Page 54 of Waggs

Waggs focused on the boy who now called him Dad and his heart almost burst with pride. The move to the UK had been Willow’s idea. He’d been prepared to give up everything for her and AJ, but she knew how much he loved his job and said, apart from his parents, she had no reason to stay in the States.

Leaving his parents had been harder than he’d thought but now they were back in regular contact, face timing weekly, it was easier especially with the surprise he had planned for Willow and AJ. He had flown them in just in time for them all to spend Christmas together. The first since Aaron had died, but not the last.

“He was great, weren’t you, buddy?”

“I was and coach says I can start the next game in goal.”

Waggs crouched, running his fingers down Willow’s side until they wrapped her hip, but his focus was on AJ. “That’s great, buddy. I’m so proud of you.”

“Can I go play with Riley later?”

Waggs had introduced Willow and AJ to all of the Fortis team and their wives at the bonfire night party Liam held, as well as all of the kids they had between them. He’d been pleased to see AJ and Zack’s son Riley hit it off and they now had regular playdates.

“Not today, buddy. We’re going to get the tree, remember?”

Waggs had wanted the full Christmas experience for them all this year and that included picking out a real tree for the lounge. AJ already had a mini fake tree in his room which he’d decorated with the things he’d made with Willow, Autumn, and Maggie.

“Yes!” AJ pumped the air with his fist and raced off to change out of his football kit.

“He certainly seems excited.” Waggs drew Willow against his chest and looped his arms at the sexy curve of her ass. Her arms came around his neck and he felt his dick harden as she pressed her breasts against his chest and her hips cradled his cock.

“Hmm, seems he isn’t the only one.” She licked her lips and he wanted her, but he had other things to do today.

“I can’t help it around you.” He indulged them both with a kiss, flicking his tongue over the curve of her bottom lip in the way he knew she loved. He pulled away far sooner than he wanted but he needed to talk to her before AJ returned. “It came in the post today.”

He saw she understood immediately, no games, no pretending. The DNA test he’d taken last month had come back and the sealed envelope was on the table.

“Oh.”

He’d been sure he wanted to find out for sure but as the days had worn on, he’d come to doubt his decision. Walking to the kitchen table where he’d first told her he loved her, they sat side by side like the team they were and eyed the envelope that could change so much and yet nothing at all. Aaron would still be dead; he’d still love AJ exactly the same.

“Well.”

Willow pushed the white embossed envelope towards him, and he picked it up as he grasped her hand with the other, holding tight to his anchor in everything he did. He turned it over slowly weighing the right thing to do. Willow had left it completely in his hands but as he now faced the truth, he knew fundamentally that he didn’t need to know the biology of AJ’s birth. If he found out he was AJ’s father, then it would be like losing another piece of Aaron and it wouldn’t make an iota of difference to how much he loved the boy. If he found out he wasn’t his father, it would be the same.

He placed it back on the counter and looked up at Willow. “I don’t want to know. It makes no difference to me and AJ in that I couldn’t love him more than I do. He’s my blood either way and my son in every way that counts. We can explain as he grows up and when and if he’s ready and wants to know, he can open the envelope but until then I’m happy as we are.”

“You know with you being identical, there’s a good chance it wouldn’t be able to tell anyway. You share the same DNA.”

“True. So let’s leave it and if he ever wants to know for sure, and there’s a way to tell for sure by that point, we can explore it. But nothing will stop me loving that child with all my heart.”

“Oh, Aiden,” She gripped his hand and he saw tears in her eyes but not of sadness, of happiness, “that’s the most beautiful gift we could give him.”

“So, we agree? We put this safe and when he’s ready, he can either open it or toss it away?”

“Yes.”

Waggs kissed her knuckles lovingly.

“I’m ready.” AJ came bounding into the room in jeans and hoodie on back to front.

“Let’s go get our tree.”

They bundled up warm in wellies and gloves as they left to get the tree. Waggs felt the niggle of nerves in his belly that had nothing to do with fear. The tree farm was only three miles away and he pulled into the car park and noted the car he wanted to see was already there.

He took hold of Willow’s hand, and she took hold of AJ’s as they walked to get a ticket for the tree to mark it and then went off to find the best tree. He steered them past the smaller ones toward an area with six and seven Norwegian firs. Willow pointed out a few and they took funny selfies to remember the day by, but each tree was discarded until he pointed to the one he’d chosen earlier that day. “What about that one?”

He pointed towards a beautiful pine seven foot tall with a red bow hanging from it and a red velvet bag attached. Waggs moved closer as Willow let go, frowning as she tried to see what the bow had attached. When she reached up to grasp the pouch, he dropped to his knee and saw AJ’s eyes go round as if he knew something huge was happening.