The daddies laughed but had no changes to suggest. I wondered what was up with mine and Jobe’s outfits.
“Speaking of the wedding,” Jobe started unpinning me. “I’ve booked the wedding package at Riu Palace Antillas. They’re both all-inclusive packages and include a room for your parents, as well as your sister, Crispin. There are several excursions to choose from so I’ll email you the list, then a handful that arecouples only. The one I thought we’d all like to do is the Island bus tour. We have just enough bodies to get a bus to ourselves.”
“Yes, definitely that one for us too,” Daddy said. “I’d like to snorkel too, if you three are game?”
“I wanna see sea turtles, and fishies, and eels. Daddy who’s gonna take care of Goldie? I don’t think we can take her on the plane ride?”
“No, sweetheart, we can’t, but Joyce and her boys volunteered to watch him. Speaking of our trip, your passport finally showed up today.”
“That took forever,” I whined. “I thought it got lost.”
“Nope, that’s just how it goes, unfortunately. Jobe, thank you for handling well, basically everything for the wedding. Let me know how to get the money to you for what you’ve paid of our portions and I’ll transfer it immediately.”
“No problem, Crispin. I know I’m the picky one here and I appreciate the three of you letting me run with it. I can’t wait to soak up the sun, kick back on the beach with a mai tai in hand. Hell, maybe one in each hand.” Jobe got this dreamy faraway look in his eyes. “It’s been forever since I’ve taken a vacation and even longer since I had someone to go along with me.”
Sometimes it was easy to forget how lonely Jobe once was. Guess we all found each other when the universe knew we needed to most.
“I’ll help Beck get changed then we can leave for dinner,” Jobe said and the daddies left the room.
We went to a fancy steak place Daddy liked but I’d never been to.
“Good evening, sirs, do you have a reservation?” The guy at front desk asked but he didn’t smile. I don’t trust people who don’t smile. Plus, they always look mean.
“Yes, reservation for Knight,” Daddy told him.
“Table for four, please, follow me.”
I was glad I took a nice outfit to Jobe’s because this place was uber fancy.
As soon as we were seated the waiter came and took our drink orders then left us to decide on food.
“I don’t think the four of us have been out since last December,” Daddy Stanley said.
“You’re right but we have dined at your place many times this year,” Daddy replied.
“Very true.”
“Daddy,” I whispered, “Can you order for me? Something with shrimpies, please.”
“Absolutely, sweetheart.”
The waiter brought our drinks then took our orders. Daddy held his glass up, so we did the same. “Happy birthday to the most wonderful person in my life. May your world be filled with as much love and sunshine as you’ve brought into mine. I love you, Beck.”
“Daddy,” I whispered, nearly in tears. “I love you too.”
“Happy birthday, Beck!” Jobe and Daddy Stanley said as our glasses clinked.
“Thank you. I’m a lucky boy to have all of you in my life and to be able to call you my family.”
“Here,” Jobe handed me a card. “Happy birthday, bestie.”
I ripped it open and a gift card to Build-A-Bear fell out. “Oh. My. Gawd. I’ve always wanted to go there. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Daddy, when can we go?” The three of them laughed.
“Already mapped it out and we’re stopping on the way to Mom and Dad’s tomorrow.”
“Yay!” I cheered so loudly the tables around us fussed, but Daddy ignored them. “Sorry, Daddy.”
“Sweetheart, do not apologize because a bunch of snooty grouches don’t understand what it’s like to be happy.”
