Page 18 of Daddy’s Little Secret

“Yes, my sleepy angel. Let’s get you in your jammies.” Daddy took off my mittens and unzipped me, but I jumped up on the bed to get away before he took it off.

“I want to sleep in my kitty suit.” Hadn’t thought this one through, I was basically trapped.

“No, Trey. Now get over here.” I pouted as I crawled over to him. “I’m not sure what’s gotten into you tonight.” Daddy was getting frustrated. I was tired and confused but let him finish undressing me. “It’s time for bed.”

No use arguing, I’d just lose and end up in trouble. Being a kitty was harder than I thought. Hopefully, Tae had better luck with his kitties.

8

“Something’s off with Trey,” I told Chuck as we finished moving the last of Grandma’s things into her cabin. We hadn’t let her in yet, wanting to do the whole big reveal first. She’d seen the outside, of course, but once the interior walls went up, we asked her not to peek. Boy, was that a challenge. That tiny woman was sneaky to the point we taped the windows up. “For the past month he’s been grouchy and moping around.”

I can’t even remember the last time we had sex. Maybe that was it? Should I have initiated it? Wow, this was quite the turn. I wasn’t usually the one thinking about sex. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, but it must’ve been a long time since it was fresh on my mind.

“I’d say the same for Tae, but it’s kind of been the other way around for us. Tae’s been so busy between getting the artwork for this cabin done and fulfilling the commissions he keeps getting online. Maybe we need to get them both away from work for a few days.”

“That’s not a bad idea, but I don’t think we can both be gone at the same time. We have too many jobs going on.” While owning a business was great, it did come with some challenges. “We’ve got back-to-back jobs in town.”

“Alright, you guys go first,” Chuck suggested. “That will give me time to update Tae’s website that new orders are on hold for a while and give you time to finish up the ones you’ve got going on. If I can start the next one, it’ll be easier when you get back to take it over.”

“Won’t Tae get mad if you mess with his website?”

“No. He’ll probably be relieved. Besides, I’m the one who maintains it. He wasn’t sure he’d even get any commissions, then the damn thing blew up. I think he’d like a break, but Tae being Tae, he won’t ask for it.”

“True.” One thing I knew my brothers learned from me was their strong work ethic. At times, it was to our own detriment. Good thing Tae had a Daddy who loved and protected him like Chuck did. I couldn’t ask for a better best friend or brother-in-law.

“Where are you thinking of taking Trey?”

“Vegas? Maybe stay at Circus Circus. There he can let go and have fun at the arcade, go to the M&M store. No use taking him to a cabin in the mountains since he lives that life already.”

Chuck laughed. “You’ve got a point there, which means I’ll need to up my game with Tae for sure. His love of the mountains and the cabin we rented spurned our private community here.”

“Alright, let’s get Grandma and show her Casa de Esther. Looks like I’ve got a vacation to plan.”

“Daddy, the red bow is tied,” Trey proudly announced as we stepped out onto the porch. “Is it time to get Grandma?”

“It is, Angel. Do you know where she’s at?”

“Yup, staring out the window of Momma’s cabin. Patience isn’t her friend right now.” Trey laughed. “She’s too excited.”

“Alright, let’s wave her over.”

Chuck, Tae, Trey, and I stood in front of her cabin waving our arms like human windmills. Chuck whistled so loudly it echoed through the forest. She bolted out of Momma’s cabin with Momma right behind her, and straight over to us.

“It’s about time you boys got done. Don’t you know making an old lady wait ain’t nice,” she teased, but was all smiles.

“Allow me, madam.” I stuck my elbow out. She rolled her eyes but accepted the offer as we walked up to the porch steps. “Welcome home, Esther.”

She pulled a tissue from her apron pocket and dabbed at her eyes. That action and familiar apron were a fond memory of Trey’s he had shared with me. Somehow, she always had tissues there, he said.

“Here, Grandma,” Trey handed her a pair of scissors, “cut the ribbon.” We clapped and cheered as she cut it then waited for her to enter first.

Grandma stopped in the center of the room, mouth wide open as she took it all in. “You boys have really outdone yourself.” Then she walked over to the mantle and ran her fingers over the picture frames we’d placed there. “This was my parents on their wedding day, and this one is Trey’s. So much loss.” Trey thought she’d love to have them there, right in view, but now I was second-guessing that. “They’re always with me.”

“Always with us, Grandma.” Trey wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Do you want us to put those away? I don’t want you to be sad.”

“Don’t you dare, they’re right where they belong.” She walked around the room, touching each piece of furniture. “These pieces are exquisite. You made them all, Oscar?”

“Trey and I did. We wanted them to be just the right size and finish to match the pieces you moved up here with you. Do you like them?”