“Yes, come in, all of you,” the chief said. “Close the door.” He turned in his chair. “This is Agent Phillipson with Immigration.” Bazel took a step back and wanted to hide behind Atlas. “He called about your application for residency. I told him that not only had you been brought here under terrible circumstances, but you had helped us a great deal.”
Bazel nodded slowly. All he could see was this man taking him away from Atlas and making him go back home. Which was not safe. Maybe he….
“I’m happy to meet you. I understand that you are preparing an application to stay permanently using refugee status. I think that’s a smart idea. When you’re ready, please send it to me.” He handed Bazel a card. “And be sure to include all of the things you’ve done to help us while you’re here in your application.”
Bazel took the card he offered. “Thank you.” He had honestly thought the man was here to throw him out. He put the card in his collection with the others he had received. It seemed strange that everything and everyone used cards here, but then he had found that these people were weird sometimes. Atlas probably found him strange too. But he could live with that.
“So everything is okay as far as Bazel is concerned?” Atlas asked. “He’s been through a lot already, and he’d like to get a job so he can start building a new life.”
“He can use his emergency visa number to apply for jobs.”
Bazel smiled. “I can? Good. I show people through yard and they hire me to make theirs pretty too.” He was practically bouncing. He could see having his own business and making a real life here. He turned to Atlas, grinning, and took his hand. “You make me very happy. I want to be a good American. I want to work hard and be a success and make things really pretty.”
“You should see my yard. He’s made it stunning,” Atlas explained.
“And I not done. Have plans for spring. It be prettier,” Bazel said. “Can I go home now?”
“Yes.”
The chief cleared his throat. “Both of you go on home. Atlas, I’ll need your report in the morning, but go on home.” He seemed to smile a little, and Bazel liked him. He saw in the chief’s eyes a man who was happy, and he saw that same reflection in Atlas’s eyes, and he knew he had it too. After months of hardship, he truly was happy.
“Come on,” Atlas said, leading him and Evie out of the office. He got some things at his desk, and then they left the station. The clouds that had hung over the town all day seemed to have broken up, just like Bazel’s hopes now had light peeking through. They seemed to be brighter, but still some clouds remained on the horizon, threatening to move in.
“I can stay now,” Bazel said once they were in the car and on the way home.
“Yes, you can stay. And you have a home for as long as you want it. I hope you know that.” His voice sounded scratchy.
“Yeah, but a real home, or a stay like guest home?” Bazel asked. He and Atlas had been sleeping together, but Atlas hadn’t actually asked him to stay, like forever, and he wasn’t sure.
Atlas pulled up in front of the house and parked. “Sweetheart, you had a permanent home here almost since I met you. You made my life warm and bright. You brought pretty things into my life.” He got out, and Bazel did too, waiting while Atlas got Evie and then led the way inside.
“So this is my home too?” Bazel asked.
“Yes. Your home, my home, our home.” It was probably a little bit of overkill, but Bazel smiled at Atlas’s effort. He wanted him to know for sure. They went inside, and Atlas fed Evie and joined him in the living room. “I know we keep gettinginterrupted in having this conversation.” He sat down. “But yes. I want you to stay.”
Bazel nodded. “You call me sweetheart.”
“Yes. It’s a term of endearment.” He lightly touched Bazel’s cheek, and warmth spread through him. “It means that I love you. That I care about you most of all.”
“You love me?” Bazel asked.
Atlas nodded. “Yes, I do. You stole my heart, and I didn’t even realize you had done it. I was worried about what you might think, or that you could have thought that being with me was the price for staying here. So I was careful… I hope….”
Bazel leaned closer. “You always show care and concern. You took me in when I needed a home, and you even said no when I thought….” Bazel didn’t want to go back to those times. He had been so confused and thought he had to pay for everything, and he’d only had one way, then. “I think you no want me.”
Atlas smiled. “I wanted you. Very much. You with your deep eyes and smile that could charm the birds out of the trees. I did. But I had to make sure it was what you wanted too. It is, isn’t it?”
He grinned like an idiot. “I do. I want make family and home here with you.” He grabbed the front of Atlas’s uniform shirt and pulled him to him, then kissed Atlas hard. “I want to make everything here with you.”
Atlas wound his arms around him, holding him tight, making sure Bazel knew that he was safe. Atlas always made him feel like that, and he was convinced that nothing bad could happen as long as he was around. “Me too.”
“That’s good.” Bazel held Atlas’s warm gaze. “I love you too.” Atlas leaned forward, but Bazel pulled away slightly. “Just one question.”
“Only one?” Atlas asked.
“Yes. I want family.”
Atlas’s eyes widened. “You can’t get pregnant, no matter how many times we try.”
