The kids had been shaken pretty badly, and everyone clung on to Justin more than they had in the time Del had known them. At least for the first few weeks after the hospital.
Abigail was there—Del still wasn’t sure about her plan of taking the semester off but it was her decision and he knew his niece well enough not to intervene too much—and Bernie had stayed with them for a couple of weeks. She had her own family in Colorado, after all.
The evening before Bernie was to leave with Abigail in tow because she needed to go clear her dorm since she was taking time off, there was clearly something on her mind.
“What’s up?” Del asked her quietly as they portioned the chocolate mousse into bowls for dessert.
“I’ll tell you in a bit,” she answered and flashed him a smile.
They carried the bowls to the table for everyone—including a low sugar one for Justin, and Del sat down next to him.
“So, family meeting!” Bernie announced, and everyone froze. She looked around the table and cackled. “You’re not in trouble!”
The kids still looked worried, but Abigail, Justin, and Del all chuckled.
“What are you planning now?” Abigail asked, knowing her mother well enough to see she was up to mischief again.
“I’ve gathered some listings for houses in California,” Bernie said matter of factly.
Del’s jaw dropped “I’m sorry, you’ve whatnow?”
“Well, you haven’t done it and I know you need a push, so I’ve done a little bit of research and I’ve found you guys some potential houses,” Bernie explained as if it wasn’t a big deal, and stuck her spoon into her mousse.
“Mom—”
“No,” Bernie said around her spoon and held up a hand. Once her mouth was empty, she sighed. “Look, my search parameters were easy enough. I know Del’s price range, I went a bit high with it just because he’ll be able to get a good mortgage with what he’s going to do with his career and the old savings. There’ll be sponsored videos and why not start his own product line for kitchen stuff or something. Money won’t be a problem,” she said confidently.
Wyatt was looking from one adult to the other, while Scarlett mostly smeared the mousse around her tray and her face. Harper, on the other hand, was listening intently.
“Okay, so tell us more about those parameters?” Del sighed. When Harper looked at him questioningly. “Search parameters mean the things you want in a house. Like how many bedrooms or where it is, or if it has two bathrooms or more.”
She nodded solemnly and continued to slowly eat her dessert while looking back to Bernie.
“So, I thought two hours distance from LA for your work max. Somewhere that’s quiet enough, but with good schools around for the kids. Garden space for Justin, enough bedrooms for everyone, a really nice kitchen and so on. I found a few potential candidates, but I actually think I found you the perfect home.”
Del sighed long and loud. Then he glanced at Justin who seemed…tense. And Del really got it, he did. So he got up and gave Bernie a pointed look.
“Give us a minute.” Then he pulled Justin after himself toward the office in the back of the house.
Justin followed him without a word and once they were inside the room, Del crowded him against the closest wall.
“Is this too much, babe? Tell me and I’ll make her stop right now. She’s overstepping hugely.” He peered into Justin’s eyes, trying to gauge the situation.
Finally, Justin snorted. “Your family is fucking crazy, Del.” There were tears in his eyes, and Del wasn’t sure if they were the good or bad kind.
“Well, I don’t know what to say to that other than I know. We’re all kind of a package deal, just like you and the kids, though. So…you know.” Del shrugged awkwardly.
Justin smiled at him and looked at him so lovingly that it took his breath away.
“What’s your price range?” Justin asked quietly.
Del winced. “Knowing my sister, over one million dollars.”
“Fucking Christ, Del…” Justin gaped at him. “I can’t even—that’s not…”
“It doesn’t sound like a real sum, I know. Trust me, I do. But that’s what houses big enough for all of us cost there. If I’m buying a house, even if it was just me, then I want it to be my home for the rest of my life. Buying is a better long term solution, otherwise we could’ve rented something, but Justin, I want to give the kids a proper home where they’re safe and loved, with good schools and a yard and just…” He trailed off and looked away from Justin’s eyes. He swallowed hard before locking gazes again. “I want you all to have more than this. It’s in my power to provide that. Eventually, whenever you start to make your own money, you’ll contribute to the mortgage exactly as much as you want. I’ll never take that away from you. But until you’re at the point where you can do that, it’s my job to provide for our family.” He cupped Justin’s cheeks gently. “I love you. I love those kids. Hell, I want to ask you to marry me right now.”
Justin’s lips curved into a smile. “But you won’t?”
“No. I think we’re not there yet. I think we need to be in a place where you feel more equal. And when you do feel like that, then you ask me, okay? I’ll say yes, but I want you to be sure.”
Justin pulled him closer by his hips and Del went willingly, kissing him gently.