Chapter 20 #2
When the volunteer returned, she had Ghost in a pet carrier and Oz on a leash. He didn’t tug or pull when she opened the door, he just stepped in, cautiously snipping, fluffy tail hesitantly wagging when he spotted us.
“Hey boy,” I said, waiting for her to free Ghost from the cage and unclip the leash.
Ghost shot straight for Oz and hid under him, so Payden and I scooted closer once our volunteer had left, talking to them until Oz’s tail sent fluff in the air, he wagged it so hard when he was finally ready for us to pet him.
A tiny pink and black nose peaked out, followed by whiskers and a fat, fluffy face.
Meow?
“Hey Ghost,” Payden cooed, “Come on out fluffy boy so we can pet you too.”
His mews were softer than I’d expected from a cat his size, or maybe he was just scared.
“Here kitty,” I called. “Ghost, come on Ghost.”
Even while I spoke to him, I kept one hand on Oz, petting, rubbing his ears, his wet nose making me chuckle when he pressed it against my neck and huffed. Payden kept inching his fingers closer to Ghost, who finally emerged from beneath Oz to sniff them.
A sniff turned into a nudge, but the moment Payden petted him he ran right back underneath Oz.
Definitely skittish. We’d need to move slowly around him until he got used to us.
I filed out the paperwork in both of our names while Payden stayed with them until it was time to go.
Driving home that afternoon, with two new additions to our household, all I felt was grateful to finally have a family of my own.
“See those grill lines, that’s how you know when it’s time to turn them,” Callen explained as we manned the new barbeque he’d helped me set up on the patio.
He’d helped me pick it out too, which had been an experience in and of itself, when the only ones I was intimately familiar with were the ones my bandmates and I had encountered in campgrounds. The ones Callen and I looked at had been anything but pockmarked and bent.
“Thanks,” I replied and started flipping the meat.
The skills I was already learning from him were beyond priceless, and I didn’t just mean the way he coached me at the grill or helped me design the patio space we were sitting on now.
Payden was playing fetch with Oz on the lawn beside the jungle gym we’d had installed.
My boy loved to climb and jump, so it had a small climbing wall on one side, and a chain and plank bridge that ended with a short slide into the ball pit.
Every time one of the balls flew out, Oz raced after it and brought it back with a doggy grin before he laid down and waited for Payden to send another one sailing through the air.
When I turned to look at the house, I saw Ghost on his perch of honor in front of the window, laying on the thick blanket we’d spread there because he loved to sunbathe and watch Oz playing outside.
When we’d first brought them home, one of us had to stay inside beside Ghost or he yowled until we brought Oz back in.
Showing him that the window had been Payden’s idea and it had been a game changer.
Once he realized that we weren’t taking his friend away from him, he’d bask in the sunshine and bathe himself.
I loved that they were settling in.
“I can’t tell you how much his mother loves having a standing tea date with Payden every week now, even if they have to rotate the days around his schedule,” Callen said.
“I can see why, after seeing their tea party photos,” I replied. “Some of them looked really elaborate.”
“Oh, they had themes. I never knew what I was walking into. One night it was Alice in Wonderland, after they found a cookbook based on the story. I have had watercress more ways than I can count, and every one of them was delicious, but it’s the desserts that are always the star of the show.”
“Looking forward to it,” I said, a goofy ass grin on my face when I glanced over to see Payden and Oz flopped on the lawn, Oz’s paws waving in the air as Payden rubbed his belly.
“I can tell,” Callen said. “And it’s a good look, on both of you.”
“I’m kind of fond of it myself,” I replied.
By the time we brought the meat to the table, Payden and his mom had brought out the sides, and got Oz settled back inside with Ghost, so the only thing left was to fill our glasses from the pitcher of raspberry tea, and dig in.
“Wow, mom you made potato salad and deviled eggs,” Payden said as he popped one into his mouth instead of on his plate.
“And pasta salad too, since your father and Stone can’t seem to get enough of it,” she said, giggling at the way we dove in to scoop it onto our plates the minute the lid came off.
“It’s dangerous over there,” Payden said, pointing a spoon our way as soon as he’d finished chewing.
Not that his mouth stayed empty long, he immediately devoured another egg, but at least he’d added something to his plate, finally.
“I do have an announcement to make,” I said once we’d finally settled down with full plates in front of us.
Thanks to Callen, the steaks looked amazing.
Payden paused with a forkful of potato salad halfway to his lips and shot a puzzled look at me.
“Payden,” I said, “in a couple months, you are going to have the chance at the story of a lifetime.”
The dramatic pause was intentional, I was a showman after all.
“We’re going to Rocktoberfest,” I announced.
“Rock…what?” Elise asked, while Payden stood there with his mouth half-hanging open.
“It’s a huge festival out in the dessert,” Payden explained, his eyes beginning to light up. “I’ve seen videos, Stone even performed there before with his old band. Oh my Goddess! Are you playing it again?”
“Yup. On a smaller stage, but I’ll be up there for a set, and I’ll be on hand to help with any jitters, since Death’s Doorstep will be performing too, and since they are local, and you handle the local beat,..”
His gasp was a dead giveaway when it registered just how amazing the story would be when he sat down to interview them, again, since his first feature had gone over beautifully with his boss and been well received by the readers.
“Sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you both,” Callen said. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I replied. “But none of this would have been possible without Payden. He saw something in me I couldn’t see in myself anymore. He became my light in the darkness, and I won’t ever let him go.”
“Nope, you’re stuck to me with love,” Payden declared, “and that’s stronger than super glue.”
“It sure is,” I replied. “Unicorn besties forever!”
“With tons of dessert for breakfast!” Payden declared.
Oh dear, that might not have been the best thing for him to mention in front of his parents.
“Dessert for breakfast, huh,” Callen said, eyeing his wife with a grin on his face. “We might have to try that, honey.”
Score another win for desert for breakfast…and train rides that end with love.