Page 72 of Branson's Promise

Standing, I stretched, feeling the ache in my lower back from being sat so long, then made my way out of the room and into the nursery. Before they were born, I had painted a large designon one wall - an ocean theme with swirls of blue and whites and yellows, fish, dolphins and an array of sea shells - and in one corner stood a chest of drawers topped with an abundance of soft toys. In the other corner was a boxed drum kit - an unusual gift for six-month-old babies but one that Branson had brought on us by continually sending August’s kids loud and obnoxious toys. I’d suggested we sell it, but he was adamant that one day it would come in handy. Noel said he’d store it in the loft but, like many things, we had not gotten around to it yet.

Having two babies, three dogs, two cats and, wait for it… five chickens, made the Bennett-Montague-Taylor household a very busy place. I found what I was looking for, two small white cardigans that Granny Lorna had bought for the girls and then rounded up a few other necessary items and threw them into a baby bag. Chances were Noel had already done this but it would save me a trip back upstairs if he hadn’t.

I headed back to our bedroom where Branson was staring out the window, Ava still fast asleep in his arms. “She’s so peaceful,” he said as I came up behind him and pulled him into me, kissing his temple.

“For now. She will scream the roof down when we put her in her car seat.” A loud bang followed by cursing came from downstairs and I handed Branson one of the cardigans. “Pop this on her and I will go see what’s happening down there.”

Leaving the room, I headed down the carpeted stairs and into our large open plan living space. Toys, blankets and more mugs than any household needed littered every available space, but I smiled as I passed through, loving every spot of mess because it was ours and a sign of a house that was full of love and happiness.

I found Noel in the kitchen, an overturned container of dog food scattered across the floor, a dog bowl in one hand and a baby in the other. Roan’s face was tear-streaked but she waslaughing as Spike, the puppy, jumped around Noel’s feet. “Have you got everything under control here?” I joked, entering the kitchen and scooping up Spike. My eyes honed in on the patch of what could only be baby vomit on Noel's otherwise pristine shirt.

“Funny one. Tell me again why we thought getting a puppy the same month the girls were born was a good idea?” I wanted to remind him that I hadn’t thought it was a good idea, but the smile on Branson’s face when he’d seen the ad for him on a local social media group had been enough to have both of us giving in without him really even needing to ask.

Popping the baby bag on the kitchen counter and the dog back on the floor, I handed the cardigan to Noel. “Get her ready and I’ll sort out this little troublemaker. Branson said we’re taking all three of them with us.” Noel took the offered piece of clothing, then kissed me on the forehead, before turning to leave. “You may also want to change your shirt,” I chuckled, catching sight of an even larger stain on the back of his shoulder. Then, I made my way into the pantry for the broom, seeing to the mess before gathering up the last of the things we needed for the day.

One thing I had learned very quickly about being a father, especially one with two small babies, was that we never left the house very quickly. Careful planning and consideration were needed and most of the time, we were late. Noel hated being late, it was not in his nature and certainly not how he ran his business. Branson was also usually a stickler for being on time. He’d taught maths in a primary school for a few years but left a few months ago to be a stay at home dad. He shone with happiness every day and his joy was infectious.

I looked at my watch, mentally calculating the distance to August and Caleb’s place. We would only be ten minutes late for their kids’ party if we left now.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” I shouted to whoever would listen, standing at the front door. I was greeted by the patter of paws as our threedogs - Sparkle, Spike and Klaus - met me, their tails wagging in excitement. The human contingent of the family were nowhere to be seen so I took the opportunity to pop the three dogs in the back of the car, along with the baby bag.

I was just closing the door when Noel emerged from the house, a cherubic bundle in each arm and wearing a fresh shirt. My heart grew fuller as I took the three of them in - I always loved seeing him with our daughters. Noel’s little heirs, as he affectionately called them, looked just like him, with curly blonde hair and blue eyes the colour of the ocean. Ava Artura - named after my mum and Noel’s dad, who sadly died a year after we moved to the UK - and Roan Rhys - named after Branson’s dad. They were our legacy, the final pieces in our equation, as Branson said the day they were born.

I looked at the ring tattooed on my left hand, the thin black line that circled my ring finger and silently thanked Mia again for the push she had given me all those years’ ago. The life I had lived since we moved here had been nothing short of amazing. Sure, it wasn’t always perfect. Not everyone we met accepted our relationship and as much as Branson wanted us to get married, it just wasn’t something we could legally do, but even that hadn’t stopped us. Noel, with the help of his mum, had organised a huge surprise party for us where we had pledged our love for each other in front of all our friends. Two days later, one of my team members at the studio I opened two years ago, tattooed these rings on our fingers.

Thinking about my studio brought a smile to my face. I'd worked so hard to get it up and running. I'd poured hours into it, saving every penny that I could, while still paying my way towards our life in the UK. Opening the small space in Brighton had been one of the happiest days of my life, and I'd flung those doors open for the first time with both my men by my side, supporting me the way they had every day since we'd met.

“Lost in your thoughts again, little artist?” Noel said as he moved towards me, then passed me Roan before strapping a now screaming Ava into her seat.

“Just thinking about how much I love you all.”

“So, nothing new?” Noel’s smile lit up his eyes, and they twinkled as he reached for Roan, placing her in her seat next to her sister. Thankfully, we had a car big enough for all of us - dogs included.

Branson joined us then, gift bags in one hand and a book-shaped, wrapped gift in the other. “Party time!” he beamed as he climbed into the back of the car, squashing the gift bags at his feet. “Onward, driver! We have places to be and people to see.”

Laughing, Noel pulled me into him, his soft lips pressing against mine in a quick kiss. “I love you too.”

Branson

“What’s this?” August asked as I handed him the gift I’d wrapped just before heading over.

“Open it and see,” I said, taking a seat next to him. Noel, Caleb and Milo sat at the table with us, enjoying the warm summer air while August’s brother Declan, surrounded by children and dogs, attempted to build the swing set I had sent their twins.

August ripped off the paper with the dexterity of a toddler, then met my gaze with a raised eyebrow. “A book? Um, thanks.”

From next to me, Noel muttered a “Really?” under his breath while everyone else looked on.

“Not just any book, that is a first edition.” August scanned the title,Murder Among Friends by N.D Bennett,before a lightbulb went off. “Wait, is this,” he looked towards Noel, “you?” Red blotches appeared on Noel’s cheeks and he nodded sheepishly.

“No fucking way, that’s incredible. Well done, bud,” Caleb said, taking the book from August and reading the back. “Well kept secret.” He turned the book over then opened to the first page, reading the dedication which Noel had dedicated to Milo and me.

I was always proud of my men, but this one made me immensely proud because he’d doubted it so many times.

“It’s just a hobby that Branson insisted I publish,” Noel shrugged as if publishing your own book wasn’t a huge fucking deal.

“Tell himit's a huge deal,” I said to August, and he said as much to Noel before our attention was snatched away by a crying baby. Declan, who had half the swing set up, called for some help and Milo offered his assistance, while Noel saw to the baby. Caleb went inside to fetch more drinks, leaving me and August alone.

Surveying the lush garden around us, the animals, the beautiful children, and the men that made up our little found family, I couldn’t help the smile that took over my face. “Look at us, Auggie Bear, all grown up and happy. Most importantly, happy."

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