Page 32 of A Dye Hard Holiday

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 DAYof 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 and 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?”