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“Your uncle Ray, too, son. ” Ray stepped forward and shook the boy’s hand before patting him on the back. “We’re all your family. ”
Faisal’s expression clenched then, emotion working through him as it was through Natches. Hell, Natches’d come to think of Faisal as an adopted cousin, or even a son. He hadn’t imagined the young man he had turned into, but that would work, too.
“My family?” Faisal asked, turning back to Natches to be certain. “They are my family as well?”
“Adoption papers. ” Timothy slapped them into Natches’s hand. “We began the process when you first started harassing me for it. I’m on suspended leave, I’ll have you know, for pushing this through. ”
“For this and several rules he broke in a certain arrest. ” Chaya glared at him. “Timothy, you need to settle down and stop making everyone crazy. ”
Timothy’s smile was all teeth. “Maybe I’ll move to Somerset. Fine little town. I could have a hell of a lot of fun here. ”
Natches ignored the sniping as he stared at the papers.
“Faisal Mackay,” he said, looking up at the boy. “This works for you?”
Faisal’s smile was filled with excitement. “Mackay, it is a good name. Strong. And filled with family. ” There was hunger in the boy’s eyes as he stared around the room. The hunger for family, for roots. “If it pleases you, Natchie, it pleases me. ”
“Hell, I got a nephew. ” Dawg grinned. “He can work at the lumber store. ”
“The marina would be better,” Ray argued. “He’ll like the lake. ”
“He can make up his own mind. ” Natches clasped the boy’s arm and felt Faisal’s fingers curl around his, too, as he grinned down at him. “But he gets to work in a garage first. ”
Natches turned to Chaya, pulled her to his side, and felt the warmth of family surround him. Even Timothy, the rabid little fucker, was grinning.
“I hid your presents in the back,” Chaya told Faisal. “Both of your presents. ” She looked to Timothy. “Merry Christmas, Timothy. ”
He scratched his cheek and frowned at her. “I didn’t get you anything. ” Out of sorts, that was Timothy, clear to the bone.
“Yeah, you did. ” She smiled softly and looked around the room at the family she had. “You gave me everything, Timothy. ”
She surprised him with a kiss to his cheek, then moved from the room to the back of the boat, where she had hidden the other presents from Natches. The rest of the family’s were beneath the tree, and now it was time to add to that family.
She turned back when she reached the hall, a grin touching her lips as the cous
ins began to argue around Faisal again about where he could work. The young man looked ecstatic, excited, nervous, and filled with hope.
With hope. That was what they all had now, what Timothy had given to them.
As the agent turned to her helplessly, she winked at him and smiled before entering the room that held the presents.
Life was exceptionally good. Natches’s sister would be here within the hour to open presents, then they would move to Dawg’s and Rowdy’s boats, and eventually to Ray and Maria’s for a family dinner and more presents.
Janey was settling in slowly, finally finding a balance, and Faisal was now safe and where he belonged. With the family that would ensure his future. She and Natches had a life now. Warmth. Family.
Finally, Chaya had found home.
