Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Beck
“Daddy’s taking me to the beach next week,” I told Jobe for like the thousandth time. But I couldn’t help it, I was super excited.
“I know, you’ve told me a million times. Now stand still or I’m gonna poke your ass.”
He was pinning a pair of beach wear wedding pants, as he called them, on me to see if they were what he wanted for us to wear in Aruba.
“Daddy wants to know if we’ve made any of the wedding plans. Have we?” Honestly, I was good with Jobe making all the decisions like Daddy normally did. I was pretty easy going and as long as we were all together, I’d be fine sleeping in Daddy’s arms inside a cardboard box.
“I knew I forgot to do something, like telling your fiancé. My bad. I’ve booked the hotel rooms, including the ones for your in-laws, as well as the beach side wedding venue.
It’ll be small, and intimate and it includes dinner afterwards.
There are a few excursions I wanted to go over with you both and Stanley.
Maybe tonight when he gets here, we can talk. ”
“Sounds good. Ouch!”
“Keep those sassy hips in check, boy. You can dance until the cows come home after I’m done.
We need to run this by the Daddies tonight and get their thoughts on the outfit, which is why I’m only pinning them.
Stanley and Crispin are much wider and taller than we are, so I’ll have to fit them accordingly. ”
“Anyone home?”
“Daddy! Ouch!”
“Did someone get poked?” Daddy came into Jobe’s office and kissed me. “My, don’t you look handsome.”
“Glad you like it, these are the outfits I’m working on for the wedding,” Jobe replied.
“Daddy, if we play hidey hole on the beach will I get sand in my exit?”
Daddy’s mouth fell open and he kept blinking. I think I broke him.
“Filter, Beck. Filter,” Jobe shook his head. “Well, at least we weren’t at a restaurant this time.”
“Sweetheart, as much as I’d like to make love to you beneath the stars, sex on sand isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“He-he, crack. That’s funny ‘cause that’s where all the sand will be.”
“I’ve got nothing,” Jobe told Daddy, though I wasn’t sure what he meant.
“Back to the outfits.” Jobe slid the vest over the white shirt I had on.
“I want breathable material we hopefully won’t sweat in.
Being beachside, we shouldn’t get too hot, and the breeze should flow right through our clothing.
I like the vest over the white shirt, sleeves rolled up but I’m undecided on full length pants or making them long shorts. What do you think, Crispin?”
“For me personally, I’d prefer full length pants that can be rolled up if necessary. That way we have both options. I too like the vest and sleeves rolled up though. Will all four of us be wearing the same outfits?” Daddy asked.
“Same colors and style but mine and Beck’s will have a slight twist to it.” Jobe’s eyes lit up and I hoped that didn’t mean we’d be bedazzled. I had a love for all things sparkly, but not the fancy sparkly kind.
“Ah, a surprise for the daddies then,” Daddy Stanley said when he entered the room. “I’m with Crispin, and I love the khaki and white color combination. Very beachy.” Jobe kissed his Daddy. “What about shoes?”
“I’m torn between a sort of deck shoe or no shoes,” Jobe replied.
“No shoes!” I hollered. “I wanna feel the sand with my toesies.”
“What if we wear boat shoes until we reach the sand then we kick them off. That way we have them for the walkways afterward, so our feet don’t burn,” Daddy suggested.
“Good call,” Daddy Stanley agreed. “Does that work, my fashionista?”
Jobe rolled his eyes, “Yes, actually that’s a good call. I’ll fit you guys closer to the time to leave so if you have any changes to this mockup speak now or forever hold your peace.”
The daddies laughed but had no changes to suggest. I wondered what was up with mine and Jobe’s outfits.
“Speaking of the wedding,” Jobe started unpinning me.
“I’ve booked the wedding package at Riu Palace Antillas.
They’re both all-inclusive packages and include a room for your parents, as well as your sister, Crispin.
There are several excursions to choose from so I’ll email you the list, then a handful that are couples only.
The one I thought we’d all like to do is the Island bus tour.
We have just enough bodies to get a bus to ourselves. ”
“Yes, definitely that one for us too,” Daddy said. “I’d like to snorkel too, if you three are game?”
“I wanna see sea turtles, and fishies, and eels. Daddy who’s gonna take care of Goldie? I don’t think we can take her on the plane ride?”
“No, sweetheart, we can’t, but Joyce and her boys volunteered to watch him. Speaking of our trip, your passport finally showed up today.”
“That took forever,” I whined. “I thought it got lost.”
“Nope, that’s just how it goes, unfortunately. Jobe, thank you for handling well, basically everything for the wedding. Let me know how to get the money to you for what you’ve paid of our portions and I’ll transfer it immediately.”
“No problem, Crispin. I know I’m the picky one here and I appreciate the three of you letting me run with it.
I can’t wait to soak up the sun, kick back on the beach with a mai tai in hand.
Hell, maybe one in each hand.” Jobe got this dreamy faraway look in his eyes.
“It’s been forever since I’ve taken a vacation and even longer since I had someone to go along with me. ”
Sometimes it was easy to forget how lonely Jobe once was. Guess we all found each other when the universe knew we needed to most.
“I’ll help Beck get changed then we can leave for dinner,” Jobe said and the daddies left the room.
We went to a fancy steak place Daddy liked but I’d never been to.
“Good evening, sirs, do you have a reservation?” The guy at front desk asked but he didn’t smile. I don’t trust people who don’t smile. Plus, they always look mean.
“Yes, reservation for Knight,” Daddy told him.
“Table for four, please, follow me.”
I was glad I took a nice outfit to Jobe’s because this place was uber fancy.
As soon as we were seated the waiter came and took our drink orders then left us to decide on food.
“I don’t think the four of us have been out since last December,” Daddy Stanley said.
“You’re right but we have dined at your place many times this year,” Daddy replied.
“Very true.”
“Daddy,” I whispered, “Can you order for me? Something with shrimpies, please.”
“Absolutely, sweetheart.”
The waiter brought our drinks then took our orders. Daddy held his glass up, so we did the same. “Happy birthday to the most wonderful person in my life. May your world be filled with as much love and sunshine as you’ve brought into mine. I love you, Beck.”
“Daddy,” I whispered, nearly in tears. “I love you too.”
“Happy birthday, Beck!” Jobe and Daddy Stanley said as our glasses clinked.
“Thank you. I’m a lucky boy to have all of you in my life and to be able to call you my family.”
“Here,” Jobe handed me a card. “Happy birthday, bestie.”
I ripped it open and a gift card to Build-A-Bear fell out. “Oh. My. Gawd. I’ve always wanted to go there. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Daddy, when can we go?” The three of them laughed.
“Already mapped it out and we’re stopping on the way to Mom and Dad’s tomorrow.”
“Yay!” I cheered so loudly the tables around us fussed, but Daddy ignored them. “Sorry, Daddy.”
“Sweetheart, do not apologize because a bunch of snooty grouches don’t understand what it’s like to be happy.”
Ooohhh, Daddy told them and I know they heard cause the old lady next to me gasped.
One for Daddy, Zero for grouchy old lady.
After dinner the waiter brought me a cute tiny cake with a single lit candle on it.
Daddy said they don’t sing to you at these fancy pants places, but he, Daddy Stanley, and Jobe did.
I blew out the candle and made a wish, then we split it into fours.
It was the perfect size for us. It was the best birthday ever, even though it was technically tomorrow.
“Alright, Beck and I are off on our vacation. Thank you for joining us for dinner.” We hugged them and thanked them again. “We’ll see you both in a week.”
“Yay! Sand between my toes but not in my crack, he-he.”
“Beck, sometimes I’m not sure what to do with you,” Daddy shook his head.
“Just love me, Daddy. That’s all I ask.”
“Consider it done, even when you talk about your hidey hole and crack.”
We all got into our vehicles and headed home. “Daddy, can we get road trip munchies in the morning?”
“Of course, when we stop to fill up before we hit the road, we’ll grab them. Are you excited for our trip?”
I bounced in my seat as much as the stupid seat belt let me. “Yes, I get to see Mom and Dad and Karlie and then the squishy sand.”
“Me too. We have a few new packages waiting at the house for our trip.”
“Ooohhh, prezzies!”
“Yes, for our trip.”
I was glad we lived in a gated community. Less chance for the prezzies to get stolen. “That’s a lot of boxes, Daddy, and it’s not even Christmas.”
“No, but it’s somebody’s birthday at midnight and a boy needs special prezzies from his Daddy. I know Mom and Dad have something waiting for the birthday boy too.”
“What?”
“If you thought Mom was going to miss the opportunity to buy you stuff, you were mistaken, sweet boy. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen her this excited.”
Daddy parked and shut the garage door. I waited like a good boy for him to let me out even though I was super wiggly. “Thank you for dinner, Daddy,” I gave him a big smooch as he let me out.
“You are very welcome, my love. Now let’s go rescue those boxes.”
Daddy and I carried them inside. I swear, there was like a hundred boxes on the porch.
I shook my head looking at the pile in the entry way. “That’s a lot of shopping, Daddy.”
“Some are gifts and some, such as these big ones, are new luggage for my boy for our upcoming trips.” Daddy ripped the box open and pulled out a suitcase. It was wrapped in plastic and foam so I couldn’t tell what color it was. “Go ahead and rip it open.”
Didn’t have to tell me twice.
“Thank you, Daddy.” They were white…
“Wait, it’s missing something.” He dug through the other boxes until he found what he was looking for. “Aha, here we go,” he tossed the package to me.
“What are these? They’re so cute.” They were stretchy and had cute bunnies and flowers on them.
“Those are luggage wraps.”
“But there are two of them.”
“Yes, and inside that big rolling suitcase is a smaller one. Those cover that plain white so you can tell which pieces are yours when they come over the airline luggage carousel.”
“That is so cool. Thanks for the prezzies, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome, but those aren’t really prezzies. Those are travel necessities. The prezzies I’ve got to wrap for the birthday boy to open tomorrow. For now, let’s start packing.”
“Daddy, what toys can I bring?”
“Well, I’d say anything you can fit in this,” he handed me another package.
“It’s a cute duffel bag.”
“Yes, for travel toys. I figured then Bun-Bun and Daddy Bear would fit together. Maybe tubby toys for the hotel at the beach, possibly a few of your plastic animals. Why don’t you take it into the playroom and decide what to bring while Daddy finishes packing our clothes.”
I leaned up and kissed him. “Thank you, Daddy. You always think of me.”
“Of course I do, you’re the love of my life.”
Swoon.