Page 35 of Mine to Keep
Javier said he’d been to Canada before, but it was a business trip for his father and they didn’t do much sightseeing. Just like with Talon, this is a new experience for him.
Something tugs in my chest, knowing I gave them this. When we go our separate ways, they can think about how they saw one of the natural wonders of the world. I know I’ll remember their smiles and their laughter and how carefree they looked as they take picture after picture. They move back and forth from one side of the boat to the other, taking pictures and pointing out all the rainbows.
“Come take a picture with us,” Talon says, waving me over. “The Falls are perfect in the background. Come onnnnnnnnn!”
I don’t take pictures. I try my best to always stay undetected, under the radar. But his beautiful brown eyes are flashing with excitement, and I find I can’t tell him no.
I walk over and stand between them, Javier on my left and Talon on my right. I take the phone from Talon’s hand since his short arms can’t get us all in the photo. Both men wrap their arms around me, smiling widely at the camera. I snap several pictures, getting good angles like Talon asks.
It’s probably not smart for them to keep pictures of me. If they post them and someone is after me, they could be found and tortured for information. But I’m not sure how to tell them that without telling themwhy .Before we go our separate ways, I’ll have Peggy delete the photos. It’ll look suspicious if I do it while we’re still here.
Just so they have photos of them with Niagara Falls in the background, I have Talon and Javier pose together so I can snap a few pics.
It takes about an hour for the tour to end. As soon as we step off, we toss our raincoats and head up the tower to see the Falls from above.
My heart clenches as soon as we step inside. Being in here reminds me of the trip I took to the Space Needle in Seattle. The one time I went on vacation. Before everything…happened.
I push the unwelcome thoughts from my mind as we look out of the window.
“Wow,” Talon breathes. “It’s so pretty up here.”
“Makes you feel small,” Javier agrees.
I walk up behind them, kissing the tops of their heads in turn. “No pictures?”
Talon looks back at me with areally? face. “Of course we’re going to take pictures, Daddy. We just wanted to enjoy the view first.”
Something flutters in my chest every time they call me Daddy. I like it way too much.
They take pictures and look around them, marveling at the Falls and how pretty and dangerous they look.
They’re also free with their affection with each other, kissing and touching and holding hands. I wish I was as open as they are, to touch them and kiss them. Maybe I should. We’re on vacation. This ismyvacation too.
Once my boys have had their fill of looking at the Falls, Talon leans against me and I take the opportunity to wrap an arm around his shoulder. It feels right to touch him so easily.
“I’m starved,” he says, tugging at the end of one of his braids. “Feed me, Seymour.”
I bark a laugh. “That’s before your time.”
He rolls his eyes at me with a soft grin. “I have parents older than you, Knox. They watch old-ass movies all the time.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Yeah, I need to feed you or you’ll keep saying hurtful shit to me.”
Standing on the tips of his toes, Talon kisses my cheek. “I’m sorry.”
Javier snickers. “He’s lying. You can tell by his tone.”
I laugh when Talon sticks his tongue out at his best friend.
We walk a few blocks until we find a pub with a lunch special. I usher them in and we take a seat at a table close to the back.
“Did you two have fun?” I ask them and they both launch into how much fun they had, their favorite parts of the day and what they want to do next time they come here. I listen to them with a smile, not getting tired of their voices or their excitement.
“What about you?” Javier asks, sipping on the beer he ordered.
“It was interesting,” I say. “Not something I’d do often, but it wasn’t bad.”
“Did you go see the sights wherever you were before you came here?”
