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Cory’s TV world. “Let’s go out and stuff ourselves, and then I think we need to go shopping for some clothes for you. I don’t think you should go back to your dad’s to pick up anything right now. If you have anything that you really need back there, we can work on it. But for now, let’s make a clean break from your past and look forward to your new future.”
    “OK, but what about my dad?” Cory asked. This was more important than having lunch right now.
    “Okay. I guess I’m getting ahead of myself.” Richard had to get his words in order, because he knew that what he was about to say and ask was going to rock Cory’s world.
    “All right, turn off the TV. There’s a few things I need to tell you, and some things I need to ask you.”
    Cory knew that something big was about to happen, something he knew he wasn’t prepared for. He was not prepared to go back to his father and dreaded this conversation. He told himself that he was going to have to be prepared to run again.
    Richard took a chair across from Cory, watching him for a moment.
    “Cory, would you like a home, one that you can feel safe in?” That took Cory by complete surprise. He had been prepared for Richard to tell him that he had to go back. But then the thought of a real home, one that he felt safe in, one that he might even be loved again in, shook his sensibilities. He’d thought that was never going to happen, because no one wanted a teenager. If Richard had found him a home...Cory couldn’t finish the thought.
    “Yeah, more than anything, I guess. Have you found someone who I can live with? This is awfully quick.”
    “Yeah, I think I have.”
    Richard had to watch Cory’s reaction, because he knew that this would be crucial.
    “How would you like it if you could stay here?”
    Cory’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected that. What he had expected was that he’d be brought back to Plymouth to his dad, or that he’d be turned over to the state. He didn’t like any of those prospects, but now, this was something new. Cory liked Richard but didn’t know him very well yet. He was skeptical of this man. He felt safe enough when he was with him, but Cory was also a teenager. Teenagers don’t trust adults. He also knew that he didn’t have much of a choice. He needed a place, any place that would keep him away from the abuse that was back in Plymouth.
    Richard saw Cory’s smile return and knew that he was going to accept this.
    “You’re serious, aren’t you? You want me to stay here?”
    “Yeah, I do, if it’s okay with you.”
    Cory wasn’t sure of what to do. He knew that he didn’t want to go back to Plymouth, and he also knew that if the state took him, he’d be given to someone who he didn’t know. Here was Richard, and he had gotten to know him, a little anyway, and liked what he’d seen of him so far.
    “But, why? Why are you doing this? You don’t even know me,” Cory had to ask.
    “Well, you sort of grew on me. That’s the main reason, and I think you need a little help right now.”
    Cory sat quietly for a moment, not taking his eyes from Richard. He was thinking about his options. He could run again, but then where would he go? He had no money, had no place to sleep, so that didn’t sound like it was a good option. He’d run away last night without thinking, and the thought of doing that again terrified him.
    He could let Child Services take him, but they might just bring him back to Plymouth. To Cory, that was no option at all. He was not going back there. That option also terrified him.
    Cory continued looking at Richard. He didn’t know him that well yet, but, for some reason that he didn’t understand but only felt, he didn’t feel threatened by him. Maybe this was his only option, he thought.
    “Okay. I guess I feel safe enough here and you’ve done a lot for me already. So, yeah, I’ll stay.”
    Richard knew that Cory had just given in and was going to take a chance with him. He also knew