly waiting until she returned. The paint fumes had dissipated significantly. A few minutes later he heard Sophia along with another set of footsteps in the house. These were much heavier.

“Did you paint my room?” Sophia asked.

“Do you like it?” Gordy asked, and the footsteps paused.

“I love it,” Sophia squealed in delight. “It’s the bestest room I ever had.” Most of the residual trepidation Howard had held about moving Sophia here dissipated with that one statement. There would be good days and worse ones, but the first corner seemed to have been turned. “Uncle Howie. Gordy painted my room for me!” Sophia announced and barreled into him, nearly knocking him back onto the bed in her hugging enthusiasm.

“I hope that’s okay,” Gordy said, surprisingly subdued. “I wanted her to have a room she would like when she arrived. I figured it would make moving to a new place easier.” A bag was set on the floor. “These are the ones Sophia said were hers.”

“Thank you. That was very kind and thoughtful of you,” Howard said. “Sophia, do you think you can put your clothes in the dresser?” Lord only knew what he was going to end up with, but it wasn’t like he could help her much. “Put your underwear in the top drawer and your socks in the second one, okay?”

“Yes. I know where things go,” Sophia told him.

“I know you do, but I need to know too. Remember, I have to go by how things feel,” Howard said gently. He heard one of the suitcases flop on the floor and then a zipper. “Put them away neatly, and we’ll get chicken nuggets for dinner.” Sophia was still so excited, and Howard wasn’t at all sure in what state he would find her drawers. Maybe Julianne would be willing to come over and spend some time with Sophia doing girl things. She was going to need that. Howard made a mental note to call her in a day or so.

Howard took Token’s harness and left the room. He heard Gordy following behind him. “That was incredibly sweet of you. She loves it, and it made coming to a new home so much better for her… and for me.”

“Let’s go in the living room so we can talk,” Gordy said lightly, and Howard’s stomach clenched. Token guided him around the furniture. Howard almost sat in his favorite chair, but went to the sofa instead. That way, if Gordy wanted, he could sit next to him. Howard sat and waited, but Gordy took the chair, so Howard patted the cushion and Token jumped up and settled next to him. He expected Gordy to begin, but nothing happened.

“Gordy, staring at me without saying anything isn’t helpful,” Howard said.

“I was just looking at you. I missed you,” Gordy whispered. “I spent time here working to set up Sophia’s room because it made me feel closer to you.”

“I missed you too. Everything was more difficult without you around. And I don’t mean because you’re helpful, which you are. But having you around makes the harder tasks seem easier because we do them together. Ken and Patrick were great, but I missed you.”

“Did you figure out what you wanted?” Gordy asked.

Howard swallowed hard. “Did you?”

“Yeah. See, Ken told me a story while we were loading the truck about how Patrick had said ‘I love you’ with a grand gesture. I couldn’t come up with something as huge as what he did, but I wanted to do something to show that I care for you and Sophia. That I want both of you in my life. That little girl warms my heart, and you warm my soul. The drive back from Traverse City was the hardest and longest I think I’ve ever made, and once I got here, I spent all the time I wasn’t working here because it made me feel closer to you.”

Howard’s heart raced and his breath quickened. “I really thought that you were trying to find a way to leave us behind,” he said. “That you realized being with me would entail more than you were willing to give. Not that I would have blamed you. This whole situation is almost more than I can handle. I know it will get better, but it’s overwhelming. And yet I wouldn’t change anything, except Lizzy dying.” Howard could barely speak as the tension that had tied him in knots since Gordy left flowed from him. “I did realize something very important while you were gone, and that was just how important you were to me and that—”

Howard’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and was about to send it to voice mail.

“It’s the lawyer,” Gordy told him, and Howard changed his mind and answered it.

“Hello.”

“Howard, it’s Roger Jackson.” He sounded a bit frazzled. “I just got a call from Judge Marshall’s office. He’s sent a request to the county there to have one of their social workers follow up on you and Sophia. He ostensibly wants to make sure that she’s settling in and adjusting properly. At least that’s what he said in his decision, but….”

“From what you said before, he doesn’t think a blind man can raise a child,” Howard spat out as anger welled inside him.

“I understand your frustration. The county child welfare people there have already been notified, so expect a call, probably in the next day or so. They’ll meet and talk with you the same way Mrs. Krumpf did here. There isn’t a lot they can do as long as you’re providing a safe, caring environment for her, and I have no doubts about that.” Roger sighed softly. “It isn’t fair, but it’s the judge’s order and we need to comply with it.”

“Is there anything we can do?”

“We could appeal, but it will be much easier to meet child services and be done with it,” Roger told him, and Howard grunted. Roger was probably right, but it still made him angry. Why should he have to go through extra bother just because he couldn’t see? “Let me know if there are any problems and I’ll see what I can do. Remember, you have your sister’s wishes on your side, and from a legal standpoint that carries a lot of weight.”

“Thank you,” Howard said, not knowing what else he could say. Getting angry wouldn’t help, and it would only upset Sophia. Howard hung up the phone and sighed.

“What happened?”

“The stupid judge who handled our case has requested that child services follow up on Sophia’s care.” Howard shook with resentment. “The fucker did it just because I’m blind. Lizzy’s wishes were clear and he didn’t have much choice but to carry them out. The old fuck!”

“Uncle Howie, you said a bad word,” Sophia told him.

“I know, sweetie, I’m sorry,” Howard said. “Did you get all your clothes put away?”

“Not the hangy clothes. They’re on my bed. I’m not big enough to reach,” Sophia said and then began to climb on his lap. “You said we could have chicken nuggets for dinner if I took care of my clothes,” she reminded him impishly.

“And you can. But it isn’t time for dinner yet. Can you play in your room for a little while? Gordy and I need to finish talking. Then it will be time to have dinner and you can have chicken nuggets. I promise,” Howard said and then wondered where he was going to get some.

“We can drive her to McDonald’s,” Gordy volunteered, and Howard felt him sit next to him on the sofa. “Did the lawyer tell you what to expect?”

“Yes and no. He said they’ll call soon,” Howard answered nervously. “All I want to do is give her a good, caring home, and I can’t understand why anyone would want to make that more difficult.” Howard knew he was whining, but he figured he had a right.

“Can I go outside?” Sophia asked.

“How about you and I play a game?” Gordy offered. “Let’s see how fast you can put your hangy clothes on the hangers, and I’ll put them in your closet for you. I promise I’ll come over and lower the bar so you can reach them yourself.”

Gordy stood up and his voice faded as he and Sophia went back to her room. Without much else to do, Howard went along as well, and while he wasn’t much help in the overall endeavor, he placed small shirts and coats on hangers with Sophia. When that was done, he made his way out to the car and brought in his own bag. He unpacked it in his bedroom, with most things ending up in the dirty clothes. “Do you have any idea how cute you look when you’re concentrating?”

“Of course not,” Howard answered playfully.

“You think Uncle Howie’s cute?” Sophia teased and then broke into a fit of giggles. “He’s a boy!”

“Boys can be cute,” Gordy told her, but from the laughter and continued teasing, Sophia wasn’t buying it. “He’s cute to me.”

“Am I cute?” Sophia asked, still giggling.

“You’re a munchkin,” Gordy said, and Sophia broke into hysterical laughter. “I’m tickling a munchkin,” Gordy sang, and Howard grinned. He was lucky to have both of them in his life.

“Gordy,” Sophia pleaded around her laughter. “I’m not a munchkin.” Gordy made a fake growly noise. She squeaked and ran from the room with Gordy’s heavier footsteps following behind her. Her giggles and Gordy’s laughter rang through the house and then got closer. “Get Uncle Howie!” Sophia called. He braced himself, and she climbed on the bed and began tickling him. Gordy got in on the act, and soon he was wriggling on the bed with laughter. Token barked happily, but was too well-trained to try to get in on the act.

“Okay, let your uncle up,” Gordy said, and the tickling stopped. Howard reached for Sophia and held his little giggle monster close until the laughter subsided.

“Can we get chicken nuggets now?” Sophia asked, and that sent Howard into a fit of laughter. She was definitely her mother’s daughter.

“Yes. Let’s go get chicken nuggets,” Howard said and let Sophia climb off the bed before he too got off. “Token, come,” he called and took hold of his harness.

Gordy said he was going to put Sophia’s booster seat in place in the truck. Sophia raced out, and Howard locked up the house and made his way out to the truck, following the giggles.

They rode to the restaurant and Gordy got Howard’s food, like he had before. Something had most definitely changed. Things with Gordy seemed exciting, but also comfortable and even warmer than before. He knew why, and he’d been about to tell Gordy earlier. He figured he’d tell him later once Sophia was in bed.

“What’s got you smiling?” Gordy said as he placed a tray on the table.

“I wish I had a frame of reference for a remark like that.”

“I meant—”

“I know what you meant. I was deflecting, at least until there aren’t little ears present,” Howard explained, and Gordy made a deep rumbling sound that sent a thrill of desire coursing through him. Gordy sat down and explained which food was his. Howard got himself set up and slowly began to eat.

Sophia talked a blue streak all through dinner, and Howard had to remind her to eat at least three times. Even then, both Sophia and Gordy finished eating before he did. After Howard finally finished, Token guided him back to the truck. Gordy drove them home, and Howard had just gotten in the house when the phone rang. He instantly knew who it was. He thought about letting it go to voice mail, but answered it anyway.

“Good evening, is this Howard Justinian? I’m Grace Carter with social services, and I have a court request for a parental-fitness evaluation,” she said.

“Excuse me?” Howard said. Did these people go out of their way to make things sound bad?

“I have a request for an evaluation from the court in Traverse City.” She sounded tired. “I’d like to stop by, if I might, to discuss what I need to do. I prefer to make my visits a bit impromptu; it aids in the evaluation. Would it be all right if I stopped by in about fifteen minutes? I’m on my way to your part of town,” she said as though it were some kind of order.

“No,” Howard answered. “We just got home from dinner. Sophia needs to get her bath, and I need to get her ready for bed. If you’d like to stop by tomorrow morning, that would be fine. We just got home a few hours ago and we’re all tired.”

“It’s only seven,” she countered.

“Like I said, you can come in the morning if you like. I’ll expect you about nine. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure Sophia is getting ready for bed.” He’d had just about all of this he could stand.

“Mr. Justinian, I need to complete my evaluation,” Mrs. Carter said rather forcefully.

“That may be true, but that does not give you the right to muscle your way into our home at night, nor does it give you the right to be pushy and rude. As I said, you may do your evaluation, hopefully as quickly as possible, so Sophia can get on with her life.” Howard lowered his voice. “She lost her mother ten days ago and has just come to a new town and a new home. I’m trying to maintain her schedule as best I can, and I don’t need you interrupting it. You may stop by in the morning. Please don’t come before nine.”

She stammered a bit. “Okay. Tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll see you then,” Howard told her as sweetly as he could and hung up the phone. “Pushy bitch,” Howard swore and then cringed, hoping Sophia wasn’t around to hear him.

“I can’t believe you did that,” Gordy said with more than a touch of amusement.

“She wanted to come over tonight. She actually said she could be here in fifteen minutes. That’s just rude and self-important,” Howard told him firmly. “I’ve had enough of everyone thinking I’m a pushover. Sophia has had enough change in her life. She doesn’t need some nosy social worker poking around the house when it’s time for her to start getting ready for bed. She needs to follow her routine.”

“True,” Gordy agreed. “But be nice to her tomorrow.”

“As long as she drops the pushy-bitch routine, we’ll be just fine.”

Gordy chuckled softly. “What has you so fired up all of a sudden?”

“That little girl has been through a lot, and what she needs is some time to be a little girl. She doesn’t need social workers looking her over, and she doesn’t need judgment. She needs to have a routine she can follow and some things in her life she can count on.” Howard sighed. “And yes, I need some of those same things too.”

“You know it’s going to be okay, right? This ‘pushy bitch’ is going to come over and take one look at your home and the two of you together and she’s going to realize that Sophia has a good, loving home—that’s all these social workers want. They see the worst in society on a daily basis, and that’s probably what she’s expecting.”