Keeping The Tarnished

Johnny Tregalis leaves home the minute he turns eighteen, but he’s the only one who knows why... Arriving in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Johnny has nothing-not even a plan. Local veterinarian Jackson Everett notices the boy, who reminds him of his own teenage son, and offers him a bed for the night. Meeting Jackson’s wife Graye, his son Jared, and four-year-old daughter Bryce, Johnny sees a family he could never imagine. He’d been raised by his abusive father after his mother disappeared with his younger brother, and he’s sure he’ll be packed off to a shelter in the morning. He can’t believe it when he’s invited to stay indefinitely. Johnny refuses to discuss his traumatic past as he attempts to fit in... The Everetts try to help the profoundly troubled teen, but he seems to be at the mercy of his own mind. He’s held captive by flashbacks, excruciating night terrors, and a mounting inability to distinguish delusion from reality. How can he possibly recover, go to school, have friends...have a life? Physical scars only hint at deeper psychological devastation... As the shocking truth comes to light, Johnny struggles to overcome years of abuse, poverty, and despicable horrors to become part of a real family, but is he strong enough to defeat his demons? The Everetts realize Johnny’s journey is now their own, but they face a daunting task. How much sacrifice is too much when all you can hope for is keeping the tarnished?