ARROW - 63. Chapter 63

Arriving home at 3, we entered through the kitchen. I lost Carmella there. Continuing on up the stairs, I showed the newly weds the roof. “I’m going to go and get us coffees and then we can relax until I have to be downstairs.”

Walking into the club’s kitchen, I saw Marcel making an apple pie. I knew the next time I would go to Italy, I’d have apple pie.

I took a small pot of coffee, and a few tapas. Stopped at my apartment and picked up three cups and a small bottle of milk. I didn’t know if they took sugar and I wasn’t sure if we had any. We had several packs of the kind of sugar you get from a drive-in. Colin and I drank our coffee black, no sugar or milk.

Walking on the roof, they were sitting in the swing talking. I gave them the cups, poured the coffee into their cup, I offered sugar, which they took. “I don’t know if you take milk, so I brought this.” My luck they did take milk. I took the excess milk to the third floor apartment and put it in the refrigerator. I made a mental note to stock that refrigerator while they are here.

The rest of the week, we set a pattern, breakfast at my apartment, a trip to the gallery, lunch at Pete’s, only now I take Thomas and bring back a lunch for Mary as well as Colin and his dad. I did include a piece of Pete’s pie for Anita.

Leaving was hard for Carmella, and exciting for Angela and Geno. They were anxious to be home. I made a promise that we would see them this fall and promised to stay for two weeks. We watched them board the plane, they were funny. They waved goodbye until they had to enter the plane. We stayed until the plane took off, then we headed home. I told Carmella that once they cleared customs and had their luggage, a car would be waiting to take them home. I had the card of the driver we used when we visited them so I called him to make sure he would be there when they landed. I gave Carmella an envelope to give to the driver that contained his money.

Our lives returned to normal. Or so I thought.

On my trips to the gallery, we resumed our lunch trips. Mary would tell us what she wanted and Thomas and I would determine what we wanted as we walked.

It was the Friday after Carmella and family left, we were walking to a hot dog stand for lunch. “Dad, can I come over to your house this week-end.”

I forgot the paper I signed, “Let’s stop at the orphanage on our way back. I’ll ask them and if they say yes, then you can come home with me. Is that okay?” His smile was the answer.

I thought about what Colin would say. Then I let that thought go, he’ll be delighted as well.

We did stop at the orphanage, they had no problem with it. “Thomas, you need to pack some clothes.” He was gone in a flash. I had to sign a take out form and I had to have him back no later than 5 pm on Sunday.

He came running back with a paper bag. The woman asked him if he had everything he needed, she whispered to him, “Clean underwear?”

“Don’t worry, what he needs I’ll buy it for him.”

Thinking as we were walking back to the gallery, if this becomes routine, I should buy him clothes to leave at home. Then he wouldn’t need to take anything from the orphanage to stay with us.

As soon as we enter the gallery, he ran to tell Mary that he was going to stay at my home. Mary looked at me and smiled.

When Colin came home, he was met by Thomas. “Hi pop, I’m staying here tonight.”

Colin looked at me, he mouthed ‘pop’. I started to laugh.

“Thomas is our week-end guest.” Colin grabbed him, threw him over his shoulders and carried him to our apartment. I followed as he dropped him on, what will be his bed.

They were laughing, “I think you forgot something?” I was referring to my kiss. He picked me up and dropped me on the bed next to Thomas. Then he kissed me, Thomas grabbed him and looked at him as to say where is mine. I started to laugh as Colin gave him a bubble kiss on his cheek and started to tickle him.

Seeing Colin’s behavior with Thomas washed away any doubts about how Colin would feel about having Thomas as a permanent guest.

After Colin changed out of his work clothes, we headed to the club and the kitchen. Marcel had dinner ready for us, but he hadn’t counted on Thomas. As it turned out, it didn’t matter. I took a plate and added some of my food, Marcel added two tapas and with a glass of milk, Thomas had dinner.

“Thomas, what do you think about Marcel’s food.”

“It’s the best I have ever eaten. Thanks Uncle Marcel.” Now I saw tears in Marcel’s eyes.

I’m not sure what is happening, but Thomas is slowly weaving himself into our family. I know how I feel and I believe Colin feels the same way and now I’m definitely sure, Marcel likes him as well. I wonder if he is going to call Jimmy uncle as well.

Finishing dinner, we went back into the club. It wasn’t full, too early. Most of the members showed up after work. Being a Friday, we would be full about 6.

I sat Thomas on the bar, next to the wall. I made a mental note to buy a stool for him to sit on. Jimmy gave me a glass of wine, looking at Thomas, “Give him a glass of soda.”

“All I have is club soda and ginger ale.”

“Do you have cheery juice?”

“I only have the juice from the maraschino cherries.”

“Add some of the juice to ginger ale and put a cherry on a tooth pick. That will do, you’ll need to learn how to make a Shirley Temple.”

I watched as Jimmy made a drink for Thomas. “Jimmy, this is Thomas. He’s our house guest this week-end.”

I know what was going to happen. “Thank you Uncle Jimmy” I looked at Jimmy, he had a smile that stretched from cheek to cheek. This kid was going to get all of my staff liking him.

That night, laying in bed, after tucking Thomas in, “Colin, the club staff really like him. He’s so polite and calls them uncle.”

“You want to adopt him don’t you?”

“Am I that obvious?”

“Yes, you know there will be changes. You can’t go to the bathroom naked anymore.”

“Me, it’s you who like to run around here naked.” He laughed.

“Let’s have him here for a few week-ends and see how it goes. I’m not opposed to the idea. This will be the only way we will have a family. Does the agency knew you are married to a man.”

“I don’t know, it has never been brought up and the paper I signed just had space for my name.”

“That could be a stopper.”

“I’ll fight and if necessary, I’ll take him and fly to Europe and have it done.”

“No, if you want to do it, we will do it here and if we have to go to court, we will get the best lawyer and fight it.”

That night Colin got a honeymoon all over again. I even spoke French.