A Special Kind of Perfect

CHAPTER 23

"How are you, my friend? How are you feeling?" Ardan softly hugged Peyton, examining them with a critical eye, and guided them to a large, comfortable armchair. "Please, take a seat. What do you want to drink? Water, tea, milk, a hot chocolate?"

"A glass of lemon juice if you have, or any kind of fruit juice as long as it's freshly pressed. Sorry for being such a pain in the back, but the baby..." Peyton cut themselves short, the look in their eyes somewhat saddened.

Nodding, Ardan disappeared into the kitchen for about ten minutes, then stepped back into the living room, carrying a large glass and a carafe filled with lemonade on a tray. "Here you are. Honey lemonade for the sweet little baby and their cute parent." The man filled the glass, giving it to Peyton.

"Thank you very much. It has a very refreshing taste, did you put mint in it?" They put the empty glass back on the tray, smiling small. "The baby liked it very much. You're a great guy, Ardan. Alasdair is so lucky to have you in his life." The last part was spoken in a melancholy-filled voice.

"I can't wait to meet it. May I?" The man smiled shyly, caressing the air above the very visible bump on Peyton's stomach. They nodded in approval, eyes lowered. "Hello, little one. I'm your uncle Ardan, and I want to tell you I can't wait to greet you and hold you in my arms when and if your daddy will let me, of course." He ran his flat palm over the bump, continuing to coo at it.

"I feel it's going to be a girl, and I'm happy and terrified at the same time. I dream of having a baby girl to pamper and dress in nice, pretty clothes. On the other hand, I'm afraid Ezra would be bitterly disappointed, and I'm not ready to lose his love." Peyton's lower lip quivered as their eyes filled with tears.

"What makes you think that? Knowing that husband of yours like I do, there's no way you could lose his love, he'll be at your side no matter what." Ardan spoke in the gentle, reassuring voice he used with the kids his crew rescued from the traffickers' greedy claws, caressing Peyton's slightly wavy, auburn hair.

"I keep thinking about his grandfather who gave up the then-baby Willa for adoption but kept her twin because it was a boy. Papa Thaddeus has two boys, Ezra's uncles Fabian and Sebastian also have sons, a baby girl would be unwelcomed and unloved, no matter how much..." Not being able to continue, Peyton burst into tears.

Ardan moved them to the couch, wrapped his arms around their fragile form and held them, while they sobbed quietly into his shirt. The man's heart ached at the sight his husband's best friend offered, so fragile and vulnerable, and he felt helpless because there was nothing he could do to lessen their pain.

At the moment, no matter how hard he tried, Ardan couldn't convince Peyton how wrong they were about his husband's side of the family not wanting their unborn child if it was a girl. They needed something to keep them distracted from those negative thoughts, an activity that could fill their time and mind.

Gradually, Peyton's sobs died down, and they gradually relaxed into Ardan's embrace, the warmth radiating from the man offering them the comfort they needed so much. The man noticed the change and started to gently rub circles on his friend's back, soothing their tense nerves and aching soul. Suddenly, an idea crossed Ardan's mind, making him smile.

"For quite a while, I've been thinking about expanding the buildings within The Base's walls and buying the land around it. I intend to turn the arid region into a little, friendly, cozy neighbourhood with trees, bushes and lots of flowers." A small, dreamy smile played on the man's lips as he waited for the other one's answer.

"Giving the great number of children you guys rescued from those horrible child traffickers' claws, the expansion of the facilities at The Base is a wise decision, but I don't understand your idea with the neighbourhood. Who is going to inhabit the houses?" A small frown creased Peyton's forehead as they looked in Ardan's eyes.