“Where are we going?” I raised my brow in question as we drove across town.
“It’s a surprise.” He was giddy, almost like a kid at Christmas and it made me a little excited as well.
We pulled up to the flat expanse of land that Martha’s house used to sit on. The burned down house had been completely cleared away and all that stood in its place were a few support beams. Confusion and sadness warred within me as I looked at what used to be there and what it signified.
“I want to rebuild the house.”
“Rebuild? Why?”
“I’ve been thinking about it. The thing is, there are so many good kids out there that need homes and have been treated poorly in the system. What if we became foster parents to more than just Abby?” A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “The house we live in now is too small. We only have two bedrooms. But in this place? We could have more.”
“What about the treatment facility?” I asked. I’d been sure he wanted to show me something to do with that.
“We have an appointment with a commercial realtor next week to look at a couple properties for that, but I want to do more. We could do more.” His excitement was contagious. “Come on let me show you what I have planned.” We got out of the car and walked hand in hand to the concrete slab that used to be Martha’s house and I watched as he explained everything he wanted to do with it. It seemed he’d given it a lot of thought. I put in comments here and there but really left all the design elements to him. I wasn’t good with stuff like that, but helping to raise kids who’d found themselves in the system, I knew that would be perfect for me. Squeezing his hand to get his attention, I grinned at him. “It’s gonna be great. When can we start building?”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I think Martha would love for the property to be used to house more foster kids.”
We walked the property for a little while longer speaking animatedly about all the things we could do with it. We decided to put in a swimming pool and a jungle gym all the things little kids would want to play with. Hoping that we could brighten the lives of children who’d faced the dark. The only thing left to do besides build the house was to win our appeal in court the next day. The thought brought my spirits down a bit and Philip noticed immediately.
“The hearing is going to be fine, Ryan. They’re going to overturn the decision. Just like the university did. Don’t stress on it.”
“I can’t help it. We’re making all these plans but they all hinge on tomorrow.”
Late that night, I was still freaking out about the hearing the next day. I couldn’t sleep and rolled over realizing Philip was nervous too. “Can’t sleep?”
“No, I’m worried about Abby having to talk to the court tomorrow.” He sighed. “I know the outcome will be in our favor I’m just worried she’s gonna stress about it.”
“Yeah, today when I picked her up from school, she said she was a little scared that she’d say the wrong thing.” I knew Abby would do great, but she was so scared when she was telling me, and I hated seeing the fear in her eyes.
“I wish she didn’t have to go before the judge, but Daniel thinks that if she tells the judge who she wants to be with, then it will help.” He wrapped his arms around me as if he needed the comfort as much as I did. I relaxed marginally.
“What if they rule against us because we’re not married?” I asked softly. It had been weighing on my mind. California was pretty liberal and had legalized gay marriage a few years ago.
“I don’t want to get married just because they say we have to be married to keep Abby. I want to get married because we are both ready to commit to each other forever. Somehow, I’m not sure you’re ready for that yet.” He was right. Though, I loved him and had planned a life with him that very morning, marriage seemed far in the future. I didn’t want to make that commitment and then years down the road decide we made a mistake. The thought of losing Philip made my heart seize in my chest though.
“You’re right, I’m not sure I’m ready for that kind of commitment yet, but I do love you.” I turned to press a kiss to his lips. “I promise, someday I will be.”
Philip grabbed my head and pulled me in for a heated kiss. My body shuddered as his other hand stroked me through my track shorts. “I love you, too. Don’t worry I’ll wait until you’re ready.” His words snapped something inside of me. Something primal. I reached into his pajama bottoms and tugged his cock free stroking him.
“Fuck me, Ryan.” I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing. I looked at him in shock.
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I trust you.” He caressed my cheek with his fingertips. “I can’t expect you to be ready, for something as permanent as marriage, if I can’t trust you with this.”
I crushed my mouth down on his. It was a brutal primal claiming kiss. I was so in awe of this man. He was giving up his tightly held control for me. I reached over to the bedside table to grab what I needed as Philip removed his clothes. My track shorts were gone a second later, and I turned around to see Philip on all fours. God the man was spectacular. He really did want this.
As I dribbled the lube over his exquisite ass, I got to feel how muscular and strong it was. After massaging his hole, I gently pushed my finger inside him, he tensed. “Shhh, relax.” Kissing his shoulder, I reached around him and stroked his cock in time with the thrusting of my finger, causing him to moan. “Shh, babe. You can’t make any noise, we don’t want to wake up Abby,” I whispered close to his ear, scissoring inside of him with two fingers. I watched as he fisted his hand down on the pillow. When I removed my fingers, his hips jerked back as if missing the contact. I smirked. “You like this, don’t you?” He nodded his head into the pillow with a muffled groan.
Putting the tip of my cock to his bundle of nerves, I noticed him tense again, but he relaxed immediately. I pushed in slowly and my eyes nearly rolled in the back of my head. He was so amazingly tight, I had to stop to catch my breath. He was perfect. This moment was perfect. But my man needed more. He rocked his hips back in an attempt to get me to move, but I held still trying desperately not to come before I was all the way inside him. I squeezed the base of my cock and it did the trick. Rocking into him slowly and watching with pure male satisfaction, his head thrashed back and forth. Muffled moans and groans left his lips as I was finally seated all the way in. Leaning over, I covered his back with my body and bit down on his shoulder lightly as I quickened my short shallow thrusts. “Harder, Ryan.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Yes, it feels so good, but I need more,” he said on a strangled sigh. Leaning back up, I rocked my hips harder. My nails dug into his hips as I pushed into him over and over. “I’m gonna come,” he growled into the pillow as he came, he ass bearing down hard on me. I moved faster and harder still. My orgasm built to a crescendo, and I bit my lip to keep from crying out as white-hot ecstasy built in my core and shot through my limbs in the most intense orgasm of my life. I flopped down on top of him, lightly kissing him between his shoulder blades until I caught my breath and rolled to the side, gently extracting myself from a place I hoped to be often.
“Thank you,” he said and I looked at him in confusion. “You took a horrible memory and replaced it with something good and perfect and pure. I never thought it could be like that.” I brushed the hair from his face and kissed him lightly on the lips.
“Thank you for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to do that for you. I don’t ever want bad memories of the past to taint this.” Going to the bathroom to take care of the condom, I grabbed a warm washcloth. After cleaning us both up, I pulled him to me, spooning him tightly and drifted off to the best sleep of my life.
PHILIP
We were all on edge the next morning. Despite having the best sleep of my life snuggled up in Ryan’s arms, I felt agitated. I tried my best not to let it show. Ryan had been pacing all morning as we waited f
or Abby to finish getting dressed.
When she finally came downstairs, she looked so cute in her dress that Ryan bought her to wear to court. Her face looked anguished and worried. “Hey, Abby bean, it will be all right. I don’t think a judge would make a sweet little girl go to a group home when she has people who love her.” There was a knock at the door and I looked at Ryan in confusion.
Opening the door, I was shocked at who was standing on the other side. “Courtney? What are you guys doing here?” Courtney, Brice, and Derek were standing there smiling broadly.
“We came for you all.” Courtney smiled. I hugged them all feeling a little lighter knowing that there were people who supported us.
“We ready to blow this popsicle stand or what?” Brice clapped me on the shoulder. Ryan hugged his sister and we all piled into the cars.
When we reached the courthouse, I noticed Sissy standing outside the courtroom door waiting with Daniel. Ryan walked over and thanked her for coming and we went in and proceeded to wait for the next hour. Abby was fidgeting so Courtney sat her down on a bench and started playing one of those hand clap games to get her mind off of it. It seemed to do the trick because they were giggling together when the courtroom doors opened. I breathed a heavy sigh as I grabbed both Abby and Ryan’s hands as we filed into the court room.
After we were situated, the bailiff made his speech and we all stood as the judge made her way to the bench. Daniel walked to one of the tables in the front and motioned for me and Ryan to follow suit.
“I understand you’re appealing the decision that removed Abby Reynolds from your care, Mr. Marks.”
“Yes, your honor. Abby was to be placed in a group home if I didn’t do something.”
“Your honor?” Daniel cut in. “I have performed numerous home visits at the home where Abby is currently residing. And since she’s been there she is the happiest I have seen her since being placed in the system.”
“And what about the allegations from the university?”
“They’re completely baseless. I have a written statement from the board of directors,” I said formally and grabbed the statement from my file. The bailiff walked over and took the paper, then handed it to the judge. She looked it over nodding.
“We don’t usually allow single men to foster little girls. The only reason I’m even entertaining this idea is because the alternative could do more harm than good. I would like to speak to the girl in my chambers. Mr. Evans, you can come with her as well. I’m going to call a recess until which time I can have a chat with Abby Reynolds.” She hit her gavel and Daniel led Abby to the side door where the judge had just disappeared. We smiled encouragingly at her as she left the courtroom looking absolutely terrified. We all filed out of the courtroom to wait in the hallway. Ryan was pacing again as he continuously ran his hands through his hair.
“Stop that, your messing up your hair,” Courtney scolded and started fussing over Ryan; he batted her hands away and she stumbled over her feet. Brice caught her grinning from ear to ear.
“You deserved that one, babe. Leave the man alone. He’s worried about his kid.” Brice couldn’t have been more right. Abby was ours. I just hoped that the judge could see it too.
ABBY
I was so scared as Mr. Evans led me into the judge’s room off to the side of the courtroom. I didn’t know she was going to ask to talk to me without Ryan and Philip. The only thing that had made me feel better was that I would be with them.
“Have a seat, Abby. I just want to ask you some questions, okay?” I nodded my head doing what I was told. I needed to be brave and tell the judge everything. It was the only way I would get to stay with them. I had heard kids talk about group homes before, and they scared me even more than Harold did.
“Abby, how old are you?” She had a kind smile and I felt myself relaxing.
“Nine.”
“When did you first meet Philip?” That question made me sad. It made me think about my mom. I took a deep breath, and Daniel nodded his head at me.
“My mommy died from a drug overdose and Mr. Evans found me a foster home. They didn’t like me but started taking me to these meetings on Saturdays where people could talk about their family members who did drugs. That’s where I met Philip, he led those meetings. After I got sent away from that home because I cried all the time, I was in two more before I met Ryan at one of the meetings. That was the home where Harold...” I started to cry. The memories of that place were too much. Daniel put his hand on my shoulder and rubbed it softly. “Ryan saved me. He believed me when I didn’t think anyone would.”
“Have Ryan or Philip ever touched you or hurt you the way Harold did?” The judge asked gently. I looked up at her in horror.
“No! They would never do that. They are the only ones besides Martha who ever treated me good. Ryan saved me from getting hurt again.”
“It’s okay, Abby. These are standard questions in this situation. I had to be sure before I decide where to put you. It’s not very common to let two single men raise a little girl.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Why doesn’t it matter what I want? Where I want to be? That’s the best home I have ever been in. I want to be with them.”
The judge smiled at me nodding her head in thought before she stood from her chair and holding her hand out to me. “Well then, let’s go tell them the good news.”
RYAN
My heart nearly stopped beating in my chest as the bailiff opened the doors to the court room. This was it. We would either be able to keep Abby or she was going to a group home. Courtney and Sissy each took turns giving me hugs and I walked on what felt like wooden legs to the table at the front of the court room. As soon as Abby saw us come in, she ran to us with a beaming smile. I picked her up in my arms and spun her around. She giggled wildly.
The judge smacked her gavel but was smiling. I took that as a good sign. “Well Abby? Do you want to tell them or should I?”
“I get to stay!” she cried out excitedly. All the air left my lungs as I crushed her to my chest. A tear slid down my cheek. Abby looked up and put both of her palms squishing my cheeks.
“Why are you crying?” she asked innocently.
“I’m just so happy, princess.” Philip wrapped his arms around the both of us. We left the courtroom as a family with all of the people we were closest to in the world by our side supporting us.
“I guess I’m Auntie Court now, huh?” Courtney laughed ruffling my hair.
“Cut it out,” I groaned. Everyone laughed. I felt lighter than I ever had before. Everything was on the right track. We had Abby permanently and we were breaking ground on the new house soon. I couldn’t be happier about the start of the rest of our lives together.
PHILIP
One year later...
Standing outside the new clinic waiting to use the giant scissors to cut the ribbon and officially open The Martha Robinson’s Clinic for Neglected and Abused Children, I looked around at all the people sitting in the chairs in front of me waiting for the ribbon cutting ceremony to start. Courtney and Brice were in the front row with their two-month-old daughter. Abby was sitting next to them bouncing up and down talking animatedly to Miguel, a six-year-old we fostered not long after the house was done being built six-months before. It took him a little while to open up to us, but once he did he was a little ray of sunshine. I finger waved at them and they giggled wildly. Ryan chuckled next to me waving at the kids himself. The flash of his wedding band caught the light. I looked down at my own gold band. We had decided to make it official not long after Miguel came to live with us. It was a simple ceremony, just close friends and family at the court house. We didn’t need a big wedding, since we both agreed our relationship had caught enough attention in the past.
“You ready to do this?” Ryan’s hand caressed my back. The only reason we wanted the whole ribbon cutting was to honor the woman who had made it all possible. “For Martha,” he whispered qui
etly and we both grabbed the scissors and cut the ribbon together. The crowd cheered. Abby and Miguel ran up to us throwing their arms around our waists. While Abby would always have a soft spot for Ryan, Miguel seemed to bond easier with me. We didn’t have favorites though; we loved both kids equally.
We opened the doors for the first time to the public and watched as Ryan showed his sister around the offices. There were toys and video games in the waiting area and each room had a different theme. We’d gone to meticulous detail on the décor, wanting to make sure the kids felt comfortable and safe talking with the counselors. I walked into my office and breathed a sigh. “Hey, everything turned out even better than I imagined.” Ryan wrapped his arms around me from behind. I turned in his arms smiling before kissing him softly on the lips.
“It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For pushing me to get past the age difference and for loving me. For always supporting me and a million other things. I love you so much.” Ryan’s embarrassed smile lit his face and I couldn’t help myself I kissed him again.
“Eew, Dad that’s gross.” Abby laughed, having begun calling me Dad a few months back after we sent in adoption papers.
“Then you shouldn’t eavesdrop on private moments,” Ryan said turning around and tickling Abby until she squealed. “You guys ready to go home?”
We all nodded and made our way to the front door before locking it behind us. We had the perfect family and I wouldn’t change anything for the world.
THE END
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