Page 35 of Soothing Little Sylmen

My boy shook his head, then took the phone back to type some more. The screen illuminated his thoughts.

I didn’t know how you felt about us after this and I was nervous to ask you, but I totally was going to before the week ended. I was trying to be brave about it, Daddy.

Reaching out, I eased the phone down and took his hands instead. I held them with my own as I stared into his eyes, letting him see every emotion as it played out.

“You mean the world to me, baby. I only want to be wherever you are. I know it’s fast and I know people will probably look at us sideways, but I don’t care because at the end of the day it’s your life and mine, and if we’re happy, then forget all those people.”

His shoulders shook as he laughed.

“What I mean to say is, as long as your boss is happy with it and you’re fine with me invading your space, then let’s do it. Let’s make a life together. Let’s see how it goes.”

He squeezed my hands, and I knew without him having to type it out that he was on board.

Our food arrived, ending that part of the conversation. We dug in, both of us hungrier than we thought. In no time our plates were empty, and I was looking over the dessert menu to see what I could spoil my boy with. I eventually settled on a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies with some ice cream on the side.

When it came out, Sylmen moved his chair closer to mine so he could lean his head on my shoulder. I spooned bites of ice cream up to his mouth as he nibbled on cookies. He fed me some too, making sure that I had a sweet treat. While I didn’t feel the need to have dessert every day, it was nice to share with him. It was nice to know that I could be comfortable with him like this out in public. It made me picture us on another ranch—the one he lived at—nestled together at a dinner table while everyone else moved about their day, accepting us for who we were.

Would they care if my boy wore a diaper? Would him using his symbol for Daddy mean anything to them? I already knew that me wanting to learn and teach him sign language would probably ruffle a few feathers. Then again, maybe it was just an oversight on their parts. Maybe me stepping in as his Daddy and taking over would be a welcome thing.

Time would reveal all.

After he finished his dessert, my boy burrowed deeper into my side. I pulled my phone back out almost hesitantly, because this part of the conversation could turn difficult and I didn’t want to make my boy anxious. But I also wanted to make sure we discussed everything. I placed it in his hand, letting him know I wanted to communicate more. He blinked drowsy eyes up at me and I kissed his forehead before I asked, “Will Blaze be okay with you being my boy? Will our relationship cause you problems?”

He grinned, and it was so mischievous and sassy I almost didn’t recognize my boy. As he typed on the phone I watched the words appear.

He won’t mind it at all, since he has a boy of his own.

It was my turn to be shocked. “Really?”

Sylmen nodded against me, then explained the story of how his boss had met someone at a rodeo near their town. There’d been a need for additional ranch hands and a friend of a friend sent the guy. Little did they know that their attraction to one another would turn into an explosive connection, and the guy would move his whole life to be at the ranch.

“Well, that sounds like a perfect story,” I told him. “And honestly I’m relieved. But I do have one more question. What is the name of the ranch and where is it?”

My boy’s mouth dropped open. He gently palmed his forehead in a motion that was universal. I understood he felt bad for not telling me before, but I also hadn’t asked. When he typed out the location I chuckled.

“Texas?” Of course. Very different from where I had been living up near Chicago, but I would welcome it as long as my boy was there.

“Anders Ranch?” I read aloud when I noted the name. I’d never heard of it before. Understandable, since it didn’t seem to be a massive operation. At the same time there was just something right about it. It would be my new home. A place where I would settle and live life with my boy.

I took my phone and put it away, then eased Sylmen to stand so we could go back to our room. He needed another diaper change, I was sure, since I’d only stopped once while we were out with the animals to change him. As we made our way through the halls I felt renewed. Everything was working out perfectly. I could not have dreamed up a better life, a better situation in which everything I wanted came true.

I had the boy of my dreams, who wanted me to take care of him 24/7. I had a new home that was going to inspire even more music. And I had a friend who understood my need to be wherever my partner was. I wouldn’t lose my job. I would still get to create. And if I had to travel, maybe I could convince Blaze to let Sylmen come with me for the short trips. Who knew?

Part of me also considered the idea of investing in the ranch. I had been saving money for a while, letting it build because I had no use for it. My condo was paid for outright. Most of my work-related costs were covered by the music label or independent artists I worked for, I didn’t come out of pocket for a lot of things.

Maybe Blaze would be open to letting me put money into the operation to support my boy as well. If he had land to spare, we could even build a house from scratch. Something that was just ours. I had no doubt that Sylmen didn’t have a space truly to himself. My boy would want to be near others because they would help make decisions for him, but he deserved a sanctuary too.

When we got back to the room, I went about changing him. Then I propped him up on the bed beside me while I put on cartoons. With one arm hooked around Bowzer, Sylmen easily took his pacifier in his mouth and leaned into me while I searched for information about the ranch on my phone. He was in a bit of a daze, just enjoying the connection, not realizing that I was building a life completely for us.

On the website for Anders Ranch pictures showed just how beautiful it was. There were details about what they offered, and even a photo that showed Blaze and his partner in a family-style picture. I smiled to myself, excited, because this made sense. All of it did. The universe had aligned to bring us together.

Not wanting to disturb my boy, but curious as to whether I could really get away with my plan, I clicked on the contact number for the ranch and sent off a text.

Gasl

Hi, you don’t know me, but my name is Gael. I’m here at Rawhide Ranch with Sylmen. He and I are together, and I would like the opportunity to come back with him if you approve. It’s my understanding that you own the ranch. I do not want to overstep by just appearing. If you have any questions or want to discuss things further, please feel free to text back. Sylmen is resting right now so I can’t talk on the phone, but I would be more than willing to tomorrow if you can carve out some time.

I sent the message before I could take it back. Then I waited and waited and waited some more. I was just about to put the phone away and give up when a text came through.