Page 58 of A Daddy for Maddy

“Vodka.”

Trent snickered. “You’re a martini guy. When you drink, that is. Coming up.”

As he made the drink, Trent said, “I’m glad you came. Ozzy has been looking forward to seeing Maddy so much. And I miss my friend, too.”

Trent and I had gotten tighter after Maddy’s near-death encounter with Griff. We texted often. We video chatted at least once a week to catch up on each other’s lives. Plus, he and Ozzy had visited my house several times. This was the first time we were visiting one of his homes. This one, in fact, was his childhood home. Passed down through generations of Winterbournes. It even had the name Winterbourne on the gate that led into the vast estate.

Trent brought our drinks over and handed me mine, then sat beside me.

We got a lot of shallow gossip out of the way first. Then we began talking about ourselves. Our lives.

“How are things with Ozzy?” I knew his boy had suffered a lot of trauma. Every day was about taking care of his boy, building reassurance and trust, and just plain loving him.

“He’s beautiful. This may seem like a big mansion full of ghosts and shadows, but Ozzy blooms here. More and more. Our relationship is solid. He’s my forever boy. Christmas is his favorite time of year.”

“Yours, too? I mean, the Christmas tree contest you sponsor and all that… it’s not hard to see.”

“I do love it. Even more now that Ozzy’s here. He helped me heal, too.”

I knew that. We’d talked so much over the past months. I’d never felt closer to anyone before, except Maddy.

“How are you and Maddy?” Trent asked.

“Maddy is so resilient. He seems unaffected by Griff and all that went down. My protective instincts came to full force and never really went back down after that night. But Maddy likes me that way. I don’t want to smother him, but the more I do, the more he tells me he loves me.”

Trent laughed quietly. “It’s a beautiful thing. Love. I thought I’d never find it again.” Trent had had a twin brother he’d loved more than life itself. That brother had died. No one could replace a twin, I figured. It was a unique bond. But to see him and Ozzy together, it was like light falling all around them from the way their love exuded from their very bodies.

“I was looking for it all my life. Nothing worked. Not boys. Not subs. Not vanilla.” I rolled my eyes. “But Maddy just walked into the club and gave me a look I have never forgotten.”

“If it’s not too personal to ask, will you get married do you think?”

I nodded. “He wants a ring.”

“So did Ozzy.”

“And as good daddies, we get them whatever they want, eh?”

Trent laughed. “So true.” He gazed off into the air. “I would give that boy the world.”

“Me, too,” I said. “The whole world. Leave it to two boys to make two confirmed bachelors lovestruck.”

“It’s not something you can manufacture or predict. It happens when it happens,” Trent said.

“That’s so right.” I laughed again. “Listen to us, sounding like two romantics.”

“Nothing wrong with that. It’s another lesson Ozzy taught me.”

We lifted our heads as two lilting, excited voices drifted our way through the open double doors. Maddy and Ozzy came walking down the hall and entered.

“Daddy!” Maddy came running to me, nearly knocking over my drink as he attempted to land himself in my lap. “This place is awesome! There are secret rooms and stuff, too. And outside is the most beautiful Christmas tree forest ever!”

“That’s fantastic. I can’t wait to see.” I ran my fingers through his hair.

I couldn’t wait to celebrate all of this with my baby boy. Before we came, Trent had asked if there was anything special we needed for our stay. We were to have a separate apartment in the house all to ourselves.

I requested a room be set up as a playroom complete with diaper changing station, among other amenities. He said he would accommodate everything on my list. I was eager to check it all out with Maddy. Plus, we could not resist buying lavish gifts from Santa for our boys.

It was going to be a wonderful time with special people who had become an extension of our new family.

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