Page 25 of Slice

“We’ll do both. It sounds like a fun time,” Slice said, finishing eating and letting the boys lead the conversation. If that was the only dust-up they had tonight, Slice would consider it a win.

They finished supper and cleaned up the items. Slice wiped down the kitchen while the boys got out the games they wanted to play. Slice wondered how soon he could move him and Faith along to living together permanently. He wanted her for his Ol’ Lady and his wife.

“Okay, what are we playing first?” Slice asked, sitting down on the floor with the boys. They’d set up the games on the coffee table.

“I picked Trouble. Micah picked Sorry.”

“I like both of those. Is the person who picked the game going first?” Slice asked.

Micah nodded and pointed to Isaiah. Slice laughed as the boys chatted while they played the game. He could see himself being content with them—the woman he adored and the kids he loved. They might not have been his biologically, but they were his.

“Are you going to be our dad, and is Faith going to be our mom, like forever?” Micah asked.

Faith hadn’t mentioned the boys asking any questions about their relationship. Slice hoped he didn’t get this wrong.

“I’d like to be, but your mom hasn’t signed paperwork for you to be adopted yet,” Slice said.

“She will. She doesn’t like us,” Micah said.

“Yep, we’re dis-a, dis-a,” Isaiah looked to Micah.

“Disappointing bastards,” Micah said softly.

Slice held his arms out and cuddled the boys close. If he had the boys’ mom in front of him, he might renege on his promise to never hit a woman.

“I’m sorry she doesn’t like you. Sometimes when mommies or daddies are sick, they say things they shouldn’t to their kids. You are not disappointing at all. You are both smart and loving and oh so kind. You’ve welcomed LB into the home and been such good big brothers. I love you both, not just because I love Faith, but because I love you guys for being you. I’m so happy I delivered presents that night and met you because I got the best Christmas gift ever,” Slice said, cuddling their little warm bodies against him. Isaiah’s little arms held him tighter around his neck.

“We’re the best presents?” Micah whispered, sniffing a little.

“Yes. I’m grateful I met you both, LB, and Faith,” Slice said.

“I love you, Slice,” Micah said.

“Me too. I love you,” Isaiah said.

Slice held those little boys in his arms, knowing they weren’t going back to any mother that called them those names. He didn’t care what it took, but these boys were going to be his. He’dtext War to see if they needed to go an attorney route or, heck, Slice would be willing to pay the woman to sign over her rights. He wondered, though, if she had any outstanding warrants. Maybe being picked up if she did could convince her to sign the boys away.

“My turn,” Micah said, pushing the dice popper and moving his piece the number of steps.

“If we stay here foreva, could we have a dog?” Isaiah asked.

“Yeah, Grant and David have dogs,” Micah said.

“We’d need to make that decision with Faith here. I’ve never had a dog. I always wanted one.”

“Why didn’t you have one?” Micah asked.

“I was in foster care, and none of the homes had animals,” Slice said.

“You were like us?” Micah asked.

“Yep, except my foster parents weren’t like Faith. They were more like your mom. I’m happy you’re with Faith. Now, whose turn is it next?” Slice asked.

He didn’t want to talk about being in foster care anymore. The boys were too young and innocent to hear about any of the things Slice had gone through.

“Is that why you can’t hear out of the one ear?” Micah asked.

Slice shook his head. “No, I lost my hearing in that ear when I was in the Army, and a building blew up beside me.”

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