complexity

joyce foster. 44 mother

[joyce--foster]

–– lucas adoption ––

start –––

[joyce--foster]

lucasskane​:

“I will. I really… don’t know how to thank you enough for everything. You’re incredible. I know you said I don’t have to be grateful and this is home or whatever, but I mean it when I say that you and George, and even Cari and Tammi, never made me feel less than wanted or loved here. No matter what I decide to do. You are… family. Just, wanted to have said that. For the record. [..] Alright, uh. I’ll go upstairs. Benji’s probably already wondering where I am.”

“ I’m so glad to hear you say that. Yeah, go on. I’ll see you for dinner later. Oh and– the both of you. Don’t spend all day staring at that screen, okay? Have fun. ”

[joyce--foster]

lucasskane​:

“I need some time to think about it. I’ll give you my decision in a few days, if that’s alright.”

“ Of course that’s alright, sweetie. It feels like such a big thing, I know it does, but we’re absolutely sure of this. As far as we’re concerned you’re already part of this family and this would just.. make certain other things easier. But you take as long as you need and really.. do ask anything at any point that might be going through your head. ” 

[joyce--foster]

lucasskane​:

“Thank you, Joyce. I mean that. [..] Does Benji.. know any of this?”

“ No, sweetie, no. We wanted you to be the first to know, you know. To deal with it at your own pace. And we can either tell everyone else all together, or however you’re most comfortable. ”

[joyce--foster]

lucasskane​:

“I… wow. Yeah, I, yeah. I’m a little speechless, if I’m honest. I don’t know what to say.”

“ That’s okay, of course. It’s a lot to process. But I want you to know that you’re wanted and loved here, always. ”

[joyce--foster]

lucasskane​:

“[..] What? You mean..?”

“ Yeah. We would love to adopt you, sweetie. Listen, I know this is.. so much to take in right now, you don’t need to say anything now. And I also know that you boys are almost all grown up, going to set off to, but it’s about family and.. family’s forever. There’s no doubt in either mine or George’s mind that you are part of this family and taking that plunge can be scary, for sure, but we’ve got your back 100%. And obviously.. for any questions you might have, about this or anything, we’re here for that, too. ”

[joyce--foster]

lucasskane​:

“Do I feel comfortable? Joyce. Of course. You’ve had my back the past year and a half and… I don’t know even how to thank you and George enough for everything you’ve done. I’m more than comfortable and very grateful. If I’m.. being too comfortable or anything..”

“ No. No, no, no, no, no, sweetie, not at all, that’s the opposite of what I was trying to bring across. You don’t need to thank us, this is home, okay? You don’t have to be so grateful. We love you being here and we love you. And we were thinking that it might be wonderful, for all of us, if you.. officially became a part of this family, too. ”

[joyce--foster]

lucasskane​:

“Yeah, it’s definitely lost its hype and shine somewhen around then, too. It’s quite shabby now, but the burgers are alright. Should go again sometime, when you find the time. With George, maybe. [..] Thanks. Yeah? Uhm. Sure. What’s up?”

“ You and Benji make the same face when I say that. Did you know that? It’s nothing bad, I promise. Not at all, actually. George and I have just been thinking, talking.. You feel comfortable with us, don’t you, Lucas? I just want to make sure you’re happy here and feel you can always come to us with anything. ”

[joyce--foster]

lucasskane​:

“Hey, yeah. Sorry, we went straight upstairs. We met the others and had burgers at Wayback’s for a change. It was really nice. Uh, Benji’s in his room, we’re playing. A cup of coffee sounds good, though.“

“ That sounds lovely. Last time I went to Wayback’s must’ve been.. must’ve been something like fifteen years ago. It was a complete hype when we were in college.. Lovely. Come sit down, sweetie, I’ll bring it over. [..] There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. ”

[joyce--foster]

saturday, 2:32 pm, the foster’s kitchen

“ Oh, hey, you guys are back. Did you have a nice time? I’m just making some coffee now, would you like a cup? Where’s Benji? ”

[joyce--foster]

george-foster​:

“I know you wouldn’t, darling. I’m sorry if that came across the wrong way. That’s not what I was saying or thinking at all. Lucas is part of our family. I’m on your team. If it’s what Lucas wants, if he’s ready to testify against his parents in front of court and if the lady said our chances are looking better than good, then let’s do it. Let’s talk to him. Let’s make it official.”

“ [..] Thank you. Thank you. We just– I have to. It’s the right thing, I know it. [..] Okay. Now eat before it gets cold again. I’ll talk to him. ”

[joyce--foster]

george-foster​:

“But at the end of the day, they are still his parents. Lucas has known life very different for the past seventeen years than we have our whole lives. We don’t know what he wants or how he feels. Let’s ask him and then contemplate the next steps. Maybe also talk to the kids. Okay? I want Lucas out of their grip just as much as you do, but it is big and we have to know what it will mean for our family.”

“ What it will mean for our family? What does that mean, what do you think it will mean for our family? Our family meaning you, me, the kids but not Lucas? What could any of this ‘mean for our family’ except gaining something, George? I don’t care who they are in relation to him, I don’t care what he’s known. If anything that means he deserves more of a chance at something else than any of us and we can give that to him. What good does our privilege that we’ve had our whole lives as you just said, do us if we don’t pay it forward? You don’t think I would do something where for a second I was unsure what kind of effect it could have on our children. I wouldn’t. They come first, they have always come first and that includes him now. I have seen him every morning for the past year and a half, longer. Every evening, breakfasts, dinners, he comes home and tells me about his day at school. Not her. There’s no contemplation about this, I’m already his mother more than she is. ”

[joyce--foster]

george-foster​:

“We are. We are his family. I just have this feeling they won’t hand him to us without a fight, Joyce. And that’s a fight Lucas has to agree with.”

“ Yeah. A fight, of course. So what? I don’t think they’ll hand us anything, I’m sure they’d love to put up a fight. But be a realistic. You know how these things work, that’s a fight we’ve practically already won. We’re talking about a month, two maximum. There is no court on this earth that would decide in their favor. Especially not if Lucas himself testifies it’s what he wants and you don’t think he’d rather stay under their guardianship. ”

[joyce--foster]

george-foster​:

“[..] Joyce. I agree. I agree completely. But.. adopting? That’s big. That’s really big. Even for us.”

“ How, George? How? How much bigger than what we’re currently doing is it, really? It would just mean he belongs and there can be no contestation to that fact. That they can have no legal say over him. He already practically lives here, we give him food, clothes. But it isn’t about that, it’s about family and we’re his family more than they are. It’s about making that official. ”

[joyce--foster]

george-foster​:

“Looks delicious as always. Thank you, darling. It’s nothing to worry about, I promise. It’s still the case I told you about a few weeks ago, but I have a feeling we found our guy. I’ll make up for the missed dinners soon. Something you’ve been meaning to talk to me about? I’m all ears. Are the kids all right?”

“ The kids are all right, but.. it is about the kids. About Lucas, specifically. I’ve been looking at adoption more over the past week, at the process, what our options are, even talked to a really nice lady on the phone. She thinks our chances are looking better than good. George, I know what you’re going to say, but we have to talk about it. We have to talk about. Listen, I couldn’t.. I just couldn’t stop thinking about what happened at the beginning of the summer. When the boys, y’know, got into that fight at school. And that the school had to call that woman, too. I don’t want them to have to call her or him needing signature of a legal guardian and having to, you know, whatever it may be.. You never know what she’ll do or say.. He’s, of course, already a fixed part of this family, but we would be able to offer him a whole different set of opportunities. Give him security and a family even after he turns 18.. It’s really only about making it official at this point but doing that would, I think, change a lot of things and change a lot of things for the better. Yeah.. that’s that for my monologue. Sorry, honey, you barely got a spoonful in, but.. I want to talk about this sooner rather than later. ”

[joyce--foster]

“ Here you go, honey, probably even better warmed up.. Sorry we ate without you again, everyone was hungry. I feel like I’ve barely had dinner with you these past two weeks. Is work that bad? There’s also something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. ”

[joyce--foster]

tammi--foster‌:

“No! I mean. Yes, but I don’t want you showing up at school and tell principal Garrison about it. Please. I’m already enough of a loser as it is. I just want your advice. As my mom.”

“ First off, I’m very proud of you for coming to me about it, sweetie, I won’t go over your head and talk to the school. Of course not. But I want you to understand that there’s nothing wrong with telling someone at school if things like this keep happening. Okay? You understanding me? Not taking abuse from someone doesn’t make you a loser. Quite the opposite. Whoever said that to you does it because they think they can get away with it, not because there’s even an ounce of truth to it. And if they keep getting away with it, they will continue to do so. To other girls too, who might take such a silly insult to heart more. So it’s important that you stand up for yourself if this happens again to show those people what they’re doing isn’t right, tell them what they’re saying is not cool, and then remove yourself from the situation. Don’t give them any power over you. You’re such an amazing, beautiful and smart girl, your dad and I are so proud of you every day. ”