Chapter 8
“Something’s off with Trey,” I told Chuck as we finished moving the last of Grandma’s things into her cabin.
We hadn’t let her in yet, wanting to do the whole big reveal first. She’d seen the outside, of course, but once the interior walls went up, we asked her not to peek.
Boy, was that a challenge. That tiny woman was sneaky to the point we taped the windows up.
“For the past month he’s been grouchy and moping around. ”
I can’t even remember the last time we had sex. Maybe that was it? Should I have initiated it? Wow, this was quite the turn. I wasn’t usually the one thinking about sex. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, but it must’ve been a long time since it was fresh on my mind.
“I’d say the same for Tae, but it’s kind of been the other way around for us. Tae’s been so busy between getting the artwork for this cabin done and fulfilling the commissions he keeps getting online. Maybe we need to get them both away from work for a few days.”
“That’s not a bad idea, but I don’t think we can both be gone at the same time. We have too many jobs going on.” While owning a business was great, it did come with some challenges. “We’ve got back-to-back jobs in town.”
“Alright, you guys go first,” Chuck suggested. “That will give me time to update Tae’s website that new orders are on hold for a while and give you time to finish up the ones you’ve got going on. If I can start the next one, it’ll be easier when you get back to take it over.”
“Won’t Tae get mad if you mess with his website?”
“No. He’ll probably be relieved. Besides, I’m the one who maintains it. He wasn’t sure he’d even get any commissions, then the damn thing blew up. I think he’d like a break, but Tae being Tae, he won’t ask for it.”
“True.” One thing I knew my brothers learned from me was their strong work ethic. At times, it was to our own detriment. Good thing Tae had a Daddy who loved and protected him like Chuck did. I couldn’t ask for a better best friend or brother-in-law.
“Where are you thinking of taking Trey?”
“Vegas? Maybe stay at Circus Circus. There he can let go and have fun at the arcade, go to the M&M store. No use taking him to a cabin in the mountains since he lives that life already.”
Chuck laughed. “You’ve got a point there, which means I’ll need to up my game with Tae for sure. His love of the mountains and the cabin we rented spurned our private community here.”
“Alright, let’s get Grandma and show her Casa de Esther. Looks like I’ve got a vacation to plan.”
“Daddy, the red bow is tied,” Trey proudly announced as we stepped out onto the porch. “Is it time to get Grandma?”
“It is, Angel. Do you know where she’s at?”
“Yup, staring out the window of Momma’s cabin. Patience isn’t her friend right now.” Trey laughed. “She’s too excited.”
“Alright, let’s wave her over.”
Chuck, Tae, Trey, and I stood in front of her cabin waving our arms like human windmills. Chuck whistled so loudly it echoed through the forest. She bolted out of Momma’s cabin with Momma right behind her, and straight over to us.
“It’s about time you boys got done. Don’t you know making an old lady wait ain’t nice,” she teased, but was all smiles.
“Allow me, madam.” I stuck my elbow out. She rolled her eyes but accepted the offer as we walked up to the porch steps. “Welcome home, Esther.”
She pulled a tissue from her apron pocket and dabbed at her eyes. That action and familiar apron were a fond memory of Trey’s he had shared with me. Somehow, she always had tissues there, he said.
“Here, Grandma,” Trey handed her a pair of scissors, “cut the ribbon.” We clapped and cheered as she cut it then waited for her to enter first.
Grandma stopped in the center of the room, mouth wide open as she took it all in.
“You boys have really outdone yourself.” Then she walked over to the mantle and ran her fingers over the picture frames we’d placed there.
“This was my parents on their wedding day, and this one is Trey’s.
So much loss.” Trey thought she’d love to have them there, right in view, but now I was second-guessing that. “They’re always with me.”
“Always with us, Grandma.” Trey wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Do you want us to put those away? I don’t want you to be sad.”
“Don’t you dare, they’re right where they belong.” She walked around the room, touching each piece of furniture. “These pieces are exquisite. You made them all, Oscar?”
“Trey and I did. We wanted them to be just the right size and finish to match the pieces you moved up here with you. Do you like them?”
“I love them. You could easily sell these for thousands of dollars. I didn’t know you could sew?”
I had to laugh. “That I cannot do. The cushions were made by a local seamstress who also does upholstery in town. She made the curtains, so they’d match the floral patterns on the cushions. Trey said that anything purple you’d love.”
“Trey was right, they’re beautiful.”
“We can take you to meet her sometime if you’d like.” I loved how self-sufficient this town was. Huh, it just hit me, that was why they wanted us to move up here. They wanted us to be a part of their community.
“I’d love that. You boys didn’t miss a thing.
This feels like home. Not just a house, but a home.
” Her words meant more than she knew. Every one of us in this family, our found family, has suffered losses.
That fact that we all found our forever homes with each other, much like the cats we’d adopted, was a bond that wouldn’t be broken.
We worked hard and loved even harder and would give our last cent to the others if they needed it.
Blessed.
In whatever form that word was meant to be taken, we were all blessed to have found each other. I glanced around that room, all but Samian present, gathered together to share this with Esther—there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
We may not have had a lot to give, but what we did have a lot of was love.
Shit, where were the tissues?
“This is the first time I don’t have secondhand appliances or furnishings. Well, secondhand anything except for my mother’s hutch.” Now I understood the connection she had to it. “Thank you, boys. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
“We’ll let you get settled in, Grandma.” Trey hugged her first, then we each took a turn. Trey had even put her clothes away. There was nothing left but for her to familiarize herself with the new space.
Back inside our home, I grabbed my laptop and sat on the couch. “Hey, Angel, can you come here?”
He picked up Sabrina and carried her over with him. “What’s up, Daddy?”
“I was thinking, we’ve been so busy that we haven’t had any real us time. What do you think about taking a vacation? Maybe a couple of days in Las Vegas.” His eyes lit up and I knew I’d hit it. “Unless you’d like to go somewhere else?”
“No, Vegas sounds great. I’ve never been and it looks like fun.”
I pulled up the Circus Circus website. “This hotel has a lot of fun places. Arcades, a midway with games and rides. You can win prizes too. There’s the M&M factory on the strip and the Hershey store. Plenty of things to see along the strip.”
“Prezzies, Daddy.” He nearly choked me when he tried to hug me. “That sounds like so much fun. When can we go?”
“We have the jobs we started in town to finish up first. Uncle Chuck said he and Tae will watch Sabrina while we’re gone, plus Momma and Grandma will check on her too.
How about I make reservations for us to go in two weeks for three nights?
It’s only a four-hour drive which isn’t bad.
” The more we talked the more excited we both got.
“That sounds perfect, Daddy. Thank you for thinking of me.” Trey kissed my cheek and headed off toward the kitchen with Sabrina.
Guess I hit it on the nose, we needed time to bond as a couple and do couple things.
In our haste to get Grandma’s cabin done, I’d once again failed as a Daddy by not paying enough attention to my boy.
Trey, much like Tae, wasn’t one to complain, and that was something Chuck and I had better be more cognizant of.
I decided to call the hotel directly and see if they could put a package together for us.
Unlimited time in the Adventuredome, that way we could pop in and out between visiting other attractions in town without having to worry about paying each time.
Glad I’d done it this way. The associate was more than helpful.
With the package deal, she booked our room, was able to remove the resort fees, and hooked Trey up with an Adventuredome pass.
And hey, free parking—that right there was a great savings, based upon my research.
“Daddy?” Trey called out. I had moved to our room to change and relax. It was rare to have an afternoon off but nice after starting as early as we did today in Grandma’s cabin.
“In here, Angel.”
He came trotting in, the sound of Sabrina’s bell collar as she chased after him followed them down the hall. “Whatcha doing?”
“Just relaxing.” I hissed, taking off my binder. “Guess I forgot to pump today.”
“I can help.”
“That would be wonderful, Angel. Want Daddy to read to you while you help?”
“Yes, please. I’ll pick a book while you get comfy, Daddy.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Trey hopped off the bed and went right over to his bookshelf. I should have opted to make this a three-bedroom cabin instead of two so he could have his own playroom. Maybe I’d convert Samian’s room since he was hardly here.
“Here, Daddy.” He handed me the book then stripped down to his boxers. “Now we match.”
“Ha-ha, yes, my love, we do. Slide on up and get comfy while Daddy reads The Brave Little Kitten to you.” I’d read his favorite book so many times he had it memorized.
I sighed as the rush of relief hit me the moment he latched on.
Generally, we took regular breaks where either Trey would nurse or I’d pump, but today got away from us.
“One day, Sammy, the little kitten was bored. His mother was off resting in a beam of sunlight while his siblings napped alongside her. Sammy wasn’t much for naps, he was far too adventurous.
Sammy’s idea of fun was romping through the dandelions in the back yard, fighting evil, and rescuing the prince.
Sammy didn’t live in a world of reality, no.
His head was always in the clouds, dreaming up his next adventure. ”
“I love Sammy, Daddy, he’s so brave.”
“Yes, but there is a fine line between bravery and not too bright. Hopefully Sammy doesn’t cross it.”
“No, Daddy, that would be scary.” Trey shivered, imagining it, then switched sides. I was one lucky Daddy to have such a brave little helper by my side.
“Today,” yawn, “Sammy was off to battle the high seas.” Yawn. “Their owner left the sprinklers on, and there was a puddle calling his name.”
“I thought kitties didn’t like water, Daddy.”
“I guess there are some that do.” Yawn. “Daddy’s getting sleepy, Angel.”
Yawn. “Me too. Nappy time? Finish Sammy later?”
“An afternoon nap sounds perfect to me, Angel.” I set the book on the nightstand, curled up with my boy, and we enjoyed our own afternoon nap in a beam of sunlight. Mostly because I was too lazy to get up and shut the curtains.