Page 51 of Dreams Do Come True

“How long is the adoption process now? Do you need assessments and stuff before you go before a judge and have the adoption legalised?” Alfred asks.

I shake my head. “All the paperwork has already been signed, and the boys are officially ours. It’s why we were so late backyesterday. Just before we were due to leave, our case worker turned up with everything finalised.”

“I thought it would take longer than that,” Sal says.

“It probably should, but Monica helped get everything processed quickly,” Kean tells him.

“Justin, our case worker, will still need to do checks every two weeks for about six months, but that’s just procedure,” I add.

As we’re talking, Cal and Clarence deliver our drinks and cakes. I’ve no idea who ordered for me, but I’m not complaining as the cupcake in front of me looks incredible. The decoration looks like a mini work of art.

“Cal, this looks too nice to eat,” I tell him.

He beams. “Thanks, but they were made to be eaten. Also, a lady from out of town came in earlier. Someone had told her about my cakes, and she ordered a three-tier birthday cake, with forty cupcakes for her goth son’s birthday.”

“That’s amazing, Cal,” Sal says, jumping up and hugging his brother, while the rest of us offer our congratulations.

“I’m letting Clarence sort out prices,” Cal says, beaming at his partner.

Clarence is looking at Cal with a look of love and pride on his face.

“We can hire you to make our wedding cake,” Kean says to him, before looking at Clarence. “We can let you know the date and what we want, then we can sort the payment out.”

“Oh no, I won't charge you, you’re family, but I’ll happily make your wedding cake.”

Kean looks at Callum. “We’re paying you for the cake, Cal.”

Callum shakes his head. “Clarence will charge you a small amount then, like ten pounds or something.”

Kean looks at Clarence. “We’ll talk proper amounts.”

“We will,” he agrees.

“But Ernest gets a birthday cake for free, for helping me see I should give cake decorating a try and helping me solve my buttercream problem.”

“Okay, I’ll accept that then. But the drama society will be hiring you to make a cake for the opening of our play.” Ernest says.

I see Callum bite his lip. “I might need a diary.”

“I’ll handle everything, baby boy, you just concentrate on making the cakes,” Clarence says, slipping an arm around Cal’s waist and kissing the side of his head.

Cal nods, leaning against him. “I can do that, thanks, honey.”

“Down, Unk Addy,” Lyric suddenly demands.

Adhan gently puts him down, and he toddles around to Kean.

“Up Clean,” he says, smiling.

Kean laughs and picks him up and sits him on his lap. “This is your Uncle Clarence and Uncle Callum. Guys, this is our son Lyric.”

“I love your name,” Cal says to him.

Lyric laughs and the next moment, quickly falls forward and splats his face in Kean’s colourful cupcake.

Everyone laughs as Kean pulls him up and picks the cupcake off his face.

Lyric has buttercream all over his face and uses his hands to wipe it off, smudging it around and licking his fingers.