Years have gone by since the death of Noah his special needs son, and Wiley Cantrell realizes it’s time to move on. He and his husband Jackson try to adopt little Tony Gorzola, a deaf boy with HIV who is emotionally traumatized.<br><br>Difficulties quickly set in. Tony is a sweet boy but very damaged by abuse and neglect. And Tony’s mother, in prison, is unwilling to relinquish her parental rights. No sooner do they get the go ahead to foster Tony when another child they had considered becomes available -- the daughter Jackson always wanted.<br><br>With two children on their hands, life is complicated -- wonderfully so. But just as things begin to settle down, Tony, his immune system compromised, falls ill with pneumonia ... and Wiley and Jackson find their little family faced with crisis once again.

Go Tell It on the Mountains

I brought you something, Jackson said, reaching into his coat pocket and producing a candy bar.


Tony accepted the candy bar in a dainty, hesitant fashion. Me, I would have grabbed that sucker and immediately started eating it, but Tony examined it carefully, turning it over and over in his hands.


Jackson crouched down, slowly put his finger on Tony’s knee. Tony looked at him suddenly as he did this, and for a long moment, he did nothing but stare, as if waiting for something. Then he relaxed, as if it was okay for Jackson Ledbetter to touch his knee. Jackson very gently rested his hand there, smiling up at him. Tony smiled at him, then smiled at me. He seemed pleased with the attention. Had he decided Jackson and I could be trusted?


When it was time to go, I signed,You’re going to come live with us, but it will be a few days. We’ll come back tomorrow to see you, okay?


Chapter 56