Page 96 of Silver Fox's Baby

Yeah, it was fast. I knew who I wanted, so I proposed after one month, and we were married on the day we celebrated six months together, and I have no regrets, except maybe it not happening sooner.

Connor doesn’t mind not having his mother around one bit because he is stoked to have the best of both worlds. He writes or calls her when he feels like it, which is hardly ever now, and he has a true mother figure around. Someone who puts the boys first and loves them to pieces. And he absolutely adores her.

Dorian has already undergone his procedure. It was my wedding gift to my wife.

She tried to tell me it wasn’t necessary, but I flew the doctor here, and we made all the arrangements. After the surgery, Dorian was left only with minimal pain, most of which he’s outgrown now. At almost fourteen instead of after he was eighteen or twenty.

And it’s amazing to see the change in him. He loves to run and play ball.

“How does it feel, Mrs. Banks?” Fran steps up, embracing Melody in a hug. “I’m so proud of you for managing everything the way you did.”

Melody nods, a huge smile on her face. “It’s been a blast. And to think, at the end of summer, Mel’s Sweet Delights Bakery will be open.”

“Damn right.” I beam, lacing my arm around my wife’s waist.

“I get to help decorate, right?” Fran asks as Will joins her side.

I like the guy.

Melody’s friends have been around constantly, so it’s a good thing.

“Of course, you do. I just hope everyone loves my scones as much as you guys do.” She laughs.

I kiss the top of her head. “Iknowit’s going to be a success. You’re going to kill it.”

“Yeah, she will.” Fran has a huge grin on her face. “I bet it’s going to be nice not working with kindergartners all day long, too.”

“I’ll miss them,” Melody muses. “But yeah, I think I’ve found my calling. I plan to surprise the students at the school with baked goods when I can.”

“They’ll love that.” Fran smiles, and I do to.

I’m so proud of my wife and everything she’s accomplished. She just needed the chance to shine, and I’m glad I was able to give that to her.

“So...” Will leans in. “Does he know yet?”

Melody giggles. “He hasnoidea. He thinks this is all just for me.”

I smile. None of them have a clue that I have an extra surprise for them. “It was her idea to trick him like this, too, not mine,” I clarify, giving her a teasing look. That’s why I don’t feel bad keeping this from her too. “She really wanted the whole thing to be a full-blown surprise.”

“I love that for you guys,” Fran says, her voice thick with emotion. “You’re going to be the cutest little family.”

“Well, we alreadyarethe cutest little family,” I correct her with a chuckle. “But this will be the icing on the cake.”

***

Melody

I look over to Dorian, who’s eyeing the cake.

I made it a point to get a basic congratulations cake, just because I didn’t want him to see what’s coming.

Ever since Aiden and I got married, I saw a shift in Dorian.

He wants to be a part of our family in the same way that Connor is.

While I haven’t adopted Connor, because he has a mother already, even if she is more and more absent by the day, I love him just as much as I love Dorian, and he feels just as mine.

But Dorian... He still feels like he’s on the outside since he’s ‘only’ my brother. His words, not mine.

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