“Okay. Do I bring it here?”
“I guess it would be easiest, yeah.”
While Izzy made sure there was room on the table, Wyatt got the box. Izzy gave him scissors to cut through the tape. Before he could open the flaps, Izzy put his hand over Wyatt’s.
“I just…if you don’t like it, I’ll understand. I…”
“Hey, whatever it is, I know you’d never intentionally hurt me.” Wyatt leaned in to kiss him, then pulled his hand under from Izzy’s and opened the flaps.
Izzy felt a bit dizzy as he sat on the other side of the small dinner table and watched Wyatt pull out several pieces of—”Is this lingerie?”
Izzy cleared his throat. “Y-yeah.” When Wyatt didn’t comment immediately, he pushed onwards. “There’s something for boy you, if you want it. And something for the middle days, like now. But…but there’s also something for the girl.”
Wyatt nodded slowly and began to open the separate pieces.
The floral nightie that was pale blue with red flowers and trim with spaghetti straps was for the girl. There were panties that matched, just ones that were meant for people with more in the front when it came to the crotch department.
“She likes this,” Wyatt whispered as he stroked the silky garments.
Then he moved onto the blue nightie that was simpler, more masculine, yet still clearly lingerie. This time the panties had more lace and these were mesh ones. Wyatt blushed. He put them to the side. “This is the in-between day set, right?”
He glanced at Izzy, but his eyes gave nothing away. Izzy nodded, and Wyatt went back to the box.
The boy set was simpler, yet still luxurious. The top was a T-shirt in dark pink, and the boy shorts were black with small amount of lace around the waist.
Again, Izzy cleared his throat that felt a bit tight. “Th-there were bra and panty sets. I thought, if you liked these, we could order her some. When it’s a g-girl day, so she can pick for herself.”
Wyatt turned to look at him, stroking the satin T-shirt between his fingers, and smiled. “I think she’d like that.”
The tension went out of Izzy in a whoosh. “Okay, good.”
“You were really scared, weren’t you?” Wyatt reached over the table to grab his hand.
“I…I thought I might be overstepping a bit.”
Wyatt looked at the pile of delicate fabrics on the table. “How did you get the colors so right?”
“Well, that’s a funny story, actually…”
* * * *
One evening, a week before Del and Justin were leaving, everyone was called together for a family dinner. Harper had to miss it of course, but she’d apparently told Del she trusted him with whatever it was and to call her mid-dinner if need be. She refused to be left out of any family business from now on.
Del had made the Stew. With a capital S. Wyatt explained to Izzy the significance of the dish and the fact that it was Del’s old family recipe just turned up to about a hundred or so. He said that none of the kids had really liked it at first, but now everyone loved it.
Izzy wasn’t sure what to expect, but the perfect tasting smooth as hell, slightly beer tangy stew wasn’t it. He actually made a happy noise, and Del chuckled.
“Well, I guess that seals the deal, then.”
“Welcome to the family,” Justin said dryly, making everyone else smile a bit.
Once they were all eating and got to the point where conversation was possible, Del took a sip of his wine and then looked at each one of them in turn.
“So. I’ve called this dinner for two reasons. One, because we won’t have time any other night before we leave, and two, because I think, while we’re gone, it’s time for Wyatt to put his bakery plans in action.”
Wyatt froze next to Izzy, and he quickly put his hand on Wyatt’s thigh, squeezing gently.
“What Del is trying to say, is that our real estate agent has been looking into rental properties and some that are for sale in several of the nearby towns. She has a short list for both types, and she just needs you two to give her a call so you can go check out some places.” Justin looked at Wyatt and Izzy, then smiled slightly. “I know it’s a bomb to drop on you, but Wyatt, you haven’t touched the money we’ve been saving for you.”
