Brenden went to his knees so that he was face to face with the kid, then shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” He held back the emotion he felt meeting his son for the first time. “I saw your awesome kick out there, kid. Awesome job scoring the goal for your team, buddy.”
Nicholas’ face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Dad said I was awesome too, and Grandpa said I can have anything I wanted for dessert, but he said I still have to eat my vegetables,” he finished with a menacing scowl on his face.
One of the first things Brenden noticed, Nicholas was not shy around strangers, maybe he felt safe with his family around him which gave him the courage he needed. But he was certainly different from all the other kids he’d been around. “Maybe one day you will get as tall as I am. If you eat your veggies, just like I did when I was your age.” Brenden reached up and ruffled his blond hair.
“Veggies, yuck,” Nicholas said, crossing his arms and pouted, which reminded Brenden of his nieces when their mom told them something they did not like to hear.
“Quit sulking,” Julian said to his grandson, picking him up and throwing Nicholas over his shoulder like a light sack of potatoes. “Come, let’s go home and celebrate. There’s a large slice of chocolate cake with your name on it,” he told the smiling kid as they walked off the field.
“Yay! Cake!” Nicholas cheered pumping his tiny arms in the air.
“Don’t let that fool you,” Tucker said, standing beside Brenden. “If I know my brother, he’s the one wanting that cake more than Nicholas.”
Stephen sighed and chuckled. “That man has a sweet tooth worse than anyone I know.” He began walking, then turned and looked back at Brenden. “Are you coming? We usually have a celebratory dinner and games afterward. It’s a must in the Young household, win or lose, we celebrate sportsmanship.”
Brenden looked between Tucker and Stephen. “Trust me. We won’t hurt you, too much. I still need you to show up for work on Monday,” Tucker told him with a smile that had him shaking just a bit. He knew how his boss was when it came to unsubs but when family was involved, things could get crazy.
“Stop scaring him, you’re not his boss today,” Stephen admonished.
“What?” Tucker said, holding his hands up in surrender.
Stephen gave his uncle a look Brenden had never seen before, and he was partially happy for it. Batting his long lashes and tears welling in his eyes. “You promised me that you would be nice this weekend.”
“Shit, don’t give me that face.” The more Tucker begged, the more pitiful Stephen’s expression got. “You realize you’re an adult and not a kid anymore, right?” Tucker asked, but Stephen didn’t answer, he kept looking at his uncle with sad eyes. “You know I can’t resist that face.”
“Please, Uncle Tuck. Just this once.” Stephen tapped the dry corner of his left eye and sniffled as if holding back a tear.
Tucker turned to Brenden, who was doing his best not to laugh out loud. “You owe me for this, dammit.”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Stephen said smiling brightly then leaned up and kissed Tucker on his left cheek. “That’s why you’re my favorite uncle,” he said walking away to catch up to Julian and Nicholas.
“I’m your only uncle!” Tucker yelled after Stephen and getting strange looks from the small groups of people looking at him oddly.
“Punk,” Brenden snorted, trying to hold back the fit of laughter bubbling to explode. “Who knew Stephen could calm the beast that is Tucker Stevens.” Tucker looked at him with a scowl on his face and Brenden could not hold it back.
“Yeah, laugh it up now, Smith, just wait until he turns those pretty eyes on you, I bet you will crumble just like I did.”
“Never.” Brenden started walking away, only to hear Tucker’s boisterous laughter following him.
** ** ** ** **
Brenden hid his smile behind his hand as he watched a very sleepy Nicholas bargain with Stephen for more playtime. After getting home from the game, they were greeted by an excited puppy. Nicholas happily introduced him to their puppy, Poppin. He was able to see Stephen in an entirely different element than when at work. It reminded him of how much he missed hearing his laughter and seeing his eyes sparkle.
Tucker was the same; he teased his brother, Julian, mercilessly, and Brenden also noticed his tough-guy exterior crack every time Nicholas called him Uncle Tuck and gave him that dazzling and famous Smith smile he inherited. His mom liked to refer to it as his “get out of trouble smile” whenever he or his dad used it to get out of trouble.
Brenden was expecting to feel uncomfortable being around the small family, but they were just as welcoming as his own. And he hated that he took so long to meet his son. Stephen was right, Nicholas was a great kid; high energy but still an awesome kid. There were many times he wanted to tell the boy who he was, but he resisted the urge. Two hours after dinner, which Julian cooked, Tucker left telling everyone that he had a few things to take care of. Brenden suspected that his boss was going back to the office. Brenden heard Julian comment to Stephen that Tucker needed a life. Brenden didn’t comment because he was just like Tucker in a sense. Knowing full well he had nothing to do but go home and stare at the four corners of his house, Brenden decided to stay a bit longer.
“Please, Dad, can’t I just stay up a little longer?” Nicholas begged. There were a few words Brenden had to decipher since he was still trying to understand him.
“No can do, kiddo, we have to get up early tomorrow. Did you forget we have plans to go to a farm tomorrow?”
“Fine,” Nicholas said, giving in. “Okay, I guess I can go to bed, but only if Brenden promises me two things,” he asked innocently.
Stephen rolled his eyes. “Oh boy, I’m afraid to ask, but what?”
“Can Brenden tuck me in tonight? And um…” He paused for a few seconds actually thinking about what he was going to ask next. “Can he come with us tomorrow, please?”
The room went silent, and Brenden held his breath. Stephen turned and looked in his direction, then back to Nicholas who did not understand what he was really asking for.
