Chapter 15:
January 2nd 2047 Home 10:30am

By the time I woke up that morning Calina had went to work and the kids were at day care.

Calina had just recently been hired to work as teacher at Ocean City Elementary which was what she had been studying in college.

She was a first grade teacher and loved every minute of it.

I came down to the kitchen and made myself some breakfast then sat down to look at the newsputer there was nothing new to report but my favorite baseball team had won a smashing 20-14 which put a smile on my face.

I was just cleaning up and washing the dishes I dirtied when there was a knock at the door.

"It's open!" I yelled over the running water.

"It's me Cole." Came Nick's voice as the door shut.

"Hey Nick what's up?"

"Not much just figured I'd come to see what you were doing?" He said appearing in the kitchen.  

"I just got done breakfast." I said turning the sink off and drying my hands. "Where's Carissa and Elliot?"

"Over her Mom's having some Mother/Daughter time." He said grabbing an apple and taking a bite.

"Oh." I said as I put the towel back on the oven door.

"I was gonna go down to my studio and I was wondering if you'd wanna come." He said.  

"And do what?" I asked confused.

"Paint, I've seen you doodling in that book I got you that day at the mall and I wanna teach you how to paint in acrylics... So do you wanna come?" He asked.

"I suppose."

"Ok go get dressed."

"Alright." I said heading upstairs.

Brennar's Art Gallery 11:30am

"Ok here's a canvass and a brush let me go get the paints" he said setting the canvass on a easel and heading over to a closet.

"Shouldn't I draw it out first?" I asked confused.

"Oh yeah good point I'd better grab some pencils, sharpeners and erasers." He said opening a drawer.

Finally he brought the paints and drawing stuff over to me and then grabbed another canvass and set it on the easel next to mine.

"What're you gonna draw?" I asked.

"I don't know yet." He said and grabbed a pencil.

I grabbed one and thought of what to draw finally I started drawing.

By the time I was done I was looking at a portrait of me, Calina, Carlisle, Hailey, Alex and Gregorio I wanted him desperatley to be a part of our family.

We were still fighting for him and until we'd get him the police had stuck him in an orphanage.

Calina and I went to visit him every weekend but it was torture to see him so miserable.

The thing was that the police suspected that Celia had one blood relative a brother named Vincent and if that was the case Gregorio would likely go to him and not us and that tore me and Calina's heart out to bear the possibility of him living with some stranger.

Nick looked at my picture and sighed "You really want him don't you?"

"He deserves to be with a family he's famillar with, we don't even know this Vincent and besides what if he doesn't want him anyway."

"But what you have to think about here Cole is... What if he does? Then you and Calina would have no choice but to hand him over." Nick said hating to point out the obvious.

"It would break our hearts... We love that kid I mean he's family." I said sadly.

"And I understand that Cole... Believe me I do but you have to look at what's best for Gregorio and if he ends up wanting to go with his uncle then you'll have to accept that."

"Yeah." I sighed depressed.

Later that afternoon I was sitting at the house when the phone rang I looked at the caller ID and it said unknown.

"Hello?" I asked sitting back down at the table.

"Is this Cole Reynolds?" Came a semi-rough voice.

"Yes and may I ask who this is?" I asked.

"My name is Vincent Thompson I was told you knew my sister Celia and that you have my nephew Gregorio."

"Yes Celia was staying with my wife and I and I'm deeply sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, now do you know where my nephew is?"

"He's in a police protected orphanage... Um listen I was wondering if you'd like to meet me in person so we could discuss where Gregorio will go I promise I will listen to whatever you think is best for him."

There was a pause as he thought about it and then he said. "Very well where would you like to meet?"

"At my house I'll give you the directions." I said and gave them to him.

"Ok hold on let me check my GPS." He said and then there was another pause. "Alright I have your location I'll be there in twenty minutes." He said and hung up.

I went outside on the porch and sat down on the porch swing to wait for him while I read one of my horror novels and sure enough twenty minutes later a Ducati motorcycle pulled up in the driveway and Vincent got off of it and removed his helmet.

He was about 6ft and had long golden blonde hair which was tied in a ponytail and was wearing black sunglasses.

I placed my book on the porch table and stood up as he came onto the porch.

"Cole?" He asked holding out his hand.

"That's right." I said and shook his hand. "Can I get you anything?"

"Do you have any beer?"

"Yeah my brother left a box here hold on" I said heading inside.

I grabbed one and brought it back out to him.

"There you go." I said handing it to him.

"Thank you."

"So when was the last time you saw Greg and Celia?" I asked sitting down.

"I just saw them Christmas Eve I gave Greg a new pair of sneakers and an outfit with his favorite cartoon on it... And then I hear about Celia's murder and I don't know what to say." He sniffled wiping his eyes.

"She was my baby sister she meant the world to me and when I found out it was Charles that did it I definitley pressed charges." He said angrily.  

"Again I'm so sorry."

"Thank you for your sympathy... However I will not be able to take Greg."

"How come?" I asked curiously.

"My wife is pregnant with quads and there's just no way we can finacially handle him and four babies, but I at least hope that you will give me visitation rights to see my nephew on like weekends, and a couple birthdays, maybe even Christmas with a few other holidays thrown in if it's ok with you and your wife." He begged.  

"I have no problem with that." I assured him with a smile.

"Then if you have the adoption form I'll sign my name and he's all yours." He said smiling back.  

"I do have it." I said and headed into the house to get it out of the computer drawer.

I grabbed a pen and then headed back outside. "Here you go" I said handing it to him.

"If there is anything that you need from me for him don't be afraid to ask." He said as he signed his name.

"I assure you we'll have everything we need." I said.

"What about Celia's half of the inheritance?" He wondered curiously.

"It'll be kept in a bank account for him and he'll be eligible to use it when he turns eighteen." I assured him.

"Ok, well Cole give him a hug and a kiss for me and good luck with him."

"Thank you Vincent." I said as he stood up.

I stood up shook his hand and he was gone.

I then headed into the house and called Calina.

"What is it Cole? I'm in the middle of a test."

"We've got Gregorio." I announced.

"We do? How?" She squealed.

"His uncle came over today and signed the form... He's ours."

"Oh Cole that's wonderful."

"I'm going to the store to get him some stuff and then I'm gonna fix up the old computer room for him."

"You gonna pick him up too?"

"Yeah."

"Ok I gotta go... I love you."

"Love you too." I said and hung up.

The first place I went was a furniture store and got him a new bed with a dresser then I went out to the garage apartment and got all his clothes and what toys weren't broken and then by the time five o'clock rolled around I had finished the room and went to go get him.

"Cole!" He cried running into my arms when I walked into the orphanage.

"Hey buddy... You ready to go home?"

"You saw Uncle Vince?" He asked excitingly.

"Yep and we agreed that you'll get to see him on weekends and some holidays and birthdays."

"He didn't want me?" He asked sadly.  

"No he did but he and your aunt are getting ready for their new babies and can't keep you with them so you're gonna stay with Calina and I."

"I love you Cole." He said hugging me.

"I love you too buddy." I said and hugged him back then handed the adoption papers to the head of the orphanage and drove home.

"Welcome home Gregorio." Calina said hugging him as we came in the door.

"Thank you Calina." He said and hugged her back.

"Let's show you your room." I said as Calina and I led him upstairs. "Gregorio... Welcome home!" I exclaimed and opened his bedroom door.

He looked around and smiled. "I like the bed."

"Glad you do, and I even managed to get most of your toys and clothes."

"Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, now wash up it's time for dinner."

"Ok." He said and headed to the bathroom.

That night as we all sat at the table eating and talking I looked at Calina and smiled glad that we were able to give Gregorio a loving family.

"He seems so much happier now." Calina said as we got into bed that night.

"I know I never saw his eyes light up so much in one day." I said getting into bed and covering up.

"How's the twins doing?"

"The what?... Oh my god the twins I completely forgot all about them." I said running my hand over my belly. "I think they're sleeping."

"Then let's go to sleep ourselves." She said getting into bed and pulling the covers up.

I kissed her then turned on my side and closed my eyes. "Good night Calina."

"Good night Cole." She yawned and then we were out.