Jamie’s age digression deepened each time. It was interesting to watch the many layers of my sweet boy unfold, not to mention beyond enjoyable. “Stay right there, let me wipe you down.” Glad I’d opted for the semi-gloss paint on the ceiling and walls during the remodel because things were about to get very interesting around here.
In typical Jamie fashion, once I wiped him clean, he giggled and ran off. Stripping along the way. I followed the trail of clothing, picking up each piece and depositing them into the hamper. It was fruitless to remind him not to run in the house and watching that cute little ass shake down the hall made it even harder to reprimand him.
“Hold tight and wait for the water to heat up.” I turned the taps on and stripped down while it warmed. “All right, time to wash a stinky boy.”
Jamie folded his arms across his chest. “I not stinky, Daddy.”
“I beg to differ, sir. Dried ranch dressing by itself is a nasty smell, but combined with mustard and buffalo sauce, you’ve created a stinky bomb. Let’s go.” I ushered him in and immediately under the spray. The odor was unbearable and somehow… “How did you get it in your hair?”
He shrugged. “I dunno.”
“Huh.”
One clean boy later, whom I found to be somewhat of a nudist as I chased him through the house again to get him dressed. “There, now stay clean and play with your stuffies while I get ready.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Are you bringing Sloffers with you?”
“No, Kiki gets sad when he’s gone, and I don’t want him to get dirty.” Jamie tucked him into bed with the others, giving each a kiss as he said goodbye.
When we got to Cordes, Henry, Jensen, and Mitchell’s SUV was already parked in the garage. We checked in and met them in the littles room. Henry stood near the doorwaiting and squealed when he spotted Jamie and the two of them ran off toward the cars.
“I’m glad they get along as well as they do, but my eardrums are throbbing.” Jensen may be teasing but I felt the same pain.
“They’d put some singers to shame with those high notes they hit.” Maybe they’d both missed their calling in life. Nah, they were meant to be spoiled boys.
“Hey guys, next weekend is Jamie’s birthday and I’d like to have a party for him. Would you be able to come? Figured the boys can make pizza and swim. He hasn’t seen his playroom yet, so I had an idea to have you guys wait in there and when he opens the door yell surprise!”
“That sounds great. What time, because we all work at the bookstore on Saturdays?” I’d forgotten about that until Mitchell reminded me.
“Would Sunday be better?” That was his actual birthday, which would be perfect.
“It would if it was around two?”
“That will work.” We watched Henry and Jamie cross the room, heading toward the door. I wasn’t sure what was up until they took another boy who’d been standing there by the hand and led him over to the racetrack they’d set up.
“That has got to be two of the sweetest boys I’ve ever known.” Casey, an old friend and Daddy I’d not seen in forever, said as he walked up.
“Casey, it’s been a long time.” Jensen greeted him with a hug. “You remember my partner, Mitchell?”
“I do,” he and Mitchell shook hands. “Great to see you all again, especially you, Timothy. It’s been forever."
“Just took the right boy to get me back in the swing of things.”
“I take it the boy playing with Henry is yours?”
“Yes, that’s my Jamie. Who’s the boy they just adopted?” The boy seemed unsure as he sat there and watched our boy’s play. Tentatively, he took the car Jamie handed him and kind of pushed it around. Casey’s eyes were glued to the boy in question, I’m not sure he even heard my question.
“I-I, I don’t know. He looks familiar though.”
Mitchell wandered over to the boys and crouched down beside them. We couldn’t hear what he said to them, but they smiled. Even the new boy. Mitchell walked away and returned to them with three juice boxes. When they were done, he tossed them and came back.
“His name is Chase and he’s here on a friend pass for the day. Says his best friend David comes here.”
“Daddy, Daddy,” Henry ran over. “Chase is my friend David’s friend.”
“Ah, that’s how I know him,” Casey said. “Excuse me, gentlemen.” He walked over to Chase and started talking to him while Jamie rejoined us, leaving the two of them alone.
