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

We did some back-to-school shopping in the afternoon. That evening, we stopped by the hospital.


“They don’t like children under twelve visiting, but given the circumstances, they’re going to make an exception,” Jackson explained.


“What circumstances?” Amelia asked.


“My father is not expected to live,” Jackson said simply. “We don’t know if he’s aware of what’s going on or not—he doesn’t seem to be—but I wanted you kids to see him before he…well, you know.”


“Oh,” Amelia said, her lips turning down into a frown.


“We’ll just visit for a few minutes,” Jackson promised.


We boarded the elevator and rode up to the twelfth floor.


We’re going to see J.’s father, I explained to Tony on the way. He can’t talk, so we’re just going to see him for a minute. Okay?


His answer was to sidle up next to me and take my hand.


“Oh, you’ve brought the children,” Mrs. Ledbetter said as she met us at the door. “Well, children, come in and meet your grandfather.”


Chapter 71