Fourteen years ago, my wife and I gave a homeless teenager a place, and he became the son we’d wanted. When our restaurant faced foreclosure, I thought losing it would be our heartbreak. Then, a stranger appeared, and I discovered our family’s story held a secret I’d never suspected.
“I don’t think your wife ever told you the whole story.”
I lowered the screwdriver I’d been using to fix our restaurant sign.
“About what?”
The stranger glanced through the window at Paige, my wife.
I lowered the screwdriver.
“About the boy she found sleeping behind this place 14 years ago.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Damian. Cedric’s uncle.”
I knew Cedric had an uncle he sometimes spoke to. We’d never met.
“What do you want?”
“Who are you?”
Damian looked toward our delivery entrance.
“I know what happened here that night.”
“Then tell me.”
He hesitated.
“Paige called me shortly after Cedric moved in with you. She asked if I could take him.”
“Then tell me.”
I stared at him.
“Why would she do that?”
“That’s what you need to ask your wife.”
***
Paige and I had wanted children for years.
“Why would she do that?”
We went through treatments, disappointing appointments, and too many nights when she cried in my arms.
“Why not us, Landin?”
I never had an answer.
Eventually, we stopped trying.
We poured everything into our little restaurant instead.
We stopped trying.
I cooked and handled repairs. Paige knew every regular’s favorite meal. Our daily specials went on a chalkboard.
It became our life.
Then, one chilly October evening, Paige found a teenage boy sleeping near our delivery door.
He wore a thin hoodie and looked exhausted.
His name was Cedric. He was 16.
It became our life.
“When did you last eat, hon?” Paige asked.
“I’m fine.”
His stomach answered for him.
She brought him inside and served him dinner.
When I asked about his parents, Cedric stopped eating.
His stomach answered.
Paige touched my arm.
“Not tonight, babe. Let’s just have Cedric enjoy a warm meal.”
***
Later, we learned he had nowhere safe to stay.
Paige asked if he could spend the night in our spare room.
Paige touched my arm.
