Chapter Twenty-Three
Brax
“Are you sure, Edwin?” Cliff asked as we stood in our new little’s bedroom at the Little House.
Which was about to be his former bedroom.
Daddies weren’t normally allowed in this part of the house, but he had special permission to help Edwin move.
We’d asked Edwin to move in with us, and he’d said yes.
In fact, he wanted to move on his next day off, which was today.
Cliff and I came over to help him finish packing and to help him with the move in. But he had just informed us that he didn’t want to take any of his toys. Toys that he had brought to this house. Things that meant something to him, that he so freely shared with others.
“I’m sure. What if someone new comes here, and they find these toys and it makes them feel like they belong? What if they comfort them? Besides, I have so many toys at your house.”
“Our house,” I reiterated. This would take a while to get used to for all of us.
“Yes.” He leaned over and kissed me. “Yes, our house.”
“That’s settled. Everyone grab a box or some bags, and let’s get home.”
Once Edwin was settled, my soul felt at peace. His clothes were in the closets and drawers. My toys were our toys. My playroom was ours.
My daddy was ours as well. And that made me the happiest.
“How about pizza for the boys who worked so hard today?” Cliff said, clapping his hands. He had a big grin on his face all day. I knew he felt more settled now that Edwin was here for good. No more missing him at night. No more waking up without our third in the bed.
“Cheese sticks, please!” I shouted.
“And chocolate lava cakes. The small ones.” Edwin, we had learned, was a chocolate fiend.
He loved the stuff. Chocolate-chip tiny pancakes had become a thing in our life we didn’t know we needed.
Chocolate-coffee ice cream too. He added so many things to our lives, and chocolate was the least of them.
Cliff ordered our dinner, and Edwin and I changed into our jammies after a quick shower. I would’ve preferred a long, luxurious bath, but it was my night to choose the movie and Edwin’s to choose the game we played together. He had the cutest ideas.
Once we were back in the living room, Edwin took the remote and tumbled onto the couch beside me. Cliff had the juice boxes out, and we would eat right here at the coffee table. Our new Friday night tradition.
We hoped it was the start of many more. And now that Edwin was here with us, living with us, we could have as many traditions as we wanted.
“How about this?” Edwin stuck out his tongue while he pressed letter by letter, writing out the title of a movie I didn’t recognize.
Turned out to be an old dinosaur movie. Cartoon.
With sequels. Edwin wasn’t a one-hit wonder when it came to his movies and books.
He read series. Long ones. Spin-offs. Everything he could get his hands on.
And after watching the series of dinosaur movies Daddy bought, we’d found this one.
“Dinosaurs? That’s interesting because today I ordered some very special dinosaur cookies for my two best boys.” Cliff seemed proud of himself. He was practically glowing.
“Best boys?” I said. “Only boys, you mean, Daddy.”
Cliff reached down and ruffled my hair. “You’re right. My only boys. Forever and ever.”
After the movie, we went through our bedtime routine then slept together in our big bed.
Sometimes when I needed time alone or Edwin did, we would sleep in our smaller beds but tonight, Edwin’s first official night living here, I wanted to be next to him.
Wake up with him. See how he and Cliff grew in their relationship.
“Good night, Edwin and Daddy,” I said as Cliff shut off the light.
Edwin shot up. “Wait, that’s it? No first-night hanky-panky?”
Cliff moved in between us, chuckling. “That’s the best idea you’ve had yet, Edwin.”