Chapter 45
We’re making our way to the conference room when Sandro flags us down, a basket of baked goods in his hands.
He thrusts it into my hands, mumbling something about me not eating, and disappears around the corner before I can even form a response.
Startled, I glance at Keegan, who merely sighs and looks up at the ceiling, as if it has the answers. If it does, I’d love some of my own.
“He, uh…seems to be doing that lately,” Carter mutters as we continue walking toward the conference room again.
Staring at our Love, I ask, “You’re telling me Allesandro is just randomly giving people baskets of baked goods now?”
I seem to be the only one shocked by this.
Carter merely shrugs as he opens the conference room door for Keegan, me, and the basket of food.
Keegan takes it from me and sets it on the table before sitting.
This time, I’m between the two of them, and the warmth of their love surrounds me even as my mind remains somewhat chaotic over everything.
“Yes, he seems to be watching if people are eating breakfast. If they aren’t, they get baked goods. I…” Keegan trails off, as if he’s unsure of what to say. Hell, I’ll join him because I don’t know what to think.
Carter merely shrugs and grabs a small apple turnover from the basket, along with one of the napkins Allesandro has artfully tucked inside. “He seems happy enough to do this. At least, for now.”
“This can’t be long term, right?” My tone is incredulous, but I can’t imagine my bloodthirsty ex-Boss is happy just…baking.
Keegan pinches the bridge of his nose before dropping his hand in frustration. “I have no clue. It’s on my list of things to talk to Javi about, but since he’s not hurting anyone…”
“Talk to me about what?” Javi asks as he strolls in, before narrowing his attention on the food. “Oh! Score! Who got the Sandro delivery basket treatment?”
“Uh, that would be me,” I respond awkwardly, even as Javi grabs a muffin, a turnover, and some sort of tart. What. The. Fuck?
“Nice!” Javi smiles before biting into a turnover and moaning. I exchange glances with my lovers, but none of us know what to say. After quickly polishing off all three pastries at a speed I didn’t know was possible, he asks, “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Uh, this thing with Sandro… That’s not…normal.” Keegan’s voice breaks at the end, but I nod along frantically, because frankly, it scares the shit out of me.
Javi merely shrugs one shoulder, uninterested. “Meh, really, what is normal?”
“Not that,” the three of us who have some sense of sanity reply immediately.
Huffing, Javi turns toward us. “Alright, this could be a long discussion or a short one. But since we don’t have long before Monroe gets here, let me explain this.
Your old Boss? He cracked. What was done to him…
Well, most people wouldn’t have survived it.
The fact he did is quite frankly amazing, and really, I want to study him purely because I can only imagine the mental fortitude it took.
“Like, his mind must have been desperately holding onto something to come out the other side. The problem is, he’s now like, ugh, I don’t know…a lump of clay or something.”
“A lump of clay?” I respond, my voice tight with disbelief.
“Eh, it’s the best I can give you without turning this into a lecture of epic proportions.
But really it means he’s having to reinvent himself.
So, he reverted to something that makes him feel safe—baking.
It brings up good memories. Maybe some sad memories too, because his life was chosen for him, but still the memories are from his childhood.
People always overlook the importance they can play in imprinting life’s lessons. ”
“So, what do we do?” Carter asks cautiously.
I mean, personally, I’m freaked out about it, and would like to see a little of the old Il Padrone back. This Sandro thing…it’s just weird.
“Why would you do anything about it?” Javi says as he looks through the basket again. I have no idea where he’d fit anything more—he’s as tiny as the pocket twinks.
“Because it’s not normal!” I shout, unable to handle this, the complete loss of control. Seeing it in Allesandro, feeling it inside myself. Chaos… All. Just. Chaos.
“Again. Normal isn’t really a thing. But, whatever.
Look, the old Allesandro is still in there.
His brain is protecting him at the moment.
I’ll get him working with a therapist, and we’ll see what happens.
He’s a work in progress. You all are works in progress.
I will not have you harassing Sandro, or judging him for having a hobby.
So, I suggest you enjoy the baked goods and shut the hell up.
” Javi’s icy stare stops the panic in my mind, the one that questions what the fuck is going on with my former boss.
I also, begrudgingly, have to admit that he has a point, even if I don’t like it.
We lapse into an uneasy silence. Hell, I’m not even sure what to say with Javi here.
He knows too much for me to feel comfortable.
I almost want to demand that he leaves, but as this new person will be working directly under him…
Hopefully, this one is sane. I won’t trust Cole with anyone that might pose a risk, and from the glances I exchange with my lovers, they’re on board.
Even if Javi’s snort tells me we weren’t exactly subtle in our judging.
Finally, we hear footsteps headed toward us and I sit up, leaning forward slightly to get the first look at the mysterious Monroe.
The first person through the door, however, is Anderson, in all his splendor, talking a million miles a minute with matching hand gestures, as a somehow even smaller man follows.
Considering he seems to be solely focused on Anderson, I’m not surprised when he stumbles back upon realizing they’re not alone in the room.
He gives an absentminded smile as he adjusts his glasses, as if he needs them to peer into our souls or something. It’s…interesting.
He’s probably one of the smallest men I’ve ever met, and he gives a half bow toward us, making it clear he’d prefer his personal space not be encroached upon. Still, he smiles to take the sting out of it.
Keegan stands and gestures for them to sit. Anderson just shakes his head before saying, “I have to go. We’re starting some sessions today and I don’t have time. I just wanted to make sure Monroe found you. Anyway, he’s the best with kids.”
He pats his friend on the shoulder and then almost sprints out, but that seems to be his default. Sprinting. Dashing. Running. His Daddy must have his hands full because holy hell, the vibrant Boy is a sight. In comparison, Monroe seems…sweet. And calm.
The smile doesn’t change as he folds his hands on the table and waits for one of us to say something.
Keegan clears his throat, but Javi cuts right in.
From the frustrated glare Keegan gives him, that’s not going to go unchallenged.
Still, Javi waves it away as he questions Monroe about everything.
Hell, I sit back and wish we had popcorn, because I almost wonder if he’s going to start asking the guy what he did three years ago, on some random night, just to check his memory.
Finally, the rapid interrogation ends and Javi smiles, standing up. “It was great to meet you. I definitely want you on our team. Keegan has the financial packet all ready. Come see me when you’re done in here.”
With that, Javi disappears as well, and then it’s just the three of us, the fathers, sitting across from the man we can only hope will be good enough for our son. Monroe gives us a sweet smile, before laughing lightly. “So, do you three have any concerns?”
“I think you have a good understanding of what’s going on,” Keegan says, pausing for Monroe’s nod of agreement. “But we want to make sure you’ll feel comfortable working with him. He’s still non-communicative at times.”
“Trauma sadly has several effects. Robbing someone of their ability to speak is one of them. However, from what Anderson has said, one of you knows sign language?”
“I do, but Keegan and Marcus aren’t as familiar with it yet,” Carter responds.
“Alright, but that’s a valid option if we need to fall back on it.
Right now, it’s giving Cole a way to interact with the world around him, and making him feel safe.
Once we do that, we can hopefully dig into what happened, and start making the Big Scaries, as I like to refer to those types of incidents, smaller.
It’ll take time, but making him feel safe is the priority. ”
All three of us dads seem to exhale at the same time, because fuck yes, safety is the priority. Nodding, I exchange a smile with my lovers that feels like the first truly hopeful one I’ve had in a long time.
Carter opens a file and slides a piece of paper toward Monroe. “This is what your compensation would be if you took this job. And I really do hope you take it. Our son needs your help.”
Monroe studies everything, before taking off his glasses and setting them aside. His eyes are startling, so pale they’re almost clear. “And I can appreciate that, but this package doesn’t work for me.”
“How so?” I cut in, desperate to make this work.
He leans forward and, with a sad smile, says, “It’s the requirement to live on-site. There is nothing that can sway me on that.”
“Unfortunately, it is for your safety,” I reply tonelessly, the hope from before leaving so quickly it’s almost as if it was never there to begin with.
“Wait,” Keegan interrupts. “Is there a reason living on-site is an issue? We promise not to intrude on your personal time.”
“It’s not that,” Monroe says with a blush. “It’s just…”
“Yes?” Carter presses, trying to figure out what’s going on. I mean, hell, we’ve accepted a serial killer. I’m sure whatever this guy has going on isn’t that big of a deal.
“Uh, I have pets.” He shrugs, somewhat helplessly.
“Oh, we love animals here! There’s already two very well-trained dogs, and I think we’re up to three kittens now,” Carter says. “I’m sure whatever you have would be fine.”
“Umm, they’re a little…unconventional?” Monroe looks off to the side, and panic pricks at me. The word unconventional does not bode well.
“And by unconventional, you mean?” Keegan’s tone is more cautious, but fuck if he shouldn’t be on this. I’m picturing all sorts of horrors, like snakes or spiders or something. Like, no way in hell am I here for that.
“Uh, well, Lizzie and Billy are goats. She’s five, and a good girl, and he’s four.
He's a little more stubborn, but…he’s an angel when you get to know him.
Really. But, they do take up space, and need an outside enclosure.
Unfortunately, they can’t really be house-trained, and diapers aren’t necessarily the best idea.
” From his grimace, I wonder how first-hand that knowledge is before dismissing the thought with a shudder.
“If we have someone come and recreate their enclosure, would that work?” I hold my breath. Goats aren’t exactly high on the list of things I love, but at least it’s not a snake. Or a spider.
“If you can assure me of Lizzie and Billy's safety, then yes, I’ll take the job. But, I’ll warn you, they require care, and they’ll need a lot of my attention, especially during the transition.”
Standing up, I hold out my hand, needing to shake on this. “We will do everything possible to help them—and you—get settled. We desperately want this to work.”
“Alright, then I’ll wait for further word from you. I do need to dash out though—I promised Lizzie and Billy I’d stop and get them some new treats.”
With that, the man disappears out of the room, and for a brief moment, I wonder exactly how worried we should be about the goats? It’s…nothing, right? The grimace on Keegan’s face tells me I probably should have asked more questions. Oops.
Carter’s face is cradled in his hands and for a heartbeat, I panic, until I realize he’s not crying, he's laughing. He raises his face to look at us and just shakes his head. “We’re turning into a zoo. And that’s without our more interesting family members!”
With that, we all crack up. Whatever these goats are like, it can’t be worse than a serial killer psychiatrist. Then again, the guy has shown more sanity than some of us, so maybe I shouldn’t knock the serial killing…
Oh well, if we end up needing to refurbish a zoo or something, that’s what we’ll do.
Anything to keep this family together, no matter how many strange turns it takes.