They spent the afternoon lounging and reading.
“When is our next reservation?” Geoff asked.
“The next one on the calendar is January fourth. It’s a Friday,” Teddy said.
“Will the storm be gone and cleaned up by then?” Ciaran asked.
“Yeah,” Teddy replied. “The worst is over now. They should have the roads cleared within a week.”
“So…” Ciaran stopped. Teddy and Geoff looked at him.
“What’s the matter?” Geoff asked.
“Well…” he hesitated. “When did you want me to move in?”
“Whenever you’re comfortable,” Teddy answered. “We don’t want to rush you. You have a life in San Francisco, so we can’t just hurry you along.”
“I think it’ll take me a few months to get everything situated, moved out, and ready to come here. Is that…is that okay?”
Teddy and Geoff enveloped Ciaran in their arms.
“You take however long you need,” Geoff said.
“We’ll wait for you,” Teddy assured him.
“Thank you.”
They cuddled up on the couch. Teddy laid his head in Ciaran’s lap, while Ciaran lay against Geoff. Three bears starting a life together, one they’d never thought possible.
Chapter Twenty-Two
GEOFF
They all sat around the Christmas tree while Christmas carols played on the radio.
“This is your gift.” Geoff handed Ciaran a box.
“You guys really didn’t have to,” he protested. “I’m just happy to be here.”
“We got it before we knew you were going to join our family,” Teddy reassured him.
Ciaran unwrapped the box to find a cookbook, a starter set of spices, and a knife set.
“This is amazing!” Ciaran grinned. “Thank you.”
He gave them each a hug and a kiss.
“Here’s one more,” Geoff said.
“Another one?”
Ciaran opened it to find two pairs of swimming trunks. He laughed.
“Since you didn’t have any,” Teddy said. “We thought we’d get you some.”
“This is so sweet.” He gave them both another kiss.
Teddy handed Geoff his gift, and he put it up to his ear, shaking it. “What is it?”
