Page 20 of Manny Included

Bay stood and opened his arms.“Who cares if it’s weird?You’ve been the only adult here for a days.I get it.”

Pete needed the hug more than he needed to be macho, so he pushed in, soaking up the comfort of another person, just trembling with the effort of holding himself together.

Bay’s arms wrapped around him, bringing him in against a strong body.Bay’s hold tightened, the hug strong, sure.

Finally, Pete relaxed, and he leaned hard.“Thank you.”

Bay grunted something that might have been “You’re welcome,” and just kept holding onto him, giving him the human connection that he so desperately needed.

So he stood there, breathing in and out, and time seemed to stop—maybe he fell asleep, because the next thing he knew, Belle was calling his name.

“Petey!What’s for breakfast?”

“No rest for the wicked, eh?”Bay gave him a wink.“I’m going to get a housekeeper and a cook.I know we have food coming, but it would be easier for both of us with the help.”

“Oh…” Wouldn’t that be amazing?Just a little help.“We can do that?”

“I’m very good at what I do.Money is no object, so we can do whatever the fu-dge we want.”

“Oh, very good.”He started chuckling.

“Petey!What’s for breakfast?”That was Eric.

“French toast?”

“You can make french toast?”Bay asked, looking impressed.“That’s get-it-at-a-restaurant food!”

“Pete makes yummy frenchie toast!”Belle said, making him chuckle.

“I’ll get it started as soon as I check on the babies, okay?”

“French toast at home.How cool is that?”Bay turned to Belle.“You want to show me how to set the table?”

Belle blinked at Bay, then smiled.“Okay.Sure.We need plates.They’re in here.Merida needs the purple plastic one…”

Pete went to check on the babies, finding little Flynn awake, wet, and wanting attention.

Merida was awake, talking away to herself and a sunbeam in her own language.

“Good morning, my beauties.How are you this morning?”

Even in his sorrow, they were lights.

Merida climbed up in her crib and and cried out, “Petey!”

Flynn just gurgled at him.

“Hello, sweetheart!You hungry, pretty girl?”

“Foods!”She wrapped her hands around his neck, holding on as he picked her up.

“Fff!”Flynn cried out.

“I’ve got you both!Don’t worry.No one starves in this house.”

He carried them downstairs to find that Bay and Belle had managed to set the table for all of them, special plates and all.

Merida waved at Bay, offered him a smile.