by W. S. Long
Caleb didn’t shower very long, knowing that he had a tight schedule this morning. As soon as he toweled dry and put on socks and suitable clothes, he walked back out to the kitchen, transferring the Korean language CDs he left on the kitchen countertop the night before onto the coffee table away from Taylor. Taylor threw her hands up in the air, wriggling her fingers. He couldn’t believe that the baby had grown up so fast since they adopted her through the Korean orphanage a few months ago.
“Okay, done with breakfast?” Caleb loosened the swing’s belt and picked up Taylor, placing the mostly empty baby bottle on the counter top. Sebastian scraped the eggs and bacon into their plates, and put extras to the side. Sebastian must have gotten up earlier because he was already dressed and ready to leave for the other side of town. As Caleb burped Taylor, he ate two mouthfuls of scrambled eggs before he heard the patter of feet outside their door, and a key scratching the keyhole.
Caleb glanced at their door, making sure the inner security latch wasn’t bolted. JW and Langston, wearing matching school uniforms, entered as JW squared away his copy of the apartment key that dangled from a chain. “Morning!” Sebastian said. “I made extra scrambled eggs and bacon.”
“Ooh, bacon!” Langston said. “I love bacon.”
Both JW and Langston dropped their small book bags on by the door, then sat on the bar stools in Caleb and Sebastian’s co-op. Sebastian poured apple juice into small cups and pushed them in front of the twins.
“Mom or Olivia up?” Sebastian asked.
“No, they’re both still sleeping.” JW drank his juice, then spoke again. “Uncle Cujo made cereal for us. I think they are still plane lagged.”
“You mean jet-lagged. The word is jet-lagged, JW.” Cujo handed Langston a napkin as bacon grease appeared on the corner of Langston’s mouth since Langston decided not to use the fork next to his plate and instead used his fingers to stuff his face with lots of bacon.
“You taking us to school, Uncle Caleb?” Langston asked.
“Of course I am, like I promised. Uncle Sebastian here has to go to work after his doctor’s appointment, so you’re stuck with me. Besides I have to sign up for two more classes, and I’m done with college.”
“You weren’t able to register for the next semester online?”
“Their website kept crashing. I’ll drop off the twins, take the subway to the university, have lunch, then pick up the twins. If the weather’s not too hot, baby Taylor and I might lie under some trees at Central Park.”
“Okay, let me put some baby sunblock in the bag.” Sebastian approached Caleb and took Taylor from his arms, while Caleb took the offered baby sling wrap and put it on. Once he was satisfied on how it wrapped, Caleb got Taylor back from Sebastian as the twins washed their hands. Taylor nestled her head against Caleb’s chest and Caleb ensured Taylor’s legs were relaxed and pressed inside the sling.
“You guys ready to go?” Caleb asked.
“Yes,” Langston said.
“I am,” JW said. They grabbed their bags and followed out the door. Sebastian picked up the bag with more food for Taylor and her diapers.
“All right, let’s go.” They all walked the door, Sebastian following behind by a few steps. As soon as Caleb stepped out with Taylor and the twins, the apartment door across the hall opened. Cujo and Tristan stepped out.
“Good morning,” Sebastian said. “Shouldn’t you guys be in bed?”
“Yeah, you guys are up early for a flight that came in at two in the morning,” Caleb said.
“I know, our bodies think we are on Paris time, too,” Tristan said. “We’ve been craving bagels and lox since our flight back, so that’s where we’re headed. We might as well get this fix and eat as much New York food as possible before Cujo heads out to Charlotte. You going to take them to school?”
“Yes, I am,” Caleb said. “If I knew you newlyweds were going to be up, I would have suggested you guys. Sebastian made some scrambled eggs and bacon.”
“We’re good,” Tristan said. “But we are craving authentic New York deli food.”
“When are we going to get a chance to look at your London and Paris honeymoon pictures?” Sebastian asked.
“May be later tonight? Olivia and Daisy want to look at them, too. We thought about showing them this morning, but they’re still asleep.”
Caleb took the steps down. “Langston, JW, you want to hold my hand?”
Only Langston accepted the offer. “JW?”
“I don’t need to. I’m old enough!” JW shouted. “I don’t need to hold anyone’s hand.”
Caleb shrugged as Tristan and Cujo laughed. “Okay, no need to yell and wake everyone up in this building,” Caleb said.
Sebastian, Tristan, and Cujo followed the twins, Caleb, and Taylor out the building. As soon as everyone was outside the building, Sebastian handed the baby bag to Caleb. Tristan and Cujo stood by the steps as Caleb and the twins navigated the hill and made their way to the subway station. Only Langston continued to hold Caleb’s hand.
* * * *
Sebastian eyed Caleb in the distance.
“What are you doing?” Tristan asked Sebastian.
“Watching, that’s all. Both these boys have strong opinions on what’s cool and not cool.”
“Oh? What now?” Cujo asked.
As soon as Caleb arrived at the top of the hill, JW grabbed Caleb’s hand. With one hand holding Langston, and the other holding JW, Sebastian smiled. “See, JW always wants to look cool, and tough, but he adores Caleb. Langston, too, but Langston doesn’t care if he’s seen holding hands, at least until they both arrive at school.”
“Caleb makes being a good dad look easy, doesn’t he?” Cujo said.
“He does,” Tristan said.
In the distance, Langston bent down to adjust the Velcro strap he had on his shoes, while JW still had Caleb’s hand as they stopped and waited.
Caleb turned slightly and waved.
Sebastian waved back. He had worried about this crossroads that he and Caleb found themselves in a year ago. He was glad that Caleb was happy, didn’t obsess about work, and money like he used to. Now that Taylor was in their lives, Caleb was happier. There was so much to be thankful for: Caleb and Sebastian had a co-op across from Olivia, Daisy, Cujo, Tristan, and the twins. Olivia and Daisy were “out” at work, and the twins were ecstatic that their mom was happy with Olivia. Cujo was driving again with Garrison, but for another team. Tristan often followed Cujo at these events and became a semi-fixture in the racing circuit. Joan started dating a new guy and she apparently was very happy with the beau and excited that she was finally finishing her MBA. And Earl loved playing the doting grandfather. He had an extra set of clothes hanging in their spare bedroom for his frequent visits to New York. Garrison and Joan threatened to leave some clothes behind, too, so it was easier to visit their niece. Sebastian’s family visits, and Caleb’s family visits helped Caleb and Sebastian when they wanted to get away, even if getting away was a night at a hotel by themselves for couples’ time. The fact that Olivia and Daisy, or Tristan and Cujo could pinch hit as baby sitters was an added relief when Sebastian had to go handle a station emergency as assistant manager, and if Caleb had to work and couldn’t be with Taylor.
Most of all he was happy because of Caleb. Although he was resistant to be being a dad, Caleb now relished being a parent.
He couldn’t wait to tell Caleb later that night that they’d been approved to adopt a second child from Korea.
THE END
ABOUT W.S. LONG
A military brat who entered the military himself, W.S. Long practices law in Florida, reads and writes male/male romance, and believes in happily-ever-afters. Married to a great husband, he enjoys theme parks, movies, geeky stuff, and traveling when not working or writing. For more information, visit wslong.tumblr.com.
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