three makes a family

 

Frankie didn't mean to be the barrier of bad news when he'd showed up unexpectedly during Bea's soulfood party at Tori's. But he knew she'd want to see him.

They'd dropped off Drew without any warning. Frankie hoped he hadn't upset the boy. Of course, that was the reason Frankie brought  him to Bea. It was to assure him that all was well and everyone was happy he was here. What more could he do?

Naturally, it was jaw-dropping. Bea just didn't know what to say. She hugged Drew as if she needed to know who did this to you? Not that he was hurt. Perhaps the arrangement was long overdue. This was her responsibility, wasn't it?

She'd always paid the bills. Somewhere in the paperwork, he was in her custody. It had just been an opportunity to help her out, until now.

Of course, he ate with a smile. Happy to eat his Auntie's cornbread and fried okra. He was not a fan of turnip greens, evidently. But there were plenty of other good things to eat. Drew kept smiling. Frankie kept smiling back. 

Bea was in a twitch of a mood. It was hard to say if Frankie could think of the right thing to do.

"We have been talking," he told her once they got back home and he got Drew situated with some streaming Nicktoons. "He likes spaghetti and no runny egg yolks. He prefers waffles over pancakes."

"What is that supposed to mean?" She looked at him as if he didn't have an answer for anything.

"He'll stay with us. We need to know what he likes," Frankie said.

"But, but how are we going to do this?" She looked at him a bit miserable. 

"It'll be fine. I'll take some time off," Frankie told her. "It's just school, you know. Drew said he didn't much care where he was going to school before." Frankie thought for sure a kid like Drew would have plenty of friends. "They've had him in special ed."

"What?" Bea winced as if that couldn't be.

"I guess he said something about wanting to kill himself in some journal he wrote in, and they just decided-"

"Why didn't anybody tell me!" She was peeved this time.

"Maybe..maybe because you're busy," Frankie wished she would stop working too much, but he knew she was in high gear or no gear. "You've had to take care of a lot. And I know you never spend any money on yourself. You've been sending money to them and I don't think it's enough anymore."

"What are you trying to tell me?" She was practically yelling.

"Let's just be happy we have him," he told her she needed a vacation. "Well, get him in school. We'll take him to Worlds of Fun."