“Of course he did.” Joseph stood up and gave Alan’s foot a gentle squeeze. “They love their uncle. They’ll love me even more when I take them driving and to pick up women.”
“I hope you’ll have a family of your own when they’re that age, Joseph.” London sat down and laid the baby in her lap. She touched both of his hands then smiled down at our son. “I’d be concerned if you didn’t.”
Joseph walked up to me and extended his hand. “How was the ball?”
I shook it. “It wasn’t a ball. A birthday party.”
“Sounds like a ball to me.” He nodded to Christopher. “They were both good kids. Pretty damn cute too.”
“They get that from your sister.” I kneeled down and picked up Christopher. “Hey, little guy.” He was two years old, walking around the house and saying a few words here and there. While I worked during the day, London watched them and taught them everything under the sun. Sometimes I hated being at work because I missed out on finger painting, story time, exercise. “Have fun.”
He stared at me before he reached his hand out and grabbed my nose.
I let him do whatever he wanted, being a pushover father like London predicted.
Christopher let out a giggle when I smiled.
Joseph patted me on the back. “I’m gonna head out. I’ll see you guys later.”
“Bye,” I said without taking my eyes off my son.
“Bye, Joey.” London didn’t look at him either. “Let’s get these kids to bed. They’re already up later than they should be.”
“Thanks to their asshole uncle,” I jabbed.
“Hey,” Joseph said as he walked out of the living room. “I’m the best uncle in the world, and you both know it.”
We carried the kids upstairs, placing Christopher in the crib in his bedroom and the baby in the bed with us. I didn’t like giving up my alone time with London. We usually made love before we went to sleep and again in the morning. Fortunately, we made time during the day just for the two of us. We took a long lunch in our bedroom, eating in private and fucking when we were full. It wasn’t so bad.
London took off her makeup and got undressed while I watched Alan. I changed his diaper, putting him in his pajamas, and placed him in the center of the bed where he couldn’t roll away.
London got into bed a moment later, wearing one of my t-shirts with her hair pulled up. She wasn’t in lingerie like she used to be, but she was still beautiful. She got under the covers and snuggled next to the baby, her hand resting on his stomach so she could feel him at all times. Her eyes closed, and she immediately drifted off.
Instead of turning off the bedside lamp, I left it on so I could watch London and Alan sleep together. Their chests rose and fell at the exact same rate, and I thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
I had my own family.
I missed my parents and my brother, but their absence didn’t feel so painful anymore. Now that hole didn’t feel so deep. It had been filled with the family London gave to me. I had two incredible sons, and I intended to have two more children when she was ready to make more babies.
I was a king.
Now I had a queen.
And two perfect little princes.
This castle felt like a home. I still ran the scotch business, dominated the world of liquor, but now, I was so much more. With more money than I knew what to do with, I was a very lucky man.
But I truly felt privileged with this family.
I was the scotch king—and I was definitely blessed.