Page 17 of Having HIs Back

“Is tomorrow Christmas, Daddy?” Phillip asked as he had each night since Thanksgiving. The first time either of the boys had called him that, Kerry had cried. Now it warmed his heart, each and every time.

“Yes. Tomorrow is Christmas, and Santa Claus is going to bring your presents as long as you get to sleep.” Kerry yawned to show his nephew that he was tired and ready for bed. Henry was already in bed and had settled down for the night. But Phillip was still awake, even after Kerry had put him to bed an hour ago. “The tree is up, and you left cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. So, settle in bed.” Pebbles took that opportunity to come in and jump on the bed, settling at the bottom. “Pebbles will keep watch.”

“Okay. But I want to see Santa. I want him to give a message to my angel mommy. Santa is magic, the teacher said so.” His daycare leader must have told him. They referred to Lila as “teacher” since Henry started first grade and came home with all kinds of stories about his teacher.

“I know. But Santa won’t come if you’re still awake. Your angel mommy is watching out for you, I promise.” He knew for sure that Caroline was looking out for all of them. The lease on Caroline’s place had had three weeks to go when Aunt Marilyn’s renters finally moved out. They were able to see it, and it was perfect. So, he and Marilyn settled on a price, and until everything went through, they agreed to rent it from her. It might have been called a Cape Cod style house, with a main floor where the boys’ rooms were and a large open second floor that was their suite with bedroom and a full bath. It even had a basement, kind of unusual for the area, that had been partially finished, which they were using as a family room and play area for the boys. As soon as he saw it, Kerry knew it was right, and just like the house he and Caroline had lived in, back east where they were born. To top it off, the house was on Carolina Drive.

He got Phillip settled and left the room, closing the door most of the way, leaving it open just enough that Pebbles could get out.

“Are they asleep?” Brian whispered as he came up behind him, his arms going around his waist, pulling his back against Brian’s firm chest.

“Not quite yet,” Kerry told him. Brian tightened his hold, and Kerry knew what he was getting for Christmas, and he looked forward to the unwrapping. “We need to give them a few minutes. Where did you put everything?” They had set out a few gifts under the tree, but most of them had been hidden.

“I locked them in the closet upstairs. Don’t go up there.” Apparently, there were enough that if he opened the door, an avalanche was possible. “We’ll give it a few minutes.”

“Oh, and what will we do?” Kerry asked.

Brian snickered and guided him to the sofa, where they both sat down and began making out almost immediately. Brian moved in just before Halloween, and they found it hard to keep their hands off each other. Not that Kerry was complaining for a single second. With Brian’s sometimes unpredictable schedule, he’s learned to enjoy the time they had rather than lamenting when Brian had to work.

“God, I love you,” Brian whispered.

Kerry leaned closer, loving Brian’s scent. “I love you too.” It had taken some time before they had said those words the first time, but now they felt so right, easy, and special. It felt like they had wasted those weeks.

“Kerry,” Brian whispered as Kerry pushed Brian’s shirt upward, exposing that powerful chest and ripped belly. “The boys.”

“They’re asleep,” Kerry said softly.

“Then we need to get the presents, and then you and I can unwrap each other.” Brian pulled down his shirt, and Kerry fake grumped, grabbing Brian’s butt as they climbed the stairs.

Brian carefully opened the closet, and they loaded up on gifts, took them down, and placed them under the tree. They had put all of their gifts, as well as those they received in the mail, aside so that Christmas morning would have a huge impact. It took a number of trips, but eventually, all the gifts were under the tree.

Brian’s parents were coming from Portland and would arrive late morning. They planned to stay a few days and would spoil the boys rotten, Kerry was pretty sure. They treated the boys like their grandchildren, and Kerry was thrilled that the boys would have grandparents.

“Is that it?” Kerry asked, glancing at the pile of presents that spilled out from under the tree in the living room. “I sure hope so.”

“Actually…,” Brian said. “There’s one more, but it isn’t under the tree.” Brian stood in front of him and then went down on one knee. Kerry went speechless, and Brian pulled out a small box from his pocket. “I want you to marry me. I want to be Phillip and Henry’s papa and watch them grow up and be part of their lives. And I want us to grow old together and have grandchildren.” Kerry couldn’t say anything. “Will you?”

“Yes,” Kerry stammered, and Brian slipped a simple gold ring set with diamonds on his finger. Then he stood, and Brian kissed him. He took his hand, and after turning out the lights, they went upstairs to celebrate.

Kerry woke in the morning. It was just lightening outside, but he got up, dressed, and turned on the lights and made sure the house was festive for when the boys woke. Brian was still in bed as he started the coffee. Once it was ready, he took a mug and stepped outside in the crisp morning air. The sky was a bright blue as he turned to the east. Mount Rainier was out in all its snow-covered glory, glimmering like a huge jewel.

“What are you doing out here?” Brian asked as he closed the door, pulling his robe closer around him before slipping one of his arms around Kerry’s waist.

“Look,” he said, pointing and saying no more. In that moment, it felt as though all the clouds were gone from their lives, and the future was as bright and clear as the mountain. “That was Caroline’s favorite view.” They stood together, watching until the squeals of the boys pulled them back inside.