by Shea Balik
“Can you come with us?” Liam asked with what Patrick was sure were stars in his eyes. Owning Frosted must have impressed Liam quite a bit for him to put himself out there by asking Cabot to join them.
Patrick nearly fainted in relief when Cabot smiled at Liam and said, “I’d love to. Can you give me a few minutes to help Nyla out by taking all these dishes to the back and putting them into the dishwasher? I promise, it won’t take more than five minutes.”
Noticing that Cabot was doing his best not to look at all the tables that needed to be wiped down, Patrick made a suggestion. “If you’d like to give us all a towel, the three of us could have all the empty tables wiped down by the time you got back.”
He swore Cabot appeared just as relieved as Patrick had felt a moment ago. He shouldn’t be too surprised. Owning the bakery, Patrick imagined it kind of felt like Cabot’s baby. The smile he beamed at Patrick when he handed over three white damp cloths, was worth a little work while they waited.
At least for him. Liam and Maya, on the other hand, were eager to help for two tables, but by the third, started to grumble about if they weren’t home, why did they still have to do chores.
Figuring he was lucky to get them to do the two tables, Patrick didn’t remind them about wanting to help others. Plus, while they had tackled their two tables, Patrick had wiped down another ten.
“I think we finished,” he announced, since there weren’t any other open tables. The ones they had done were already quickly filling back up. “You two were very nice to help out Cabot. It will help him to feel better that his employee is able to concentrate on the customers. You should be proud of yourselves.”
Was he laying it on a little thick? Maybe. But Patrick had learned it was better to reinforce good behavior in hopes of repeat performances. It didn’t always work, but he’d been noticing the more he did it, the more Liam and Maya were doing their chores without having to be told.
“Wow,” Cabot glanced around at the remaining clean tables. “Thank you for doing that everyone. I was worried about leaving Nyla on such a busy night, but now I know she’ll be able to handle the crowd.”
Then he held out a hand to the kids. Liam took it, but Maya reached for Patrick’s instead. There was an actual twinkle in Cabot’s eyes even though he’d just been slighted by Maya. That’s when he held out his now empty hand to Patrick.
Almost as if there were magic in the air, Patrick easily took the offered hand and walked out of the bakery. He even heard a comment that they looked like a nice family from someone inside just before the door closed behind them.
Family.
That was something Patrick had known from his grandpa. But as he glanced over at Cabot, who was joking with Liam, and little Maya was swinging their linked hands back and forth, he was beginning to wonder if he’d become lucky enough to finally find the one thing he’d wanted more than any other gift. A family.
CHAPTER 5
There was something magical about being able to pick out a tree now that he was an adult. Cabot couldn’t quite explain it, but it was like that for him with most things in life. It was as if having everything, even what clothing he could have, decided for him made him appreciate all the things he was able to do for himself.
Even though the tree they were picking out wasn’t technically for him, he was still enjoying every minute. Then again, that might have been because he’d not only been asked to join in, but his opinion was requested often, especially by Liam. The boy, who had done his best to act as if nothing mattered to him, had dropped that façade and was practically clinging to Cabot as he asked a million questions about being a baker while they tried to pick out a tree that Patrick felt would fit in their living room.
“You were really in foster care growing up?” Liam asked when Cabot had mentioned he used to love watching the Food Network at one of his foster placements.
Liam was still holding hands with Cabot, which meant Cabot unfortunately had to drop Patrick’s hand since they couldn’t quite get the four of them down the aisles of trees. But, and this was the real reason why the night was so perfect, soon after he’d had to release Patrick’s hand, the man, whenever they were close together, placed his hand on Cabot’s lower back instead.
It was like a dream come true.
Cabot nodded in response to Liam’s question as he also pointed to a beautiful Douglas Fir that stood six feet tall, the height that Patrick and Liam had finally agreed on after debating back and forth over Patrick’s preferred five feet and Liam’s desire for a fifteen-foot tree. “How about that tree?”
Liam dragged him over to the proudly standing tree with its full branches. His whole face absolutely lit up at the sight of the gorgeous tree. “Daddy, daddy, can we have this one?”
Liam dropped Cabot’s hand and raced back to Patrick with a pleading look in his eyes. “Can we, dad?”
Patrick wasn’t even looking at the tree. He just stood there with his jaw dropped open and tears shining in his pretty caramel eyes as he stared at Liam with so much love, Cabot could feel it from where he stood next to the tree.
It wasn’t until Liam asked the question again that Patrick seemed to wake up to the fact that he was just standing there in stunned silence. But instead of answering, he dropped to his knees, clearly not caring about the snow soaking through his pants, and pulled Liam into his arms, hugging him close.
From where Cabot was, he could see a few of those tears fall, but it was the bright smile and pure joy on Patrick’s face that told the story. If Cabot had to guess, this was Liam’s first time calling him dad.
“Let me go find the lot attendant and we’ll get the tree loaded onto the car,” Patrick said when Liam started to squirm from his embrace. That caused Liam to wrap his own arms around Patrick tightly.
Liam shouted, “Thank you. It is the best tree, isn’t it?” Then he grabbed hold of Patrick’s hand and pulled him toward the tree. “Look, it has full branches with no holes, just like Maya wanted.” Then he pointed to the top. “And that’s the height you said we could have, right?”
Patrick nodded. “I think it’s perfect.”
“Did I hear someone over here found their tree?” Becky, who was the oldest member of the third generation of Hensley’s, who were the owners of the Winter Farm, came over to them. She had on a full apron that had the Winter Farm name printed on it as well as an imprint of the six types of Christmas trees they grew.
It wasn’t the only thing they grew on the farm, but at Christmastime it was all they sold as their other crops were dormant.
Liam didn’t hesitate to put his hand possessively on the tree they had picked. “This one,” he told Becky.
She smiled at Liam’s exuberance. “Why, that is the best tree on the lot,” something she said about every tree, and probably meant it. Becky loved her family farm. She and her cousin, Ralph, were the only two from their generation to take an interest in running it now that their parents had all retired from the day to day operations.
“Let me just get Billy to get it netted and he can load it onto your car,” Becky told them. Fortunately, for his and Patrick’s back, the fourth generation of Hensley’s were far more interested in farming. Of Becky and her husband William’s four kids, three had plans to remain on the farm and with two of their cousins from Ralph’s side, had plans to buy a neighboring farm and expand their business.
“Thank goodness there is someone to help put that up on the roof of the SUV,” Patrick said as Becky went off in search of Billy. “It will be hard enough to take it off and get it in the house.”
Suddenly his hand was once more taken by Liam, who also still held onto Patrick’s, while Maya was leaning somewhat listlessly against Patrick’s leg, clearly tired. “Can Cabot come over and help us set it up?” Liam asked way too excitedly for this time of night.
It was already half past nine and Cabot really needed to head home if he had any chance of getting some sleep before needing to be at the bakery by four in the morn
ing. It was the only downside to being a baker, otherwise, Cabot wouldn’t trade it for the world.
But when Patrick’s gaze held just as much hope as Liam’s, it was impossible to say no. “I’d be happy to,” he offered. “But then I’ll have to go or Frosted won’t have those donuts you all want tomorrow morning.”
Liam’s eyes grew big. “Can I help you make them?”
Was it possible for his heart to actually grow? He was far from being a grinch, yet the way his chest actually puffed out, he was sure this was how the green guy felt at the end of the movie.
Thankfully, Patrick answered for him, because Cabot wasn’t sure he could have made a sound around the lump of emotion that was swelling in his throat. “You know Cabot has to get up really early, like before you normally do to go to school.”
That had Liam shaking his head. “Then never mind. But do you think you could teach me to do it sometime?”
That was easy. “I would love to,” Cabot told Liam. “Although, why don’t we start with cookies. Maybe tomorrow afternoon I could come over and we could make some of those sugar cookies you like.”
Maya’s head popped up off of Patrick’s side as she perked up at the news. “Can we put sprinkles on them?”
Cabot smiled at the request. “I’ll bring a whole bottle of them.”
That had Maya bouncing up and down, her feet not quite leaving the snowy ground. “Can we, daddy? Please, please, please.”
There were those tears in Patrick’s eyes again. Not that Cabot could fault him. Hell, he’d felt them once or twice himself being around Liam and Maya. “Are you sure it’s no trouble?” Patrick asked him.
But before Cabot could answer, Liam said, “He offered, plus he could help us decorate the tree. You said we would do that this weekend and put up lights on the roof.”
Excitement flowed through Cabot at the thought of being able to spend more time with Patrick and the kids. He knew it was way too soon to be this attached, especially since they only met a couple of hours ago, yet it was hard to deny the sense of belonging he felt with them.
Maybe this was the year Santa would bring him the one gift he’d been too afraid to wish for in a long time – a family.
CHAPTER 6
A little hand was pushing against his shoulder, waking Patrick from the most sinful of dreams. He’d been kissing those amazingly lush, slightly pinkened from the cold, lips that he’d been doing his best to not stare at when the kids had been around. It was magical and oh so real.
That was until he was reminded that he hadn’t been able to kiss Cabot like he’d wanted to. Well, he could have, but not without little prying eyes watching him do it, which would have been just… he gave a little shudder at such an intimate moment being seen by Liam and Maya.
That hand that kept pushing against his shoulder became more insistent until Patrick finally relented to let go of the fantasy of his dream and back to the reality of his life. A shy smile greeted him as Maya sat on his bed next to him, with Liam standing a few feet away looking unsure and timid.
They had made so much progress the night before. Both kids had even called him, ‘daddy.’ Every once in a while, Maya would call him that for the past three months, but Liam had never done so until last night. It had given him hope.
He wished with all his heart the kids were still in that moment, but it was obvious, by their trepidation that morning, whatever magic had been with them the previous evening was gone. Mrs. Sanchez had warned him that would be the case for quite some time. The kids would just need more reassurance during times like this morning.
“Good morning, my little munchkins,” he said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster without his first cup of coffee. He eyed the fact that they were already dressed, even if Maya’s clothes clashed a bit. “I see you two are ready to go to breakfast at Frosted.”
Both faces beamed as if he’d said the magic words to make their day. Admittedly, it hadn’t been hard to guess the reason for their anxiety. Disappointment had been a part of their lives for far too long. But Patrick was hoping he would be able to change that and give them the stability they so desperately needed.
“We can still go?” There was a hint of excitement in Liam’s voice but he was doing his best to hold it back in case Patrick had changed his mind.
Smiling at the pair, Patrick nodded and said, “We are still going. But, is there any chance I could take a shower first?” He rubbed at a spot along his forearm where he hadn’t gotten all the tree sap off, despite the shower he’d taken before getting into bed. “I’m still sticky from putting the tree up.”
Maya giggled as she ran a finger over the spot he’d been rubbing at. “You’re sticky.”
As if there might be a snake hiding somewhere ready to spring out and bite him, Liam tentatively reached over to also feel his arm. The moment his finger touched his skin and stuck there, he started to laugh. “It’s like you’re covered in syrup.”
Laughing with the pair, Patrick asked again, for he would forgo getting clean if it’s what they needed, “Does that mean I have time for a shower before we go?”
They both nodded. Maya scrambled off the bed and they headed for the door. “But be quick,” she told him as he heard them head downstairs.
The moment the warm spray hit his skin, Patrick wanted nothing more than to stand under the water longer, but he wasn’t about to make the kids wait. They were finally starting to make some progress, which he was fairly sure had a lot to do with meeting Cabot, but he didn’t care what the reason was, so long as Liam and Maya were happy.
Okay, so, Patrick was happy, too. Was it wrong to involve someone in their lives as quickly as he had with Cabot? If Cabot wasn’t looking for an instant family, Patrick might be making a big mistake. Yet, good idea or not, it was hard to deny how perfect it felt to have Cabot there last night.
So good, in fact, it had taken all of Patrick’s willpower not to ask the man to spend the night. Preferably in his bed. The weirdest part? Patrick had been too tired to even consider sex, not that his dick wouldn’t have been happy to get some action, but he’d honestly just wanted to hold Cabot.
Shaking the odd thoughts from his head, Patrick scrubbed all the sap he could still feel on his skin. Once relatively clean, he got out and quickly dressed. Saturdays were usually reserved for sweatpants and a sweatshirt this time of year. He liked to be comfortable. But today he found himself putting on a pair of black jeans with a white polo shirt and green sweater.
It was still somewhat casual, without looking like he was trying too hard. It had been years since he’d cared what another man thought of him and he had to admit to being nervous as he headed downstairs.
He’d just opened his mouth to call for the kids to grab their coats when he noticed them already by the door with boots, coats, hats, and mittens already on. Clearly, he wasn’t the only one excited about their outing.
“So, do either of you know what kind of donut you want?” he asked as he put on his boots. Then he shrugged on his coat, grabbed the keys off the hook and shoved his gloves into his coat pocket as they headed into the garage.
“I want pink frosting with sprinkles,” Maya told him. “Cabot said he makes them every morning.”
Not at all surprised by her choice since pink and sprinkles were her favorite two things in the world, Patrick glanced back at Liam and asked, “What about you? Have you decided?”
Liam shook his head. “I’m going to wait until I see what they have.”
Patrick felt his shoulders drop in defeat. He knew it was too much to ask that Liam feel safe enough to say what he wanted in case he was disappointed, but that didn’t stop him from wishing he would.
He pulled out of the driveway and made his way toward town. He should be happy with how much progress they had made. When the kids first came to live with him, Liam hardly even voiced his opinion about anything. Like last night, he never would have picked out a tree in the past.
It would take time. Mrs. Sanchez
was always telling him that, but Patrick wished, for Liam’s sake more than his own, it didn’t have to take so long. Liam deserved some happiness. Lots of it.
Pulling into a spot a short walk from the bakery, he helped the kids out and locked up the car. Although, he’d found in Winter, locking up wasn’t as necessary as it had been in Lansing where they’d moved from. But old habits were hard to break. Plus, it was always better to be safe than sorry.
Taking Maya’s hand, the three of them headed down the sidewalk to the bakery. The line was out the door. With it being the weekend after Thanksgiving and people were still enjoying the Winter Festival, he should have expected it to be packed.
“Do you two want to head inside and pick out what you want?” The weather had gotten quite cold overnight and both kids were already shivering. He should have made them wear another layer of clothes, but he hadn’t considered they might have to stand outside.
Liam clearly thought his idea was a good one, for he took Maya’s hand and raced to the door. By the time he made it to the door himself, Patrick was sure his nuts had crawled back up into his body. The warmth that assailed him as he was finally able to enter the building caused him to shiver as his body desperately tried to soak in the heat.
But all thoughts of the cold disappeared when he saw Liam’s face. Well, it was more than just his face, for his shoulders were slumped and his head was bowed down as if he were completely dejected. Whatever he’d been hoping for, Frosted had run out. Damn.
He’d been ready to ask the cashier, a young kid with the nametag, Ned, to get Cabot and see if the man would make Liam whatever it was he had hoped to eat.
But he hadn’t even gotten the chance before Cabot came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with four cups of something steaming, two of which had whipped cream on them. Was it wrong to hope at least one of the others was coffee?
Cabot paused when he reached Liam and Maya and nodded toward an empty table. He lowered the tray for both kids to see what was on it and Liam’s entire body changed from defeated to joyous. He was smiling so big, it went from ear to ear.
