“Daddy, you need to meet Sloffers and Kiki.” He pulled his two favorite stuffies from his backpack and held up the sloth and faced him toward me. “Sloffers, this is Daddy.”
“Hello, Sloffers, it’s nice to meet you.”
“And Kiki, this Daddy.” He held up the koala in his other hand.
“It’s nice to meet you as well, Kiki.”
Jamie snuggled them tightly. “They’re my best friends.”
“Well, it was very nice to meet both of you, but I must make sure that my boy has been fed before I send you all home.” Saying those words aloud saddened us and I regretted saying them aloud. How soon was too soon to ask when I could see him next? And how was it that the roles were reversed in this relationship?
Jensen, Mitchell, and Henry were in the kitchen finishing up their breakfast when we walked in. “Good morning, you two.” Jensen winked and Henry giggled. “Let me grab your plates out of the oven. Please, take a seat.”
“How do you take your coffee, Tim?” Mitchell asked, already grabbing a mug from the cupboard.
“Cream, please and thank you.”
“And milk for your boy?” Jamie’s head bobbed beside me as he snacked on a sausage link.
“That would be a yes.”
After we ate, I got Jamie cleaned up and we thanked them for a lovely night. It was so hard to say goodbye as I tucked him inside his car and watched him drive away.
“He’s yours now. And you know as well as I do these relationships move quickly. Soon enough, you’ll have him tucked in bed beside you every night.” Jensen’s voice nearly made me jump, but somehow, I had felt his presence before he spoke.
“Very true and it’s still new. I probably shouldn’t feel this way but it’s like I started something that I didn’t get to finish. Not sure if that makes any sense.” Even to my ears that sounded crazy, but I couldn’t help how I felt.
“It does. I’m sure you’ve got a lot to think about and sort out. Just don’t wait too long. I get the impression that your boy is ready for a lot more than some would be. He hasn’t had a Daddy for a while, and even the last one I’d seen him with, it was only a couple times at the club. He’s unique, but he’s perfectly suited for you.”
“I hope so and thank you. You and Mitchell both. It was an eye-opening weekend.” Likely an unlocking of a heart one as well, but I kept that revelation to myself.
Jensen laughed. “We’ll have you guys over again soon. Take care and drive safe.”
The drive wasn’t long, and I’d just pulled into the garage when my phone rang. “Is everything, okay, Jamie?”
“No Daddy, my car broke down, and I don’t know what to do.”
Poor boy sounded on the verge of tears. “Not to worry, let me know where you are and I’ll come get you.” Thankfully, he knew the location and was familiar with the area he was in, which was about ten minutes away. Was it bad that I was happy to see him again when we’d only been apart for a few minutes? His distress didn’t make me happy but his seeing his face and knowing he was all right would.
When I got there, he was pacing outside of a little champagne colored four door sedan that had seen better days. Duct tape held the bumper in place, and the passenger side mirror was missing. This car didn’t scream safe to me at all.
“Sweetheart,” I wrapped my arms around him, “what happened?”
“I don’t know, Daddy. It started sputtering and then it stopped. Dead. Some nice people helped me push it into the parking lot so I wouldn’t get hit.”
“Well, I’m very thankful for them. Do you have towing on your car insurance?”
He stared down at the ground and rubbed the toe of his shoes against the rocks. “I don’t have insurance. I can’t afford it.”
“Jamie, that’s not good nor is it safe. Is there anything in the car you need to grab before I take you home.” He nodded and reached in and grabbed his backpack. I noted the location so I could call a tow truck once we got him home. “Text me your address so I can use the GPS on my phone.” He could probably direct us there just as easily, but I felt better having the address for future reference. Plus, then I’d have it to give to the tow truck driver.
“No, Daddy, Grandma always took care of this stuff for me, but now she’s gone.”
He was so sad when he said that I didn’t bother to pry. In time, he’d open up, and I’d learn more about his family. Right now, the important thing was to get my boy taken care of.
As it turns out, we weren’t far from where he lived. His apartment wasn’t in the best area in Vegas, but I’m sure he knew that. My pointing it out this soon in the game wasn’t wise. We walked up a flight of stairs, and he unlocked the door that opened into a small studio apartment. It was clean at least. He only had a couple of toys, but then again, there wasn’t room for many more. A bed, dresser,small two-person dinette set and a kitchenette area. There was only one other door which I assumed led to the bathroom.
“I’ll call the tow truck driver now and have it taken to the mechanic I use. If that works for you.”
