Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
“What is this place called again?” I asked, seeing all the pretty rainbows as we drove through a very busy neighborhood. Devon said it was easier to Uber around than try to park so I got to ride in my first Uber squished between Daddy and Devon in the backseat.
“This is the Castro District or as some call it, the Gayborhood,” Devon replied. “Wait until you see the bakery we’re going to.”
“I love bakeries.”
“This one has naughty treats,” Devon giggled. “There’s a huge chocolate factory we’re going to later.”
“Like Willy Wonka’s?”
“Mmm, kinda, but different, and you get to watch them make it. They have a place where you can buy it and even have their own ice cream shop.”
Devon was as excited as us and he lived here. Got the feeling he didn’t get many visitors. I wonder if his family was bad like mine. We had Daddy in our lives now and made a family of our own. One that was nice and loved you no matter what.
There was a huge line when we stepped inside. “Why don’t you two see what you want, and I’ll hold our place in line,” Daddy offered. Devon took my hand and wove us through the crowd to the display cases.
“There they are,” he pointed to the…
“Is that a winky?” Devon giggled, but I didn’t know what to think. “That’s naughty.”
“It’s a funny cookie and I’m gonna get one. What do you want?”
He was seriously going to walk around eating a winky on a stick cookie? There was even a heart drawn on the end of it.
“Um, I think I’ll get the rainbow square brownie one.” Daddy laughed when Devon ordered his cookie, but he got the same thing as me.
“These are on me, boys.” Daddy scanned his card and paid, then we walked down the street, popping in and out of shops. We bought a few things for ourselves and gifts for the family and Dempsey and his Daddy.
“Let’s head to Fisherman’s Wharf. We can have lunch there then tour the chocolate factory.” Devon pulled his phone out and ordered another car to pick us up.
“Whoa.” As we drove along I could see the water. “Is that the beach? I’ve never seen the beach before.”
“There are some beaches there, but these aren’t the good ones to go to,” Devon said. “That’s the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory I was telling you about. We can go now instead of getting lunch first if you want.”
“Lunch first,” Daddy said. “We’ve done a lot of walking, and I need to get something other than sugar in your bellies first. Looks like everything is here, what do you boys want?”
“Fish and chips!” I said a bit too excitedly cause our driver laughed.
“Most places here have that,” he said. “I’ll drop you off in the heart of Pier 39 where all the shops are.”
“Thank you,” Daddy told him. “It’s our first time here.”
“Not for me.” Devon grinned. “I live here. These are my friends. They came to spend Christmas with me.”
“That sounds wonderful. Alright, here we are. You guys have a great day.”
“Thank you,” we said and waved as he drove off.
“Maybe next year you can come and have Christmas with us at the Ranch,” Daddy said to Devon.
“Really?”
“Oh my gosh, that would be so much fun. We can make real snowmen and have fires and hot choco.” I was getting excited already. “Daddy bought us a tree and we put it up.” Devon had a small one in his apartment that sat on a table in front of the window.
“That sounds perfect. I’ll make sure and ask for the time off early before anyone else does.”
“Alright, my little chocolate freaks, let get some carbs in those bellies to walk off.” Daddy read the window menus in a couple of places before picking one for us. “In you go.”
Daddy talked to the lady at the podium then we followed her to an inside table that was next to the windows. It was too chilly to eat outside but I was glad we got a view of the water.
“It’s so pretty here, Daddy.”
“Pretty and expensive,” Devon added. “I don’t mind it so much, and I love the club I go to, but it does get lonely.”
“Where’s your family?”
“All over. We’ve never been close. It always felt like my parents had kids because they felt they had to.”
I knew that feeling all too well.
Devon added, “We swap the obligatory happy birthday or Merry Christmas texts, but that’s about it.”
“Well, we’re your family now,” Daddy said, “and sometimes found family is better than blood.”
Devon teared up. “Thank you, that means more than you know. Being a workaholic is better than basking in loneliness and how I climbed the corporate ladder as fast as I have. But as of late, even that’s getting old.
” He shrugged and stared out the window.
“Maybe it’s time for a change. I’m thirty-four, have lived in the same place for a decade, and my life has become Groundhog Day. ”
“Probably a good time for self-reflection,” Daddy suggested.
“Money isn’t everything. I was in a similar situation as you.
Gave up a great paying job but I was miserable.
Now, I’ve never been happier. We may not have a mansion, but our home is filled with love, and I’ve reconnected with my family through this wonderful boy beside me.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always loved them, but we grew apart.
I lived in the city and worked all the time, barely talked to them and now we talk near daily and when I don’t reach out, Sage does. ”
I was learning so much about Devon and Daddy right now. They always worried about me and now it was my turn to take care of them. “How can I help? I give great hugs?”
“You give wonderful hugs, my love, but you’re the whole reason I’m in a better place. You’ve filled my life with love and laughter, and you brought me closer to my family.”
“And you’re my bestie, a friendship like I’ve never had before. I love you, bestie,” Devon smiled. “You make me want a life like yours.”
“What?” All these nice things no one ever said to me. It was overwhelming, but in the best of ways. “I-I did all of that for you guys?”
“And more, my love.” Daddy kissed my curly curls. “I love you, sweet boy.”
“I love you too, Daddy, and you too, bestie.”
The conversation was lighter after that, as was my heart. My life at the Ranch may not have started out the best way, but it sure was the right decision to stay.
“Shall we walk to the factory,” Daddy said, holding his phone up. “I see it’s a short walk along the waterfront.”
“Ooohhh can we?” I wanted to see more of the water. “Is that the ocean out there.”
“Not exactly,” Devon began. “It’s saltwater and it connects to the Pacific Ocean, but it’s called a bay. That’s the San Francisco Bay. The beach I’ll take you guys to is about a twenty-minute drive from my apartment.”
“Today?”
“Nope. I have all our days planned out. Beach day is in two days.”
Devon was far too happy about that. What were these two up to?
“Right now, we’re headed to the chocolate factory, then we’ll probably want to go home and relax after that.”
Even though it wasn’t the ocean, walking along the water was amazing. “Look Daddy, seals!” We stopped and took a bunch of pictures. “This is so cool!” The walk went too fast. I was so busy looking everywhere that I almost ran into Devon when he stopped in front of a big red brick building.
“Here we are.”
My legs had a mind of their own, dancing around. It was like I’d already eaten all the sugar they had inside. Daddy held the door open and all I could smell was choco. “I’ve died and gone to a sugar-filled heaven.”
“Come on”—Devon waved me over—“you can watch them make stuff over here.” We watched them for a while and even took a yummy sample when they offered it.
“Let’s find Daddy and go through the store next.
” Devon held my hand tight as he pushed our way through the crowd.
It was like having a big brother watching out for me.
“Over here, boys,” we heard Daddy say then saw his arm waving. “Did you have fun?”
“Yes, it was so neat, and they gave us a sample.” Shoot, I should’ve asked for one for Daddy. “Sorry, Daddy, I was so excited I forgot to grab one for you.”
“Not to worry, little butterfly, this day is for you. But thank you for thinking about Daddy. Wait until you see the store, you’ll definitely be in heaven there without having to leave us first,” Daddy teased, throwing my words back at me.
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head the second we stepped inside. It was wall to wall chocolates of every size and flavor. “I don’t know where to start.”
“I’ll show you the best way to find what you want.” Devon walked us over to a display where you could mix and match separate pieces. “This is the Pick & Mix, you can buy one of each in a bite size to see which you like best. Then you don’t buy a bag only to find out later it was yucky.”
“That’s super smart. Can we try a couple, Daddy?”
“Absolutely. Why don’t you pick five each? We’ll pay for them so you can try, and then buy what we like. But there are more than this size, butterfly. There are candy bars and all kinds of goodies if you find a flavor you’re in love with.”
It was a bit overwhelming, but I kept that to myself. Devon and I took a bag, walked around the display, then went back to the ones that sounded good. After that we paid and had a seat outside to try them, then went back in to get the ones we liked. Daddy bought some for our family and friends too.
“Now, it’s totally up to Daddy, but most end their visit with a trip to the ice cream shop.” Devon and I gave Daddy our saddest puppy eyes, but it was hard to keep from laughing. We looked so ridiculous.
Daddy smiled. “I was taking you both there even without the pitiful puppy faces. Come on, you two.”
“Yay!” We cheered. A couple of people stared but most just walked on by. Not my fault they were fuddy-duddies.
Even if they forgot my birthday tomorrow, it felt like I’d already had the best party ever today.
The ice creams were ginormous, my tummy was full, and my feet were tired. I was ready to go back to Devon’s and hang out.
“I see two very sleepy boys that are ready for a nap. Should we call for a car, Devon?”
“Already on it, three minutes away.”
Devon and I barely made it to the couch. We curled up at opposite ends with our feetsies meeting in the middle. Daddy covered us up, kissed our foreheads and that was the last thing I remembered, kinda. I kept hearing crunchy paper in my dreams.