“I agree with you on that,” Adrian said.
I stood up and motioned for Adrian to follow me a few feet away so that the boy wouldn’t overhear us. “Do you recognize him?”
Adrian shook his head. “I know almost every person who lives in this town, and I’ve never seen this kid before tonight. He could live in a neighboring community, but judging by the condition of his clothes and his hygiene, I’m guessing he’s a runaway. He’s not wearing a coat or gloves and it’s twenty-five degrees outside. The dumpsters were open behind the business and there are signs that someone went through them. They would not have found much since trash pick-up was this morning. I think the kid tried to break into Books and Brew to find food.”
“He won’t tell you his name or anything?” I asked.
“Hasn’t said a word,” Adrian replied.
“Take him back to the station, fingerprint him to see if we can find a match in the juvenile system, enter his height, hair, and eye color into the databases for missing kids to see if we can find a match. Oh, and call children services. I’ll meet you there in a few.”
“Where are you going?” Adrian asked as I walked away.
“The diner to get him something to eat. Maybe he’ll be willing to talk with a full stomach.”
The kid reminded me of a wounded, half-starved animal. He looked at the food suspiciously, wanting to refuse it, but the will to survive wouldn’t allow him to pass up the opportunity to fill his belly. He ate with his fingers, getting food everywhere, while Adrian and I watched through the two-way mirror. Adrian’s assessment about his hygiene and clothes were spot on. How long had this kid been hiding among us and why didn’t any of us see him?
“Found a positive match for our would-be criminal,” Officer Anderson said as he entered the room. “Marissa Smith from Goodville.”
“Marissa?” Adrian and I both asked.
It was impossible to see the kid’s features through the dirt and grime, but the buzz haircut and clothes made me think we were dealing with a boy. “Are you sure?”
“She has a juvenile record, Captain. Her caseworker, Susan Musgrave, will be here any minute.”
Susan Musgrave looked relieved to see Marissa, but also a little worried. “What did she do?”
“She tried breaking into a local business,” Adrian told her. “We think she was looking for food.”
“Why did no one in Goodville let us know that a kid from our county was missing? Why wasn’t her picture all over the news?” I demanded to know.
“Her foster parents didn’t report her missing to us or the Goodville police,” Susan said furiously. “I assure you that there will be hell to pay over this.”
Susan pushed open the door to the interview room and we followed her inside.
“Marissa, are you okay?” Susan asked softly.
“Don’t call me that, Susan,” the child tearfully replied. “My name is Mark. Why won’t anyone call me that?”
I waited for Susan to correct the child, but instead she reached across the table and covered his hands. “I’m sorry, Mark. Can you tell us what happened to make you run away from your foster home?”
I suspected I knew, but I listened as Mark began to talk about his most recent heartbreaking experience at his latest foster home. It boiled down to a family who refused to accept that Mark was a transgender boy. The arguments started a year ago and escalated to the point where he no longer felt safe living there, so he ran away to Blissville.
“We’re not going to pursue charges,” I told Susan once we stepped outside the interview room to talk.
She looked at her watch and said, “Normally, I’d be thrilled, but I don’t know what to do with Mark tonight. I can try placing him with another foster family, or in a group home. I don’t want to keep putting him with people who won’t accept him as he is.”
The world could be a cruel fucking place for transgender kids, but I had a feeling that this particular kid made the right decision when he ran toward my town.
“I know just the couple. Let me make a call.”
“On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a beautiful transgender preteen,” I sang softly so only Chaz heard me. “It’s your first Christmas as a daddy. Awww.”
I wasn’t sure he was listening to a word I said as he watched Mark and Kyle decorate sugar cookies along with the rest of the kids and their parents in our ever-expanding family. Chaz and I baked them and the rest of the gang decorated the ones that made it to the table. I was a perfectionist and Chaz was a cookie monster, so I would guess that maybe nine out of every dozen that we pulled from the oven made it to the table. Cookiepalooza was one of our new traditions and a real crowd pleaser.
“Just when I’m convinced the world can’t get any shittier, I only have to think about Mark trying to survive in the cold and eating out of dumpsters.” Chaz shook his head like he was trying to shake himself out of a bad dream. “They didn’t even report him missing, Josh.”
I looped my arm around my friend’s shoulders and leaned into him like I’d been doing for as long as I could remember. “He doesn’t look like the same boy who showed up here with you guys for dinner two weeks ago. He was sullen and terrified of being rejected once again, but look at him now, Chaz.” I gestured to the boy who held Adrianna’s cookie for her so she could squirt icing on it while laughing at Jon and Emory’s shenanigans. They promised to keep their cookie decorating PG-13, but I was having my doubts. “Look how he glows, smiles, and laughs in just fourteen short days because of the love and acceptance you and Kyle have shown him.”
“He has nightmares,” Chaz whispered. “His psychiatrist said it’s normal after the trauma he’s experienced, but I hate that for him. It just kills us.”
“You can’t change his past, Chaz. You’re doing everything you can to help him cope with what he’s been through the past few years while helping him transition into a bright future. The sky will be the limit for Mark.” I kissed Chaz’s cheek and gave him an extra tight squeeze. “Did I ever tell you how proud I am to call you my friend?”
“For being a decent human?” He tried waving off my compliment, but I saw him tear up.
“For being a remarkable man,” I corrected. “When you guys went through your foster parenting classes, I know y’all were thinking babies and toddlers. Surprise!”
Chaz laughed as a few tears escaped and slid down his face. “Surprise is right. We thought we were going to take one more vacation before we started the adoption process.”
“Hey, that sounds familiar.”
I looked over to where Gabe sat between Destiny and Dylan’s high chairs. He had red, green, and white icing smeared all over his face, his hands, and his clothes, but he’d never looked more beautiful to me. Gabe snatched a cookie off both of their high chairs and took a large bite out of them. Dylan belly-laughed like babies do, but his sister wasn’t amused.
Destiny banged her balled-fists on her high chair. “Papa! Papa!”
“That’s my diva!” I said.
Meow. I looked over to where my pretty kitty sat in the tall window in the family room watching the world go by, tail switching in irritation because she couldn’t chase the winter birds or didn’t like me sharing her name with anyone else. I thought it was quite possible that Diva was either plotting to kill me in my sleep or take over the world, but I couldn’t be sure.
Turning my attention back to Chaz, I said, “We surely didn’t plan on those two angels so soon, but I wouldn’t trade them for all the vacations in the world.”
“I’m not sorry,” Chaz said with a sappy smile.
“Mark will make a great big brother someday too. Look how great he is with little kids.” I nodded my head to where he had switched his assistance to the Dorchesters’ two youngest kids.
“I’ve only been a dad for a few weeks and you’re already expanding my family.”
“Someday,” I reiterated. “Does that mean you’ve postponed your anniversary trip?” Kyle a
nd Chaz’s one-year anniversary was coming up on New Year’s Eve.
“No, but we’re changing things up a bit.” Chaz lowered his voice and said, “We’re going to take Mark to Disney World for New Year’s Eve. They will have a magical firework display to ring in the new year.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun.”
“It’s one of Mark’s Christmas presents, so please don’t say anything.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” I assured him.
“When is your appointment for Gabe’s surprise?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Are you nervous at all?” Chaz questioned.
“Nah, how bad could it be?”
“This is going to sting a little,” Vanessa, owner of Dream Ink Tattoos and Piercings told me. “This is a very intricate design you created, but it’s beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I replied proudly.
“Ready? I might want to get even with you a little for all the waxing you’ve done for me over the years.”
“Please remember that I’m not the one to wax your lady bits,” I said, pleading for mercy.
“Fair enough,” Vanessa said with a smile. “Here we go!”
Sting a little? Try like fifteen thousand needle jabs per five seconds or something crazy. It took me by surprise at first, but I got used to the vibration and sting of the needle.
After about an hour, Vanessa shut off the machine and looked over her work. “Outline is done. Let’s take a little break and then I’ll do the shading. What do you think so far?”
“I think it’s amazing, Vanessa,” I said, not able to look away from the whimsical family tree she inked into my skin. Mine and Gabe’s initials were carved into a branch at the top of the tree, and our babies’ initials and birth dates appeared in dangling apples on branches below. The tree was spaced out beautifully so additional apples could be added later if we expanded our family. The roots of the tree looked like veins that formed a heart, giving it the appearance of our family tree growing out of the heart. Under the tree, I wanted a powerful message in beautiful script. I chose: Love Makes A Family.
Gabe had never said how he felt about tattoos one way or another, but I had a feeling he’d love this one. I hoped he did, because it was here to stay. It took Vanessa another hour or longer to work shading of various grays to give the tree a lifelike appearance. I expected to see the veins of the heart pulsing on my skin.
I couldn’t wait to show it off to Gabe and was glad I got home before him so that I could plan my surprise. Of course, it would have to wait until two kids and two sets of grandparents went to bed. I could show him sooner, but I suspected we’d be upstairs for a long while afterwards and Gabe hated the thought of his parents knowing what we were doing, which was hilarious because our parents weren’t at all shy. I knew damn well they weren’t always taking afternoon naps, so why couldn’t we get away with it.
They’ll be moving into their own homes soon. They’ll be moving into their own homes soon. I repeated it over and over while I got dinner started.
“Who’s ready for the Christmas parade?” Gabe asked when he walked through the door. Destiny and Dylan had no clue what they were excited about, but that didn’t stop them from clapping their hands and reaching for their papa.
Gabe kissed the munchkins then made a beeline for the little monsters’ daddy. Gabe’s hello kisses were so much better than goodbye kisses. He stopped just short of me and narrowed his eyes. “Something is different about you.” There’s no way he could know that and Vanessa’s tattoo parlor wasn’t in Blissville, so no one reported seeing my dadmobile parked there. Okay, maybe having some ink made me feel a little different, but surely it wasn’t enough for him to sense that like a bloodhound.
“Just kiss me, Gabe.”
“Okay, but then I’m going to have fun exploring your body. Those clothes aren’t new, so it’s something else.”
“The Christmas spirit is oozing out of my pores,” I proclaimed.
“I’ll make your spirit ooze later.” Gabe grimaced when the words left his mouth. Then he schooled his features into what he called his Josh face, which isn’t a compliment unless you like people thinking you look like a prim and proper spinster with a broom handle shoved up her ass. “We don’t do cheesy in this house, Gabriel,” he said mockingly. He dramatically batted his eyelashes, which was nothing like me, but somehow adorable and ridiculous at the same time.
“I think ‘oozing’ falls into the gross category, not cheesy,” I corrected. “I don’t imagine Chaz uses that phrase in literature. Oh my God! This one time we read a book that had an engorged, oozing penis in it and we were ill for days.” I laughed hard remembering the text exchange we had after reading it.
“That’s about as bad as describing a vagina as moist,” my mom said when she entered the kitchen.
“Ewww,” Gabe and I said.
“See?” she asked, patting me on the chest. “What’s for dinner?” She didn’t notice the way I winced, but Gabe sure did. “Isn’t that funny? We have role reversal now, son. I walk into your kitchen and immediately want to know what’s for dinner just like you used to do growing up.” Mom lifted the lid off the pot simmering on the stove. “Mmmmm, spaghetti and meatballs.” She finally realized that neither Gabe nor I had responded to her chitchat and looked at us.
“Mom, do you mind keeping an eye on the sauce for a minute?” Gabe asked calmly. “I need to speak to my Sunshine privately for just a minute.”
“I better turn this down some more because I’ve seen how long ‘just a minute’ is to both of you. Is there anything I can help you with?” We both looked at her with raised brows. “In the kitchen,” she clarified then pointed toward the ceiling, indicating the second floor of our home where the bedrooms were located. “I assume you have things figured out up there.” Her laughter followed us up the staircase.
“Are you hurt?” Gabe asked once we were alone.
“No.”
“Take off your shirt.”
“Oh, are you going to make me dance for you again. Hey, do you want to reenact that movie True Lies? You can be Arnold, and I’ll be Jamie Lee.” I was nervous, so I rambled, which only spiked Gabe’s curiosity more. I honestly wanted to do something sexy like a little striptease to reveal my new badass ink.
Gabe wasn’t on board with that. He crossed to me and lifted my shirt without warning. Gabe inhaled sharply then said my name on a slow sigh. “Baby, what did you do?” I had watched his face closely and saw the awe spread across his features. The worry lines around his eyes and mouth softened and smoothed out as he traced his finger over the tattoo. He didn’t seem to mind that it was covered in ointment. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s a little tender,” I admitted. “It’s an early gift.”
“It’s beautiful, Sunshine. It looks delicate and strong at the same time.”
“That was the goal of the design. Individually, our lives are fragile and delicate, but when you connect with your soulmate, you form something intricately stronger that continues to grow and sustains life.”
“You drew this?” Gabe asked in awe.
“I sure did.”
“I want one too,” he said. “Right over my heart like yours.”
“I was kind of hoping you’d say that. Part two of your surprise is that I made you an appointment for tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait.” Gabe rubbed his hands together gleefully. “First, Dylan and Destiny have their first Christmas parade.” A smile slowly stretched across his face. “What are you dressing them as?”
“What makes you think I’m dressing them up? It’s cold outside so no one would be able to see their cutesy little outfits, if I picked some out.”
“I know you better than I know myself. You have something adorable planned for pictures for the parade. So, what is it?”
“Knitted reindeer sweaters that are lined with faux fur and hats with little antlers sewn at the top. I planned on painting their little noses red like R
udolph.”
“That comes on tonight! Don’t let me forget to record it.”
I patted Gabe’s chest. “I already took care of it when you made that crazy master list.”
“Yeah, well my favorite comes on Friday night.”
“Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, Gabe.”
“Sure, it is,” he argued. “It’s the best Christmas movie ever. Shit gets blown up, terrorists get killed, and Badass Bruce saves the day. You don’t get any more Christmas-y than that.”
“Did you take that quote straight from his fan club?” I questioned as I put my shirt back on.
“What movie is a better Christmas movie than Die Hard?”
“Where do I begin?” I rolled my eyes dramatically. “It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone…”
“Which Home Alone?” Gabe asked seriously.
“The first one, of course, even though the second one was good too.”
“I think Home Alone is a close second to Die Hard,” Gabe admitted. “You know, we could create a holiday movie of our own?” He waggled his brows suggestively. “A fun title comes immediately to mind.”
“And that would be?”
“It’s a Wonderful Hard-On starring Captain Cock and Jizzy Josh.” Gabe looked so proud of his suggestion.
“I… can’t with you right now,” I said once I stopped laughing. “That’s one video we won’t be filming this year.”
“What happened to that oozing Christmas spirit from earlier?”
“Not on film, baby.”
“Okay, fine.”
“What about Christmas Vacation?” I asked my husband, pulling us back to safer topics. “You’re one rogue squirrel and a crazy sled ride away from bringing that movie to life. Are you waiting on a bonus so you can buy us a swimming pool? Which one of our friends is cousin Eddie? It’s Dorchester!” I realized that Gabe stopped sparring with me. “That expression is new, Gabe. What does it mean?”
“What expression?”
I wasn’t falling for his dumb act. I replayed everything I said up to the part where he stopped talking. “Oh my God! We’re getting a swimming pool!” I knew I had guessed right when he glared at me. I bounced up and down, mentally planning all the fun swim trunks I could wear, or skinny dipping with him in the moonlight after the babies fell asleep. “We’re going to need a privacy fence.”
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