Chapter Eight
Crispin
We’d just stopped at the gas station so Beck could load up on what he called road trip food. Basically, it was a bag of junk food with way too much sugar in it. But who was I to deny him these firsts. Besides, mom had a meal plan in place to counteract the bad carbs.
I had a conversation with my parents, glazing over Beck’s past and subsequent insecurities without going into too much detail. It wasn’t my story to tell, but given recent tear-filled outbursts, I felt the need to give them a heads-up at the very least.
My sister Karlie planned to drive up from San Diego for the weekend too, which was great.
I was thrilled to have the family together, especially given the surprise I had planned.
Having everyone I loved most in one room to bear witness to the monumental moment meant so much to me, and I knew it would to Beck too.
Beck merrily sang along to the tunes he’d chosen for our trip.
He even made a special playlist called First Road Trip.
Occasionally, a bite of beef jerky and random chocolate was shoved into my mouth as he ‘shared with daddy’ while I drove.
He insisted he feed me, so my eyes would remain on the road.
While excited about the trip, he was clearly nervous about being in the vehicle for this long.
He was more himself today, the nerves somewhat subsided, but the closer we got to their house the more he fidgeted.
“Sweet Bunny,” I patted his lap. “Deep breath. I promise it will all be fine.”
My parents bounded out of the house the second we pulled into the drive. When my sister and I moved away after college, Karlie to San Diego and me to Vegas, they sold the house in Anaheim and moved to Yucca Valley. More affordable and close to halfway between Karlie and I both.
“Where is that boy? I’ve waited far too long to properly hug him,” Mom’s voice came through the windows loud and clear.
“We better get out sweetheart before she finds her way in here.” That got a giggle from my nervous boy, so we were off to a good start.
As soon as Beck’s door opened and he popped out, mom’s arms wound around him. “Beck, it’s so wonderful to finally meet you in person. You’re even more adorable than the pictures Crispin sent.”
Beck blushed. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Knight.”
“Mrs. Knight? How old do you think I am? It’s Carissa or mom, to you.”
My poor Bunny was at a loss. His mouth opened and closed much like his beloved fish Goldie’s did. Beck was so cute whispering sweet words to her after he put the weekend feeder in her tank, promising her we’d be right back.
“Woman, you’re gonna squeeze the life out of the poor boy,” Dad teased.
“Do I get to meet him too?” I missed them more than I thought.
Their playful banter, while in my youth I’d deemed embarrassing, as an adult I envied it.
They loved each other just as much, if not more, than they did when they married forty years ago.
“Nope, he’s my new son,” she protested and dad shook his head.
“Beck, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Nick, this bossy woman’s husband and your boyfriend’s father.” Karlie came flying up the driveway, nearly rear ending my SUV. “And that fearless driver is our other offspring, Karlie.”
My sister was something else. “Hey big brother,” she hugged me hard. For such a petite woman she had a grip like the Hulk. “This must be the new boy.” Beck let out an eep when she squeezed him.
“Karlie, don’t break him,” mom protested. “Nick and Crispin, bring the bags inside.”
“See,” dad hooked a thumb at mom. “Bossy.” When mom flipped him off, we lost it.
“God, how I missed you guys.”
“We’re only a short drive away, son and you and Beck are always welcome here.”
“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it. With the new merger it’s gonna be busy for a while, but I promise, we’ll visit more often.”
“I’ll hold you to it. We better get these bags inside before the banshee howls.”
“I heard that!” Mom hollered from inside the house.
“Damn woman has Vulcan hearing. She’d put Spock to shame.”
Sneaking out as a teenager didn’t happen. The one time I tried she met me out front and hauled my ass back inside. Never tried it again. I swear, that woman has eyes and ears everywhere.
Dad put Karlie’s bags in her room, and I placed mine and Beck’s in the room we’d be staying in. When I came out, Mom, Karlie, and Beck were chatting away in the kitchen like they were long lost friends.
“What’re you Nellie’s gossiping about?” Dad teased the trio.
“None ya.”
“Whichever one of you taught your mother that saying, you’re out of the will,” Dad groused, our laughter filled the air and he shook his head. “I see how you roll, you’re all against me. That’s it, you’re all cut out!”
Beck’s head bobbed back and forth, gauging our reactions. “He’s teasing, sweetheart.” I kissed his head and took a seat beside him. “I don’t ever remember our parents arguing. Do you, Karlie?”
“Nope. It makes me sick. I can’t keep a woman for my life, yet our old man somehow managed to nab the only perfect one.”
“Oh, she is so inheriting everything,” Mom teased. “You’ll find the right woman when the time is right, Karlie.” I got the feeling my sister was living with the loneliness I once felt, and I hoped she too would find her forever soon.
“Come up for a visit, Karlie. Surely you can take some time off.” Her eyes widened, had I really lost contact with my family to the point they’d question my invite? “All of you, Beck and I would love to have you visit.” Beside me my Bunny’s head bobbed up and down, a huge smile on his face.
“It would be so much fun. You could meet my bestie Jobe and his Daddy…errr,” Beck’s face paled. “Stanley,” came out in a whisper.
“Beck, Nick and I are well aware of our son’s and our daughter’s lifestyles. We don’t scoff nor do we shame. All we’ve ever wanted was for our children to be happy. And I can tell by the way our son looks at you that you make him very happy.”
Too choked up to speak, my sweet boy curled into me as I wrapped an arm around him. “That he does, Mom. That he does.” Was now the time, or should I wait? The damn rings were burning a hole in my pocket. What the hell, it’s gonna drive me insane until I do.
I unwound the adorable octopus from my torso and dropped onto bended knee in front of him.
“Beck, I know we haven’t been together that long, but these last few months have been the best of my life.
Not a moment goes by that I don’t think of you.
The one thing in my life I’m sure of is that I want to spend the rest of it with you.
” My hands shook and I nearly dropped the ring as I slid it from my pocket.
“Beck Mills, will you do me the honor of being my husband, partner and boy?”
As expected, my boy burst into uncontrollable sobs but if the bobbing of his head meant anything, I think it was a yes.
“Sweet Bunny, is that a yes?”
“Yes, Daddy,” he choked up and kissed me. “It’s a yes. A forever yes.”
Around us my family clapped, whistled and hollered, but all I saw was my beautiful boy wearing my ring as I slid it on.
“I love you Beck, now and forever.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
“This calls for champagne!” Mom called out. “Nick, grab that bottle from the hutch. Karlie, get the champagne flutes.” Mom barking out orders brought laughter to the room. “What?”
“Nothing, woman,” Dad kissed her. “Nothing at all.”
Before long the house and outdoor space were filled with mom and dad’s neighbors, each with a potluck item in hand.
I loved my parent’s property, it was straight out of the old west. Joshua trees and other desert plants were spread around, dirt pathways wove between them.
The house sat in the center of the plot with two covered porches, but honestly, I enjoyed walking around more than anything.
It was calming, serene and a great escape from city life.
My boy was getting bounced around, meeting people he’d likely never remember the names of. Hell, I didn’t know most of them, but they fed us and fed us well.
“Hey,” I whispered in Beck’s ear. “Wanna escape for a bit.”
“Yes, please.” I took his hand and we snuck out the side door.
“You didn’t get to see much before, and with the sun setting it’s the perfect time to show you around.”
“It’s so pretty here and the air is clean. No loud noises or honking horns.”
“Yes, I’ve been away far too long. This used to be the perfect escape for me. I’ve lost track of how many laps I’ve done around their property. Hell, these paths were likely bore from my shoes.”
“I just can’t believe this is my life anymore. No more wiggling for the best tips or counting every dime for groceries. My heart is so full, and you were right, I worried for nothing. Your family is great.”
“Our family, my love.”
He grinned. “Our family. The lonely boy is alone no more.”
I leaned against the wood fence and tugged Beck back against me.
Together we watched the sun set, in awe of the amazing pantone of colors as the desert landscape faded to black.
The only lighting was that of the house lamps and porch lights.
The streetlamps were way down the block, few and far between in this area, and something I hadn’t appreciated until this very moment.
Beck turned in my arms, wrapping his around my neck. “Daddy, can I take your last name?”
I pressed my lips to his. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Honestly, mine means nothing to me. Randomly assigned by my first caseworker.”
So. Fucking. Sad.
“Remember the Knight clothing line?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s not me who partnered with Jobe, it’s you.”
“What? Jobe knows?”
“Jobe knows and I’m guessing we should call him and Daddy Stanley now and give them the good news.”
There was that questioning look again. “What have you three conspired to do?”
An innocent shrug, though it was anything but. “Guess you won’t know until we call them.”
Beck pulled his phone out, called Jobe and put him on speaker. “This better be good, my little cock blocking bestie.” Even in the dim light I saw the blush dotting my boy’s cheeks.
“Daddy and I got engaged, then he said I own the Knight collection with you, then he told me to call you,” burst from Beck in a single breath
“Wait, back up. You’re engaged?”
“Yes. Daddy proposed,” he stared down at his finger in the dim phone light.
“My silver band has cute little bunnies engraved on it with tiny diamonds between them. It’s so perfect!
” I was surprised he hadn’t noticed that before now.
Given we’d instantly been hauled off into a party I guess it made sense.
“Congratulations!” Jobe and Stanley shouted at the same time.
“I’m so excited to plan a wedding with my bestie,” Jobe’s excitement was clear.
“I don’t have any family to invite. Can’t we just go to the courthouse?”
“Stop chewing your finger and let Jobe finish.”
“No, you are not going to the courthouse. You’re going to Aruba with us.”
“Yes, I know. I’m your best man.”
“And I’m yours.”
“Daddy, I don’t understand?”
“We’re having a double wedding in Aruba, Squirt.”
“Can your mom and dad and sister go too, Daddy?”
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Beck jumped at dad’s voice. “Sorry, thought you heard us walk up.”
“Jobe it’s nice to virtually meet you,” Mom said. “And you too, Daddy Stanley.”
From there the conversation was all over the place. I just leaned back and held my overwhelmed boy. Once we got home Jobe would set him right with all of this and it’d be much easier for Beck to grasp then too. Less stimulation always worked best.