Forever With His Boss

by Rheland Richmond

  “Hell yeah, it was scary. It was like we were back to when Callum was taken.” Ford closed his eyes and Sawyer knew he was reliving that moment.

  “Come here,” Sawyer whispered. He grabbed the nape of Ford’s neck and pulled him to him. They kissed as he pulled himself up and over Ford’s lap, straddling him, never breaking from the kiss.

  Sawyer grabbed onto Ford’s pants and was just starting to yank them down, when he heard a knock on the door. He quickly rolled off of Ford who pulled his pants back up.

  “Who is it?” Sawyer asked.

  “Gavin. May I come in?” Gavin asked.

  “Sure!” Sawyer said. When Gavin opened up the door and stepped into the bedroom, Sawyer frowned. “Thought you were in bed, What’s up, bud?”

  “I was, but couldn’t sleep,” Gavin kicked his feet before looking up at Ford, his voice sounding contrite. “I wanted to apologize for worrying you. I didn’t mean to.”

  Sawyer looked over to Ford who was smiling.

  “Thank you for saying that.” Ford held open his arms and Gavin ran into them.

  They hugged and Sawyer just watched on. “Goodnight.” Ford kissed Gavin’s head, “Sweet dreams.”

  “Night!” Gavin straightened and smiled brightly, before turning and running from the room, closing the door behind him.

  Sawyer turned to Ford. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

  “You can tell me again and again,” Ford said, laughing, as Sawyer resumed his position, straddling Ford’s legs. They moved in and got back to making out. Things had a way of changing from how he anticipated spending the evening, but the way it ended, was amazing.

  “You should lock the door if you want to get me out of my pants.” Ford groaned between kisses.

  31

  Ford

  Ford and Sawyer couldn’t have been prouder when Gavin got callback for the part in the play he had tried out for, and Gavin was super excited about it even more so when he got it. It was all he talked about.

  Gavin was proud of himself, and he had every right to feel that way, since he had aimed for the supporting actor role on the cast, and that was what he got.

  On the day of the play, though, Ford thought they were going to have to bail Gavin out. He would definitely write a food-poisoning letter for his kid if that was what Gavin wanted. It struck him at that moment how easily he referred to Gavin, and Savanna and Callum for that matter, as “his kid.”

  “I can’t do it.” Gavin cried. He turned to Ford, eyes wide and pleading, already dressed up in his costume, with panic written all over his face.

  “You’re going to be just fine,” Ford soothed. “Sawyer will be home soon, and we’ll all head down to the school. Remember what Sawyer said.”

  Gavin nodded. “Imagine them wearing nothing but underwear. I feel like how I felt after getting on the Space mountain after eating the mac and cheese, turkey leg, and churros.”

  That wasn’t good. They’d found out the day after the kids stayed with the Rhodes family that Gavin had puked while at the park, but insisted on carrying on as if nothing had happened and didn’t want anyone to call Sawyer or Ford.

  “I am sure you do.” Ford looked Gav in the eyes. “But remember you told us how you powered through, got on the next ride, and had a blast?” Ford waited for Gavin to nod. “Trust me, you’ll get through this. Savanna, Sawyer, Callum, Grandma and Grandpa, and I are all going to be there. We’ll be cheering you on.”

  “Are you going to embarrass me?”

  Ford nodded, smiling wide. “Probably.”

  Gavin groaned, but the corners of his mouth were trying to turn up, and it was the first time Ford had seen something resembling a smile on his face over the course of the past few hours.

  Gavin turned back to the mirror and let out a put-upon sigh that had Ford struggling to hold back his laughter.

  “I’ll leave you to it.” Ford moved to pat Gavin’s head, but the kid ducked.

  “Watch the hair.” Gavin rolled his eyes, shaking his head, the look in his eyes saying, “What do grown-ups know?”

  Ford left Gavin’s room when he heard the front door, and as he started to make his way down the stairs, he spotted Sawyer coming into the house. Sawyer looked up and met Ford’s gaze.

  “Honey, I’m home,” Sawyer called out to him, the corner of his mouth quirked up.

  Ford snickered and made his way the rest of the way down where he greeted Sawyer with a kiss. “How was the new renter for the storefront on main street?”

  “His check cleared.” Sawyer stepped back and shrugged out of his coat, “But he sent a proxy. Apparently, he’ll be here in a few months. He bought a house too and the lawyer closed on that.”

  Sawyer hung his coat over his arms. “You were right, babe. Buying those store fronts was a fantastic investment.” Sawyer slipped his hand into the back pockets of Ford’s jeans, and brushed his lips with a gentle kiss. “So how’s our leading man?”

  “You mean the supporting man?” Ford reminded Sawyer. “Well… nerves are starting to get the better of him. Told him to picture everyone naked.”

  Sawyer arched an eyebrow since Ford had told him not to give the kids that kind of advice at first.

  Ford shrugged, “I know, but frankly it was the only thing to make him smile. If it works…” He put his hands up, “…who am I to knock it.”

  “I didn’t say anything” Sawyer kissed him on the cheek, “Are Callum and Savanna ready?”

  “Savanna was fixing her hair.”

  Sawyer rolled his eyes. “Of course.”

  Ford laughed. “Well, we might as well get used to it. It’s only going to get worse from here.”

  “True.” Ford knew, like him, Sawyer was looking forward to it. “And Callum?” Sawyer asked.

  “Napping. He should be up in time for us to head out.”

  “Perfect,” Sawyer seemed to tense, “But before I forget to tell you, I got a message from the lawyer who is handling the case against Cynthia and Larry.”

  “Oh? What he’d say?” Ford felt that churning in his gut that happened every time Cynthia or Larry were mentioned.

  “Well, he’s going to call me later. He said there’s an update on the case. He has to finalize some things, and I might have to take the call later tonight.”

  Ford slowly exhaled. “God, I hope all is well. I’m sure they’ve been transferred here, by now, but we haven’t gotten much follow-up.”

  “I know, babe,” Sawyer said, “but I figured no news is good news. We’re not seeing the whites of their eyes, and I, for one, am grateful for that.”

  Ford nodded. “So am I!" But that was not to say it was ever off his mind, added to his worry about Gavin, Ford was now worried about what the lawyer had to say.

  “Everything will work out,” Sawyer rubbed up and down his back, and he leaned in and kissed Ford. “You’ll see.”

  “I’ll trust that,” Ford said between kisses. He refused to think about his family dealing with any more crap. They had their crap storm for the year, and if God was listening, no more for at least the next twenty… it would be too greedy to say fifty, right?

  “Callum’s awake.”

  They broke from the kiss, when they heard Savanna’s voice.

  “Great,” Ford was going to focus on his family. They were going to watch Gavin’s play and ignore everything else. He watched Savie come down the stairs, then she handed Callum over the moment she was down. “Are you done finessing your hair?” Ford teased.

  She giggled. “A girl is never done.” She winked before spinning on her heel, and tossed Ford a look over her shoulder.

  Sawyer laughed.

  “A girl is never done, Sawyer. Don’t you know that?” Ford shared a look with his boyfriend, and they both burst out laughing

  “I do now.” Sawyer said between laughs. He kissed Callum on his forehead. “I better go get ready.”

  He brushed past Ford and went up the stairs. Ford looked down at Callum. “Com
e on, love, let’s get you ready to go out.” It was almost time to leave the house, and they couldn’t be late.

  “Hold up! Wait right there.” Sawyer held up his digital camera. It looked like a really good one, and seemed relatively new if the way Sawyer had been trying to figure some of the buttons out was any indication. Ford wouldn’t be shocked to find he’d just bought it.

  Ford chuckled when he heard Gavin groan. “Not another picture.”

  He spun around to face them just before he reached the main doors to the school. Parents and students were milling around outside, all going in to see the play, but Ford and Sawyer wanted just fifty more pictures. It’d make for a great album.

  The kids didn’t have much of their early lives documented and both of them were trying to make up for it.

  “You might as well just get used to it,” Ford said. “He isn’t going to stop anytime soon.”

  “I’m just so proud.” Sawyer raised the camera again. “Just a few more.”

  “You guys have been saying that for the past hour,” Gavin rolled his eyes. “You took at least a hundred pictures at home. Do you really need more?”

  Ford smiled at his boyfriend, and turned back to Gavin. “Just appease him and he’ll eventually stop.”

  “Not on your life.” Sawyer held up the camera. “Pose again.”

  Gavin stood with his hands on his hips and pushed his lips out. Everyone laughed as Sawyer took at least four pictures with that one pose.

  “Okay… feel free to go in.” Sawyer let the camera fall back around his neck. Who knew soccer dad did it for Ford? Or was it theater dad?

  “Finally!” Gavin grumbled, but there was a smile on his face. Clearly, he liked the attention. They entered the school, and Gavin led the way to the staging area. He entered the room, then turned around. “Feel free to go find a spot.”

  Ford’s jaw dropped. “You don’t want us to come in with you?”

  A line appeared between Gavin’s brows, and he whined, “Do you have to?”

  Ford looked over at Sawyer, and a frown marred his face. “We don’t have to, but we want to. Or is it not allowed?” Ford asked.

  Ford looked past Gavin and saw several parents with their students. Gavin groaned again, “Fine come on.”

  They entered the backstage area and Ford looked around at all the props that were stored in any of the extra space.

  “Isn’t this cool?” Gavin wore a smile.

  “It sure is.” Sawyer pointed to a prop that Ford couldn’t quite describe. “Pose next to this.”.

  Gavin heaved a sigh, then moved to stand against it. He crossed his arms in front of and tilted his head, smiling. “Is this okay?”

  Ford snickered as Sawyer snapped several more pictures. “I think Gavin is right. We have plenty of pictures that we can use to show off our star.”

  Sawyer shrugged and let his camera fall against his chest again. “Amazon reviews said this makes an amazing video.”

  “Hey, guys. I didn’t know you were going to be here.”

  Ford and Sawyer turned to the voice, and Ford grinned. “Makes two of us. What are you doing here, Owen?

  “Asher is in the play.” He patted the boy standing beside him.

  “Hey, Asher.” Gavin said.

  “Hey, Gavin,” Asher replied.

  “I didn’t know you two knew each other.” Ford looked between the boys.

  Gavin shrugged. “Asher’s in the play.”

  Ford nearly kicked himself when he realized he could have introduced Gavin to Asher ages ago. Although with everything going on, he’d totally forgotten how old Owen’s charge was.

  “I have to go now,” Gavin looked in the direction of the stage, and Ford’s eyes followed and saw a teacher motioning for the boys.

  “Off you go,” Sawyer told Gavin.

  “Thank you!” Gavin took off before they could change their minds, but stopped suddenly, “Come on Asher.”

  Asher looked at Owen for permission who nodded, and he took off right after Gavin.

  “Good luck!” Ford called out.

  “Break a leg!” Savanna yelled after him.

  Ford motioned with his head. “Gavin is excited. He has a big role.” Ford couldn’t help boasting about Gavin.

  “Nice.” Owen smiled. “How about we go find a seat?”

  “Absolutely!” Ford nodded. They left the backstage area and went out to the auditorium and managed to grab seats in the third row. Ford situated Callum on his lap while Sawyer collapsed the stroller and put it under their seats, then they settled in for the play.

  “Is Gavin nervous?” Owen whispered, even though the play hadn’t started

  “Kind of.” Ford crossed his fingers and said a prayer Gav would be okay. “But he’ll be fine. He knows his lines, so I think once he gets started those nerves will vanish.”

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Sawyer lift his camera from where it rested on his neck and he started taking pictures of just the stage. Ford shook his head and started laughing.

  Sawyer turned to him. “What?”

  “Nothing! You’re cute when you’re in doting-father mode.” He winked at Sawyer. “I like it.”

  Sawyer lowered his voice, leaning in closer because Savie was right beside him, and whispered, “How much do you like it.”

  “Ask me again later.”

  “Oh my gosh… it’s going to be starting soon.” Sawyer sat up straighter when a microphone was tapped.

  Savanna moved in closer to Sawyer. “You guys are soo those kind of parents.”

  “What kind of parents, might I ask?” Ford felt like his face was going to get stuck in grin mode at Savie’s words, and when he met Sawyer’s eyes, he saw he hadn’t missed the use of the word parent.

  “Parents that hover.” She met his gaze and smiled, but it had a haunted quality to it. Savie quickly looked away, and when she spoke, her voice was soft. “The good kind, like the ones Gav and I always wanted.”

  He had to swallow tears down that tried to fall at her words. “Thank you.” Ford could barely get the words out. Savie didn’t know how much it meant that she saw him that way. Ford got how she would see Sawyer as her parental figure, but adding him there… well it meant the world.

  She nodded and turned back to the stage. Sawyer reached out and took Ford’s hand, and when Ford looked over, he noted Sawyer was misty-eyed too. He slipped his hand into Sawyer’s, needing the connection in that moment, but Sawyer’s phone started to ring, so Ford let go so Sawyer could answer it.

  Sawyer grabbed it from his pocket and looked at the caller ID, then he looked at Ford before quickly answering it, getting up from his chair to take the call in private.

  “Hello?” he heard, just as Sawyer stepped out into the aisle and began to walk back toward the exit.

  Savanna looked at him. “Who’s on the phone?”

  Ford glanced in the direction Sawyer had gone to. “I’m sure it’s work, but you know he’ll never miss Gav’s play.”

  She nodded, then looked passed him. “Grandma and Grandpa are here.” Ford turned the other way, and sure enough, his parents were moving into the aisle they were in.

  “I’ll switch you seats, Mr. and Mrs. Erickson.” Owen stood so Ford’s parents could sit next to him.

  “Didn’t know if you’d make it,” Ford whispered to his mom who took a seat to his left.

  “Are you kidding me?” Mom shook her head. “We wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

  Ford smiled. He loved that his parents were so committed to their family. Loved that they’d embraced the kids, not that he doubted they would. “Glad you’re here, Mom.”

  “Where else would I be?” His mom held out her arms for Callum who leaned forward into her, and Ford let him go.

  Ford turned to find Sawyer coming back into their row. He looked over at Ford. From his expression, he wasn’t giving anything away, but he didn’t look happy about something.

  “What’s up?” Ford whispered.

 
; “Nothing, babe. It was Nate. He needed some clarification on a document he’s working on.”

  The lights started to dim. “Showtime.” Sawyer grinned and held up his camera at the ready.

  When the curtains opened, both Ford and Sawyer started to cheer, clapping their hands as loud as they could.

  Gavin was the first actor on the stage. When he said his first line, both Ford and Sawyer jumped to their feet. “Bravo!!! That’s our boy!” Sawyer yelled.

  Several people laughed, but one woman turned around in her seat. She didn’t look pleased. “Really?”

  Ford leaned forward and held her gaze. “Really.”

  Ford smirked, and the woman rolled her eyes. He wasn’t bothered by it. Instead, nothing could ruin this for him. They were a family, and Ford would always be proud of the kids… his kids now. Yeah, he was ready for more school plays, cheerleading, ballet, football. Whatever the kids wanted to do, Ford was ready.

  32

  Sawyer

  “And they lived happily ever after.” the narrator said. The kids all took a bow, and the crowd jumped to their feet, Ford among them, clapping and whistling.

  Sawyer turned to Ford. “He did an amazing job.” Ford nodded and then wiped his eye. Sawyer nudged him. “Are you crying?”

  “What? No!” Ford shook his head, but Sawyer knew those were definitely tears in Ford’s eyes.

  “Well, I was definitely crying.” Barbara sniffed.

  Everyone turned to her and saw her eyes glistening with tears.

  “Me too, Barb, me too.” Sawyer’s words were choked as he spoke.

  “And here comes the star now!” Savanna’s voice had them looking around.

  Sawyer turned left in time to see Gavin running towards them. Ford held open his arms, and Gavin jumped into them. Ford hugged him tightly.

  Sawyer joined in for the hug.

  “You did amazing.” Sawyer kissed the top of Gavin’s head.

  “Thank you.” Gavin pulled back grinning brightly. “And it worked.”

  “What worked?” Ford asked.