Page 103 of Rejection and Redeemed

Fran beamed. “Babe, you don’t need to thank me.”

Before Jacob could reply, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Fran called out.

The door opened and Clairmont walked in carrying a tray of food. James carried another and another man walked behind, pushing a food trolley with more covered dishes on warming plates.

“Dinner, gentlemen,” Clairmont announced as they walked to the table.

He placed covered dishes on the table.

“Now, your starters are here. You have lobster tails with a Mediterranean salad. The main course is roasted lamb and beef with all the trimming and dessert is lemon and lime cheesecake. Everything you need is here. Would you like one of us to stay and serve?”

Fran shook his head and sniffed. “No thanks, Clairmont. This is all perfect and we can serve ourselves.”

The butler nodded. “Excellent. Enjoy your dinner, gentlemen.”

“Thanks, Clairmont,” they both said and watched as he ushered the other two men out of the room.

Fran turned to Jacob. “You had them make all my favourite foods?”

Jacob touched his cheek. “I saw Laura and she helped me to create this special dinner for you. I wanted to show you how special I think you are, sweetheart. Well, when I say she helped me create this special dinner, she did all the cooking, but I’ve asked her to show me how to make all these dishes for you.”

“Oh babe, you have no idea what this means to me.” He leant in overcome with emotions and kissed Jacob. “Now, let’s eat, I’m starving.”

Jacob laughed and held out a chair for Fran to sit in. He then took the covers off their starters and, putting them on the bottom shelf of the trolley, he sat down next to Fran.

“This looks amazing,” Fran said, looking at the starters.

“It does. Is now the time to admit that I’ve never had lobster? I should have asked Laura what your favourite foods were.”

“You’ll love it. Thankfully, we have no shells to deal with. Give it a try,” Fran urged, picking up his cutlery.

“Okay, I’m going in,” Jacob said, grinning and taking his first bite. “That’s not bad,” he said, swallowing. “Whatever the sauce is over the salad is lovely.”

“It’s Laura’s secret sauce. She won’t tell anyone what’s in it.”

“I don’t blame her. How was the hospital?”

Fran smiled. “Busy but good.”

“You know you can go back full time right? If you want to.”

Fran nodded. “I know, but I’m okay with just afternoons for a few days. I might look at going in all day after Rose’s funeral.”

They both finished their first course and Jacob started collecting the dirty plates while Fran jumped up to put the other dishes on the table.

“Sweetheart, I’m supposed to be doing all this,” Jacob said, putting clean plates on the table.

Fran caught Jacob around the waist and placed his hand on Jacob’s cheek. “I honestly don’t mind helping. Just the fact that you thought about me, that you wanted to do something nice forme, you have no idea how much that means to me. You honestly have no idea how proud of you I am. You’ve gone against your father’s teachings, you nearly died and you still managed to arrange all this.”

“You’re special and amazing. I never thought there was a way to live outside of my father’s toxic masculinity, but you sweetheart, have shown me what a true man is. I honestly never thought I would love someone as much as I love you, and I do, you know. I, Jacob Bishop, love you Francis Pullman with every fibre of my being,” Jacob tangled his hand in Fran’s hair and kissed him soundly.

Fran was overjoyed. He never thought Jacob would admit his love this soon, but he would grab onto it with both hands and never let go. He slowly tapered the kiss and smiled at Jacob. “My heart was made for you. My lips were made for your kisses, my eyes were made to see you, and my arms were made to wrap around you. Every part of me was made for you. I love you too, Jacob Bishop, now and always.”

Jacob smiled and leant forward, kissing Fran again.

Fran pulled back, grinning. “Do we really need to eat the main course now?”