Epilogue
Lorcan
“Thank you for the water, Daddy.” I batted my eyelashes at Cody.
He ruffled my damp hair. “You had fun out there.”
I grinned. “I won the tug-of-war.” I might’ve been joyous.
Jai growled—all in fun.
While puppies like Cheddar never broke character to speak I, like Foster and Jai, chose to use words when we took a break from playing.
Foster sipped a ginger ale while Jai guzzled water—like myself.
Master Dante headed our way. He caught Cody’s gaze first. “How was the wedding?”
Mistress Kate was hard on his heels with her flaming-red hair, skyscraper stilettoes, and a leather bustier that made it clear she was in tiptop shape. Would have to be to keep up with Dante—her partner—as well as their bratty sub, Evan.
“The wedding was perfect.” Cody feathered his fingers through my hair. “Just a flawless April afternoon. The sun was out, so we were able to hold it outside at Healing Horses Ranch.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I’ve heard good things happen there. Several of our patrons have been clients at various times.”
I merely grinned—having enjoyed the miracle healing that was that magical place.
And Dante wasn’t speaking out of turn—several members of the club were from Mission City, and they spoke highly of the therapists at the ranch. Sharing under the theory that if people talked about their struggles, others might see this as normal and might be more likely to reach out for help.
“A lovely wedding. Very small and intimate.” I cast my gaze over our friends.
A few others, of course. Cody had included friends from university as well as the ranch.
My fiancé had even convinced me to invite Riley, Stella, Aimee, Agatha, and several other members of the crew.
Now I was a crew chief, I had many more responsibilities and, amazingly, more friends.
Oh, and Aunt Genessa had been there, naturally. She’d brought Annette, her friend from Good Life. They were, truly, living their best lives. I could only hope to be so lucky at their age.
“Intimate is good.” Mistress Kate linked her arms in Dante’s.
Are they going to marry? Or is one of them going to marry Evan?
How does that even work? Gay marriage had been legal in Canada for twenty years.
Too bad triads couldn’t marry. I’d met several at the club over the last few months.
And, of course, one of the most famous Canadian actors, Cole Hamilton, was in a ménage relationship with his best friends Caressa and Michael.
I refocused on what Dante was saying. “—glad you could make it.”
Foster tucked himself into Arnav’s side. “Rainbow and Kennedy are watching Malika and Joshua tonight.” His eyes shone. “The social worker thinks maybe around Christmas…” He swallowed.
Arnav pressed a kiss to his temple. “The kids’ mother is saying she wants to give them up. But that’s such a monumental decision. We want her to take her time to do what’s in everyone’s best interest.”
I wanted to say that the kids staying with Arnav and Foster was in everyone’s best interest. But they hadn’t been able to share the mother’s story—so I kept quiet.
Cody held me close.
His warmth seeped into me as I started to get a little chilled. All that sweating and now no motion.
“Are you cold, Pumpkin? Do you want to put on your sweater?”
“We’re going back out there.” Jai eyed me. “I’m going to win this time.”
Mistress Kate laughed. “I think Evan’s joining the puppy pile. Good luck.”
With that, she and Master Dante moved on.
“Oh Daddy.” Foster buried his face in Arnav’s neck. They already loved the kids so damn much. If they left, more than a few hearts would be broken.
After many discussions, Cody and I had begun making inquiries to social services. About what it would take to become foster parents.
At Genessa’s insistence, we’d bought a four-bedroom house. Plenty of room for foster children. The discussion was mainly about older kids. The ones thrown away by callous parents because the kids were queer. Unwanted. Like Cody had been.
Jai cleared his throat. “This is also sort of a celebration.”
Cody chuckled.
Foster sat up and grasped his ginger ale. He held it and tipped in slightly in my direction. “To having money repatriated and paying everyone back.”
We all raised our glasses.
Despite all the red tape, and even after the Mexican authorities had taken their share, there’d been enough money to pay everyone back. Plus a bit extra—because Stephen had bought a property that had appreciated in value.
Rayne had poked around and discovered some shady people had attempted to kidnap Stephen for ransom.
Apparently he hadn’t been hiding his wealth.
So although the accident had been real, the reason behind it had been sinister.
Unsurprisingly, no one had been charged.
But those troubles weren’t going to follow the money to Canada.
Arnav was fighting like hell for me to get what little was left.
In the end, the police and crown prosecutor admitted I’d been a victim.
I didn’t like to see myself that way. But if I had money, I could contribute to our mortgage, I was okay with that.
Plus, some to a couple of charities close to my heart.
Regardless of what happened, my name had been cleared. Forever.
Demetrius’s cell phone buzzed. He shrugged sheepishly. “Might be Alaina or Keegan.”
“Oh?” My ears perked. Their kids were old enough to be left alone, and tonight they were staying at our home.
We were fostering a litter of eight-week-old kittens.
Our home had become a sort of cat sanctuary and foster home.
Mei and Trifle were in seventh heaven. This was the first litter of kittens we’d accepted, and they’d been old enough to be left alone for a few hours at a time.
Tonight, though, we thought it would be fun for the kids to watch them.
That said, Jai and Demetrius always kept their phones close.
As did Arnav and Foster—even though Kennedy and Rainbow were fantastic babysitters. Again, I wondered if either woman might marry and have children of their own.
“Daddy, are you okay?” Jai sat a little straighter. “Do we need to leave? Let me get dressed—”
“No.” Demetrius continued to frown at his phone. “I—” He swallowed.
The rest of our table watched him as he ran a hand up and down his face.
“It’s a text.”
I gripped Cody—needing his reassurance. Surely if this had to do with the kids, or our furbabies, he’d say something immediately.
“From my brother. A guy named Andre.”
Jai cocked his head. “You don’t have a brother.”
Demetrius cleared his throat. “Half-brother. He says he’s currently in Toronto but heading to Mission City and wants to meet me.”
“It’s a scam.” Arnav waved it off—clearly dismissing it.
“He has a picture of my father. And—” Demetrius squinted. “—he says this is him.”
Arnav snatched the phone. “Things like this can be faked. Ask him to email the original. You have a public email, right? One that doesn’t have anything sensitive?”
“At your suggestion, yes.” Demetrius grinned. “Like I didn’t have some idea about security.”
“Lawyers make paranoid friends. Nothing’s safe.”
Foster ruffled his hair. “You make me feel safe, Daddy.”
Jai continued to rest his arm on Demetrius’s shoulder. “Do you want to go home? To see the kids?”
Their children were definitely a grounding force in their lives.
“He knows I live in Mission City.”
“He also says he’s in Toronto.”
“And coming here.” Demetrius rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know what he wants.”
“Sounds like he’s looking for some kind of relationship.” I cuddled closer to Cody—trying to figure out what I’d do if I was facing this predicament.
The phone buzzed again.
Arnav read—apparently unconcerned about Demetrius’s privacy.
But the older man appeared relieved to give this mess to someone else to deal with. He was a great Daddy—and really had his shit together—but sometimes he liked to give up a bit of that control. Which was why Jai was the perfect husband for him.
“He says he’s willing to do a DNA test. Through a private lab. No public databases.” Arnav glanced at Demetrius. “I suppose if he sent you his results, and you didn’t share yours, that might mitigate some of the risk. It’ll take a computer a fraction of a second to say if you’re related.”
“That’s kind of amazing.” I grasped Cody’s hand. “I remember the days before DNA.”
“I do, too.” Foster grinned. “Us old-timers have to stick together.”
“Speak for yourself.” I grinned. “You’re only as old as you feel.”
Foster pointed to the dungeon floor.
Evan sat near the puppy pile with a rope in his teeth and a shit-eating grin on his face.
Jai rubbed his hand up and down Demetrius’s arm. “We can go.”
He shook his head. “Play one more time with your friends. I’ll send a text to the kids just to check in.”
“You’re going to get a couple of eye-roll emojis.” Arnav passed the phone back to him. Then he pivoted to Foster. “And while you’re playing, I’ll check in with Kennedy.”
Foster’s dark-brown eyes flashed gratitude. “Thanks.”
This was only the second time they’d joined us. Last time had been fine. Chances were tonight would be just as good.
Kennedy and Rainbow were great with dogs, and Queenie, the family’s rescue dog, adored the kids.
“Rashma said she’ll be in town next month and wants a turn at babysitting.” Forter pressed his hand to Arnav’s sternum. “Your sister is great at being an aunt.”
“I know.” Arnav pressed a kiss to his temple. “Go play.”
And so we did. As a threesome, we descended on Evan.
Fun was had by all.
As we got ready for bed that night, I spent a moment wondering what I would do if, like Demetrius, some long-lost sibling showed up. Luckily, knowing my parents, the chances of that were basically zero. “Poor Demetrius. He looked pretty shook.”
Cody winced. “Yeah, he did look shaken. I’m glad they decided to take the kids home tonight. I would’ve been happy to keep them here with our menagerie, but their dads really needed them.”
After saying goodnight to the kids, we’d fed the kittens, walked Mei, and headed to bed ourselves.
Well, we’d do whatever Demetrius needed from us to support him, but tonight I put all thoughts of other people out of my head. I was taking my Daddy to bed, and tomorrow we’d have more fun playing with our furbabies.