Something Like Spring Read Free

him, and why shouldn’t they be? Not many adults were willing to take in a fifteen-year-old, especially one with a troubled past. They weren’t exactly young either. Mrs. Hubbard was plain with pulled-back brown hair that had lost its shine. Her clothing and jewelry compensated for her dull appearance. The woman practically had money coming out her ears.
    Her husband did too. Mr. Hubbard’s dark hair was gray at the temples, his mustache already salt and pepper. He had the successful air of a businessman, despite not wearing a suit. The golf clothes suggested his deals took place at a country club rather than a stuffy office.
    Michelle introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard, but they immediately corrected her and reintroduced themselves as Mom and Dad. This made Jason’s mouth go dry. The three kids seated on the side couch were reintroduced as his brother and two sisters. They had names too, but Jason missed them completely. A young girl of about seven or eight beamed at him, while next to her, a boy on the verge of puberty sized him up. At the end of the couch, an older girl in her late teens seemed bored, like she’d seen one too many of these meetings. This told Jason that not everyone made the cut. Being here didn’t mean he would automatically be adopted.
    “Ah!” Mrs. Hubbard said, eyes lighting up as she looked toward the front door. “There’s your oldest brother!”
    Jason followed her gaze. A guy his age, maybe a little older, had a cell phone pressed against his cheek. The device was almost lost in the waves of chestnut hair that spilled over his ears and ended just above his neck. His skin was dark with sun, his eyes almost golden. A loose V-neck shirt made his frame appear lanky at first, but the chest was toned, the exposed skin revealing fine black hair not so different from that on his chin. Jason dared to let his attention dart down to the narrow waist, where the shirt was partially tucked into a white belt—either by accident or design.
    “Caesar,” Mr. Hubbard said. “Would you like to meet your new brother?”
    Disinterested eyes grazed Jason, not even focusing, before the phone moved away. “No.” The answer was firm. Final. Caesar returned the phone to his ear, continuing his conversation as he crossed the room and bounded up the stairs to the upper floor.
    Jason turned to his new foster parents. They didn’t seem fazed by this behavior. Quite the opposite, in fact. Mrs. Hubbard’s eyes continued to shine, Jason noticing how they were the same golden hue. Mr. Hubbard’s strong chin—the exact shape and size as Caesar’s—didn’t clench in frustration. Instead he winced in amused embarrassment as his son disappeared, causing Jason to realize the truth. Caesar was their child. The real deal. Flesh and blood.
    Jason glanced back at his would-be siblings. The oldest girl was of Asian descent, the youngest much too blonde and fair. He thought the boy in the middle might belong to them too, until Jason saw him glare bitterly after Caesar.
    Jason had experienced mixed families before. Biological children were always treated differently. Not that he cared. Power struggles didn’t interest him. He didn’t compete for the attention of strangers, so he’d gladly stay out of Caesar’s way.
    “I believe that’s everything,” Michelle said as she stood.
    Jason shot to his feet, nearly reaching out to stop her. Funny, because Michelle had reached toward him, a hand extended for him to shake. He ignored it and hugged her, feeling embarrassed by his own actions, but desperation had won out. When she hugged him back, he had to steel himself. No tears. No weakness in front of this new family. No more than he’d already shown, at least.
    “Try to be good,” Michelle whispered. “For your own sake. And if that’s not enough, then do it for me.”
    He nodded once she pulled away. He would try. But only for her. Michelle dug in her pocket and handed him a business card, which struck him as