He walked up to the porch to meet his dad.
“Bernardo.” He reached up to hug Bernard. “You’re early.”
While his father was distracted, Emilio moved the grill to the middle of the benches.
“I couldn’t wait to see you.” He wrapped his father in a hug.
“Rory’s here,” he said. “Came to prepare his desserts. The boys have taken to him. They think he’s amazing. I told them he was your boyfriend.”
“You told them?”
“Yes, it’s fine. Emilio and Camila know about it. They think it’s a great idea for the kids to get used to him being around and that love is love.”
“That’s great.”
“Also, I told you he was gay.”
“Yes, you did,” Bernard said, “a few times.”
“He’s perfect for you.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“UncleBernard!” Twin ten-year-old boys made a beeline for him.
“Duarte, Adão.” He reached down and picked up the boys in his arms. “You guys are so big now.”
“We’re ten now,” Duarte said.
“Yeah, last time you saw us, we were only nine,” Adão agreed.
He didn’t get to see his nephews as often as he’d like. He missed their last birthday because Emilio and Camila had taken them to the Azores for their birthday. They told him they loved the remote-control cars he’d sent them.
“Oh, you’re all grown up now?”
“Almost. We are more mature,” they said in unison.
“You sure are.”
“Okay, we’re going to go play now,” Duarte said.
Before he could respond, the boys were off to the field to play with Bonnie and Ginger. They giggled and chased the dogs around the pen.
“They have a lot of energy,” Rory said.
He wrapped his arms around Bernard from behind and kissed his neck.
“Happy birthday, sweetie.”
Bernard held Rory tight against him. He inhaled his cologne. He couldn’t get enough of it. Rory’s touch and smell made him feel wanted. Loved.
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
Bernard turned around and kissed him. He tasted raspberries on his lips.
“Why do you taste like raspberries?”
“I’m making raspberry custard tarts,” he said. “I know you love them.”
