Chapter 31 Miguel

Daddy Shamus slept in on Sunday morning, so Miguel took it upon himself to make breakfast for him. The aroma of sizzling bacon and eggs guided Daddy Shamus to the kitchen. He leaned in and pressed his lips against Miguel's. The rush of warmth and tenderness from his daddy's kiss made Miguel smile.

"Morning, love. I see you feel right at home and made me breakfast. Thank you so much. I'd love to wake up with you every morning."

"Being with you feels incredibly comforting and safe, and I never want to leave." Miguel poured each of them freshly brewed coffee into bright red mugs, the aroma filling the air. He carefully filled their plates with the delicious, piping hot meal, making sure everything was just right.

"Thanks. What I adore about you is you let me love you in all the ways I want. That means a lot to me."

They sat down at the table, the delicious smell of their breakfasts drifting towards them, instantly whetting their appetites.

"What are we going to do today?" Miguel asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"We could go on a hike, then have dinner outside. I thought about grilling chicken."

Miguel nodded in agreement. "I really like that idea."

"Have you been to Princeton Battlefield State Park?" Daddy Shamus asked.

"No. I went home to the city during the summers. Even living in Princeton, I never have the time between classes and work to hike."

"I love being outside. I hope you enjoy that, too."

"Anything with you is fun."

They cleaned up together and changed into hiking clothes. Miguel was grateful for his sturdy boots as they planned to venture onto the rugged hiking trail. Every experience with Daddy Shamus was thrilling for him, filled with endless possibilities. Once again, Miguel was overly excited about this next adventure together.

Daddy Shamus entrusted Miguel with the keys to his sleek sports car, guiding him to the designated parking area of Princeton Battlefield State Park. The day was bright, with a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves. A perfect day for hiking.

Holding hands, they began their hike, Miguel's eyes drawn to the vibrant hues of nature.

"Do you know why this park is historically famous?"

"No."

"On January 3, 1777, American and British forces clashed in what's known as the Battle of Princeton, right in the thick of the American Revolutionary War. The whole showdown wrapped up when the British troops holed up in Nassau Hall had no choice but to wave the white flag and surrender."

"That's interesting. I didn't know that."

They paused often, Daddy Shamus pointing out various historical markers, his voice a mix of reverence and pride as he spoke of the park's past. Miguel listened intently. His life with Daddy Shamus was real and interesting.

"Want to go horseback riding?" Daddy Shamus asked.

Miguel nodded. "Uncle Javier used to take us horseback riding during the summer fairs."

They stopped at the horse rental area and Daddy Shamus paid the man for two horses.

Miguel adjusted his stirrups, letting out a satisfied huff as Daddy Shamus nudged his own horse into motion. The rhythmic clippety-clop of hooves against the dirt trail was a comforting counterpoint to the chirping of unseen birds. Sunlight through the leaves of towering oaks cast a mosaic of light and shadow on the forest floor.

"Unbelievable view," Miguel muttered, being careful not to spook his horse. "I can't believe I never went horseback riding in the three years I've been here."

Shamus grinned, his teeth flashing white. "You were studying and working, doing the right thing, but it's summer now."

Miguel chuckled. "Right you are. I wouldn't mind a beer after this."

"We can stop for a beer."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they continued along the trail. The gentle rocking motion of the horse was lulling Miguel into a relaxed daze, the scent of pine and damp earth filling his lungs with each breath. He marveled at the changing scenery, sunlight glinting off a hidden stream at one turn, a carpet of wildflowers blanketing a clearing at the next. He had missed all this growing up on the streets of Brooklyn.

As they rounded a bend in the trail, the trees thinned, revealing a breathtaking vista. Rolling hills stretched out before them, painted in vibrant shades of green and gold. In the distance, the weathered stones of Princeton Battlefield peeked through the trees, a silent testament to the history that lay beneath their feet.

"Wow," Miguel breathed, feeling a surge of awe. "This is unreal."

Daddy Shamus reined in his black horse beside him. "Pretty spectacular, huh? Makes you feel kinda small, doesn't it?"

Miguel nodded, a shiver running down his spine. Small but also strangely connected to something much larger.

They continued their ride for another hour, their conversation punctuated by laughter and exclamations of wonder. By the time they returned to the stables, Miguel's legs were pleasantly sore, and he dismounted with a groan.

"That was incredible," Miguel said, patting his horse's neck affectionately. "Thanks for suggesting this, Daddy Shamus."

Daddy Shamus grinned, his own face bright red with sunburn. "Anytime, Miguel. Anytime." He winked. "Now, about that beer…"

Miguel laughed. "Sounds perfect."

Leaving the park, they stopped to quench their thirst at a nearby bar, where laughter filled the air. They took a seat on the barstools and ordered two frothy beers.

"Your face is so red. I think you got burned pretty badly," Miguel said.

"Oh damn, I completely spaced on applying sunscreen."

"That's too bad. I'll remind you next time."

After their beers, Daddy Shamus drove them home. They changed into their trunks. This time, Miguel lathered Daddy Shamus with sun protection lotion, and he sat under an umbrella.

"I need to make a few thank you calls to my family for the gifts," Miguel said as he stood.

"Okay, love. I'll be waiting for you."

Miguel leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on Daddy Shamus's forehead.

Miguel climbed the stairs and entered the bedroom, sinking into the soft comfort of the bed. He called his uncle and thanked him for the motorcycle, then he called all the relatives who gave him money. He spoke to his sister and Sara, then he had to call his mother.

Miguel stared at his phone, the Princeton seal on the screen taunting him with the life he was about to describe to his mom. He tapped his foot, willing himself to call. Taking a deep breath, he hit the dial.

"Hi, Miguelito!" his mom's warm voice filled his ear.

"Hi, Mom," Miguel started, his voice cracking. "Thank you for the beautiful gifts for my birthday. I'm wearing the watch all the time. There's something I need to talk to you about."

The uneasy sensation churning in his stomach overwhelmed him. He loved Daddy Shamus so much, but he didn't know what she thought about him living with Daddy Shamus when he returned to school. Their connection was magical. But his mom…he wasn't sure. She had been set on Bently and was rude to Daddy Shamus when she first met him. After the meeting, she acted civil, but he wasn't sure how she really felt. He launched into an explanation, words tumbling over each other.

"I'm sorry you're disappointed with me." He paused. "I know you thought I would go back to Bently. I'm not in love with him. I care and love him, but I'm not in love like I am with Shamus. There's a difference between the two."

"I'm not disappointed in you at all. You come from Brooklyn without a father, and you got into Princeton. Next year you'll graduate. I spoke to Bently and your uncle separately about you and Bently. I understand you no longer are in love with him. Of course, there's a difference between loving and being in love."

At least she's gotten past Bently, now if she could just accept Shamus.

"We've been together in many situations, and he always has my back. We do lots of fun things. I wish you would understand he's not a just a bar owner and there's nothing wrong if he were. I've never seen him drunk."

"If you feel he supports you, then that's important. He did back you up at the meeting, and he didn't need to put himself through that. He did it to make sure you were okay."

"Everything he does is to help me and ensure I'm safe."

"What else did you want to talk about?"

"It's so good to hear your voice. I almost forgot why I called. Shamus teaches at Princeton and owns a home nearby. He's asked me to move in at the end of the summer. I wanted to make sure you were okay with that. I want to live with him instead of in the dorm."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke. "Miguelito," she said, a hint of a smile in her voice. "If moving in with Shamus makes you happy, then I'm happy for you. But promise me you'll study hard, take care of yourself, and most importantly, take care of each other."

Tears pricked at Miguel's eyes. "Mom, thank you! You can't believe how much this means to me."

He could hear the warmth in her voice as she replied, "Just call me sometimes, okay? And maybe bring Shamus over for dinner. I'd like to get to know the man who makes my son so happy."

"When can Maria and Sara visit me at Seaside?"

"The first week in August. Both of them have time off."

"Thanks. I love you."

"I love you too."

After his phone calls, he returned to the backyard.

"Everything okay?" Daddy Shamus asked.

"Yes. I had a lot of cousins, aunts, and uncles to thank. The grill smells good."

"Getting ready to put the chicken on. I made the vegetables."

"I'll jump in the pool until it's done, unless you want me to do something."

"Get in the pool and enjoy it."

"Are we leaving after your meeting?"

"Yes, the earlier the better to skip the traffic."

"I'll be ready when you get back." Miguel had a few plans for tomorrow before they left this home that would now be his, too.