The pain in my chest was so sharp, it stung my eyes. "You're my dad. I thought … well, it doesn't matter what I thought. Now that I know the truth, I want you to know I'm happy for you both."
He pulled me into another hug, and then I was the middle of an alpha sandwich with Ross hugging me from behind. He ruffled my hair and Dad kissed my forehead, and I felt like a kid again. Only this time, instead of hating being touched by people I assumed hated me, I now knew how much love they had offered me, expecting nothing in return.
"Come on," I said, wiping at the tears flowing freely down my face, "Let's get you some food and show you around."
Food was the Mears family specialty. Mika and Talia had spent weeks planning today's spread, from appetizers to desserts, all spanning the globe and laid out on our kitchen island for everyone to sample at their leisure. A large bed of ice chilled the cold items, while hot plates and crock pots kept the warm dishes warm.
Talia walked in from the patio, the delicious smell of barbecued ribs following in her wake. She wore a black apronwith, "Don't make me poison you," in flowing white cursive letters.
"Dad, Ross, this is Talia, my soon-to-be mother-in-law. Talia, this is Carl and Ross."
"Lovely to meet you both," she said, shaking their hands. "It's been a delight getting to know Gabe this past year. I hope you're staying long enough to catch up."
"If the food tastes as delicious as it smells," Ross said, taking a step toward the open sliding door, "you'll be lucky to get rid of us."
Talia's eyes sparkled. "We've started construction on two more houses. It's my dream to have our grandchildren's extended families living within walking distance."
My laugh sounded a little strangled as I tugged on Dad's sleeve, pulling him toward the main bedroom. "Don't mind her."
"Jerry told me he lives here," Dad said, stopping me in the alcove beside the hallway closet. "Is he still as overbearing as ever? I always thought he was too hard on you."
Since my omega dad had moved in with Mr. Bartleby, the turtle shifter and my former teacher, he had changed his tune about the "right" kind of alpha. He'd also apologized for his impossible standards, and then almost burying me in books in my efficiency apartment. We still clashed on some of his traditional views, but we got along much better as neighbors than we did when we lived in the same house.
"He's loosened up," I admitted. "He's happier now."
"Good." Dad's gaze softened, and he nodded. "I'm glad. I would kick his ass for you, though."
I laughed at the absurd comment. Dad didn't fight, not even when my omega dad started shit and tried to piss him off. "He called you a coward, but you're the bravest man I know."
He hugged me, and I puffed my chest out with pride. "You'll like Mika. He's not a fighter, but he's been patient and kind to me, and he's wonderful with Jett."
I took Dad's hand and led him the rest of the way to our bedroom at the back of the house. The low rumble of Mika's voice was answered by Jett's coos. We stopped at the door, grinning as we listened, and then I knocked gently.
Mika and Jett were dancing. That was the best way to describe his gentle rocking as he rubbed Jett's back. "He just finished a bottle. I didn't want him to spit up on our guests." He stopped swaying when his gaze fell on the man behind me. "Oh, hi! You must be Carl. Nice to meet you." He crossed the room with shifter grace and speed, extending his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Mika. And Jett." Dad patted the baby's dark hair. "Already such a big boy!"
"Do you want to hold him?" Mika asked. "He might spit."
Dad laughed as he extended his arms. Mika draped the towel over Dad's shoulder, and Jett made more happy baby noises, perched against his chest. The motion was enough to get him to burp, thankfully with no projectile milk vomit.
"Fabulous," Mika said. "It's time to meet the rest of the family. Where's Ross?"
"I left him with your mom," Dad said.
Mika laughed. "She'll have your new house all picked out and decorated for you by the time we get back to the kitchen."
We gave Dad the tour of our house, ending in the living room. On the smaller side of the corner sectional, my omega dad and Mr. Bartleby flipped through our old photo albums.
"Carl." He said the name without animosity. "Good, you're here! Come look at these pictures from when Gabe was a baby. They say Jett looks like Mika, but I can see Gabe in more than his eyes."
Dad's eyes crinkled as he looked down at Jett, still in his arms. "I see it, too. The way his forehead wrinkles, and the crease between his eyebrows. That's all Gabe." He smiled at me.
"Carl," Ross stood in the kitchen doorway, waving him toward the food. "You have to try the kimchi salad Talia made."
Dad grinned as he handed Jett to me. "He's hooked, for sure."
"This is a great place to live," my omega dad said. "If you're looking."
