STRAYS, page 21
“I’m hungry,” Oliver announces and begins pulling both her and Jay in the direction of the picnic tables. He notices that Izzy and I aren’t moving. “Dad, are you guys coming?”
“In a minute,” I tell him. “Save me a cookie.”
Izzy reaches for a kiss and then together we watch Oliver as he joins the group.
For a large chunk of my life I was completely alone and I didn’t think about wanting something different.
“Say hello to your father, Oliver.”
That is and will always be my pivotal point. When a sad and angry little boy looked up at me. And I saw myself in his eyes.
Now I think about life in a new way. I think about love. I think about a family.
Turning, I cup Izzy’s face in my hands and then brush my lips across hers. “I love you, Isabella.”
Her smile is just about the most valuable thing I’ve ever earned. “I love you too, Rafe.”
She’s startled when I pick her up in my arms but even with my ribs aching it has to happen. Her shoes are still off and I’m going to carry her. I’m going be that duke (or was it an emperor?) who makes heroic moves like this out of the blue and only for her.
Always for her.
22
Izzy
“Who was that guy again?” Rafe points to my cousin Thomas and thinks he’s being subtle when he asks this question but Gracie, Thomas’s girlfriend, is sitting right on my other side at the table.
She hears him. She laughs.
“That’s Thomas.” I pat Rafe’s arm. I know my family tree is confusing. There are many branches and endless names. “He’s the youngest brother of the groom.”
Rafe jerks his head to Uncle Cord. “And that’s his dad.”
He’s so proud of himself that I almost hate to burst his bubble. “No. That’s Uncle Cord. Thomas and Derek’s father is Uncle Chase.”
“That guy.” This time Rafe points to Uncle Creed. Cord, Chase and Creed are triplets. To me they don’t look alike. But I’m sure to someone who’s never met them before it’s a different story.
Rafe is trying really hard. I don’t want to discourage him. “Um, yeah.”
Gracie laughs again.
I pinch her. She’s a sweetheart. I’m so glad Thomas found a nice girl. He’s my favorite cousin.
I elbow Rafe. “There’s Derek over there. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet. Do you want to come?”
Rafe looks around and scratches his head. “I should probably locate Oliver.”
“He’s probably still hanging out with my parents. You’ll have to pry him away. They’ve claimed him as theirs.”
“I should go over there anyway. Your dad and I need to have a talk.”
“What about?”
He gives me a cryptic grin. “Man shit.”
“Well. Excuse me for not having testosterone.”
I roll my eyes and leave Rafe to his chuckling and his masculine pursuits. Derek gives me a nod as he sees me approaching. He’s been joined by his eternally sarcastic brother, Kellan, and I brace myself for some teasing.
“Izzy!” Kellan exclaims and tries to offer me a high five for reasons unknowns. “We were just talking about you.”
“No, we weren’t,” Derek assures me.
“Yes, we were,” Kellan insists. “We were taking bets on whether Uncle Deck will have your little boyfriend in a headlock before we cut the cake.”
I smile at him. “My boyfriend is hardly little, Kel. And no one will be putting anyone else in a headlock. For your information, my dad loves Rafe.”
“Rafe. What kind of a name is that? It’s like ‘rake’. But not.”
I have no idea how to respond to such a stupid comment. “So I heard Taylor lost her mind and agreed to marry you.”
He beams. “She did!”
“In that case, congratulations. May she never come to her senses.”
“Thanks. By the way, Izzy, I like your dress. It looks like the one Derek ruined that one Christmas when he threw some sauce-covered meatballs at you.”
I throw him a withering look. “That was you, Kel.”
“Was it? I apologize.” He looks up and sees Thomas beckoning from across the dance floor. “Hey, I’ve got to go. I have important things to do.”
We watch Kellan flee as if his pants are on fire.
I shake my head. “He’s still nuts.”
Derek snorts. “Forever.”
I grin at my cousin. We haven’t always gotten along but that was just good natured childhood bantering. In truth I adore all of my cousins. Even Kellan.
“Congratulations, Derek. Paige is wonderful. You two will be very happy together.”
“Thanks, Izzy.” He gives me a hug. Then he looks around and leans in a little. “Want to know a secret?”
“I don’t know. Is it about Kellan? Is it going to make me nauseous?”
“Neither.” He shoots a look at his beautiful bride. Paige is being embraced by Aunt Stephanie, who looks beyond thrilled to welcome her new daughter-in-law.
Derek heaves a happy sigh. “I’m going to be a father.”
My jaw drops. “No kidding?”
“Shh.” He puts a finger to his lips. “It’s not common knowledge yet.”
“Oh my god. Derek!” I hug him again. “You’ll be a great dad. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks.” He becomes a little wistful as he looks around at all the people we know and love. He zeroes in on the sight of his own father, who appears to be perplexed by something Kellan is whispering in his ear. “I’ve got a damn good example to live up to.”
“We all do.” I see my own parents now. They have joined the action on the dance floor. My dad’s not a guy who likes to dance in public. But it’s a semi-slow song and my mother loves to dance, especially at weddings, so he’s got his arms around her as they sway gently in time to the music. He says something and she looks up and laughs at him. They kiss and it’s not a quick kiss either. They’re in love. It’s the kind of love that I thought I might never find.
Until I did.
Derek excuses himself because Paige is motioning to him.
My father takes notice of me standing at the edge of the dance floor. He smiles but it’s a melancholy expression and I don’t know why. No one is sad here.
Kellan floats by. His grin reminds me of the mad Cheshire cat. “Wait till my brother sees his truck.”
I know that Derek is a gearhead and he doesn’t like having his vehicle messed with. “What did you do to it?”
He shrugs. “Nothing permanent. But I hope he’s not in a big hurry to get to the honeymoon because this will take some time to undo.”
Kellan then proceeds to make a spectacle of himself by coercing Taylor into waltzing around the dance floor with him when he clearly has no idea how to do it properly. It’s a good thing there are so many heat lamps out here because even though a tent has been set up in the giant backyard it’s still a December night and it’s chilly.
Kellan bumps into my dad, who glares at him. He seeks protection behind Taylor. Thomas and Gracie are trying to persuade some of my teenage cousins, Rider and Ethan, to join the fun but they balk. Then Uncle Creed decides to step in and drag them to the dance floor whether they want to be there or not. Aunt Truly grabs his hand and announces that now that he’s set foot on the dance floor he’s not leaving until she gives him permission. Their daughter, my cousin Zoe, looks to me and winks before a couple of my youngest cousins start begging her to twirl them around.
I’m just standing by, laughing at all the madness, when I feel little arms around my waist and a child’s voice says, “Izzy!” in a way that makes me feel like the most loved person in the world.
I bend down to hug the little boy. He looks extra adorable in the little suit we got him for the occasion. He’s been having the time of his life ever since we got here. My folks have a stack of Christmas presents for us to carry back to Texas when we start the drive back the day after tomorrow. Most of them are for Oliver. They will be flying out on Christmas Eve to spend the holiday with us but it would be a pain to check all those gifts with their luggage.
I straighten up and crane my neck around. “Where’d your dad go?”
Hands around my waist, a rumbling voice in my ear. “Right here, baby.”
I melt. Every time I melt.
“Dance with me,” begs Oliver and pulls us to the dance floor.
Of all the Gentry family weddings I’ve been to, and there have been many, this one is my favorite.
At the end of the wedding reception, Derek is not especially pleased to discover that his brothers have covered every inch of his truck with plastic cling wrap. The doors can’t even be opened. Rafe is among the volunteers who help clear it off while Kellan stands around and offers helpful guidance while holding a giant piece of wedding cake in a napkin.
We’re staying at my parents’ house, which is nice because we get to spend even more time with them and because I want Rafe and Oliver to see where I come from. Oliver sleeps in my old bedroom and I know my folks are thrilled to have a child in the house again. In a nod to both reality and my adulthood status, Rafe and I are given the large guest room with a king sized bed.
Before we left for Arizona I informed Rafe that there was absolutely zero chance I’d be willing to have sex in my parents’ house.
I lied.
Oh, how I lied.
But I did warn him I would make him suffer if he moaned out loud.
He must have taken my threat seriously. He didn’t make a sound, not even when I got on top and rode him like I was a jockey on derby day.
Afterwards, when I’m sweaty and satisfied and still slightly breathless, I get comfortable against his broad chest and stroke his skin.
“What did you need to talk to my dad about?” I yawn.
He had been running his fingers through my hair and now he stops. “I needed to ask him something.”
“Advice?”
“No.”
I’m curious now. I prop my chin on his chest and feel the thump of his heartbeat underneath. “Then what?”
“A blessing.”
“You needed to ask Deck Gentry for a blessing?”
“Yeah, I think that’s what they call it.”
“I don’t understand.”
Rafe slides out of bed and searches around on the dark floor. I don’t know what he’s doing. He’s naked. He must be searching for his clothes.
“I think I threw your boxers in that corner.” I point out the location helpfully and then realize it’s too dark for him to see where I’m pointing.
He switches on a bedside lamp. He’s got something in his hand and he kneels beside the bed.
“Isabella. We haven’t been together for very long and if you can’t give me an answer right away I will understand. “ He takes a deep breath and shows me the little box in his palm. “I love you, Izzy. I already know that I want to spend my life with you. And if you think that maybe there’s a chance that someday you could say the same-“
He can’t talk anymore because I’ve covered his mouth. I kiss him like crazy and fall off the bed into his embrace. We hit the floor with a thud and I laugh because now we are really not being quiet at all.
“YES!” I kiss him again and again. “Yes, Rafe. I love you. I’m ready to say yes today.”
When I finally get a chance to look at the ring I see that it’s beautiful. Rafe admits that he got some help from Lana when picking it out. He starts to apologize for it not being a big, expensive rock. Silly boy.
I shush him with a finger to his lips. “I love it. I love you.”
We kiss slowly, tenderly. We make love again, this time with a gentle kind of passion.
And then, when I’m once again in his arms, I inform him of one very serious fact. “There is someone else besides my dad who needs to give his blessing.”
He gets my meaning. “Oliver.”
I smile. “Oliver.”
Epilogue
Rafe
“Happy birthday, dear Oliver. Happy birthday to you.”
The last note fades and Oliver considers the six burning candles for a full minute before sucking in a huge breath and blowing them all out. Applause erupts in the room.
“Happy birthday, Oliver,” Caris calls as she stands nearby in Jay’s arms. He touches her cheek and they share a quick kiss.
“What’d you wish for?” Shane wants to know.
“He can’t tell us,” Lana scolds him. “Or it won’t come true.”
“Oliver, say hello to Grandpa Deck and Grandma Jenny.” Izzy is holding up a tablet so that her parents can participate in Oliver’s birthday celebration via videoconferencing.
My son looks up and waves. “Thank you for my presents!”
“We love you, Oliver,” says Izzy’s mom.
Deck grins and waves on the screen. “Eat a piece of cake for me, okay kid?”
After digging the candles out of the cake, which was generously baked by Shane, I begin carving out pieces. The birthday boy gets the first slice of chocolate on chocolate with cherry filling. Izzy is still wrapping up the conference call with her parents so I pass out wedges of cake to the others first.
And then, before I take one for myself, I hand a piece of cake to my wife.
I married Izzy Gentry four months ago, the day after Christmas. Her parents were already here visiting for the holidays. We didn’t want to wait. So we went down to the county courthouse and promised to love each other forever. Oliver was proud to stand by my side as the best man.
Her folks had one condition. Weddings are a hell of a big deal in Izzy’s family. We needed to promise to come to Arizona this summer and have a second ceremony in front of Izzy’s dozens of relatives. They’d all never forgive us if we didn’t.
That didn’t sound like a bad compromise to me.
Izzy and her mother have been busy planning out every detail for the June wedding in Arizona. The other day she modeled her dress for me. When I asked if that was bad luck or something she shushed me and said there was no such thing. Not for us. She looked like a dream in her dress. Sometimes I still can’t believe she’s mine.
My cake slice is untouched because I’m watching my son. He’s shoveling forkfuls of chocolate as fast as he can. Izzy kisses his cheek and tickles him. He laughs with his mouth full.
If I try to think back to what I was doing exactly one year ago I can’t remember. This would have been just an unremarkable day on the calendar in my solitary life. I had no idea that it was my son’s birthday. I had no idea that in a few months I would be confronted by the challenges of parenthood. I had no idea that I would meet a girl who would change the way I looked at the world. And the way I thought of myself.
Izzy calls me over. “Rafe, you are needed for this picture.”
Oliver stops devouring his cake long enough to wipe his face with a napkin and smile. My hand is on his shoulder and my arm is around my wife.
“Smile, Hempstead family,” Caris commands before she snaps multiple shots with her cell phone.
Family.
It’s only a word, yet it’s everything.
Jay finds me in a little while and we lean against the wall together in identical poses.
I nudge him with my elbow. “Your wedding’s up next.”
He glances at Caris, who is in the middle of a lively chat with Izzy and Lana. “Four weeks. I’m ready.” He nudges me back. “Hey, I know tomorrow’s Sunday but do you want to grab some lunch and talk a little business?”
Last month my brother made me one heck of a generous offer. He wants to expand his carpentry business but doesn’t feel like he can take on the burden alone. He’s asked me to be his partner. I’m going to work hard as hell for it. I don’t want something for nothing. And I won’t let him down. Not ever. I’ve got another week left of my current job and after that I’ll be working with my brother every day. We’re going to build things together. A business. A brotherhood. A future.
“Name the time,” I tell him.
He grins. “I’ll call you.”
After the presents have all been opened and Oliver has had his fill of chocolate cake, the rest of the party leaves and it’s just the three of us.
“Kitchen duty or bed time?” Izzy asks me.
“What do you want?”
“I asked you first.”
“Then I’ll take bed time.”
“Lucky.” She pokes me in the stomach and then begins rinsing off cake plates.
Oliver wants bubbles in his bath before bedtime so I pour half the bottle in. There’s now a mountain of suds that wind up spilling out on the floor but he’s delighted. When he’s had enough of smearing soap bubbles on the wall he gets into his pajamas and brushes his teeth.
“You ready for bed?” I ask him. He’s got some toothpaste on his chin.
“I gotta say goodnight to Izzy.” Oliver runs off to locate his stepmother while I wait in the hallway.
Izzy exclaims over his new pajamas, which are covered in sharks, his new obsession. She wishes him a happy birthday once again and reminds him that he’s so very loved.
“I love you too, Izzy.”
The two of them share a very special bond. Izzy encourages him to talk about Dana. She helped him write a letter this morning. It was addressed to his mother and so it will never be opened. But he wanted to tell her about being honored with Student Of The Week at school and let her know that he’s six years old today. The letter has been placed in a special box that was carefully decorated by Oliver. Izzy tells him that anytime he wants to share something with his mother he should write it down and place it in the box.
Oliver scampers off to bed and waits for me to tuck him in.
“Happy birthday, buddy.” I kiss his cheek and nestle the stalwart Cliff at his side.
Oliver wraps his arms around my neck. “I love you, Dad.”
I bottle this moment up inside my head and vow to keep it forever. “I love you too, son.”
His eyes are already shut when I turn out the light.
Izzy is not in the kitchen or anywhere else in the apartment. I find her out on the back patio.
