On Sunday morning the woody house was quiet and fresh. The woman who passed the coffee in the colander raised her brown eyes to the window to hear the sound of the truck's engine. The tanned alpha descended with bags of fresh and warm bread, releasing a silent yawn.
When Bill had entered the house leaving the bag on the balcony table, out until the kitchen deposited a saddle on the bride's cheek, making her smile.
― Why did you get up so early today? You could stay longer in bed since it's Sunday.
― I have to stop by the co-op to sort things out, but I want to get back to lunch.
Opening a playful smile, Maggie returned to focus on straining the coffee in the bottle.
― Now that you've settled, don't want to waste a minute, do you?
Hiding his shame, Bill cleared his eyes from the window.
― Theodore's not getting up anytime soon. You gave him the pain meds, right?
— Uhum, before I went to see you in the office I passed in front of his room and heard the poor boy moaning in pain. It's good to let him rest a lot. But what about you? Did you talk to his mother?
Making a disgusting face, Bill supported his hands on his waist as he stood with his back to the window and leaned against the sink counter.
― I was cursed and must have been deaf to how much she yelled at me. It seems that as Aline gets old, she becomes hysterical.
— Don't talk about her like that, Bill. ― Laugh Maggie having fun with the groom's faces and mouths. Finished straining the coffee, she had served a little in the porcelain cup extending it to the alpha ― And what gave the conversation?
― In the end I ended up talking to Pete, he comes to pick up the boy at night after dinner. Tomorrow he has class.
― Wouldn't it be better to stay home? If they pick on him normally, imagine if they see Theodore like that...
Drinking a sip of black coffee, Bill sighed with the bitter and tasty taste.
― Then I'll talk to the boy.
The couple took advantage of the quiet morning to have breakfast on the balcony of the house. The soft breeze, the pasture in the distance, the calm they loved so much. Bill later left home, leaving Maggie to take care of Theodore.
The blond omega slept like stone due to the pain medication, being able to wake up only after noon. When he took a bath made a grimace for his reflection in the mirror, because of the bruises that marked his pale skin.
After wearing a pair of jeans and a dark shirt, he went down to the kitchen where lunch was already being put on the balcony table. Smiling disconcerted, the boy scratched his head when his future stepmother approached worried.
― Oh heavens, that purple spoils that pretty face.
― It's pretty ugly, isn't it?
Maggie had made a painful grimace by nodding.
― Are you still in pain?
― A little, but it's bearable. ― Theodore looked around the house, arching his brow ― Where's my father?
― It was in the cooperative, should return soon.
Lowering his eyes when remembered what had happened the night before, Theodore tried not to complain that he had caused more problems. Although this time nothing was his fault, since at no time had he flirted with the family pawn.
His father had apologized for the fight they had a year ago, however Theodore had not apologized for causing problems in his father's work. He needed to know the details before taking any initiative, although he was afraid of ruining the newly established truce.
― Hey, don't look so sad.
Raising his head to look at the omega, Theodore tried to sketch a smile despite the slight twinge of pain in his jaw.
― You know, Maggie, I'm glad you invited me here. Thank you.
The woman seemed astonished at the sudden thanksgiving, her cheeks rosy at once. Laughing, she shook her head dispensing words, just pulling the boy to the balcony where they could have lunch.
When they got ready, the truck had parked in the garage and Bill had joined the two to eat. Theodore had felt strange in that new atmosphere, since he now did not avoid his father because they were angry, but because they did not know how to act amicably.
Not for very long.
Thanks to Maggie, the two managed to overcome the awkwardness by talking about marriage. Theodore took the opportunity to learn more about how they had begun dating, having fun discovering that Bill was clumsy and embarrassed. A somewhat strange image when you see that tall and strong alpha, who was able to intimidate anyone with his eyes.
The conversation was so good that it lasted until the afternoon. After helping wash the dishes, Theodore returned to his room to do his homework and pack his things to return to his home at night. He had already been told by his father that Pete was coming to pick him up, and asked if he wanted to go to school.
Even if he wanted to stay at home until the bruises disappeared, Theodore remembered that it was the first week of testing. He couldn't escape.
In addition, he was eager to receive the good morning of a certain person. Not only did he want to see Gabriel, but he wondered how his reaction would be if he saw him in that state. His dramatic side was too curious to know every reaction of the boy he was falling in love with.
After dinner Pete's car had arrived in front of the woody house. Theodore went out with Maggie to the room to get his bags while the two men talked at the front door.
The red-haired man faced the tan, crossing his arms as he leaned against the car. They were completely opposite from each other, as Pete had a peaceful, calm aura. Usually the two only met when Theodore visited Bill's house, but after the fight a strangeness had established between the two men.
Strange that was resolved in the call last night. Bill had made it clear to his ex-wife and Pete that he had talked to the omega. Lowering the walls of pride was difficult to do, but it was clear how sincere his words were.
― How are things around here?
Bill had shaken his head, leaving his hands in his shabby jeans pocket.
― Surviving every day.
― Have you sorted things out at work?
The man denied with his head with regret. It would be one thing to answer for threatening someone with a gun, and another to have to deal with the lies your former pawn had dared to tell to play the victim.
― Because Theodore is still a minor, I will have to deal with the situation.
— Aline and I can help you with that. You said you kept an eye on Theodore the whole time at the party, so it's eyewitness evidence that it was the other guy who tried to abuse the kid.
―Even if I say I've been watching the boy during the party, they'll say I'm protecting him because he's my son.
— This is what is expected from parents. ― Pete had put his hand on Bill's shoulder driving his charismatic smile ― Since it's for the sake of the boy, we'll help you in any way we can.
The conversation ended when Maggie appeared carrying a backpack. Pete went to help her try to open the trunk to load the car. The moment he raised his head and saw Theodore with his face all bruised, the redhead swallowed dry.
― My God.
Opening a embarrassed smile, Theodore waved to his stepfather.
― I know, I'm awful.
― I'm glad I came to get you tonight, if not Lisa would cry again. Let's go then?
Theodore had nodded, turning to go to Maggie and hug her goodbye. She had been careful to squeeze and caress his back so as not to hurt him, and as she looked at him had not stopped smiling with those bright eyes of joy.
― I loved meeting you, Theodore. Thank you for accepting my selfish invitation.
― I'll say the same. Except for the night, it was kind of fun spending the weekend here.
― Ah, before I forget ― Maggie gets a little sealed envelope from her pocket and hands it to Theodore ― We'll be waiting for you.
Looking at the envelope in his hands, the blonde had arched his eyebrow to the name of the bride and groom written on the wedding invitation. Surprised Theodore stares at her stepmother, who had given him a wink. They had talked about the wedding earlier, but had not looked at the date. In fact, the blonde won't even remember asking Maggie.
Anyway, he didn't expect to get an invitation so promptly. It is okay that he would be invited once he was the groom's son, only he had not had much time to get used to the idea that his father would marry again.
It seems that Theodore himself would also need time to get used to new things.
― See you soon, all right?
― Right!
Maggie had taken a step aside giving Theodore room to approach Bill. Father and son seemed embarrassed in front of each other, without the courage to look each other in the eye and say kind words. Still the blond smiled shyly leaning his forehead on his father's shoulder, having Bill's great hand stroking his hair.
Although there were two pairs of eyes prying into the moving scene, Bill had set his pride aside by hugging his tight son and depositing a brief seal on top of his head.
― Take care of yourself, kid.
Theodore nods as he walks away, approaching the car to enter the passenger. Before sitting on the bench, the blonde had looked at his father and stepmother giving a final wave of farewell.
When the silver car arrived in the night city, Pete relaxed his shoulders looking at his stepson.
― I'm glad it all ended well, right?
Theodore who stared at the landscape through the window only widened his smile and nodded silently. Unlike before where he had no idea of the reason for his coming, and thought he would end up even more resentful of his father, his return was covered with relief.
Lowering his clear eyes to the envelope in hand, he opened it again when he saw the date of the religious wedding. Inside the invitation was a small piece of paper with the letter of his father, in a simple and significant request. He would probably have to be dragged by his mother to find a suit, as Bill had asked them both to wear the same colour suit to highlight their kinship.