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“There was Colby, face painted in black and blue…we’re still not sure where he got the blue eyeshadow. It wasn’t Chandler’s. I thought he probably found some of his mother’s old makeup. Anyway, he was painted and so proud that he looked like his brother.”
“Please, tell me you took pictures.”
“Of course, I did.”
“I need to see them in the morning. That one should be enlarged and put over the mantle.”
“Well, I was thinking of going to get professional pictures done…a family portrait. With Chandler going off to college, it’s due.”
I didn’t think anything of it, except for loving the idea of seeing my three guys up on the wall. “Kan, would you go with us?”
“Sure! I can be the wardrobe guy.”
“No, I mean, will you take it with us?”
My eyelids slid shut as I let out a long, slow breath, ending in a whispered, “No.”
“No?”
“Baby, don’t be angry or hurt. It’s just…it feels like I’d be intruding. I’m not a part of this family yet, not really.”
“Baby. You’ve never called me that before,” he said, laughing silently. “I like it.”
“You don’t mind? I mean about the picture.”
“No, baby,” he said, then kissed my head. “I don’t mind. When we’re all ready, we’ll become an official family. I can’t help rushing in with you. I’m sorry, and don’t let it chase you off. Just be honest, like you were now.”
I settled into his side and kissed his chest. “Always.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Colbycameintotheroom that morning, yelling for his dad. Rick startled and jumped out of bed, crawling over me, grabbing Colby into his arms. “What’s wrong, buddy?”
“Spider! Spider!”
As I hid my smile under the comforter, Rick showed great concern. “Well, that’s just terrible! Let Daddy go find that spider and show it to the door.”
“Daddy, it’ll freeze to death,” Colby said, his little brow furrowed. “Don’t wanna do that.”
Rick sat on the corner of the bed and set Colby on his lap. “Well, what do you suppose we should do, Colby?”
“Keep it?”
Sitting up, I watched Rick patiently explain, “That’s impossible, son. A spider is a wild creature, and they don’t like being in cages or tanks.”
“What ‘bout the zoo?”
I hid my mouth again. Colby had him.
“Well…” Rick’s head turned to me. “Help?”
“I’m letting you go solo on this one, Dad.”
“He not your dad,” Colby chided me.
“Sorry, Col. He’s not my dad, no.”
“He’s your husband,” Colby said, forgetting the statement as he returned to the discussion about the spider. “What we gonna do, Daddy?”
