Chapter Eighteen
Jovan
We were already living together in all but name.
Zoe loved both of our places and didn’t seem to mind where we stayed, but if we did spend the night at Ernie’s, someone had to drop her off in the morning so she could have the dog walking service, and we were always running back and forth for something we forgot at one place or another.
Not that that was the reason we wanted to live under one roof related to forgotten items or even our beloved dog.
Mainly, we had a hard enough time being apart while we were working, and it was time.
“Are you sure you want to live here?” I asked him for the hundredth time. “If you’re more comfortable in your apartment, we can renew your lease or look for a house in the suburbs.”
“Daddy!” He flung his arms around my waist. “We decided together. My apartment is not nearly as nice as the condo, and a house in the suburbs would mean we had a big commute, both of us. You’re so funny sometimes. But I love you anyway.”
“I love you too. And I’m glad you’re comfortable here. Have I mentioned how much I hate moving?”
“The movers should have gotten here by now, since you mentioned that. We’re going to be late to the event. Maybe you should go ahead and I’ll follow?”
I grabbed my phone and brought up the moving company’s app. Hit tracking. “They are two blocks away, headed for the rear entrance with the big elevator. We’re fine.” I had my bag ready to go anyway and we weren’t going to unpack or anything, not tonight.
“I still think we could have moved the stuff ourselves. I gave away most of my furniture anyway.”
“Remember me? Daddy hates moving? This company came well recommended and they even packed up on your end. So, all you have to do here is put things away. Easy peasy.”
“Says the fancy doctor.”
A half hour later, I was tipping the guys and we were ready to go. I had my bag in hand, Ernie his backpack, and just as I reached for the doorknob, Zoe skittered across the hardwood floor in the foyer, her old baby in her mouth.
She dropped it at our feet, and it didn’t take more than a glance to see what she wanted. I burst into laughter. “Zoe, your baby has a torn ear. Do you want me to take it to the hospital to get fixed?”
“What a smart dog,” crooned Ernie, petting Zoe. “Daddy will make sure your baby is all better.” He tucked the stuffie into his backpack. “She’s the best non-stuffie dog in the world.”
Our event was a success, and we returned with the baby all better, and all the boxes waiting to be unpacked. And having somehow invited several of our friends to a housewarming dinner the following week.
“What do you think?” Ernie stood back from the larger of the two tables we’d set up in the dining room. “It’s not super formal.”
“No, it’s not formal, but I think it’s us.
” The “big” table was covered with a nice white cloth, regular china, and a lilac runner that brought out the color in the flowers.
A few tapers would be lit when the guests arrived.
Wine and water glasses…cloth napkins. Maybe it was veering on formal but without all the forks.
Dinner was a rib roast, roasted potatoes, rolls, fresh peas.
We had red and white wine on the table and a bar set up in the living room for the daddies.
But the big table wasn’t the story. The table we’d decorated for the littles?
That was the whole shebang. Ernie had consulted all his friends.
What did they like to eat best? What kind of cups?
Plates? Silverware? He had a whole survey and had done all the shopping.
I had my doubts that even the littles would be happy with their choices with such delicious food at our table, but I wasn’t going to argue about a party that was primarily to welcome my little to my home.
Just before the guests were due to arrive, I took my little into the bedroom and helped him change into his new Home is Where Pup-Pup Is onesie.
There were chairs at the table for the littles and their stuffies—all of whom were guaranteed to be safe because Zoe was visiting with her favorite dog sitter for the night.
When the doorbell rang, we greeted them together.
Ernie escorted Hudson, Ocean and the others to his new playroom where they could take off their coats and be in their little clothes.
It wasn’t totally finished, but there were lots of toys and games, and they would have a great time.
The daddies had volunteered to help serve the food and clear so the littles could enjoy their mac and cheese and chicken fingers and carrot sticks served in divided plates on a cartoon-dog printed vinyl table cover.
They would have apple juice in sippy cups.
But dessert? We were all having make-your-own sundaes with every topping my little’s vivid imagination could come up with.
We daddies sipped drinks and listened to the littles having a great time. Mostly, we’d have been involved, but this was how they’d wanted it, and as long as we didn’t hear anything crashing or anyone crying, all was well.
When they came to the table, sitting their stuffies in the chairs beside them, beaming with smiles, I couldn’t hold mine back either.
Clark set the food in front of each of them while their daddies tied on bibs or put napkins in their laps.
Then the big people were served, and we all tucked in.
All of the guests were daddy/little pairs except for Clark, and while he tried to act like it didn’t matter, I sure hoped one day he’d find the perfect person.
We’d bonded initially in our single state, but I didn’t see as much of him now, keeping busy with Ernie big and little.
I’d even managed to put my foot down at the hospital and cut back some on my hours.
They’d had to hire a whole other doctor to make that happen, which told me a lot about how I’d been taken advantage of in the past. But I still loved my work, got called in from time to time, and that was fine.
Everything about my life with Ernie showed me how good it could be. Love did that to a person.
Or at least being in love with Ernie did.