“You gotta see Mary!” he exclaimed. “She’s so big now.”
“As big as you?”
“No.”The boy wrinkled his face and giggled. “She’s just ababy.”
Mark laughed softly, and Eli looked at him. Micah turned toward Mark. “Eli, this is Mark.”
Eli squinted. “Is he your boyfriend?”
The others laughed. Micah grinned and licked his lips as he gazed fondly at Mark. “Well, he’s my friend and he is a boy.”
Eli rolled his eyes. “That’s not the same thing.”
Wendy reached out her hand to Mark. “I’m Wendy, by the way.” She gave Micah a pointed look for not introducing her.
“Sorry.” Micah smiled sheepishly. “Mark, this is Wendy. Wendy, Mark.”
“A little slow on the draw,” Wendy smirked then smiled at Mark. “It’s a real pleasure to finally meet you. Jack and Lorraine had only good things to say about you.”
“They’re wonderful people.” Mark smiled.
Eli immediately changed the subject as he twisted in Micah’s arms and looked at his mom. “Can they see Mary now?”
“Well, she’s sleeping at the moment.”
“No worries, kiddo,” Nick spoke up. “She’ll be awake in no time.” He glanced at Micah and Mark and shook his head. “Trust me.”
Wendy popped his arm and smiled. “Stop pretending like you don’t love it when she’s awake. You spoil her rotten.”
“That’s my prerogative as a daddy.”
Micah chuckled. “And mine, as an uncle. And since I don’t see her nearly as often, I have to spoil her overtime.”
Wendy sighed. “I can see I’m out-ranked here.” She took Eli from Micah. “Come on, little man, let’s go check on the pies.”
“Pies. Yum.” Nick rubbed his palms together eagerly.
“They’re for Christmas,” Eli giggled.
“Not if mom leaves them out where I can find them.” Nick waggled his eyebrows.
Wendy shook her head. “Then I guess we better hide them, huh?” Eli nodded.
They retreated into the kitchen and Nick took Micah and Mark’s coats and hung them on the coat hooks by the door. “Come into the living room and warm yourselves up.” He grinned. “I made my special cider. That’ll warm you up for sure.”
“Beware of the cider,” Micah warned Mark as they followed Nick into the other room. “It’ll do more than warm you up.”
“Hey, now,” Nick chuckled. “You love my special brew, admit it.”
Micah pinched his fingers together and squinted. “A little bit.”
Mark laughed quietly and rested his hand on Micah’s lower back. “I’m feeling brave. I’ll try it.”
Nick took notice of Mark’s hand and smiled at Micah with a gleam in his eye. “So,” he asked casually as he filled three cups with the spiced cider. “Do we need two guest rooms…” he handed the drinks to the men and winked. “…or just one?”
Micah scratched his temple and grinned. “Just one.”
His grin stretching, Nick nodded and toasted the two men. “Good answer.”
