Chapter 6 Chuck
CHUCK
“Welcome home, lovebirds,” Oscar greeted us with hugs as we walked into the house. “Congratulations again.” He helped us bring all our stuff inside, having brought back more than we left with for sure. Tae immediately shut himself inside his playroom after a quick wave to his brother. “Is he okay?”
“Yes, the theme for his playroom finally hit him while we were away. He’s been drawing like mad the last two days. Says he wants the room done before we get married.”
“Did you pick a date yet?”
“Nope, just a venue. Mom suggested we have it here since there will only be ten of us. As soon as Tae heard that, the wheels started turning and the vision came. I’ve officially been banned from the playroom until its done.”
Oscar threw his head back and laughed. “That sounds like him. By the way, the lawyer dropped the papers off for me to sign. Are you sure about this, Chuck?”
I sat in my desk chair across from him. “My dad started Ashwood before I was born. It was always a given it would become Ashwood and Son when I was old enough to officially join the business, and then we’d be partners.
Sadly, he died before any of that took place and I had to step up, but I’ve ran it on my own for long enough and I’d like to cut back.
It’s time to focus on my boy. Mom and I talked about this at length and she completely agrees.
You’re the perfect business partner for me, well, for us.
” Tae was in this too, though he left me to make most decisions for us.
I’d already approved the documents ahead of time and was more than aware of what the deal included. Now the ball was in Oscar’s court.
“I just,” Oscar paused and took a deep breath. I wondered if he’d changed his mind. “I’m overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity.”
“Kindness and generosity? You’ve more than earned your place at Ashwood.
You worked your ass off for me and it is high time that I recognized that.
” Many times, when Tae and Samian were younger, he’d have to bring them along on jobs.
Never once had I balked at that. They were respectful, cleaned up after themselves, and were always quiet.
He chuckled. “Point taken. But seriously Chuck, thank you. Thank you for giving a young, single father raising his brothers a chance.”
“Never once regretted it. Now sign the damn papers.”
“Alright, alright,” he grinned and held his hands up, surrendering to my overbearing request, though I said it with a smile.
“I’ll sign them.” When he finished, I fired off an email to our lawyer to let him know they were ready to pick up and file.
After that, Oscar and I scanned through the dozens of photos we’d taken during our vacation.
“Hey, what do you think about buying land and building a cabin on it? Tae really enjoyed the snow and our time up there. I thought we could do the work ourselves then we’d all have a place to escape the heat from.”
“You are just full of surprises anymore, Chuck.”
True, even though I wasn’t sure what had gotten into me, it made both my boy and me very happy, so I’d continue to roll with these good feelings. Plus, I was making the best decisions while riding this high.
“Sounds expensive to me.”
“Good man, already looking after the bottom line.” I loved this playful banter with my friend and now business partner.
“The way Tae came alive up there, trust me, it’ll be more than worth it.
Imagine taking your plus one away for the weekend.
” Oscar blushed and I wondered if there wasn’t a special someone in his life already.
“Well, we’ll see. I know you well, my friend, and you won’t jump into anything without every line balancing first. Hell, maybe we could expand the business and move more into construction. I’ve toyed with the idea of getting a General Contractors license for a while now.”
“That’s a great idea. I priced a few lots online, did a bit of recon. I’ll reach out to the agents and dig into material costs and then we can see. If you’re serious about the GC license, I say go for it.” Sounds like we both had the will, now we just had to find the way.
“Should I assume now that my brothers muse has reawakened that painting at the Tetleys is on us?”
“You assume correctly, sir. Speaking of which, the countertop for the kitchenette for the media room is due to be delivered tomorrow.” No rest for the wicked, it was right back to work for this newly engaged Daddy.
“Yup. Got the cabinets installed and the plumbing lines run on Friday, so we’re ready for it. Alright, I’m done for the day. See you bright and early tomorrow.”
Oscar headed out and I dove into emails while Tae was tucked away, working on his own project. We had a bit of time before dinner, so I’d let him be and surprise him with pizza night. That should lure him out for sure.
Meanwhile, I started a spreadsheet for the proposed cabin.
Guess I too had a new obsession. Enough bedrooms to have our friends and family there occasionally was a must, along with at least two bathrooms. A massive fireplace, both Tae and I really enjoyed having that.
I’d personally like a wraparound porch with full views of the property.
Nice eat in kitchen with an island. The more I typed, the more excited I grew.
I bet mom would enjoy getting away now and again too.
Initially, it would be quite an investment but, in the end, it would totally be worth it.
Rustic décor, flannel sheets, warm tones, and the primary bedroom would have its own en suite with a tub so my boy could have his tubby time.
The vision was so clear. Numerous windows to watch the snowfall and fauna foraging for food.
I could already hear Tae’s giggles at the sight of deer nibbling away on the twigs and leaves.
I wonder if we could build a feeder for them.
Probably not a good idea as it would likely attract bears and other not so nice wildlife… but…maybe.
What would make it even better was if Tae painted all the artwork we hung inside it.
I already picture him sitting on the porch, sketching the wonders of the forest life while enjoying the cooler weather.
Giggling at every rabbit and wild animal as he saw them.
The wheels were turning now and they’d not soon stop.
Not until I provided my boy with that kind of happiness.
“Daddy?” My sweet boy called out. A quick glance at the clock showed it was time to order dinner.
“In the office.”
“Wha’cha doing?” He crawled up on my lap waving a piece of paper around.
“Ordering pizza.”
“Yay! I was just coming to say I’m hungry and to give you this,” he held the paper so close to my face I couldn’t make a single word out.
“Gotta move it out, sweetheart. It’s too close to Daddy’s eyeballs.” He giggled and moved it back and forth like it was an eye exam. “Smarty pants.” I pinched his butt and snagged the paper when he yelped. “Your supply order?”
“Yes, please and thank you. Daddy, did you get the cheesy breadsticks and dippy sauces?”
“Geez,” I rolled my eyes, “what kind of Daddy do you think I am?”
“The bestest,” he laid a big smacky kiss on my cheek. “But did you?”
“Wow, only a couple of hours home and I’m already dirt.” Razzing my boy was too much fun. Besides, I know he didn’t mean anything bad by asking.
“No,” kisses, “Daddy,” kisses. “I didn’t mean it like that,” then he laid a big kiss right on my mouth. A bit messy, but cute, none the less. “I’m just hangry.”
“Ah, the infamous mixture of anger caused by hunger. Gotcha. Guess we did miss lunch since we both dove right in when we got home. How goes the sketching?”
“Great. I’m so excited but my pencils won’t last long. It’s gonna take a few days to get it drawn out and even longer to paint and get the shading just right. Maybe it’ll be done in about a month. Do we have to wear those hot suits at our wedding?”
I kissed his nose, loving how fast his brain moved. “Not if we don’t want to, and if it’s up to me, I vote no.”
“Me too. I wanna be comfy and have fun.”
“Just the way a wedding should be in my eyes. So, we’re looking at April for a date then?”
Tae slid his phone from his pocket and opened the calendar app. I could see the wheels turning while he figured this out. “Yes, that will work. How about April tenth?”
“April tenth it is. While you have your phone out, why don’t you put that into the chat with Momma, so she knows. Maybe tell your brothers too?”
“And my friends.”
“Yes, and your friends.” I hadn’t realized until all this went down how much it bothered him not having play dates at our house.
An issue I’d remedy once the wedding was behind us.
Maybe I could jazz up his play area in the backyard before then.
Surprise him with a few new additions as his wedding present.
He’d appreciate that more than a new blender, that’s for sure.
“Tae, what do you think about us telling our wedding guests no presents, and instead, if they wished they could donate to the local LGBTQIA+ center?”
His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and I readied myself to backtrack. “Daddy, I think that’s the most wonderful idea. We have everything we could ever need.”
He had no idea how deeply his response resonated with me. “Daddy will design an evite for the wedding once we work out all the details and I’ll be sure to include that.”
“Doorbell!” Tae sung as he jumped off my lap and took off down the hall.
“No running!” My words fell on deaf ears as he beat me to the door. Pizza clearly came before Daddy or the rules.
“Pizza, Daddy,” he sung as he skipped by me with the boxes, like that erased his wrongdoing. Good thing we tip online now, or the poor driver would’ve left with nothing but my silly boy’s smile. Hopefully he hadn’t slammed the door in their face.
“There should be enough leftovers for your lunch tomorrow. Oscar and I will be at the Tetleys this week working on their projects. Are you sure you’re gonna be okay by yourself?
” I worried. I knew he wouldn’t use the stove after the great mac ‘n cheese inferno a couple of years back, but I was used to having my boy by my side nearly twenty-four hours a day.
Huh, maybe I was more worried about me than him.
Separation anxiety much, Chuck?
“Yes, Daddy, and I promise to only use the microwave. Will you leave me milkies?” He wiggled and dipped his breadstick, and his fingers, into the marinara sauce then sucked them clean. Entertainment or gross? Funny how much those two lines crossed and always ended with a necessary bath.
“There are a couple of bottles in the freezer I’ll pull out for you in the morning.
” I started cleaning up while he finished eating and meal prepped his lunch for tomorrow.
Nice and easy in a microwave safe container.
It wasn’t that my boy lacked the ability to do more than microwave, it was that he lacked the attention span.
Amazing, considering how when it came to his art he’d focus on it for hours on end. At times to his own detriment.
“All done,” Tae announced, throwing his arms in the air.
“Yes, and in need of tubby time.”
“Yay! Tubby time.”
I wiped him down, mostly to keep the house safe from a cheesy marinara bomb in the form of my boy while I got the tub filled. Tae dumped his bag of water toys in, stripped down, and cheered for himself as he shot hoops with his clothes into the laundry basket.
“Alright, Messy Boy, let’s get you into the tub.”
While Tae played, I locked the doors and turned off the lights. When I came back in, his boats were moving slower and his yawns were coming faster. “Let’s wash you up.”
“’Kay, Daddy.”
Yup, no argument from my sleepy boy for more playtime. His eyes closed and his head grew heavy as I shampooed his curls. He barely moved when I ran the sponge over his body. “Let’s get you dried and dressed, then bedtime.”
“Daddy milky.”
“Yes, you can nurse.” Though I was certain he’d be asleep the moment he latched on.
Into a pull-up and a onesie, I got him dressed and tucked in with Stitch and LJ while I took a quick shower. When I slid in behind him, he turned and snuggled in to nurse. Thankful for the relief, as it eased the pressure in my chest, I dozed right off with my boy.