Winning the Lottery - 37. Chapter 37 - We are family

Gwyn:

I padded down the hall and came across the bizarre sight of Dusty, Paco and Michael.... Dancing? They were standing in a circle, legs bent, arms outstretched and bodies swaying. There was an odd absence of music, and I heard Paco say, “Yes! Like that....”

And they were laughing! With our present travails, I didn’t understand what they could be laughing at. But I must admit, there was something...infectious...in their good humor that lifted my gloomy spirits.

Michael spotted me first and after exclaiming my name became solicitous, rushing to ask me if I had slept well, if I was okay and if I was hungry.

Dusty took two long strides and wrapped me in a hug. A gentle but firm hug that said, ‘I’m not letting you go!’ He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. It felt wonderful—like a safe harbour after a long sea journey. I breathed his wonderful scent and reveled in the feel of his strong body as I, too, clung to him. There really was no need for words; there passed between us a wordless communication that said everything. Love, need, commitment, lust...everything.

But I was hungry, so I answered Michael. “Yes, to all three questions, Michael. And will you get me two of my chocolates?”

Dusty walked me to kitchen bar and helped me onto a stool where he stood behind and snuggled me around my large waistline. The baby, active as usual, rolled and kicked. Dusty chuckled, “Does that me he likes me?”

“Mmmm, very definitely. He...adores...you.”

“And what about his mother? Does she adore me to?”

“Yes...very much.”

Which encouraged Dusty to kiss my neck—which felt very good.

Michael gave us a mock angry look. “Knock it off you two. If you keep that up you’ll be sent to your bedroom!”

“A wonderful idea,” Dusty whispered into my ear.

Michael plonked a steaming mug of tea and two chocolates in front of me. I sipped the milky tea and popped first one, then the other chocolate into my mouth. Delicious. “Nothing like satisfying a girl’s cravings,” I sighed.

Dusty got my double entendre and chuckled into my ear making me shiver in delight.

The microwave beeped and Michael set a wonderfully aromatic breakfast burrito in front of me along with a fork, knife and napkin.

Dusty released me so that I could eat.

Paco, quietly hovering as usual, finally spoke. “Uh...I was teaching Dusty how to surf.”

“Oh. That’s what that was. I thought you were dancing,” I laughed.

“Paco’s a good instructor,” said Dusty. “I’m looking forward to getting on a surfboard.”

“Oh, that reminds me, “said Michael. “Paco and I were thinking of meeting friends over at Waimea Bay. Gwyn, I made an appointment for you with your obstetrician at eleven. Dusty said he would drive you over. Would you mind if Paco and I took off?”

“No problem, Michael. Go. Have fun. I’m sure Dusty is more than capable of...uh...looking after me.”

Dusty poured me another cup of tea and we sat on the couch with me tucked up against his side.

“Gwyn,” I’d like to ask you a question. A hypothetical question.”

“Um...sure...I guess.”

“Well...if you were free to marry me—if, for instance, Don and Marco were in full agreement and it wasn’t going to harm the children in any way—would you marry me?

“But....”

“No ‘buts’ allowed. Remember, this is hypothetical. Do you love me enough to marry me and be my lifelong soul mate?”

“Yes, Dusty, I do, and in a perfect world I’d marry you in a heartbeat, but... ....” I let the sentence trail out.

Dusty wrapped me in a bear hug. “Oh, Gwyn, I love you so much! And I have wonderful news. Don, Marco and I had a long talk last night. First off, we agreed that the children are a number one priority for all of us; the last thing they need at this point is instability. But—and this is a very good but—with your agreement, of course—we came up with a plan that will work perfectly!”

We didn’t have a lot of time left until I had to leave for my doctor’s appointment, so Dusty quickly explained the situation. If I agreed, Dusty and I would continue to live in this house, which Don and Marco offered us as a wedding present. We would become honorary aunt and uncle to the children, seeing them frequently, although I would no longer be an employed nanny. “We’d more or less meld our families. Socially, we’d be equals.” explained Dusty.

“And Don and Marco were okay with this?”

“Yes, more than okay. They already consider you part of their extended family.”

How could I possibly reject an offer like that?

Two weeks later I took Dusty’s name in a fairy tale beachside wedding at Don and Marco’s home. My beautiful, flowing peach silk gown had been designed and made by Michael and Paco—with help from Paco’s mother. Angie, in a frothy concoction of her own choosing, was my bridesmaid. Michael stood as Dusty’s best man. Brad was the ring bearer—a job he took very seriously.

Dusty’s parents had come for the wedding. They seemed a little bewildered by the suddenness of our nuptials and the fact that in a very short time they would become grandparents. Nonetheless they warmly welcomed me to the family. I found his mother a bit ‘regal,’ but his father was a big softy who radiated the same sort of warmth as his son.

Unfortunately, my parent’s ‘couldn’t get away’ due to some church function requiring their attention. That didn’t really come as a surprise, but it still stung. I thought they’d be happy to hear I was marrying the father of my baby, but my mother simply replied, “That’s lovely, dear.” Michael commiserated.

Our reception was a luau style feast (although I drew the line at roasting a pig in the sand!). We kept the speeches to a minimum, although everyone kept clinking their glasses to get Dusty and I to kiss! Then, once the sun was down, we engaged a DJ to provide dance music. Dusty and I began by waltzing to ‘I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’ by Elvis Presley from the movie Blue Hawaii. Honestly, who doesn’t cry when they hear that song?

After that Dusty took the microphone and dedicated the next song to our wonderful extended family and friends. A huge cheer went up when the opening chords of ‘We are Family’ by Sister Sledge came through the speakers.

Two weeks after that, we welcomed little Lucinda Maleia Millbrook into the world. Michael and Dusty were both with me in the delivery room—Michael as my birth coach and Dusty holding my hand and giving silent encouragement.

Luci, perfect little Luci, had her proud papa (and her mama and uncle for that matter) wrapped around her finger from the get-go.

Once I was taken to a regular bed and Luci had her first meal, Don, Marco and the children visited. Brad didn’t say much but Angie was completely enthralled having a new baby to fuss over. And being able to hold a sleeping Luci positively sent her into raptures.

There was no shortage of ‘help’ over the next few days, but I was grateful to Michael who acted as ‘gatekeeper’ while Dusty, Luci and I bonded.

After that, life settled into a routine of sorts. Dusty and I reveled in our love—he was the perfect husband. When he wasn’t taking care of Luci and me he put a lot of time into his hotel project. Marco was awarded a top secret contract with one of the spy agencies--something about algorithms to filter data. Consequently, on weekdays Don and I became the ‘stay at home’ parents of a blended family. Dusty and Marco were forbidden to work on weekends so we often took outings ‘en group’ to the zoo, aquarium or parks. An absolute favorite outing for the older two children was a trail ride on one of the large Oahu ranches. Sometimes we took a picnic and went surfing. And it wasn’t a weekend without a visit to or from Dane and Alfy. Brad idolized those two little reprobates; Angie tolerated them.

Michael and Paco began the fashion program at Honolulu College in January. Michael almost wasn’t accepted. The admittance clerk refused to approve his UK academic credentials. That is, until Paco accidently let it slip that Michael was tied to the Deacon family. Michael received his acceptance letter the next day. Paco was able to start in January by virtue of having taken advanced coursework and receiving his high school diploma a semester early.

Dusty’s offer to buy the boys an apartment near campus was politely refused. Both said that they were more comfortable staying at their respective home, at least for the first semester.

Having Michael at home with us was no hardship. He and Dusty got along famously sharing a similar sort of sarcastic humor. Dusty told me that Michael gained his respect the minute they’d crossed paths, in that awkward moment after Dusty appeared from my bedroom, when Michael demanded Dusty show his colors. “He may have used humor,” said Dusty, “But he was dead serious about protecting you.” Michael, for his part, positively thrived under all the positive attention, and much good-natured teasing, he received from the men in the family.

Paco, too, came out of his shell. Dusty nicknamed him Pac-Man and always greeted him with back slapping man hugs and a complicated hand procedure that ended in a fist bump. He’d tease him by purposely mixing up surfing terms “Yo, bro, how’s the ten curl hangin’?” Paco responded by calling him Dustums and ribbing him about being a preppy. “Hey, Dustums, no letter jacket today?”

Luci thrived. She was a well behaved baby who only cried when she was hungry, wet or tired. Lord knows, she received more than enough affection from her extended family. Angie would read children’s books while Luci cooed and gurgled her approval. Dusty would rock her to sleep in his arms after her last evening meal. He fetched her in the middle of the night for me to feed the minute he heard her little hungry snuffles.

Our family flourished.