The Boys of Blueberries

20

Grocery shopping with Brandon goes like this:

Sabina pushes the cart. "You want this flavor?"

Brandon scrunches his nose. "No. Where's Papa?"

It's the seventh time he's asked her that. Sabina rolls her eyes and pushes the cart down the aisle. "He's at home, stop looking for him. Why am I not enough?"

And going to Brandon's soccer game goes like this:

"Oh, cute hat," one of the moms in the hotdog line say to Tristan, smiling at him.

Tristan smiles back and tips his ball cap to her. "Thank you."

When they sit back down, just as the game is starting, Sabina mocks in a high voice, "'Oh, cute hat.'" And she mocks in a deeper voice, "'Thank you.' The fuck?"

Tristan bites his lip, grinning and spreading his legs. "I was being polite."

Sabina snatches the hotdog from him with a sneer. "Hot daddy," she mutters angrily, biting the hotdog. Tristan is laughing.

When Brandon comes in the field in his little jersey and shorts and high socks, he searches the field for them. Tristan and Sabina both raise their arms and wave their hands, and Brandon's face lights up, waving back and jumping.

"He sucks at soccer," Sabina says, keeping her smile as she sends the kid a thumbs-up.

"He doesn't know that," Tristan says back through his teeth, still waving at the kid.

As expected, Brandon's team loses and his mood sours, head bowed and shoulders slumped as he walks with his little legs towards them. Tristan kneels to his level and cups his face. "You did great, buddy. You did your best, okay? We can try again next time."

Sabina puts her hands on his shoulders. "C'mon, Brand, you want some frozen yogurt?"

He raises his head to look at her, pouting. "Extra toppings?"

Tristan huffs out a laugh, shaking his head and running a hand down his face. Sabina nods, taking Brandon's hand. "Yup. Papa's paying, let's go."

And trying on his skirt goes like this:

"Isn't it girly?" he asks quietly, twirling around in front of the mirror. It's the skirt Sabina and Tristan got for him last Christmas, but he hasn't worn it, hasn't even tried it on since he opened the gift. Now that Sabina's put it on him, he has a frown and a mountain of doubt about wearing it. "Boys don't wear skirts."

"Boys and girls and everyone else wear whatever they want, baby," Sabina tells him firmly, squeezing his shoulders, kneeling behind him in front of the mirror. "And you look amazing."

He smiles toothily at her at the mirror. "Really?"

"Yes. Trust me, I'm a model." She grins and stands, offering her hand. "Come on, you wanna show Papa?"

Brandon nods.

He takes her hand and they leave the room, stepping into the kitchen, where Ian and Tristan are talking in hushed voices.

Ian sees them first. She stops mid-sentence, jaw dropping. Tristan twists around.

"You look so good!" Ian gasps, running to him. "Twirl around for me, sweetie."

Tristan has the biggest smile on his face. "You look great, Brand."

To Sabina, he squeezes her waist and whispers, "Thank you. He's going to want to buy more skirts."

"Let him." Sabina runs a hand down his chest and kisses him. "I'll buy them all."

Tristan's eyes twinkle, and he angles her chin upwards to kiss her again.