Bonus Scene

Donny

When Daddy mentioned his mother was back in town and wanting to meet me, I worried that I wouldn’t be what she expected. I don’t know what kind of men he dated before me, so I’m unsure how this will go down.

As we pull up to the home I recognize from our sledding day, I’m shocked to see all the cars. “Did she invite an army?”

Daddy laughs as he pulls in behind a Bronco that looks like it’s seen better days. “That’s Webster’s baby. His pride and joy,” he tells me when he notices me staring at the vehicle a bit too long.

In my distracted state, I somehow missed the moment he pulled me from the car and toward the door. It isn’t until he knocks that I come back to myself.

And thus, my panic.

“Shhh, sweetheart. I’ve got you. No need to worry.”

I feel myself calming at the tender words Daddy whispers in my ear. It’s comforting in a way that makes up for the chaos I feel we are about to step into.

Before anyone has a chance to even come to the door, Daddy pushes his way inside. “Mom! We’re here.”

Holding his hand, I follow beside him at a much quieter pace. The entry is stacked full of presents and kids shoes. The walls are covered in photos, and immediately I try to find a younger version of Daddy on the walls.

“She’ll bring out the baby book later, I’m sure. Let’s get the hard part over with, shall we?”

I don’t like the ominous tone in Daddy’s voice.

We round a corner into what I assume is the kitchen. It’s hard to see past the four massive bodies blocking sight of everything and everyone.

“Gentleman,” Daddy starts. “This is Donovan. He’s my date for this evening. You are to treat him kindly and with respect. Anyone who doesn’t will get my foot straight up their - “

“Now, now, Grant. There’s no need for violence with me here, son. These boys will be on their best behaviors.” A slight woman who looks just like Grant in female form comes around the group of me. She beelines to me, her arms open wide.

“I’m so happy you were able to come Donovan.”

“You can call me Donny,” I reply. She beams me for offering her the nickname.

“Sounds perfect! It’s great to have you, Donny. These are my other boys. Arthur, who is next after Grant in age. Then John and Leroy. Webster there is the youngest.” She points out each man and they all wave.

“Nice to meet you all. Thank you for having me.”

“Well of course, dear. We have all been waiting for Grant to bring someone around here. He’s always been so hush hush with the company he keeps.”

“Mom!” Grant growls the words out, making her laugh and giggle.

“Oh, and I’m Carmella Moore. The mom to all these wild animals. And grandmother to the babies currently napping. You can call me whatever you like, but I’d love for you to call me mom.”

“Mom. Stop. You’re going to scare him.”

Daddy’s looking like he’s afraid I’ll run any minute. I reach my free hand out to touch his arm, my body leaning his way.

“Would it really bother you? I haven’t called anyone mom in a long time, and it might be nice to have that again.”

He softens at my words, his eyes closing as he nods. “Yeah, sweetheart. That’s fine with me. I just didn’t want you to think this was too fast.”

The kiss he plants on my forehead is sweet enough make my heart ache. A resounding ‘Awww’ comes from his brothers, then they are all rounding the counter to come meet me closer.

I feel like an animal up for sale at an auction with the way they eye me up and down. Daddy allows it for only a minute before he’s pushing them all away and tugging me down onto his lap in a chair in the living room.

“He’s mine. Besides, you’re all straight. Don’t give him your bedroom eyes.” Laughter flows out of me at the way he gets protective of me.

“I don’t want any other Moore in this house. Just you.” I lean closer to reach his ear. “Daddy.”

He shivers beneath me, but otherwise keeps a mask on his expression. He turns to his family who are watching us with curious expressions.

“Well, I’ll be.” Arthur pulls out some money and slaps it into John’s hand. Leroy does the same. Webster keeps his arms folded and a scowl on his face.

“What was the bet this time?” Daddy sounds bored when he asks the questions. I almost laugh at how guilty all of the men look. All except Webster. He looks… curious.

John counts his money with a smile before answering. “The bet was to see how infatuated you’d be with this date of yours. We knew it had to mean something when you told mom you were bringing someone. Never thought we’d see the day.”

I turn to look at Daddy to see how he responds to their words. He only smiles back at them, then shakes his head.

Part of me wonders if they are right about him being infatuated with me. He did ask me out for multiple dates. That has to mean something right.

On the other hand, all of the dates are really close together. So, at the end of the day, he’s committed to a lot of me in a short period of time. But nothing longer.

The idea sours my mood some. It puts doubt in places I don’t want it to be.

“Dinner will be ready shortly. I’m working on some cookies now.”

“Cookies?! Can I help?” I jump up from Daddy’s lap at the sound of my favorite baking activity.

Mom, as I’ve chosen to call her in my head, waves me over with a big smile. “I could use the help. My normal helper is asleep right now.”

“Carrie, right?” I recall the name Daddy told me when he mentioned his niece.

“Yes. She’s my backup baking buddy. Those little hands are surprisingly nimble. Plus, she’s never judgmental of my icing mishaps.”

I love the way she talks about her family. So far, I’ve found nothing but happiness in this group of people. And bets aside, they’ve got the functional family thing down, even if I could tell Daddy didn’t think so on the way over.

“Don’t trust a word my brothers say. They are not the brightest individuals in the world. Sometimes their jokes can be hurtful or fall flat. Especially Webster. I’ll keep you close to make sure they stay in line.”

I laughed. “Ok, Daddy. Oh, wait. Should I not call you that either? Since they probably don’t know. And they might get all weird.”

He gave me a frustrated nod. I could tell he didn’t want to say it, but we both wanted the night to go well.”

“Baking cookies is my forte. Tell me what we’re doing.”

With a few guiding instructions, I get to work on the dozen or so cookies in the kitchen. I hear the men in the other room talking, though I can’t make out what it’s about. I can also feel Daddy’s eyes on me. When I look up, he’s always staring with a soft smile.

“Grandma!” A speeding ball of energy bursts into the kitchen. A woman with a baby in her arms follows quickly behind.

“So sorry, mom. She got away from me before I could finish changing this little one’s diaper.”

I blush thinking of the conversations Daddy and I had on diapers and what type of care I needed. We both agreed not to, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to giggle at the thought right now.

Mom introduces me to John’s wife, along with the two grand babies. Carrie, the oldest of the two pulls a stool over and wedges herself right between me and her grandmother.

“Put me to work.” I smile down at the adorable firecracker wondering if Daddy and I will ever have kids of our own. The thought makes me freeze, the icing in my hand dripping on the counter rather than the cookie I should be decorating.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I got distracted.”

“Really, grandma. You should have woken me up. I can tell you need the help.” All of this is said in an angelic voice that contradicts her sass. Daddy walks over then to ruffle her hair.

“Be nice, Carrie. No one likes a cranky pants.” She sticks her tongue out at him and he does it right back. My heart beats faster when his arms come around my waist. “Are you ok?”

I nod, my face turning up to his so he can see that I really am fine. My heart might be trying to advance to the marriage level of this thing between us, but my head is telling me to slow down a bit.

“All is well here. I’m about to show this young lady how cookie decorating is done.”

“Is that a challenge?” Her little hands go to her hips, making her look both older and younger all at once.

“Bring it on.”

And that’s how the first ever cookie decorating contest happened at the Moore family home. I was outvoted, with all of Daddy’s brothers picking Carried over me. Mom and Daddy’s votes didn’t matter against the four men and her own mother. They even tried to say the baby had a vote.

I took my defeat, and my complimentary loser cookie, like a champ. As the night winds down, we all sit together around the living room as each man takes turns telling stories of their childhood.

Arthur shares a story about how Daddy sat him down to give him the talk and how he brought fruit with him for the whole condom lesson. Both of them were so mortified, they didn’t make eye contact or talk to each other for a week.

John shares stories of when Carrie was born and how everyone, not just Daddy, struggled to change diapers and do feedings. They are all clear pros at it now, since I’ve seen more than one Moore man hold the youngest addition to the family with ease.

Leroy talks of how he always played pranks on Daddy when they were younger. There were many instances of water balloons and silly string being tossed about.

The only person who doesn’t share much is Webster. He remains mostly quiet, though he does laugh here and there. Right before we leave, he motions to the others that he’ll walk us out. I look to Daddy to see what he thinks it is, but he only shrugs, giving me a confused look.

Ok. Guess we are both clueless.

At the car, Webster looks between me and his brother with an expression I can’t name. The words he speaks next nearly topple me over.

“I think I might be gay.”

In no way was I prepared for a coming out, and from the way Webster speaks he’s not entirely sure what he’s coming out as. Daddy reaches a hand forward to place it on his brother’s shoulder.

“If that is your truth, know that I support you fully. Mom and the others will too.”

“Some things happened on the cruise. Well, even before the cruise. But it only got worse there. Or maybe better. I don’t know.” He runs his hands through his hair roughly, further messing up the look of the strands. “I just needed to tell someone. And you two looked so happy together inside that I knew you’d get what I’m feeling.”

Daddy nods, his smile encouraging. “Do you want to come back to my place to talk? We can have a drink and you can hash out your feelings? No one else has to know until you’re ready to share.”

Webster gives a firm head shake. “Not tonight. Mom really went all out for this thing. I know she thinks I’m heartbroken about Sage or something. It’s really more guilt. I strung that poor girl along when I knew she wasn’t going to do it for me.”

“I’m here when you’re ready, little brother. You’ve got my number.”

“Thanks, man. Good to meet you, Donny. I hope to see you around some more.”

He takes off toward the door, leaving me and Daddy watching until he slips inside. I turn to face him, wondering how he feels about it all. His brother just came out and is clearly dealing with some deeper stuff than he let on.

“What do you say we get home and setup a bubble bath for tonight? I got some new cookie scented bath bombs I think you’ll like.”

“That sounds perfect, Daddy. Are you going to be ok, though? That was big news.”

He nods as he glances from me to the door and back. “It is big news. And Webster will share with everyone else eventually. Until he’s ready to talk it out, there isn’t anything I can do. But I can enjoy my boy all soapy and naked.”

“What are you waiting for? Let’s get this vehicle moving. There is naked fun time waiting, Daddy!”

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© A.W. Scott 2021