Chapter Thirty-Five
Calder
Calder sat down at the quietest table in Felton’s with a notepad in his hand.
Zinn had gone out on a delivery to ensure the cake got set up correctly for a backyard wedding.
Calder hoped he’d be back in time to meet the beta couple, but it depended on traffic and the whims of their finicky client.
He’d take thorough notes so Zinn could make sketches later if need be.
It had been surreal seeing Zinn walk into Felton’s that morning after the conversation they’d had last night.
They’d been all business on the surface as he caught Zinn up with what he’d missed, but there had been enough light touches, lingering glances, and shy smiles to remind Calder that everything had changed.
He had Zinn, and their son, and a mission to help his omega find his firstborn child.
The Pashuks arrived five minutes early for their appointment. It was late afternoon, so the bakery wasn’t crowded. Only a few tables were occupied and most of the staff were in the kitchen.
Wes waved at Calder while his husband trailed behind. When the three men sat down, Calder got the same nagging feeling he’d had the last time he met Assa. Like a tickle of memory in the back of his mind. Did he know the tall, lanky ginger?
“Hello,” Calder said. “I apologize, but our cake designer is out on a job. I’m hoping he’ll be here soon, but we’ll see. Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’m okay,” Wes replied.
Assa looked up. “I’d love a vanilla latte.” His eyes met Calder’s directly.
“You,” Calder whispered.
“I recognized you the last time we were here,” Assa said, lifting his shoulder. “But I didn’t want to presume that you’d remember me.”
“Wow.” Calder ran a palm over his face. “I’m shocked I didn’t put it together sooner.
” His mind returned to that day. He’d been having lunch with his sons, and something compelled him to pick up a call from an unknown number.
He answered to find a gorgeous red-haired beta on his screen, experiencing the first spark of attraction he’d had since Denni died.
The beta facilitated the last conversation he would ever have with his in-laws.
“I owe you a debt of gratitude for what you did for me and my boys. Being able to speak to Denni’s parents that last time is a core memory. ”
“I’m glad. I didn’t want to accidentally remind you of something painful.”
“No. It was an incredible kindness you showed to a stranger. I needed that. Sal and Endo needed that. They were heartbroken after Denni died, and on the video call, seeing that I was okay, that Jordie and Ked were happy… I believe that’s what allowed them to rest.”
“It meant a lot to me too. That day, I’d been visiting my alpha father, who was always a bit of a shit.
” Wes snorted and Assa rolled his eyes. “Sal and Endo reminded me that there were good people in the world. Good fathers. I debated calling to offer my condolences after you told me about their passing, but figured since we didn’t technically know one another, it wouldn’t be appropriate. ”
“I understand. But it makes me doubly happy you came to Felton’s. It gives me a chance to say thank you in person.”
Calder had the insane instinct to jump up and give Assa a hug. He settled for sliding his hand across the table, thinking a clumsy tabletop handshake would suffice. Assa surprised him by wrapping Calder’s fist in his palms, squeezing firmly. “No need to thank me.”
A fissure of awareness raced through Calder at the beta’s touch, surprising him. He was so stupidly infatuated with Zinn that he had assumed he was incapable of noticing another man.
Then again, he’d noticed Assa was beautiful eight years ago. He wasn’t perving on him. He was merely grateful to get this closure, to have that memory unlocked. Assa continued smiling at him as he pulled his hand back.
Wes’s lips twitched. “How about you thank Assa by making an awesome cake for our son?”
“That we can do,” Calder said, placing a black album on the table between them. “Here’s a book of pictures of some non-wedding cakes we’ve done. It might help you get a sense of what you want.”
He went to the counter and asked Lolo to make Assa’s latte. When he returned, Wes looked up from the book. “These are great,” he said. “But Assa and I are fine if you feel like getting creative. Whatever you want to do, really.”
“We’re always up for an original,” Calder replied, imagining Zinn would enjoy the challenge. “If you tell me about your son, that will help get us started. Our decorator can figure out a theme.”
Assa chortled. “You don’t have to ask twice for me to talk about my kid. Easily my favorite subject.”
“Understandable.” Calder was charmed by Assa’s animated expression.
“For starters, Ryde can be shy, but once he gets to know you, he really warms up fast,” Assa said proudly.
“He plays multiple sports and swims, but he’s not elite or anything, and he’s into typical things like video games and hanging out with his friends.
Something unique is that he was an early reader, and he loves learning about other places.
He has a collection of atlases, so we’re guessing he’ll travel a lot when he’s older. ”
“He’s also an exceptional artist,” Wes added. “I mean, as much as a seven-year-old can be. Sometimes he gets so focused on his drawings that it’s tough to get him to do basic things like eat.”
Assa and Wes went into more detail about Ryde’s likes and dislikes, his school, and how well he’d handled the move from Warburton to Bellwether. Calder smiled. “Sounds like a cool kid.”
“We’re very lucky,” Assa said, taking a sip of his latte.
Calder noticed Wes eyeing the entrance. “Are we expecting someone else?” he asked.
“Ryde is at soccer practice and it’s closer to Felton’s than our place, so his friend’s daddy is dropping him off here.” Wes glanced at his watch. “Should be any minute now.”
Assa winked at Calder. “When he comes, ix-nay on the cake talk. This is a surprise for him. He thinks we’re meeting here to grab a treat.”
Looking down at his notes, Calder nodded. “It’s okay. We have plenty to work with. It’s too bad Zinn didn’t make it, but he’ll be able to use these to make a few sketches by the end of the week, so you can approve the design.”
The door dinged as it opened. An omega popped his head in, making eye contact with Wes and mouthing, gotta go. I’m blocking someone before stepping back. A small boy ran past him, straight toward their table.
“Hey, Dad,” the little beta said to Wes. He slung an arm around Assa. “Hey, Pop.”
The child looked longingly at the bakery case as Calder’s blood turned to ice water in his veins.
A low buzzing began in his ears. He swallowed harshly, feeling it go down like a bag of rocks.
“Calder, this is our son, Ryde,” Assa said.
Their son.
Who excelled at art.
Who loved to read.
Who was shy until you got to know him.
Assa and Wes’s son.
Ryde.
Who was turning eight in a month.
Who had tawny curls and a cute little mole on his left cheek.
The spitting image of Zinn.
Calder forced the gravel from his throat and gritted out, “Nice to meet you, Ryde.”
“You too.” Ryde leaned further into Assa “Can I get a cookie?” he asked hopefully. Wes pulled out a ten-dollar bill and sent him over to Lolo at the counter.
Calder must not have been doing a great job of covering his shock, because Assa glanced at him in concern. He worked to make his face blank, smiling affably.
Inside, he reeled. The universe was clearly speaking to them.
Eight years ago, when he first met Assa, something had tugged at him.
He’d known their small interaction was important.
He’d just never dreamed how important. And it was only yesterday that Zinn told him about his first son.
If not for that, would he have noticed how much Ryde looked like him?
Calder watched the boy pick out a carrot raisin cookie, marveling again at the resemblance.
He would never keep this secret from Zinn.
But what should he do? Ambushing everyone without a plan seemed unwise.
There was also the slim possibility that he was wrong.
Zinn’s pregnancy was so new, and he’d only committed to trying a relationship with Calder the day before.
Would this change things? Would Zinn resent being tied to Calder when Valentin’s child was back in his life?
Calder heard the metal door in the rear of the building slam shut. The delivery team had returned. Head spinning, he rushed over to Lolo. “Can you keep Zinn busy in the kitchen for a few minutes?”
“Sure, boss, why?”
Calder raised his eyebrows and Lolo backed away.
At the Pashuks’ table, Calder said, “We have everything we need here, right?” He did not sit back down.
Wes blinked before replying. “Um, yes, thanks.” Assa studied him quizzically.
Calder walked away and stationed himself behind the counter.
He didn’t mean to be so terse with the couple, but he needed them to leave before Zinn accidentally glimpsed Ryde.
He had no idea what Wes and Assa knew about their son’s omega birth father.
Perhaps they’d catch the similarities between Ryde and the man who was going to make his birthday cake.
Stars! This was complicated.
Calder continued to avoid eye contact. Five minutes later, the Pashuks left.
With the immediate crisis averted, Calder placed his head in his hands. So many lives were about to change.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed through the swinging door into the kitchen. Lolo was giving an obviously-bored Zinn the play-by-play of his rec league’s latest volleyball game. Calder told the beta he could return to the main room.
Once Lolo was out of earshot, Calder wrapped his arms around Zinn. “How’s your first day back? Job go okay?” He nuzzled the top of his head, hoping the closeness they’d just begun to explore wasn’t about to be upended.
“It went great. The rental company set up the tables wonky, but after we got that straightened out, everything was fine.”
“Thank goodness. I’m not sorry we’re done with that client. He was intense.”
Zinn laughed. “The word you’re looking for is demanding.
But it was a good learning experience. And to answer your question about how coming back has been, this is the first day I can remember where I spent more time thinking about the future than the past.” He rested his hands on his belly and sighed contentedly.
Oh, sunshine.