I sighed and rolled my eyes. It wasn’t something I did often, but it was warranted in this instance. “I have never said or implied that I didn’t wish to be around either of you. I love having you near.”
“Me too,” Camden said. He set his tea on the end table and sat up more. “My parents are toxic, and I would love nothing more than for Merlin to have grandparents around who would love him.”
Papochka looked down at the baby, who was low on his shoulder. “How could anyone not love such a sweetheart?”
Camden groaned. “They love,” he said. “Just in their own way that isn’t actually love. It’s control and manipulation. My parents will never meet any of our children. My father enables my mother because he doesn’t want to deal with her. My mother can’t separate herself from her children. Here entire existence is being a parent. Nothing more. She’s not a woman or a mate. Just a parent. I’m surprised that any of us turned out normal, but I think all of us are.”
I looked back at Father. “Do you really feel as if I would not wish for the two of you to be here?”
“I remember what it is like to be newly mated. Yes, it was three and a half centuries ago, but I still remember. We don’t wish to overstep and be the parents that are always interrupting things.”
Camden snorted. “Yeah, so that’s not going to happen unless you show up first thing in the morning,” he told them. I looked at Camden in shock. “What? Your papochka is holding our son. They know we have sex, Maxwell. And if your father is anything like you, they have lots of sex as well.”
I turned back to my fathers and blinked. Papochka was trying his best to hide his laughter, while Father was biting his lower lip to most likely do the same.
“So now you know that Camden and I tend to be morning people.”
Papochka chuckled. “Morning is a good time. It has certain morning advantages since you are already going to shower to start the day.”
“Right?” Camden said.
I stared at Father. Was this really happening? Were our Ones talking about morning and morning…sex? Wood? I was adoctor, and I absolutely did not have any issues with discussing sex. I simply did not wish to talk about it with my fathers.
“Anyway,” Father said. “Getting back to the original subject. I have accepted a position with the council to join Master Edison’s committee. I will be starting on the first of July.”
“That’s wonderful news,” I told them. “I’m happy that the two of you will be in the area. Not that the distance was an issue, because it’s not for us. But the time difference could make things difficult.”
“And I won’t intrude on you or the baby,” Papochka said. “But please let me know if it is all right if I come and spend time with him every so often.”
Camden cleared his throat, and we all looked at him. “What? I felt like I had a little something in there.” His eyes widened at me.“You need to tell him he’s welcome to see Merlin whenever.”
“You aren’t intruding, Papochka. You aren’t overstepping. We want the two of you to be involved in Merlin’s life. We know you already love him. It’s not difficult to see.”
“I said it just a little bit ago. How could you not?” Papochka looked up at me. “He’s just the sweetest.”
“He really is,” Camden replied. “He’s not quite sleeping through the night, but we’re already getting almost five-hour stretches between feedings, and that’s pretty much through the night when you’re a doctor on call.”
“Are you going to be moving to Treasure Ridge? Or will you live off of the mountain?” I asked.
“We’ve been given a tour of a few different places, and we really liked the house in Council Estates,” Father said.
“Where’s that?” Camden asked.
“It’s the neighborhood you were in,” I told him.
“What? Really?”
I nodded.
“So you’re going to live maybe a fifteen-minute walk from us?” Camden asked.
“Yes. Which is why we want to convey to you that we aren’t trying to overstep. We won’t be dropping in unless invited,” Father said.
I shook my head. “You’re welcome, Father,” I told them. “I’m in agreement with Camden. We’re happy to have the two of you here and in Merlin’s life. We might be newly mated, but we still want family around.” I knew Camden was missing his. Well, his brothers. Specifically, Cameron. They were close. But he’d come to the realization that his parents weren’t good for him.
My fathers shared a look. I had no doubt with the look that passed between them that they were talking through their bond. It was okay. There were things that I said to Camden that I didn’t wish for others to hear either.
“Is there something here that has grabbed your interest, Lukyan?” Camden asked.
