by David Horne
Zack didn’t even flinch when he scooped up Adrian and told him that they could take his panda plush to a hospital where they could make him all better. It calmed the child down as he listened to Zack’s soothing words.
After getting dressed, they both went to a slew of shops to try and see if they could find someone who could fix the plush toy, they luckily were shown to an old lady that fixed toys in her spare time now that she had retired.
The lady was more than happy to make Adrian’s panda all better, she even let them watch. Once the toy was fixed and in even better shape than before, Zack thanked the lady, Adrian did as well with a big grin on his face as he held his panda friend to his chest. Zack wanted to pay for the fix but the lady just smiled and waved him off. Saying that the little boy being so happy to have his toy whole again was more than enough payment.
Tom dropped by the next day with a great big box of cookies as his way of saying thank you. The lady tried a cookie and hummed in delight. She thanked Tom for the cookies as he left.
The family embraced Adrian with the same love they had Zack, Greg had seen the error in his way and went out of his way to be little Adrian’s favorite uncle.
Looking down at the messy mop of dark blond hair, Zack kissed the crown on little Adrian’s head making him giggle. The little boy peeked up from behind the panda plush’s head. The eyes crinkling at the side, the sign that Adrian had a wide smile on his face.
“Morning little man.” Zack ruffled Adrian’s hair, making it even more of mess. Tom smiled as he watched his small family goof around, Zack tickling Adrian, making him giggle even more as he tried in vain to get away from Zack’s nimble fingers.
With gasping breath, Adrian cried uncle and Zack stopped. Big brown doe eyes looked up at Tom and a goofy smile came onto the little angelic face. “Daddy, I’m hungry.”
Tom huffed and puffed in a display of exaggerated groans as he got up, slumping this way and that, all to get the tinkling bell like laugh of Adrian.
Adrian and Zack followed after Tom as he went into the kitchen to start with the traditional Sunday breakfast pancakes, chocolate chip this morning with some bacon and juice for Adrian and coffee, sweet, sweet glorious coffee for Zack and Tom.
Breakfast was devoured and plates washed and put away. They decided to go to the market to see what goodies they could find. It was in the middle of fall, the leaves have fallen and the ground, reds, oranges, yellows and browns littered the ground as Adrian kicked up leaves and laughed as they came tumbling down. He would stomp around in search of a crunchy leaf.
They reached the market and scoured the market for what they would make for Sunday lunch. They found some fresh produce and even a few handmade toys that Adrian had taken a liking to.
Once done, they walked calmly to the butchers for the roast they would make. Adrian was babbling on and on about his favorite cartoon character. Zack and Tom just listened with smiles on their faces.
When they came home, Zack went to the living room to watch a little TV while Adrian helped Tom put things away, he watched as Tom prepped the roast and then put it into the oven.
Tom looked at Adrian who was looking up at him, a smile on his face. He bent down so he could whisper to Adrian.
“Want to bake some cookies with me? Make dad his favorite cookies to surprise him?” He got a smile for an answer.
They waited until Zack clocked off on the couch as he always does. They got to backing, they tried to be as silent as possible, luckily Tom had doors installed so when he was trying out new recipes late into the night, he could muffle the noise coming from the kitchen.
The glorious smell of spicy yet sweet gingerbread cookies woke Zack from his afternoon nap, he blinked his eyes open to see his little Adrian standing in front of him with a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. He smiled as his heart filled with joy at the sight of the little boy.
“Come here you.” Zack patted the space next to him. Adrian gave the glass and plate to Zack and climbed up the couch where he scooted closer until he was leaning against Zack’s chest. Tom joined in with two more glasses of milk and a smile on his face, he took his normal seat next to the other side of Zack and they got down to watching some cartoons, well more like listening to Adrian explain his cartoons to them.
It didn’t matter that it was getting colder outside, the last of the leaves falling down, it was warm inside, they had good cookies and were snuggled up warm in safe. Inside their little harbor, away from the storms outside.
