Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Crispin
“I have no clue what to do for Beck’s birthday,” I said to Stanley. “Do you think Jobe could shine some light on it?”
“I’m sure he can, but your boy is happy with you. I know as daddies we want to give them the world, but your boy isn’t a greedy gimme-gimme boy.”
“True,” I sighed and sunk back into my desk chair. “Let me know what Jobe says.”
“Will do, he’s been meaning to broach the wedding subject with Beck, but they’ve been swamped with Jobe’s clothing lines taking off. He’s considering renting a warehouse and actually hiring staff.”
“May not be a bad idea. I thought he was only creating the prototypes and the companies he contracted with were handling the manufacturing?”
“They are, but Jobe is very hands on. Maybe if he just hires an assistant, he’ll be okay. Guess we have a few things to discuss ourselves. Alright, my friend, I’ll let you know about Beck’s birthday soon. Take care.”
Since I’d had the playground installed for Easter, he’d been obsessed with sand. Maybe a trip to Cali to visit Mom and Dad then hit the beach? Not a bad idea, but I’ll see what Jobe has to add.
I’d really hit the jackpot with Beck. He was the sweetest little I’ve ever encountered. So easy going and just happy and appreciative with the simplest of things.
And by the end of the year, he’ll be my husband.
Four months we’ve waited for his passport, even with expedited processing it hasn’t arrived.
I hoped like hell it was here in time for our wedding.
Jobe surprised the hell out of me insisting upon a dual ceremony.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s perfect, but Jobe has a bit more elite taste than my boy does and is used to being in the spotlight.
If anything, the outcome will be interesting, but the end result either way is that Stanley and I will have our forever boys.
“Joyce?” I called out as I packed up my laptop.
“You heading out, Crispin?”
“I am. Don’t stay too late and give the boys a hug for me.”
“Will do.”
“I’m thinking about taking a few days off at the end of May and getting out of town. Thoughts?” She’s the best person to run it by first. Joyce knew my schedule and had her fingers on the pulse of the company.
“Actually, the merger has gone well and that’s the ideal time to be away. Need me to book your travel?”
Hmm. “Not quite yet. Thinking about taking Beck away for a few days for his birthday.”
“I bet he’d love that. Let me know how I can help.”
“Will do. Now, shut down and get home yourself.”
She laughed. “I promise, I’ll be out of here by five-thirty.”
“Good. See you tomorrow.”
The drive to Stanley’s to pick up Beck wasn’t long considering they lived in one of the high rises downtown near our offices.
When I stopped to think about all I’d accomplished over the past decade career wise, it was hard not to pat my own back.
From construction to real-estate investments, Knight had a hand in every aspect of their buildings, and I was damn proud of that and of those who worked for me.
Family was important to both Beck and I, and while my parents wouldn’t let me pay off their house, I was more than happy to pay for their trip to Aruba for the wedding and to spend our honeymoon there with them and Karlie too.
Beck and mom talked nearly daily now, and I was thrilled with their thriving relationship.
“Daddy, don’t I look pretty?”
I entered their penthouse to my boy dancing around in a… “Is that a rainbow tutu? I didn’t know you made them?”
“I do now,” he replied. “The buyer for the Knight line has asked me to extend it to not only gender-neutral outfits but gender specific ones as well. They won’t limit who can purchase them, I made certain of that, but as you can see some cis males enjoy more feminine wear such as your boy.
That’s the first prototype and now I can’t get him to take it off. ”
“He’s adorable. Any chance you can make another and let him keep that one? I hate to disappoint him.”
“Spoiled!” Jobe purposely called out and Beck blew a raspberry at him. “It’s all his as well as the frilly crop top he has on.”
My boy was stunning no matter what he wore and the happiness on his face right now nearly had me ordering a dozen in various colors.
“I know that look,” Jobe shook his head. “I’ll put you down for one of each as I finish them.”
“Thanks Jobe. By the way,” Beck was out of earshot now, posing in front of the wall of windows, staring at his reflection. “Did Stanley talk to you about Beck’s birthday?”
“He did. Honestly, every year I took him to dinner and just gave him a simple gift, usually clothes. Which in hindsight, should’ve been toys.”
“No so sure about that.” The twirling dancing queen was having a one-man party, proudly displaying his new outfit.
“True. He’s talking about the beach a lot.”
“Yes, I picked up on that too. It’s become a bit of an obsession since the Easter bunny installed his new playground.”
Jobe laughed. “Now it makes sense. Why don’t the four of us go to dinner then you guys’ head to the beach after?”
“I think that’s the perfect plan. Thank you. Can you do without him for a few days?”
The blank stare from Jobe cracked me up. “Yes. He is an asset, don’t get me wrong, and a great model, but clearly a little who needs more stimulation than the occasional pin prick and tea party.”
“Oh my.”
“Yes, it’s hard for him to stand still long enough for me to pin the outfit at times.”
“Alright, a break for both of you it is.”
“Bunny, how about picking up a kid’s meal on the way home from your favorite place?”
“Can I still wear my new outfit, Daddy?” Little shit already knew it was his.
“Of course, you’re adorable in it.”
“Adorkable is more like it,” Jobe teased.
“’Kay. I want a hamburger, and fries, and apple slices and chocolate milk.”
“Your wish is my command, sir,” I bowed, triggering a giggle fit from my boy.
“Daddy, you’re so silly. Let me get my backpack and Bun-Bun.” He’d taken to bringing one or the other every time, claiming he felt bad stuffing them both into his backpack at once.
Beck’s heart was so full, even for inanimate objects.
He bounced in the seat beside me during the short drive home, singing along with the radio. “Someone’s in a good mood today?”
“Yes! It’s me, Daddy. Guess what?”
“What, Bunny?”
“Jobe asked me what kind of clothes I wanted to wear as a little, so I told him anything I can move around in and play in and get dirty in but wash up nice and new. He rolled his eyes then told me what the littles people wanted. Daddy, did you see this tutu? Isn’t it sooooo cute?”
“It’s even cuter because it’s on you. But did you ever give Jobe something more to go on?”
“No, so he handed me his iPad and sent me to another website to put a bunch of clothes I liked into the online cart but not check out. So, I think he used that.”
I ordered his meal, planning a nice salad at home for myself. As soon as we pulled away from the drive through, he returned to singing.
“You, my love, are something special.”
As soon as we walked through the door, he went to the room to put his backpack away and tuck Bun-Bun in with Daddy Bear so they could catch up on their days. His words, not mine. I heard the toilet flush and the sink water run then he came twirling around the corner and into the kitchen.
“Did Jobe feed you sugar cubes for lunch?”
“Silly Daddy, Jobe says no sugar and no glitter.” Having lived through the end of glittergheddon and Jobe’s once white rug, I completely understood why.
“What puts my boy in such a fantastic mood then?”
“Life. Life is good. I have a Daddy who loves me, a best friend who love-tolerates me, and I get to model fun clothes all day.”
He had a point. My boy was living the life he deserved.
“True. So, someone’s birthday is coming up at the end of the month, and I had some ideas I wondered if he’d be interested in.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t even know what I’m suggesting? I could say we’re shoveling elephant shit at a zoo somewhere.”
Beck shrugged. “Don’t care, as long I get to shovel it with you. Plus, Vegas doesn’t have a zoo, so if we went to one it would be road trip time.” Fist in the air he cheered, hands wildly waving around.
“Ha-ha-ha, you got me there. Do you want to hear my idea even through you’re going no matter what?”
“Sure.”
Sometimes I had no clue how to respond.
“Here’s my thought. We have dinner the night before your birthday with Daddy Stanley and Jobe then the next morning we head to Cali to visit Mom and Dad for a couple of days. From there we drive out to Laguna Beach.”
His eyes widened. “Is Laguna Beach a real beach? Like on the ocean and everything or is that just the name of it?”
“It’s a real beach on the Pacific Ocean with lots of sand and shops to walk through and great views.”
“It’ll be the best birthday ever and we get to see mom and dad. I love saying that.” He continued dancing and singing while I made dinner. Who needed music when you had a sweet little in your life?
I knew he did and so did my parents. Honestly, I think Beck was their new favorite son and secretly, I loved that.
While we ate, he told me about his day, and all the outfits Jobe was working on. His excitement fueled mine as I held on to every word he said.
“How was your day, Daddy?”
“Not as exciting as yours, that’s for sure. I’m glad Jobe’s business and the Knight line are doing well. I just hope he’s not getting overwhelmed. Has he said anything about the wedding plans?” We likely needed to book the venue and rooms soon.
“Um, not much. He’s making all our outfits, so you’ll probably have to get poked soon.”
“Does he poke you a lot?”
“Only when I get all squirmy. But Daddyyyy,” he drug my name out in a long-winded whine. “It’s so hard to stand still when all I want to do is dance.”
“I understand, but you don’t want Jobe to mess up and get angry, do you? That’s his job, sweetheart.”
“I know,” he sighed. “I’ll do better.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“Daddy,” he perked up. “Will there be snow in Aruba for Christmas?”
“I,” I had to stop and think about that for a second.
“I don’t think so but let me check.” A quick internet search confirmed what I’d thought.
“No, it doesn’t. It’s a tropical island with temperatures ranging from eighty to ninety year-round.
So, weather that’s similar to winter in Vegas, basically, but much prettier. ”
“Hmm, can we see snow sometime?”
As much as I avoided the white menace, I’d deal with it for my boy in small increments. “Absolutely.”
Hopefully he picked somewhere I wouldn’t have to drive in it.