earrings,” Harry said in his subtle Scottish brogue as they hugged briefly with a manly pat on the back.
Harry let go and stood back, making room for Peter to stand next to him outside as a few people walked through the doors. “I’m glad. And before you ask again, yes, I’ll make sure I’m free over New Year to come for dinner,” Peter said with a smile.
It had been years since he’d spoken to his parents, and all of his friends had actually turned out to be Kayleigh’s friends, so he was alone and starting over in more than one way. But after having three invitations to spend the holidays with each of his new friends, it was getting easier to believe things would work out.
He wanted Loukas to have a family, a support network, but Peter was beginning to see that family wasn’t always those related to you by blood.
Maggie was one hell of a cook. After a long week, about month ago, he’d given in to the invitations for dinner and gone home with Harry. Loukas fell instantly in love with Maggie and her kids, and the attraction was mutual.
All Harry and Maggie’s children were grown, but still lived close by and went over for tea or lunch at least once a week. Peter wanted that sort of atmosphere and connection for Loukas.
“Good. If you don’t, Maggie will just track you down and drag you home so she can feed you, son. You’re one of hers, now. You and your boy,” Harry said with a wink. “Maggie will ignore you if you say no, anyway, so it’s easier to just give in.” Harry waved his hands animatedly.
Peter actually felt himself start to well up at that.
It had been a damn long day and he wanted go home, not go and sit with his bosses, as they looked at him and wondered if they’d made a mistake promoting him and inviting him when he clearly couldn’t even handle arranging care of his son for the evening.
“Thanks, Harry. That means more than you know. Can I pop by on Christmas Eve, if that’s alright, and drop your presents off?” Peter had gotten to know their kids and thought he might even have a few more friends in them in the future.
Well, he said kids, but they were about his age.
“What kind of stupid question is that? You’ll be stopping for Christmas morning, same as the rest of our brood,” Harry answered with a twinkle in his eye. “Now off with you to that fancy party. Give us a call if you want us to have Loukas for you.”
The offer was tempting.
But he couldn’t.
Loukas was his son, and not some problem to be palmed off on others when he became inconvenient. His resolved firmed up, Peter thanked Harry and continued on to his car. His bosses were just going to have to put up with it.
Chapter Two
By the time he’d found the old theatre he was already ten minutes late, but thankfully he found an empty mother-and-child parking spot and slipped in quickly. There was a little guilt in parking there, but he had a baby and he was damn well entitled to use this spot.
The theatre was an old-fashioned building, with architecture that kids could imagine all sorts of adventures and stories about. He used to love making up stories of famous pirate captains or medieval knights who stormed the enemy castle to save the day.
But times of childhood fantasy were long gone.
Shaking his head at the stupid thoughts plaguing his mind, he picked up everything he might need for Loukas. At this age, that was still pretty much the entire baby-contents of his house. He then headed towards the entrance.
Peter had managed to keep Loukas asleep as he’d strapped him into the car-seat, but now that they’d arrived somewhere new, he was wide awake and looking around in amazement. The building was impressive and the huge arched doorway was decorated with pirate flags and seaweed-ridden chains. There were even a few lobster cages and skeletons arranged around the reception area.
He gave his name to the lady out front, and she smiled and ticked off his name before handing Loukas a
Harry let go and stood back, making room for Peter to stand next to him outside as a few people walked through the doors. “I’m glad. And before you ask again, yes, I’ll make sure I’m free over New Year to come for dinner,” Peter said with a smile.
It had been years since he’d spoken to his parents, and all of his friends had actually turned out to be Kayleigh’s friends, so he was alone and starting over in more than one way. But after having three invitations to spend the holidays with each of his new friends, it was getting easier to believe things would work out.
He wanted Loukas to have a family, a support network, but Peter was beginning to see that family wasn’t always those related to you by blood.
Maggie was one hell of a cook. After a long week, about month ago, he’d given in to the invitations for dinner and gone home with Harry. Loukas fell instantly in love with Maggie and her kids, and the attraction was mutual.
All Harry and Maggie’s children were grown, but still lived close by and went over for tea or lunch at least once a week. Peter wanted that sort of atmosphere and connection for Loukas.
“Good. If you don’t, Maggie will just track you down and drag you home so she can feed you, son. You’re one of hers, now. You and your boy,” Harry said with a wink. “Maggie will ignore you if you say no, anyway, so it’s easier to just give in.” Harry waved his hands animatedly.
Peter actually felt himself start to well up at that.
It had been a damn long day and he wanted go home, not go and sit with his bosses, as they looked at him and wondered if they’d made a mistake promoting him and inviting him when he clearly couldn’t even handle arranging care of his son for the evening.
“Thanks, Harry. That means more than you know. Can I pop by on Christmas Eve, if that’s alright, and drop your presents off?” Peter had gotten to know their kids and thought he might even have a few more friends in them in the future.
Well, he said kids, but they were about his age.
“What kind of stupid question is that? You’ll be stopping for Christmas morning, same as the rest of our brood,” Harry answered with a twinkle in his eye. “Now off with you to that fancy party. Give us a call if you want us to have Loukas for you.”
The offer was tempting.
But he couldn’t.
Loukas was his son, and not some problem to be palmed off on others when he became inconvenient. His resolved firmed up, Peter thanked Harry and continued on to his car. His bosses were just going to have to put up with it.
Chapter Two
By the time he’d found the old theatre he was already ten minutes late, but thankfully he found an empty mother-and-child parking spot and slipped in quickly. There was a little guilt in parking there, but he had a baby and he was damn well entitled to use this spot.
The theatre was an old-fashioned building, with architecture that kids could imagine all sorts of adventures and stories about. He used to love making up stories of famous pirate captains or medieval knights who stormed the enemy castle to save the day.
But times of childhood fantasy were long gone.
Shaking his head at the stupid thoughts plaguing his mind, he picked up everything he might need for Loukas. At this age, that was still pretty much the entire baby-contents of his house. He then headed towards the entrance.
Peter had managed to keep Loukas asleep as he’d strapped him into the car-seat, but now that they’d arrived somewhere new, he was wide awake and looking around in amazement. The building was impressive and the huge arched doorway was decorated with pirate flags and seaweed-ridden chains. There were even a few lobster cages and skeletons arranged around the reception area.
He gave his name to the lady out front, and she smiled and ticked off his name before handing Loukas a
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