Page 99 of His Gentle Omega
He gave me a look like he thought I had lost my mind, then handed me one of the birthday cards. “Sign. Lucas, you come sign the cards too.”
Lucas practically ran over, his impatience with us bubbling over. “I can’t write.”
Bennett raised one brow at him. “Yes, you can. You know how to write your name, and this is good practice.”
He handed him the pen, and I watched as my mate and son had a silent stare off, before Lucas sighed loudly and took the pen.
“Magic,” I mouthed at him, loving the smile he gave me.
It had been exactly one week since Edward had shown up. My nephew’s birthdays were in a week, but their party had been planned for today for over a month. Asher had asked me if they should move it and I had told him no. I refused to let the shadow of Edward hang over us any longer. I had cried my tears, grieved for many things the day he had died, but I wasn’t sorry it was over.
And, Goddess help me, I wasn’t sorry that he was dead. Maybe that made me a horrible person, and I had probably just added to the amount of time I would need to stay in therapy to hash all my feelings out about it, but it was the truth.
Bennett and I had spent every free minute of the last week together. We had even finally gone on our first date the night before. Bennett had insisted that we include Lucas, which made me love the man more than I already did. The way he cared for my child made me go all soft inside, my heart full.
Lucas and I had picked out a bouquet of hothouse grown tulips in fall colors of yellows and oranges and walked next door to Bennett’s house to pick him up. Even though the man had spent every night in my arms, he had insisted on waking up early and going back home before Lucas woke up. When I had insisted Lucas would be more than fine to see his face over the breakfast table, Bennett had stood firm on this. I thought it might have something to do with Bennett’s omega father–from the few things he had shared with me–and didn’t push the issue.
Besides I thought it was kind of cute the way he wanted us to date before we moved in together. As if he wasn’t already pregnant. But if this was how my mate wanted to do things, I wasn’t going to argue. Bennett could be hella stubborn when he set his mind to something. And I would never tell him, but I kinda found sneaking him out of my bedroom every morning hot.
We had gone to dinner at the Main Street Diner, since they served breakfast all day and Bennett had been craving pancakes. The restaurant had quickly turned into one of Lucas’s and my favorite places to eat, because as I had discovered, my culinary skills were not great. And no matter how many different recipes I tried–even the easiest ones–cooking was never going to be something I was good at.
After dinner, we had gone to the movies, with Bennett suggesting the latest kid friendly one. I marveled at the easy way he engaged Lucas in conversation, though I shouldn’t have. Bennett had proven from the very first day how much he adored and cared for my child.
The night had been a success, and I had loved feeling his small hand in mine as we had watched the movie and shared popcorn.I was sure Lucas hadn’t missed us holding hands, by the way I caught him smiling at us.
“Someone’s here, Daddy,” Lucas announced, leaning his face towards the glass of the front window he was peering out again. He was watching people arrive at Asher’s and still trying to hurry us along.
“Hmm,” I mumbled, making sure the correct card was in the correct gift bag, but not paying that much attention to what he was saying.
“It’s Grandpa and Granddad!”
My head shot up, and I raced around the kitchen bar, managing to get in front of Lucas before he could get the door open. “Let me.”
Looking over my shoulder, Bennett was standing in the kitchen, looking like a deer caught in headlights. “Should I?”
He indicated going out the garage door, and I shook my head, as a brisk, familiar knock sounded. “No, you have every right to be here. They don’t.”
Squaring my shoulders, I took a calming breath, before opening the door to face Edward’s parents.
“Graham, Russell,” I greeted coldly, “what are you doing here?”
“Shay,” Graham Clark offered me a tentative smile, “you look well.”
Russell Clark cleared his throat. “May we come in?”
My brain screamed no, even as I knew I needed to let them in. They were still Lucas’s grandparents, the only ones he had. Moving out of the way, I waved my arm, indicating for them to enter.
“Lucas!” Graham held out his hands for a hug and Lucas happily gave him one. They had always been good to Lucas, if a bit standoffish and stiff.
“Grandpa!” Lucas chattered excitedly, “You have to see my new room. It’s so cool!”
Graham seemed taken aback by Lucas’s enthusiasm, before he straightened. He was a tall omega, reed thin, with a slightly frail quality to him. He had always been perfectly pleasant, but meek. He glanced at Russell, who gave a brief nod of his head. “I’d like that.”
Lucas held his hand out and led the older man down the hallway. When they were out of earshot, I repeated, “What are you doing here?”
Russell’s eyes stared at Bennett, his face impassive and impossible to read. But he looked older than the last time I had seen him, not even six months ago, his shoulders stooped.
“We came to collect Edward’s–” his voice choked up, “body and take him home. Back to Texas, where he belongs. Lucas belongs there too.”
