AHH I've been waiting for this like you wouldn't believe, so glad to see the update.
Yeah, I like seeing Jonathan's softer side, and him stumble a bit on the way, too. I could rant and rant about how men's parental role is often diminished or confined to areas that are deemed "manly" enough- like playing sports or going fishing, definitely no communicating about icky things like... feelings. I have that recent Apple advert in mind, where the daughter's goldfish passed and they are having a funeral in the yard, and the joke is that the dad didn't remember the pet's name- but mom did- and has to be saved by some phone feature the older daughter knows about.
Clark is starting to communicate his needs here, too, and it is PRECIOUS and doing all sorts of things to my heart.
Also I am somehow viscerally worried about Ms Jones being fair. Stg, if she comes back complaining about unsafe farm equipment or something...
Wonderfully written and tugging on the heart strings as always <3
💜💜💜 Thank you for reading. It's definitely been interesting to write Jonathan here, for all those reasons you mentioned. He can and should play a huge role in Clark's life, and I hope I'm doing a good job of setting it up that way, even if it is sort of Martha who Clark inherently feels a deeper connection to!
Yay! Finally! 🎉
Great chapter, I love Jonathon’s pov. I love how very careful he is trying to be around fragile little Clark. 🥲
I’m still sus something will happen and Clark will be taken from them…please tell me I am being dramatic…
YAY, thank you!!! He just KNOWS he needs to be careful, even though he (and Martha) don't really know the extent of everything Clark went through. I'm glad you're loving his character here. And of course little Clark is just precious. 💕
Spoiler if you need to know (and for LauraHex):
I probably don't plan to retraumatize Clark by having his social worker do anything dramatic. Although I have not written the last few chapters of this part of the story yet. 😅
Jonathan and Martha are the best. I love how Clark feels safe with Martha. I hope he warms up to Jonathan soon. He's trying so hard to reach him but I imagine his "father" hurt him a lot making him wary of men.
Things are really looking up for them all. But I wonder what you have planned. Will you focus on healing or do you have more twists in store?
Either way, can't wait for the next chapter.
Ah, thank you! J&M ARE the best, and yes, you are 10000% right about why Clark feels more comfortable with Martha than with Jonathan 😭😭😭
First, glad to see you back on writing/posting this.
We're doing steps forward. Baby steps, of coure, but that was to expect. Fo that matter, there's definitely progres on Clark's part. Especially the bond with Martha seems to grow. Whereas with Jonathan, he seems to feel a bit more uneasy. Hmm. My assumption would be he got more corporal punishment and whatnot from his "father" so that might figure in there. Ah, I'm sure they'll get it sorted out, eventually.
Also, poor kid, JM can't even say funny things because he ha sno frame for this stuff. Hugs for all three of them.
The foster care agent naturally has a hard time with this kind of case. Clakr is so traumatized, its hard to tell which reaction of his are just innate to his trauma and which would be direct to Jonathan and Martha. ANd he's not really talking much to clarify things, and can't really be forced into it due to his ocndition. And if he gets too, its hard to be sure about what he says an dhow much of it is "reliable" and how much is just "saying what he thinks they want t ohear". Its a big mess and naturally, they all have to be careful in the process.
Also like...as much as its understandable for the well-fare of the kid and such, adoption-willing parents (and sometimes the kids too) have to go through an insane amoutn of shit before they even know whether it will work or not and that's really screwed sometimes and not always good for the psyche of everyone involved either. Its especially mind-boggling given how easy "bio-parents" have it in comparison even if they treat their kids poorly. But well, thats how it is I guess. /shrug/
Yeah, not falling in love with this kind, before the test time is over...I feel its too late already, JM. Good luck then to all thre of you to figure things out!
Looking forward to the next one!
Yep, yep. Unfortunately, you're right that "Pa" was the more physically violent one, and that definitely slows down the growth of Clark's relationship with Jonathan.
Re: all the stuff with Clark being traumatized/adoption being a big mess and a challenge, YES. And 😭😭😭😭😭Thanks for your comments and for reading!!
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Thank you all again. I love all these comments!!
(Sorry it took me so long to get back... I feel like a broken record here, cuz I keep apologizing, but I've been so busy with life and other things and some of my other writing projects. I miss you all here and I want to thank EVERYONE who keeps reading, writing, posting stories and comments and everything!!)
