Page 111 of Lorcan
Are they going to marry? Or is one of them going to marry Evan? How does that even work?Gay marriage had been legal in Canada for twenty years. Too bad triads couldn’t marry. I’d met several at the club over the last few months. And, of course, one of the most famous Canadian actors, Cole Hamilton, was in a ménage relationship with his best friends Caressa and Michael.
I refocused on what Dante was saying. “—glad you could make it.”
Foster tucked himself into Arnav’s side. “Rainbow and Kennedy are watching Malika and Joshua tonight.” His eyes shone. “The social worker thinks maybe around Christmas…” He swallowed.
Arnav pressed a kiss to his temple. “The kids’ mother is saying she wants to give them up. But that’s such a monumental decision. We want her to take her time to do what’s in everyone’s best interest.”
I wanted to say that the kids staying with Arnav and Fosterwasin everyone’s best interest. But they hadn’t been able to share the mother’s story—so I kept quiet.
Cody held me close.
His warmth seeped into me as I started to get a little chilled. All that sweating and now no motion.
“Are you cold, Pumpkin? Do you want to put on your sweater?”
“We’re going back out there.” Jai eyed me. “I’m going to win this time.”
Mistress Kate laughed. “I think Evan’s joining the puppy pile. Good luck.”
With that, she and Master Dante moved on.
“Oh Daddy.” Foster buried his face in Arnav’s neck. They already loved the kids so damn much. If they left, more than a few hearts would be broken.
After many discussions, Cody and I had begun making inquiries to social services. About what it would take to become foster parents.
At Genessa’s insistence, we’d bought a four-bedroom house. Plenty of room for foster children. The discussion was mainly about older kids. The ones thrown away by callous parents because the kids were queer. Unwanted. Like Cody had been.
Jai cleared his throat. “This is also sort of a celebration.”
Cody chuckled.
Foster sat up and grasped his ginger ale. He held it and tipped in slightly in my direction. “To having money repatriated and paying everyone back.”
We all raised our glasses.
Despite all the red tape, and even after the Mexican authorities had taken their share, there’d been enough money to pay everyone back. Plus a bit extra—because Stephen had bought a property that had appreciated in value.
Rayne had poked around and discovered some shady people had attempted to kidnap Stephen for ransom. Apparently he hadn’t been hiding his wealth. So although the accident had been real, the reason behind it had been sinister. Unsurprisingly, no one had been charged. But those troubles weren’t going to follow the money to Canada.
Arnav was fighting like hell for me to get what little was left. In the end, the police and crown prosecutor admitted I’d been a victim. I didn’t like to see myself that way. But if I had money, I could contribute to our mortgage, I was okay with that. Plus, some to a couple of charities close to my heart. Regardless of what happened, my name had been cleared. Forever.
Demetrius’s cell phone buzzed. He shrugged sheepishly. “Might be Alaina or Keegan.”
“Oh?” My ears perked. Their kids were old enough to be left alone, and tonight they were staying at our home. We were fostering a litter of eight-week-old kittens. Our home had become a sort of cat sanctuary and foster home. Mei and Trifle were in seventh heaven. This was the first litter of kittens we’d accepted, and they’d been old enough to be left alone for a few hours at a time. Tonight, though, we thought it would be fun for the kids to watch them. That said, Jai and Demetrius always kept their phones close.
As did Arnav and Foster—even though Kennedy and Rainbow were fantastic babysitters. Again, I wondered if either woman might marry and have children of their own.
“Daddy, are you okay?” Jai sat a little straighter. “Do we need to leave? Let me get dressed—”
“No.” Demetrius continued to frown at his phone. “I—” He swallowed.
The rest of our table watched him as he ran a hand up and down his face.
“It’s a text.”
I gripped Cody—needing his reassurance. Surely if this had to do with the kids, or our furbabies, he’d say something immediately.
“From my brother. A guy named Andre.”
