4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Marcel

Protective Daddy Mode engaged.

It’s about time.

It’s just dinner, Marcel. No need to alert the FBI.

After hearing that sweet boy’s story and all he’d endured at such a young age, there was no way protective Daddy beast mode wasn’t activated.

A protective Daddy is a good Daddy.

I’d chose a quaint Italian place with a private booth for our first date then a walk through the winter wonderland the park nearby had been converted into for the holidays. One last quick stop before I picked up Ralphie then our night could begin.

When had I last been this excited about…anything?

I parked in front of their building and before I reached the door it flew open and there stood Ralphie.

“Daddy Marcel, you made it!”

I kissed his cheek. “Of course I did. We have a date, don’t we?”

“Yes.” Ralphie’s eyes landed on the bag I had. “A prezzie?”

“A prezzie for you. May I come inside?”

“Sorry, yes.”

I stepped past him and into their living room. In front of me was a hall that must have led to the bedrooms and bath and to the right was their kitchen. A standard unit but one that they’d kept very clean.

“Here you are.” I handed Ralphie the bag and watched as he dug into it.

“You got me a teddy bear! Thank you, Daddy Marcel.”

“You are very welcome.” Every boy should have their own bear from their…a…Daddy. Got a bit ahead of myself there. “Did you want to leave him here or take him to dinner with us?”

“You’d really let me bring Howie?”

“Howie, is it?” This boy made me smile with the simplest of things. “Of course I would. It’s completely up to you.”

He hemmed and hawed as I witnessed his internal struggle wage on.

“It’s cold out and Howie doesn’t have a coat so he should probably stay here where it’s warm.”

“Excellent choice. We wouldn’t want him to get sick, now would we?”

Ralphie shook his head. “No, Daddy Marcel, that would be sad. Let me go tuck him in, I’ll be right back.”

Ralphie skipped down the hall and into one of the rooms and returned a few bear-less seconds later.

“Let’s get you wrapped up. It’s cold out.” I helped him get his coat and hat on then a scarf and mittens. “Lock up behind us.”

“Yes, Daddy Marcel.”

I kept a watchful eye as he locked the door then held his hand along the walk to the car. Didn’t want him to slip on any black ice as it was quite dark outside.

“There you go,” I clipped his seat belt then got in on the driver’s side. “I hope you like Italian food.”

“I love all food. Except Brussel sprouts. Blech.”

“Oddly enough, I share your sentiment with that particular vegetable. Did you work yesterday?”

“Yes and it was nonstop busy. All the Black Friday shoppers seemed to land at our restaurant. I was there eight hours, and it went by in like five minutes.”

“I’ve had days like that myself. It’s great when it happens, until you get home and the exhaustion hits.”

“Very true. I was so happy Tessy had dinner already made and in the fridge for me before she went to work. All I had to do was heat it up.” Ralphie was in great spirits tonight. Such a delightful boy to be around.

“Good evening, gentlemen. Do you have a reservation?” The hostess greeted us as we stepped inside and stomped the snow from our boots on the walk off mat.

“Good evening. Yes, for Allard, please. Party of two.”

We followed the hostess back to the corner booth I’d requested.

“Your server will be with you momentarily. Enjoy your meals.”

“Sweet boy, would you like Daddy to order for you?”

His enthusiastic excitement reminded me of why I’d first chosen the life of a Daddy and I hadn’t felt it in far too long.

“Yes please, Daddy.”

Our server arrived a short time later. “Good evening, gentlemen. I’m Toby and I’ll be your server tonight. May I start you off with any beverages?”

“Yes, please. I’ll have an iced tea, and he’ll have an apple juice. Could we also get a children’s menu and crayons?”

Toby smiled. “Absolutely. I’ll be right back with it and your drinks.”

Ralphie’s eyes widened. “Are you going to color, Daddy?”

“I hadn’t planned on it but if you’d like me to color with you, I’ll happily oblige.”

“You-you don’t mind me coloring in public?” Ralphie whispered.

“Does it make you happy?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Then it makes me happy. My only goal in life is to see to it that you’re taken care of and happy.” I had a feeling those so-called Daddies he spoke of needed a hard lesson in Littles 101.

“You’re the bestest Daddy in the world!” His arm shot up as he fist pumped the air. “Oopsy, sorry, Daddy, that was loud and now those people are looking at us funny.”

“Let them stare. They’re just jealous they’re not having dinner with such a wonderful boy.” I turned and glared at the interlopers. One stern Daddy stare for the win as they returned to their meals. Bunch of nosey Nellie’s.

“Your drinks, sirs,” the waiter sat our cups down, “and one children’s menu.” He knowingly slid it in front of Ralphie and smiled sweetly at my boy. I’d be sure to tip Toby well tonight for taking such great care of us. “Are you ready to order?”

“Yes, and thank you, Toby. I believe we will both have the spaghetti with meatballs tonight.”

“Both adult portions or will one be from the children’s menu?”

“Great question but let’s do both adult sized so he has lunch for tomorrow.” Ralphie’s smile widened, and I nearly leaned across the table to kiss his happy face, though I refrained. But only just.

“Excellent choice, sir. I’ll be right back with your breadsticks.”

I watched Ralphie open the crayons then stare down at the menu, assessing the puzzles and pictures to color. He turned his head from side to side, then made his selection.

“Okay, Daddy. You color the rainbow at the top and the sun then I’ll work on the puzzles and the puppy. Deal?”

“Deal.”

He placed the four crayons, not enough colors for the full rainbow but I’d make do, in the center of the table.

“Such a nice boy to share your toys with Daddy.”

“It’s not nice not to share. Besides, you’re my Daddy and this is fun.” His tongue darted out as he concentrated hard on the first puzzle. Enthralled. Enamored . And a million other verbs to describe how mesmerized I was with this boy. I was elated our friends saw what I refused to admit and forced the issue. In the nicest way possible, of course.

Ralphie was indeed the boy for me. The one to soothe my aching heart and the one I knew without a doubt Elion would’ve chosen for me.

Who said I didn’t?

We finished the picture just as our food arrived, so I moved it to the side to keep it from a saucy death.

“Shall I cut your meal up for you?”

“Just the meatballs, please, Daddy. I like to slurpy-slurpy the noodles.” He wiggled about as I got to work on his food. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“You are very welcome, sweet boy.”

Ralphie loved calling me Daddy. Gods how I missed hearing that. He reminded me of my sweet Elion and how he appreciated even the simplest of gestures. Both just wanted to be loved for who they were and not forced into boxes for which they didn’t belong. Ralphie was a gift, perhaps Elion had sent him to me. That I would never know but I could promise to love and adore him until I drew my last breath.

“Daddy, why are you looking at me like you want to eat me up?”

I chuckled. “Well, in a way I do. You’ve brought life to this old man’s heart.”

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

The sweet boy made kissy faces at me across the table and as much as I wished to indulge, I’d need to wipe a bit of the tomato sauce away first.

“There.” I finally accepted his gracious offer and though the kiss was simple, sweet, and brief, I swore in the distance I heard a faint chime of bells.

It’s A Wonderful Life.

Indeed, it was.

“I ate all my ‘sketti, Daddy.”

That he did and thankfully I still had more wipes in the pouch I kept in my jacket pocket.

“You did, I’m so proud of you.” And glad I’d opted for the adult plates, though he’d have no leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

“Can we get dessert?”

Saw that one coming.

“We can but we’re going to the second part of our date now and you may like what’s there even better.”

Ralphie’s eyes widened almost comically. “We’re going somewhere else, too?”

“Yes, sweet boy. We have another stop for the evening so let’s get you cleaned and wrapped up nice and tight in your jacket and gloves.” I got him situated and loaded in the car and off we went for the quick ten-minute ride.

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Look at all the Christmas lights. It’s so pretty!” The silly goose swooned in his seat. “Is that where we’re going?”

“It is, dear boy. Are you ready?”

“Yes-yes-yes,” he chanted as he anxiously bounced in the seat.

“Hold tight, let Daddy come and set you free of the evil seat belt.” Thankfully they clipped in tight, or the boy would’ve been wound up like a slinky.

“This is so exciting. Winter Wonderland,” he read the words lit up above the arch we walked under to enter.

“Two tickets, please,” I paid the lady manning the cash box at the entry table.

“Enjoy your evening,” she waved us through.

The first stand we came upon was a hot chocolate cart. “How about a warm cup of cocoa to sip as we walk around?”

“Oh yes, please.”

With our beverages in hand, we shopped the vendor stalls.

“I’d like to find a special gift for Tessy for Christmas. She does so much for me. Maybe something with snowmen on it. They always make her happy.”

My fondness for Tess increased ten-fold and I too would seek a gift worthy of her kindness.

“Look, Daddy, over there,” Ralphie shouted and tugged my hand. “Tons of Christmas stuff.”

He wasn’t kidding. This booth was a one-stop holiday themed gift shop, and everything was handmade. Santas, elves, snowmen. You name it, they had it. Signage, figurines, stuffies, clothing.

“That’s a whole lot of Christmas, dear boy.”

His head bobbed up and down as he lifted the cutest crocheted snowman from a table.

“He’s adorable. What do you think? How would he look on your bed with Howie?”

Ralphie blinked a few times as the words sank in. “He’d make me and Howie very happy.” He glanced at the price tag and set it back down. “Let’s see if we can find a prezzie for Tessy.”

While he wandered around the booth I quickly paid for the snowman and thankfully the kind woman had a bag for it.

“He really liked this one. I make them all myself.”

“Wow, do you sleep?” I asked her and she laughed.

“You would think not, but I live alone. My husband passed away two years ago, and we never had any children. Crocheting and creating keeps my mind off how lonely I truly am.”

“You were blessed with the gift of creation and your pieces are amazing. I’m sorry for your loss, I lost my husband around the same time as yours.”

She placed her hand over my forearm. “I’m sorry for your loss. Your new friend is quite enamored with you. He keeps sneaking peeks and grinning.”

I liked this lady already.

“Good to know. We’re new to each other but he does make me happy.”

“That’s all that matters.”

Needless to say, Ralphie and I left with several bags from her booth, and I took one of her business cards as well. Maybe someday I’d commission pieces for our home.

First date.

Our home.

What the hell had gotten into me?

“Thank you, Ms. Pam,” Ralphie hollered back and waved as we meandered out into the crowd.

“Where to next, my boy?”

“Look, Daddy, a make your own ornament stand. We should make one for our first Christmas together.” The twinkle lights lit up his beautiful blue eyes so magically it stole my breath away. I was well and truly in trouble with this boy. He could ask me for the world, and I’d do my best to give it to him.

“I think that’s an excellent idea. Shall we?”

I followed the giggling boy into the booth, muttering something that sounded akin to silly Daddy.

“Which one do you want to do?” He had a few in his hands but was still going through the lot. “Maybe make one for Tess as well?”

“Really?”

“Really. Now, which do you like for us?” No surprise at all, he chose one of the wood ornaments with two snowmen on it. My guess was Tess wasn’t the only one who liked snowmen.

“How about the dog and cat with Santa hats on for us and the snowmen for me and Tessy?”

A bit of a change, but doable. “I think that sounds wonderful. Now, what station do we go to next to paint?”

Paint ended up being markers which made sense considering the time it would take for paint to dry. They had glitter markers, too. I’d have to ask where they’d got them and let Tess know for the club. Glitter had been banned long ago and for good reason, but this way it was completely contained.

“Okay, done. Now I think we take them to the guy at the counter to add our names to them.” Ralphie was having the best time tonight and I’m glad I thought of this adventure.

“Lead the way, dear boy.”

The man utilized a laser machine that etched our names into the ornament. Ralphie was in awe, his eyes glued to the man as he worked. This boy was full of curiosity and pure of heart.

“Where to next?” I asked right as he yawned. “Did you work today?”

“Yes, Daddy, but I’ve had the best night, and I don’t want it to end.”

“How about this, we buy some of these wonderful smelling candied almonds and we go back to your place so Daddy can tuck you and Howie in. Then tomorrow when you wake up and get moving around, you give me a call and if you’re up for it we can have another outing?”

“I’d like that, Daddy. I am kind of tired.”

We purchased our almonds then drove back to his apartment. Ralphie grabbed a couple of our bags as did I and we carried them inside.

“Chilly in here, let me turn the fireplace on.” He flipped a switch, and it lit up. I hadn’t realized it wasn’t wood burning until now.

“Here, this bag is for you.”

Ralphie reached inside, I’m sure thinking he’d pull some of the things we’d purchased together from it. “It’s the snowman. Daddy, you bought me the snowman.” He nearly cried. “I wanted him so badly. Thank you.” He threw himself in my arms, snowman included, and I squeezed them tight.

“You are so welcome. Now, where do you want to hide the gifts you got for Tess?”

“Gifts for who?” she asked as she stepped inside. The girl must have supersonic hearing.

“Tessy!” Ralphie ran over and hugged her. “We had the best night ever. Look what Daddy Marcel bought me. We had sketti and hot chocolate and ooohhh, I had an ornament made for you and me.” He skipped over to the bags and sifted through them. “Here.”

“Ralphie, it’s so us. Thank you.” They hugged then she placed the ornament on the mantle. “Let’s keep it here until we get our tree. Then we can see it all the time.”

Ralphie beamed, filled with pride at having selected the ideal gift for her. He picked up the bags and down the hall he went.

“Marcel,” Tess said as soon as Ralphie’s door shut. “Please don’t hurt him. He’s been through enough already. If you’re not ready, do the honorable thing and let him know you’re not ready, then walk away now and don’t look back.”

“I understand and apologize for my prior hesitation, but walking away is no longer an option for me. In February, I’m not sure I’d have been mentally prepared to give Ralphie what he deserved.”

“And you are now?”

“Without a doubt.”