302 A Lead 2 (1/2)

Thursday morning, Mary packed up and checked out of the hotel, still feeling mentally worn out from thinking about this lead she got from Camila. She picked her son up from the university and they hit the road. They had a 40-45 mile drive in traffic so it would be a long one.

”Are we going to the hotel first? Or are you dropping me off first?” Zeke asked as he replied to some texts on his phone. ”I'm only asking so I know what time to tell the coach.”

”Oh, I'll drop you off first and make sure you're settled before checking in the hotel. I'll only be a block away too.” Mary said, a bit distracted. She tapped the wheel with a fast and steady tempo.

”You've been acting weird all trip. Are you sure nothing is going on?” Zeke watched as she stopped tapping and stared straight ahead at the dead stop traffic. She didn't know what to say or how to explain that they were looking into Jake's past. He watched her struggle to come up with words and decided to interrupt. ”Is this about what I said yesterday? About you adopting Jake?”

”No, not at all.” She replied. ”Well, a little. It's about Jake. And for the record, it's we as a family, that is adopting him.” She glanced at him. ”If you're against it, I really wish you would speak up and tell me.”

Zeke rolled his eyes. ”I told you that I wasn't against it. But if it can't happen, I won't be upset either.”

”What does that mean though?” She sighed, tired from all these roundabout sayings. ”It sounds like you don't care either way and that concerns me.”

”I don't. I don't care either way.” Zeke shrugged. ”I already treat him like a brother, will a piece of paper change that?”

Mary was stunned”You...you treat him like a brother? Really?”

”Him and Noah are joined at the hip. We've lived together for the last month. We play baseball together. Eat together. Wouldn't it be weird if I was still treating him like a stranger?” He looked out the window. ”I don't want you to feel upset if the adoption doesn't go through. It's a long process and we know next to nothing about his family.”

Mary was too happy to hear that he treated Jake like a brother, to mind the negative comments that came at the end. ”Aw, Zeke, I'm so happy to hear that. Do you think the twins feel the same way?”

”Mm probably? It's not like they have a lot of emotional depth. Just a pair of blockheads.” Zeke's lips twitched.

”Hey! Don't say that about your brothers!” She smirked. ”Besides, one is already better than you in that aspect. Kyle is trying to get a girlfriend!”

”Who?” He raised an eyebrow.

”I'm not sure. Your dad didn't go into detail. He was telling me how Kyle wants to go on a date so I said he would have to take you or Noah as a chaperone.”

Zeke frowned. ”You want me to be a third wheel?”

”Whatever it takes to make sure he doesn't get into trouble.” She sighed. ”Actually, all four of them are in trouble right now. We didn't want to bother you with it, but the four of them went to a party the night we left.” She held up a fist. ”Those brats. Just wait until I get home.”

”Oh.”

”'Oh'? You knew?” Her voice went a pitch higher.

Zeke shook his phone. ”I have social media accounts too. Just because I don't post, doesn't mean I won't go on it to see what others were posting.”

”So you DID know! Were you going to tell me??”

”I was just going to punish them on the field.” He leaned his seat back. ”It wouldn't be beneficial to the team if you trapped them inside. They would probably get lazy.” He shifted to his side. ”I'm going to take a nap. Wake me when we get close please.”

Mary had an urge to shake her eldest son, but kept her hands on the steering wheel. Even though Zeke was going to punish them in his own way, it was still sweet of him to not sell out his brothers. It made her happy that he felt the need to protect them, but she also felt a little deceived. Mary wanted to talk a little more to Zeke about colleges, his brothers breaking curfew, and adopting Jake, but he was asleep in just a minute. Maybe he stayed up too late last night with the team? Ah! She didn't even get to hear his thoughts on what he thought about for the last school!

She took one last look and decided to let him be. He was still growing and sleep was essential. It's not like she wouldn't be able to bug him later.

Her drive through rush hour traffic, trying to get out of LA took over an hour, but she was able to reach the third and final college of the visit before 10am; giving Zeke a day and a half before their Friday night flight.

Zeke gave her instructions to return early Friday morning for the school tour and advisor meetings. She agreed and let him go after meeting the Coach of CSUF and the player that he would be bunking with. Afterwards, she sped to the hotel to check in and grab an early lunch before heading to the address given to her.

Like Camila said on the phone, the address wasn't too far from where he grew up, but it looked completely different. Just a couple miles away and suddenly it was all two-story houses, three-car garages, nicely trimmed lawns, and clean streets. Mary would even say it looked better than her own neighborhood. It just lacked originality. The houses all looked the same with few differences.

Mary easily found parking on the street and got out to stretch her legs. With all her nerves bundled up, she gave her husband a call.

”Let me guess: you're getting cold feet?” He answered.

”I am not! Rude!” She stomped her foot on the sidewalk. ”I was just calling to ask for advice.” She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. ”I don't know what to say. What if they think I'm a crazy lady?”