Chapter Twenty-Seven
DEAN
It doesn’t take me long to finish up my work. I’m dying to go back downstairs. I know Brenna wants to come out to our close family and friends, but I’m worried it’s too soon. This thing between the three of us is still new, raw. I’m afraid that inviting outside opinions will add pressure that we’re not ready to face.
Tyler is out, walking the dog, so I’m left to stew on my own. I pace my office like a caged predator. Exhaustion is finally catching up with me and the movement not only helps soothe my anxious nerves, but it also helps me stay awake.
Is it too soon to go back down? Should I just wait on Brenna to come up when they are done with their talk? What if she needs me for support? What if Landon doesn’t accept us and she talks herself out of being with the two of us?
This mental tennis game goes back and forth for a few minutes and then thankfully, I’m interrupted by a phone call.
“It wasn’t easy, but I talked the school into a three-day suspension, instead of expulsion,” Leslie tells me.
“They’re lucky we’re not suing them. They’re the ones that let Landon wander off in Washington fucking D. C. in the middle of the night.”
“I’m sure that played a big part in their decision. It’s not a bad outcome. It might be best for all parties involved if we take their offer and move forward. Especially, if you were serious about the other thing you wanted me to look into,” she says, gentling her tone.
My stomach knots at her tone and I brace myself for bad news. I called Leslie back after I got back to the penthouse to ask her opinion on our triad. I know Brenna wants to be out in the open, but the last thing I want to do is hurt her or Landon.
“So what’s your legal advice? Is there a chance the courts will revoke custody?”
“After looking into Landon’s case, I found a clear pattern of neglect, but that was with the parents. Since Brenna’s had custody, she’s been involved at the school and taken an active role in his life. You don’t have to worry. Family Services is going to rubber stamp this,” she says, and I relax a little. “I also don’t see an issue with them moving in. She’s the legal guardian and can make those decisions without anyone’s approval. But you have to be careful with your—” Leslie pauses as if searching for the right word. “—with your alternative relationship. A judge could see it as harmful to the minor in the home. The standards are vague. ‘The best interests of the child’ is subjective and open to interpretation.”
“So, if she moves in, they’ll take Landon away?” The words twist in my stomach like a knife. This is all my fault. I’m the one who started this. I’m the one who’ll be to blame when she loses custody. Stunned, I fall back into my office chair. Even with years of law school and public speaking, I don’t know how I’m going to tell her.
“What are you talking about?” Leslie asks. “No one’s taking away anyone. And even if they did, we’d have grounds to appeal the decision. I have a few friends that specialize in this kind of thing. The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom has legal resources to help families like yours. But honestly, that is worst case scenario type situation. No one else is suing for custody. If you keep Landon out of trouble and you’ll be fine.”
“Really? Even if people know?” I ask, thinking about the conversation happening right now downstairs.
“I can’t guarantee anything,” she said just like any lawyer worth their salt would, “but from where I’m standing, it’s easy to see that Landon’s life has improved since his sister became his guardian. It’s in the best interests of the child to stay with her, no matter who she’s sleeping with.”
Hearing those word makes me feel a lot better. “Thanks, Leslie. I really do owe you.”
“It’s my job,” she says. “But if that whole triad thing doesn’t work out for your brother, slip him my number and let him know I still think about that night our junior year.”
I’m laughing when Tyler opens the door.
“Good news?” he asks.
“I just got off the phone with Leslie. The school is handled, and she doesn’t think we have to worry about family services.”
“Thank fuck this nightmare is almost over. I talked to my friend a city hall. She said in these kinds of cases, they’d just do a phone follow up,” Tyler says rubbing the back of his neck. “We should let Brenna know, and then I’m going to crash for a few hours.”
“Were you serious earlier?” I ask him. The change in his posture tells me he knows exactly what I’m talking about. “This is still new for all of us. Are you sure we’re ready?”
“Yes,” he says without hesitation. “This might be new for you, but I’ve been in love with Brenna since I was eighteen. I don’t want to spend another day without her. I want us to be a family. All of us. If she agrees, I want them to live with us.”
“I talked to Leslie, and she doesn’t think that will be an issue with Brenna’s custody.”
“Great. Now we just need to convince her to move in. Maybe we should have that particular conversation in the bedroom.”
Tyler's face lights up with a smile, and it’s contagious. I turn off the office light and follow him to the elevator. Even though I’m still concerned we’re moving too fast, I’m already redesigning the penthouse to accommodate our growing family.
When we arrive downstairs, it’s immediately evident that something has changed. There’s music and laughing coming from the kitchen. Landon and Brenna are in there together prepping food for lunch. The mood is definitely lighter than this morning.
“You guys are back just in time. Landon and I disagree, and we’re at an impasse,” Brenna says, trying to sound serious, but she can’t keep the smile off her face. She comes around from behind the island and kisses me. Then plants a kiss on Tyler’s cheek. “So it’s up to you guys. Do you like tomatoes in your stew or not?”
I shoot a questioning look to Tyler. He just shrugs and hesitantly says, “Not.”
“See I told you, you’re a weirdo,” Landon says, triumphantly. “Who puts tomatoes in their stew?”
“That’s the way my mom makes it,” I say, still confused over the sudden change between the two of them. We were only gone for a couple of hours.
“Hey, Landon, why don’t you let us finish up here, and you can head upstairs to play on the Xbox.” Tyler tosses him the keys to the penthouse. “We need to talk to your sister for a minute.”
“Sure thing,” he says and strolls out of the kitchen as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Is everything okay?” Brenna asks, her brow creased with worry.
“Everything’s fine,” I say and kiss the crease away. “Actually, everything is great. “
“So, the school’s not going to expel him?” she asked.
“No. And no social worker visit,” Tyler adds. “Someone will do a follow-up call with the school in about a month, and that should be the end of it.”
I watch as the last bit of worry and anxiety leave her body as if a physical weight is being removed. She slips her small hand into mine and looks up at me with her bright blue eyes clouded with emotion.
“I don’t know what I would have done without you,” she says and turns to take Tyler’s hand. “Without both of you.”
Tyler pulls her hand up to his lips and kisses it gently. “You can always count on us,” he says.
“You don’t know what that means to me,” she says. “I feel like I’ve been on my own for years.”
I couldn’t have asked for a better segue. I glance over to Tyler, who’s still holding her in his arms, and he nods.
“We don’t ever want you to feel that way again,” I say, tracing the gentle slope of her jaw with my finger. “Move in with us. You and Landon. Let us take care of you.”
Her eyes go wide. “Are you serious? I don’t need you to take care of me, but—”
“I know you don’t, sweetheart,” I say, regretting my words. I can’t let her turn us down. I won’t. “We just want to help you. You’re still in charge. Tyler and I are here for you.”
My words garner a quick smile, but then her look turns pensive. “This is moving really fast. I just told Landon about us this morning. But I think—”
“I know it’s fast,” Tyler says, looking as worried as I feel. “And if you’re worried about how it will look, we can keep separate bedrooms.”
“I’m not worried about that, “she says. “It’s just Landon—”
“You don’t have to worry about Landon,” I interrupt, trying to assuage her worry. “I already asked Leslie about your guardianship. She assures me our relationship won’t be a problem.”
“I glad to hear that, but—”
“If you don’t like the penthouse, we can sell it,” Tyler says, almost desperately. “We have properties all over town. Or we can buy something new. We’ll find a place that’s perfect. Just don’t say no.”
“I’m not,” she says and steps away from us. “If you two would let me finish a sentence, you would know my answer is yes. Yes, we’ll move in with you. I think it’s a great idea. Landon even confessed that he wanted to live with you guys.”
“So you’re on board?” I ask, a little worried I’ve misheard.
“Yes,” she says with a smile. “After talking with Landon this morning, I was torn. We both want to sell this place, but I couldn’t bare to live someplace you weren’t. This is the perfect solution.”
I scoop her up into my arms and spin around, kissing her hard on the lips. I can hear Tyler behind us on the phone with our foreman, making arrangements for a crew to come out this afternoon to start prepping the penthouse for the move.
“Are you sure you’re ready to have me and all the craziness living with a teenager entails?” she says when I set her down.
My eyes meet Tyler’s over her head. I see reflected there everything that I’m feeling: love, devotion, confidence. The partnership Tyler and I developed years ago was just a stepping stone. Now, we’re well on our way to creating a family. A family of choice. One created out of love and respect.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I say.