Chapter 19: Jonathan

Jonathan smiled as he pulled into the parking lot behind The Arts East Gallery. Every time he saw the sign, he couldn't help but be reminded of how hard he and Tobin had worked over the past few years to make the gallery a success.

He took a minute before getting out of his car to think back over the past 20 years, from his graduation at Stanford University, to his life in LA working his way up through the arts world. And then finally making the decision to move back east, with a little cajoling from his mom, Tony and especially Katie, who he knew missed both him and Sam a lot while they were both living on the West Coast.

Angela had been able to make some crucial introductions for him to some well-connected people in the art world in New York and Connecticut, and it wasn't too long before he was able to open his own gallery in very trendy and wealthy Greenwich (thank god his mom had gotten over her belief that any type of nepotism was a bad thing although he would never forget his time as a ball boy for the Mets. Yikes!)

Of course, he hadn't done it alone. Not long after moving back to Connecticut, he had met Tobin at a gallery party in New York City. They hit it off immediately and had been pretty much inseparable ever since. And thankfully, they worked well as business partners. Jonathan handled the financial side, with the business acumen he had inherited from his mom, but he also had an eye for a good work of art, especially anything having to do with nature. He had to assume that came from his dad much to his chagrin. Thankfully though, he had also acquired Tony's organizational skills and affability for dealing with people.

Tobin was an incredible artist who had a skill for working in almost all mediums, and he also spent a lot of his time finding most of the unique and eye-catching pieces that the gallery now had a reputation for selling.

Jonathan's iPhone rang just then pulling him out of his reverie.

"Hey," Jonathan said when he answered. "Are you just about back?"

"Actually, the artist I'm supposed to meet with had something come up, so our meeting has been pushed to tomorrow," Tobin said on the other end of the line.

Jonathan smiled to himself because while Tobin had gone to Boston to check out a potential new piece for the gallery, there was a much more important reason as well that they hadn't shared with anyone as of yet.

"No worries; hopefully, the delay will be worth it," Jonathan answered before continuing with a hint of excitement in his voice, "Since you're not coming back until tomorrow now, and I have a bit of time until I have to meet back up with the family, tell me how the doctor's appointment went with Molly."

"It was perfect," Tobin said excitedly. "The baby is right on schedule and Molly is doing great. She's definitely feeling better now that she's well into her second trimester."

"I'm so glad," Jonathan said with a sigh of relief. "I wish I could have come with you, but it's definitely been good to be here with Sam and the family. I can't wait to tell them all our news once things with Sam are a bit more settled."

"Patience is a virtue, baby" Tobin said teasingly. "We'll find the perfect time to tell both our families before too long. Hey, I just pulled up to my sister's place, so I'll tell you everything once I'm home tomorrow."

They disconnected and Jonathan smiled as he thought about how excited his mom, Tony, Sam and Katie would be when they found out that not only did he and Tobin have an amazing surrogate who was carrying their baby, but that Tobin had recently proposed, so there would also be a wedding to plan before too long. The family loved Tobin and was so happy when they had moved into Mona's apartment once it became apparent that it wasn't suitable for her anymore. His mom and Tony, well mostly Tony, had been dropping little hints about the two of them possibly getting married and starting a family and now it was all happening.

After the sadness of the last couple of years, Jonathan couldn't help but be excited with everything that was happening for him and Tobin, and he was so happy to have Sam back with her children. As much as he and Sam had fought as kids, they had become the best of friends in addition to becoming actual stepsiblings. And Jonathan adored his niece and nephew. He had been able to spend a lot of time with them when they were little, when he was still living in LA, and he couldn't wait to have them just across the driveway now.

The only piece missing was Mona. Jonathan looked up at the sky and said a quick little prayer because he knew that his grandmother had to be looking down on them with a smile seeing that the family was finally all back together. The thought struck him that they really were all starting a brand new life in one way or another.