Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Everyone aah’s at his name, which is the most fitting name for us. Beaumont is where we met, where our lives truly started, and it will always be our home. Right now, it’s where we are staying until Ben’s better. Sure, we’ll go back to Los Angeles and to Malibu, but for now, this is home. Beau represents our life here and us becoming a family. I never thought I’d be a dog mom, but I love it. On the days when I would go work in the studio, Beau came with me. Mack has been picking him up after school and has been training him.
I snuggle into Beau’s fur and sigh. When I glance at Ben, he’s beaming. While he tried to make today about me or us, it’s really about him. I’m confident he’s on the path to healing and these bumps in the road are just that—bumps—and proof that we can handle anything thrown our way.
Mack comes back and takes Beau’s leash. He parades him around to all the guests while Ben and I do the social thing. When we come around to my parents, I reach for Oliver and inhale his baby scent.
“Any word on the adoption?” I ask.
“We’ll know more after Christmas,” Dad says.
“Christmas is going to be so much fun. Isn’t it Oliver,” I say to him.
“Has anyone come forward with a paternity claim?” Ben asks.
“No, not yet.” My mom combs Oliver’s blond hair with her fingers. “I’m both thankful and saddened. We want to adopt him and make him officially ours, but when I look at him, I think about everything his parents are missing. He’s such an amazing little boy.”
Oliver says, “Down.” I do as he requests, and he toddles over to my dad . . . well, I guess our dad, and holds his arms up so dad will pick him up. A small pang of jealousy goes through as I watch them interact. I don’t know why, it’s not like I would’ve remembered being this age with my dad, and the memories I do have are the best. Like the time he let us add color to his tattoos or taught us how to play instruments. While Peyton can play the drums, my musical abilities lie in a somewhat decent singing voice and finding talent that I can turn into stars. I guess you could say I’m the odd man out, but I don’t see it like that. We each bring something special to the table in this family.
Peyton and Noah join us, as well as Ben’s mom and brother. There’s still some animosity there, and I think it will always be there. It’s like Brenda resents Ben for befriending me or maybe it’s me she resents because I showed Ben a different life. Still, I’m glad they’re here for Ben’s sake.
“It’s time to cut the cake,” Mom says and then repeats herself for everyone else. People gather on the deck and Mom guides us on how to cut the cake.
“Are you going to stuff it in my face?” I ask Ben.
He nods. “Without a doubt.”
“Rude.”
Ben shrugs. “When we do this again next year, I won’t. This will be our practice run.”
Okay, I can’t fault that logic.
We hold the knife, pose for a picture or a million, and then slowly cut a slice out of the cake. Mom is there to help us get it onto the plate and cuts two smaller pieces.
Ben and I each pick up a piece and hold it in the air. “On three,” he says.
“One . . . two . . .”
Only Ben doesn’t wait until we say three and smashes the cake into my face. I return the favor and then grab the remainder of the piece we cut and smear it all over his face as well.
“That’s cheating,” he mumbles as cake falls from his face.
“All’s fair in love and war.”
“Is that so?” Ben pulls me to him and rubs his frosted caked face all over mine. Everyone around us laughs as if this is the funniest thing they’ve ever seen. When our childish antics are done, I glance at my mom who is not impressed . . . at all.
“Shit,” I mumble. I reach for a napkin, hand one to Ben, and start cleaning my face. My mom steps forward with her hands on her hips.
“I wanted one photo, Benjamin. Just one before you two decided to wear the cake. I don’t even have a wedding photo of you two so this was my moment.” She covers her face with her hands. I have a feeling she’s crying.
“Mom.” I pull on her wrist so she can see me. “Ben and I are having a full blown ceremony next year.”
“You are?”
“Of course,” I tell her and then look at my dad. “There’s no way I’m skipping all the drama that comes with planning a wedding. Me being a bridezilla, hello! Sign me up.”