Epilogue
CAMERON CLIMBED in the car with his backpack and a bag with red and pink hearts all over it. “Look at all my Valentines.” He beamed and proceeded to open the bag.
“You can show them all to me when we get home.” He was afraid that Cameron would dump them all on the seat. “So you had fun. Did you have a party?”
“Yes. There was cake, and we all got a Valentine from the teacher with a red lollipop. I already ate mine. Then we played Valentine games and everything. One of the girls tried to kiss me, but I didn’t let her.” He wiped his face.
“Someday you’ll want girls or boys to kiss you.” First grade was turning out to be fun for him. Cameron was really making some new friends and seemed to be settling into the new school near the house. Marty walked him to school most mornings and either picked him up or met him outside the school.
“No, I won’t. Only you and Uncle Grant get to kiss me.” He buckled his seat belt, and Marty pulled away from the curb. “I’m hungry.”
“I have a snack for you at home, and then you have a job to do. Remember you said you wanted to make Valentines after school.”
“Oh yeah,” he agreed, and Marty drove home.
Cameron bounded inside and went right downstairs.
Grant had finished the stairs and built a wonderful room in the basement.
He also made shelves and brought down some kid furniture, as well as made a whole craft table.
“Don’t come down, I’m working,” Cameron called up, and Marty chuckled and left Cameron to his task.
He put some cheese and crackers on a plate and took it downstairs. “You can’t look.”
“I won’t. Here’s your snack.” He left it for Cameron and went back upstairs. Then he set about putting together a Valentine surprise of his own.
“UNCLE GRANT, I made you something,” Cameron called as soon as Grant closed the front door just before dinner. Like a rocket, Cameron zoomed up the stairs and jumped into Grant’s arms.
“What is this?” Grant asked.
“It’s your Valentine,” Cameron told him. “I made one for Daddy too.” Grant hugged him and put Cameron down, holding his red construction paper Valentine as Cameron raced off once more.
“I take it he had a good day,” Grant said, pulling Marty into his arms. “Did you?”
“Yeah, I really did.” He couldn’t help smiling.
“Okay, what is it?” Grant asked.
Marty clamped his lips together. “I can’t tell you yet. I need to get dinner started, you need to clean up, and then we can get Cameron up here and I can tell you both.” He smiled again, and Grant kissed him.
“I could tickle it out of you,”
“Then I’ll never tell you.” Marty grinned. “Go get cleaned up.” First, he fed Dexter, and then got his surprise out of the drawer. Once Grant returned, his hair slicked back and still damp, Marty called Cameron to come upstairs. “And bring the plate from your snack.”
Cameron bounded up the stairs and presented Marty with a yellow card covered in hearts. “I made it just for you.”
“Thank you,” Marty told him. “Now come to the table. I have a Valentine surprise.” He took the card with him and set it right in the center of the table.
“I got something special today.” He pulled a letter out of an envelope.
“This is the letter that says that I am your permanent foster father.” He held Cameron’s hand. “And do you know what this is?”
Cameron shook his head seriously. “This is an application for adoption. If it’s okay with you. I want to adopt you so that you will be my son forever.”
Cameron smiled and slipped off his chair to climb on Marty’s lap. “You promise? For always?”
“Yes.” Marty’s throat ached. “For always and forever.” He had talked this over with Grant, and he had been surprisingly quiet, like he hadn’t been so sure.
“Is it okay if I gave your daddy his Valentine?” Grant asked Cameron.
“In fact, it’s a Valentine for you too.” Grant’s voice was rough and hoarse, so Marty tensed until Grant pulled a small box out of his pocket.
“Marty, when you told me that you wanted to do this, I knew there was something I needed to do. I almost gave you this at Christmas, but there was so much going on that I decided to wait. Buit now I think this is the perfect time.” He slipped off the chair and got down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”
Marty swallowed hard and nodded, unable to form words in that moment. Finally, he managed to croak out a yes. Grant slipped a ring on his finger and kissed him. “Now it’s your turn. Cameron, would you adopt me too and let me be your papa?”
Cameron didn’t move and then launched himself at Grant, who caught and hugged him tight. “I will adopt you. Daddy will adopt me, and I’ll adopt you.”
“Actually, then Grant and I will both adopt you, and he’ll be your papa and I’ll be your daddy, and we’ll be a family.”
“Dexter too?” Cameron asked. Hearing his name, Dexter got up from where he’d sprawled out on the floor and joined them.
“Yes, Dexter too.” Marty hugged Cameron and Grant while Dexter pressed to his legs. Sometimes dreams do come true.
“We’re gonna get married,” Cameron sang, and Marty’s heart soared when Grant sang along with him… happily and out of tune, until Marty kissed the words away.