Epilogue
Jeff took a last glance in the mirror. The pale grey suit was a perfect fit, and the light blue tie Dave had picked out complimented it perfectly.
There was a knock at the door. “Are you decent?”
Jeff laughed. “You can’t come in. It’s bad luck to see each other before the wedding.”
Dave stuck his head around the door and snorted. “I’ve got news for you. It was ‘before the wedding’ this morning when we woke up in the same bed, so the damage is done.” He gazed at Jeff from head to toe. “Wow. You scrub up so nicely.”
Dave was looking pretty sharp himself. His dark blue suit went well with his colouring.
“Now that I have you to myself for a moment…” Jeff crooked his finger. “Come here.”
Dave came into the room, grinning. “We don’t have time.”
Jeff looped his arms around Dave’s neck. “There’s always time for a kiss.”
“Agreed.” Dave closed the gap between them, and Jeff sighed as warm lips met his. “I could kiss you all day,” Dave murmured.
“Yes, but not today, okay? We have things to do. Big important things. Are the girls here yet?” Jeff asked as they parted.
Dave arched his eyebrows. “Excuse me, but the correct term is Best Women, as they keep reminding me. And yes, they’re downstairs. Amy is helping Chris with his bow tie. I came up to ask if you were ready to talk to him. We said we would, before the wedding.”
Jeff nodded. “Ask him to come up here? I’d rather it was just the three of us.” Not that Amy and Janine didn’t know what was going on, but it was a moment Jeff felt belonged to him, Dave and Chris.
Dave nodded and went over to the door. “Chris? Can you come up here a sec?”
Seconds later came the thud of feet on the stairs, and Chris burst into the room. “Why aren’t you downstairs? Aren’t you ready yet?” He grinned. “Aunt Janine said you were up here… doing something.” He snickered.
Dave snorted.
Jeff beamed at Chris. “Don’t you look smart. You’ve got the rings to give to Janine and Amy?”
Chris patted the breast pocket of his suit. “The bags are in here. Now come on. It’s time to go.”
“Hold your horses. They can’t start the wedding without us.” Jeff sat on the bed and patted it. “Come sit for a minute. There’s something we need to talk about.”
“And no, you’re not in trouble,” Dave added with a smile. He sat too, and Chris perched on the edge of the bed between them, although he couldn’t sit still.
“We’ve been thinking about increasing the size of our family,” Jeff began.
Chris’s eyes lit up. “Then we are getting a dog?”
Dave laughed. “Subtle, Chris. Very subtle. And maybe.”
“Do you remember how long it took to get a court order to adopt you?” Jeff asked.
They’d had to wait six months before they could tell the local council Jeff wanted to adopt Chris, then another three before they could apply to the court for an adoption order.
Once the visits had been completed, everything had been signed and sealed at the beginning of December.
Chris nodded.
“Well, we wanted you to be the first to know.” Dave took Chris’s hand in his. “We’re going to go through it all again, because we want to adopt a little boy or girl. But that’s only if you agree.”
“Because now you’re in secondary school, you might not want a little brother or sister,” Jeff said with a casual air.
Chris’s mouth fell open. “Really?”
Dave nodded. “We want to include you in the process. It might take a while. There’ll be more visits, like last time. And they’ll want to talk to you too.”
Chris’s face glowed. “I think it’s a great idea. But… why this way? Why not do it the same way that you did with me? Did Aunt Janine say no?”
Dave laughed. “I didn’t even ask her. I knew what the answer would be.”
“We thought it would be better this way. There are so many kids in need of parents. And no one says we have to only adopt one.”
His eyes widened. “We don’t have room for more than two kids.”
Dave ruffled his hair. “We can always move.” His eyes sparkled. “Or Papa can build us a bigger house.”
Chris jerked his head to gape at Jeff. “I love that. Can I help you design it?”
Jeff kissed his head. “Of course. I’d love to hear your ideas.”
“So you’re okay with us going ahead and starting adoption procedures?” Dave asked.
Chris nodded. “Yes. And thanks for asking me. When can you start? How long does it take? Do you think I might have a brother or sister by next Christmas?”
Dave chuckled. “We can answer your questions now, or we can do it later.”
“Hello?” Janine yelled up the stairs. “There’s a big car just arrived. Apparently someone is getting married today.”
“I think that’s our cue.” Jeff stood, and Chris rose with him. Jeff gave him a hug. “Lead the way, Ring Bearer.”
Chris chuckled. “Just call me Frodo.”
Dave hugged him too. “Love you.”
Chris put his arms around their waists. “Love you too. Now can we go?” Then he stared through the window. “Oh wow. It’s started snowing.” He dashed out of the door.
“Of course it is,” Dave said with a smile. “I asked Santa.”
The End