Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
The newly decorated back room at David’s was really nice. Nothing fancy, but it had that Lady and the Tramp look to it with the tablecloths being red and white checked and little Chianti bottles with candles in them on the tables.
None of the candles were lit right now, of course, because there were going to be maybe a dozen kids floating around during the party.
But Devon thought it really, really sweet when it smelled like heaven.
He was back to being able to eat red sauce and that kind of thing because everything gave him heartburn now, so it didn’t really matter if he ate Italian food.
Two little tables had been set up at the very back of the room, one that held presents (which was mostly full already) and one to hold a cake, a couple of trays of cannolis, and other various and sundry cookies and things like that.
People were already milling around. Devon wasn’t sure what to do. He felt like he needed to get up and help with stuff. But Laird had ensconced him at a table and given him something to drink and told him to stay.
Tim Lyons came over to sit and smile at him. It made Devon laugh, how the older the man got, the more he looked like the librarian he was. “Wow, it looks great in here. For once, all of us are going to get to tell you congratulations. How cool is that?” Tim waved a hand.
“I think it’s pretty exciting. I think I’ll get even better at my job now. I’ll have felt exactly what’s going on.”
“You were damn good at your job before. You know that right? None of us could have done this without you.”
Devon blushed and shook his head. “Nonsense. Raven’s here. Naomi’s here. You all would have been fine. I didn’t even get to deliver Gwennie.”
Tim chuckled. “No, but we love you, and we’re so happy to be able to spoil you.”
Devon took Tim’s hand. “Thank you. This is very exciting.”
He loved the fact that they were all here celebrating Cameron.
Raven came up, offered him a smile, and then unceremoniously plopped the baby in his hands. “Here, since you’re sitting. Thank you.”
Tim cracked up. “Babysitting duties, huh?”
“Well, I am their godfather.”
“Both of them, huh?”
Devon nodded. “Yes. He’s going to be our children’s godfather, one of them. They will each have two. Nick—have you met him yet? He’s an EMT. Nick will be the other godfather.”
“I have. He seems like a really nice guy.” Tim’s little grin was wry. “I think I make him a little uncomfortable.”
“Naughty librarian fantasy?” Devon teased.
Tim flushed bright pink. “Oh, I hope not. This librarian is only naughty with one man.”
Devon had to hoot. “And Lukas is a lucky man.”
“He is!”
They laughed together, and he bounced Raven’s little one on his lap, and he glanced up to catch Laird watching him, this goofy smile on his face.
God, he was so in love with that man.
Tim left to go untangle one of his kids from one of Chase’s, and other folks came to visit him, and before he knew it, they were all playing shower games like guess the craving, where Devon had written out all the things he’d craved without naming the food, and the guests had to fill in what they thought it was.
It was hilarious, how some of the alphas were so clueless.
Laird would have won, of course, but he bowed out of the prizes.
By the time he’d opened presents and it was time for cake, Devon sat on Laird’s lap, drooping just a tiny bit.
“You can nap a little if you want,” Laird murmured. “The kids are having a cake feeding frenzy, so no one will notice.”
He rubbed his cheek on Laird’s shoulder. “Thank you, love. This has been wonderful.”
He’d had garlic bread and half-and-half salad and cannoli and now he wanted a piece of cake and said nap.
“You’re welcome. What was your favorite present?” Laird rubbed his chin over Devon’s temple.
“I think the stroller, because they managed to get it in your tartan. Not to mention the fact that it is adorable.” His parents had sent it.
They were saving their time off to come visit after the baby was born, so they didn’t get to come to the shower. But they’d sent this most amazing stroller that was going to serve them so well.
They also had sent a running stroller that was less fancy and beautiful, but was going to be amazing when he got back on the trail.
“What was your favorite, love?” Devon asked.
“The car seat.” Laird’s parents had gotten them this car seat that rotated and was like the absolute best he thought he’d ever seen.
He knew that Laird had seen things that he would never talk about to Devon in car accidents, so having this car seat and having the most protection for their baby was absolutely paramount for his husband.
“Yes, it’s amazing. Of course I have to admit, whoever brought the little koala bear in the kilt, the handmade one, is a genius. How many babies get their first bear with a kilt in his tartan?”
“Well, I know for sure one does.” Laird’s laughter jostled him, and he cracked up as their son kicked hard, reminding him who this party was for.
“Hey, I felt that,” Laird said, hand on his belly.
“Yes, my wee McCallum wants his cake.”
“Let me wave down… Hey, Nick. Can you bring us cake?”
Nick glanced over, appraising the situation, then laughed. “Yeah, you look comfy. I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks, man.” Laird kissed his neck. “Service with a smile.”
“I’m glad we decided to have it here and not at the hotel,” Devon murmured. “Not that I don’t like it there.”
“Yeah, it was super nice of Charlie and Jack to offer, but they had that big wedding coming in at the same time, and we just thought it would be crazy busy for them. And Dave had this shiny new back room.”
“It’s like free advertising for him, huh?” Devon grinned. “I like it.”
“It is.”
“Hey, you guys.” Raven came over holding an iPad. “Talk to Dev’s mom.”
“Mom! Hey!” Devon beamed at his mom, who was so little on the screen.
“Hello, darling. Are you having fun?”
“We’re just about to eat cake. How are you?”
“Excellent. Things are going very well.”
“Thank you for the strollers, Mom. They’re amazing.”
“You are very welcome. The one is trail rated as long as there’s no serious rocks or tree roots. I know you like that one trail that’s graded so nicely.”
“I do. I’ve been running about twice a week still, nice and easy.” There wasn’t any reason that he shouldn’t, and he really enjoyed it, so he kept doing it.
“Now just take it easy. Make sure that you go with Laird. I don’t want you out there running and then all of a sudden need something and not have any way to get hold of anyone.”
“I always bring my phone, Mom. Always.”
Of course, now that everybody at the baby shower heard his mother worrying, he wasn’t going to be able to run alone until after the baby was born. He would have company eternally.
He could see that in a bunch of EMT’s eyes.
Especially Nick’s.
Laird chuckled and kissed his head. “You know I’ll go with you, baby.”
“I know.”
“Me too,” Nick intoned, ever so serious. “No running amok alone.”
“Okay.” Devon held up his hands. “I promise.”
“Good deal.” Nick grinned at him, his expression lightening up. “I worry about you, man. You’re like, my brother’s omega.”
“Thanks, Nick. You’re so good to me, and you’re like a big brother.
I appreciate you so much.” Every chance he got, he told Nick that because he really thought Nick was lonely and a little adrift, and that sucked.
Nobody needed to be that way. Everybody deserved to have family around them.
He got that now because he had it, and he wasn’t going to let go of it.
“I love you,” Laird told him. “So much.”
He knew that particular “I Love You” was as much for Nick as it was for Laird. Laird was really grateful for how much Devon cared for Nick and he knew it.
He was so honored by all of this. Everyone had been so kind, and he loved that he could count the babies that he’d delivered. He could see the reflection of their brand-new, tiny faces in their growing visages.
“This has been an amazing party, everyone. Thank you so much.”
Nick handed him his cake, and he hummed happily. “This looks so good.”
He’d been exhausted, and now he was just hungry.
He dug in, sharing a bite or two with Laird on the way.
“Thank you for this, love.”
“Anytime.” Laird winked at him. “Well, I mean, maybe we should get through having this baby before we start talking about the next one…”
He cracked up. “Don’t make me hurt you. I could, you know, this baby and me? We’re tough.”
“I know. But you don’t have to be that rough and tumble, I promise.”
Devon just grinned, the cake perking him up a bit. No, he didn’t have to be so tough that he could go it alone. He had people who loved him, and that was all that mattered.