Thank you all for great comments on this story this story idea has been on my mind for some time now, so glad you all enjoy it.
Later on that night Steven was cleaning up the deli with Doug; which didn't seem happy and it had started the minute he lead eyes on Brendan. He hardly said anything to Steven the rest of the night since Brendan had left.
"What is wrong with you?" asked Steven as he finished cleaning up for the night.
"Nothing, what is wrong with you?" asked Doug with an attitude
"What's wrong with me being nice to the man raising my daughter?"
"And all that shit he said to you on the phone"
"He apologized, so what I'm not supposed to forgive him."
"Why are you leading him on?"
"What's wrong with it, seems like a decent guy, who has had some some shitty things happen to him"
"You like him" Doug said and not as a question
"And what if I do, we aren't together so stop your stupid jealousy shit Doug and grow up."
Doug left the deli without saying anything.
Steven walked into his and Doug's flat and he heard Lucas crying in his bedroom. Even though Steven was extremely tired and needed a long shower he ran into his son's bedroom and checked on him in his crib.
"Hey buddy why the tears huh?" asked Steven sweetly to his son as he picked him up from the crib he walked over to a chair and sat down with Lucas in his arms. Steven was rocking back and forth and clearing away Lucas' tears with one finger.
"No tears, daddy is here now."
Steven kissed Lucas on the forehead.
Steven looked up when he heard the door open. Doug was by the open door.
"Is he alright?" asked Doug concern in his voice
"He's perfect" said Steven as he stood up and placed Lucas back in his club.
"Listen Doug, I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I had no right to"
"I'm sorry too, I just don't want to see you get hurt, then I'll have to help you pick up the piece of your broken heart."
"Don't worry so much" Steven walked over to Doug and hugged him.
Steven walked out of the room and took a quick shower.
The following day was a Sunday which meant a fun play date with Leah, Brendan adored those times with Leah when they would explore different places around the neighborhood, where Brendan would let Leah touch anything that would help in her learning developing stages in her life. They would go to the pond and feed the ducks, they would go to the nearby garden and smell the different types of plants and flowers and they would go to the local art museum just so Brendan can show Leah the wonderful paintings of the greatest painters around; Frida Kahlo, Picasso, and his favorite that reminded him of a psychedelic haze Andy Warhol. When they were done doing something fun they would have lunch together out doors in the park. This day started out like any other fun Sunday with his daughter but as they were in the park Brendan noticed Steven with his son Lucas in a stroller. It wasn't hard to tell that Leah and Lucas were indeed brother and sister both with the same light sun kissed blonde hair that he loved so much on Leah. Brendan walked over to Steven while holding on to Leah's hand.
"Steven, nice to see you here"
"Oh hi Brendan, nice running into you as well."
"This here is your daughter Leah" said Brendan picking her up.
"Say hi Leah" said Brendan softly
"Hi" said Leah in a soft shy voice
"Oh she got so big," said Steven on the verge of tears
Brendan placed Leah down and he leaned down eye level with Lucas.
"This must be Lucas?" asked Brendan
"Yes, I can't believe how much they look alike" said Steven with a smile
"Same blonde hair" said Brendan with a smile
"They get that from Amy"
"Do you come here often?" asked Brendan
"Not a much as I would like"
"That's a shame, we come here every Sunday just to have some alone time together for lunch."
"Sounds like fun, you're a great father"
"Thank you"
"Would you like to join us?" asked Brendan
"Are you sure about that?"
"Sure am, that way the two can get to know each other and we can too"
"That's very kind of you"
They went over to a huge tree and sat under it; Brendan had an extra sandwich and offered it to Steven which he gladly accepted. The children sat next to each other and both Steven and Brendan couldn't seem to keep their eyes off Leah and Lucas.
Once they were all finished eating they stayed under the tree for a little longer. Brendan leaned against the tree and was thinking of something to say to start a conversation with Steven.
"Doug is kinda hot" said Brendan out of e blue
Steven laughed
"He might be that, but his jealous nature is ugly"
"Is that what broke you apart"
"Yeah it is, are you in a relationship?"
Brendan laughed.
"Sorry you don't have to answer that, it's none of my business"
"No its ok, the answer is no, I don't even know when the last time I was in one"
Steven nodded his head.
"As you can tell I'm kinda a prick, I need to stop treating people like shit, and I am truly sorry for hurting you when we talked on the phone. Didn't mean to make you cry"
"You're not so bad, I totally understand what you did what you did. You're afraid that I might want to take Leah from you but to be honest the thought never crossed my mind you're a good person Brendan with lots of love for another person, I could tell when you were desperate for mine and Amy's records and now your eyes show me the way you look at her just how much you love her.
"Thanks Steven that means so much to me"
"It's getting late I should go, I have to bring Lucas to the babysitter and help Doug with the deli."
Steven got up from the grass and put his son in the stroller.
"Leah and I always do something fun together on Sunday so if you and little Lucas here want to join us your welcomed to anytime."
"That's very kind of you Brendan"
"I hope that was a way I telling me yes"
"Yes I'd like to join you both, well I have to run, ,talk to you later bye"
"Bye"