Chapter Twelve
Rated M (for part of it)
The mass text sent out by Topher the next day got mixed reactions.
Ma didn't get the house! They accepted Scott's offer! Ma is moving into a senior living apartment building ACROSS TOWN, OVER AN HOUR AWAY!
Both having mom issues despite the very different reasons Drew and Rick understood Topher's relief. Drew wanted to know if Scott's house-warming party was going to double as a "thank you" party.
Topher text back Janet offered to furnish the whole house for free, she's so happy.
The hand-delivered document labeled as coming from the courthouse gave Drew heart palpitations. He stared at the sealed envelope, his hands shaking. Part of him dreaded opening it.
Why if it was bad news?
"You want me to do it?" Rick asked softly.
Drew handed him the envelope, trying to remember to breathe.
Rick too held his breath while opening the envelope. It was just a fraction of a second, Drew thought that he was going to die waiting for Rick to say something as his eyes looked over the document.
A huge smile came to the other man's face. The judge had approved their adoption petition.
"He's ours," he said.
Drew grabbed Rick by the face and kissed him.
In two weeks the two would go before the same judge to sign the papers making Zach their son, changing his legal name to Zachary Richard Lincoln-Alister. The baby boy would then get his birth certificate listing Drew and Rick as his parents. He wouldn't realize the significance of this but that was okay. By coincidence Rick and Drew had explained to Skylar that Zach and her had the same birthmother.
Her reacion, "dat's why Zach 'ooks like me!"
To both men's relief she didn't ask why both were given up for adoption.
Rick's P.O.V
What was in that envelope was the best birthday present ever. His birthday was in a week.
Life had been a roller coaster the past few years.
Rick couldn't have imagined after losing his leg and ending his military career his life would have everything he thought wasn't in the cards for him.
"Great evening, huh?" Drew said laying on the bed on his stomach.
Both men wearing only boxer shorts. Since his husband has locked the door behind him, Rick knew something was up–and that prospect made him grin.
"For sure. I thought the highlight of the night would be Sky not asking more questions. Then that envelope arrived. Quite a pre-birthday present."
"Yeah," Drew said, moving closer to the bed, "you know, before that I was planning on giving you a more adult pre-birthday if you want."
Rick glanced over at his prosthetic leg that he had removed for the night.
"Don't worry. You can lay down and enjoy this one," Drew said, tugging at Rick's shorts–which Rick was helpful to remove.
Moments later Rick felt his eyes roll back in his head.
His hands weren't the only thing Drew was talented with.