Epilogue

Gray

"Did you know there is another changing room redone?" Ms. Lily had tracked me down in the little room on an ordinary evening a week before London's birthday. "I thought you might want it for the party evening."

"The mysterious muralist strikes again?"

"They aren't mysterious." She shook her head. "Just a little shy and we respect their desire to keep to themselves. But this whole room was changed out from a less popular theme to…ready for it? Can you guess?"

"Since you are telling me, I am guessing trains?"

"That's correct. Just in time for the big day. And I was kidding about asking you. I included it in the party package at no extra charge."

Ms. Lily was good like that. Ever since she learned about all the charity work that my boy did, she'd had a soft spot for him. And even had a fundraiser for the clinic in the works later in the year. Chained and its staff were suckers for a good cause.

"He's going to be so excited. I hope nobody tells him so it can be a surprise."

She waved a hand. "It won't be ready until next week and we haven't announced the theme. I'm surprised you haven't heard all the speculation since we put the Closed for Magic Transformation sign on the door."

"Guaranteed to start the talk that way." I laughed. "It must be past the one we used tonight because I didn't see it, but we are honored to be the first members to use it. London is going to lose his cookies."

"Let's hope not. There is a big area rug in there we don't want to have to clean so soon."

Ms. Lily was a hoot and a half.

A week later, the night of the party arrived. The celebration itself was not a surprise. Rather, my little conductor had been involved in every step of the planning and was sure he knew it all, but as we walked down the hallway, and I stopped in front of the correct changing room door, he gasped. "That's the one they were working on, isn't it?" He'd heard the gossip.

"I think so." I unlocked the door and stepped back. "Why don't you do the honors?"

"Cool. I can't wait to tell the other kids about it. Have any of them used it?"

"I understand tonight is the first night it's done."

"Oh, so awesome. I wonder what theme they went with? Some of the littles think outdoors, you know camping and stuff, but some of the others think maybe action figures. The vote is for glitter."

"That would be mayhem. Hurry and open up. I am dying to see."

"Don't you know what it is?"

I did the tic-a-lock on my lips.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside. I waited for him to crow or otherwise express the joy I expected, but only silence ensued.

"London? Is it nice?"

"It's trains, and there are…one, two…seven…twenty-five cabooses. Wait I missed one. Now I have to start over."

"Oh, no you don't." I entered and wrapped my arms around him from behind. "Just go with thirty-two, like teeth."

"Many people don't have thirty-two you know. For various reasons—"

I spun him in my grip and crashed my lips onto his. His dental lectures, while informative, had been known to clear a room, and that wouldn't do on his birthday. "Oh, no you don't. It really is something though. The room."

"You really hadn't seen it before?"

"No, but Ms. Lily did tell me about it because she wanted you to have this special surprise for your party. Ready to get changed."

"Ready to move the party in here."

I laughed. "That would be fun but your guest list is way too long." The changing rooms were generous in size but still only changing rooms and not big enough for the shenanigans intended for the event of the century.

"All right. But it is fantastic, isn't it?" Instead of a crib, there was a choo-choo train toddler bed, and shelves around the wall held various model and toy trains, some of which looked very old and valuable—but those were on the highest shelves. The mural was the nicest one I'd seen, and the tracks ran right down to where the big area rug, which also had tracks and train things on it, lined right up. The chair looked remarkably like one from the parlor car in our train event, and everything else was train themed. "Yes, it is! You have to tell Ms. Lily to thank the artist for their amazing job."

"Who is it? Is it a member?"

"Ms. Lily says they want to keep their identity private, but they sure are talented."

"Maybe they have a secret non-artist identity and we see them every time we come here?"

"Anything is possible. Now, arms up. If we don't get going, you'll miss your own party. I helped him out of his shirt and shoes and socks and pants, then, on my knees pulled down his briefs. "Uh-oh. I don't think your overalls will fit."

He peered down. "All swollen. Daddy fix it."

"Of course." I didn't have to ask if he wanted kisses or rubbies like some of the littles wanted. Mine was all kisses all the time. London braced his hands on my shoulders while I licked and sucked him until his knees were wobbling. Then I eased him over to sit in the big chair and dandled his ball sac, deep throating him until he groaned and emptied himself into my mouth. Standing, I helped him up and gave him a hug. "Now we really have to hurry. There's a roomful of littles in there with your cake."

"Daddy, hurry. Dress me." He wore the training pants again and a cropped tee tonight with a smiling caboose on it. He was so excited it was hard to get his legs into the overall shorts, but I managed, and soon we were heading down the hallway toward the little room. Our usual conversation area was occupied by some of the other members because everyone we knew was invited to my little conductor's party. No way they would all have fit in the changing room for the celebration.

Outside the door, we could see all of our friends and acquaintances gathered in the little room. It was decorated with streamers and non-latex balloons because some people had allergies and the whole party from cake to hats to horns to games had a very special theme.

"So many trains." He'd had a hand in all the arrangements, but we hadn't let him see anything until now. "Daddy, thank you for my party and everything. I love you sooo much." He gave me a smacking kiss on the cheeks before taking a step into the little room.

I blinked back tears as everyone burst into song in honor of my best boy. He was a good man, kind to others, considerate of the less fortunate, and ready to help anyone. And adorable as a boy. I gave thanks to whoever out there in the universe decided I'd done something decent enough to deserve London in my life. I hadn't known what love felt like until my heart swelled with it for him.

"Come on, Daddy! There's glitter!" He grabbed my hand and dragged me into the room. Of course there was glitter. But tonight? I didn't care how hard it was to clean up my boy. He was worth it.

Thank you for reading London's Lost Engine .