Page 26 of Schooling Little Sage

“I remember, bossy boy.”

“Not bossy, Daddy’s the boss.”

So this Daddy once thought. Now he had his boy living with him and had somehow completely missed that happening. Huh, better keep an eye on him before he finds a way to trade my trusty old truck in on a new one. Sneaky monkey.

Sage had fallen in love with the Butterfly room and had even made a few friends there. Miss Price said he was her best helper, and he was a joy to have around. It was hard not to fall in love with Sage and his caring demeanor. All that boy wanted was to be loved and make sure everyone around him was happy.

Daddy’s little helper.

I’d have to get that printed on his next onesie.

“Have you heard from Devon?”

“Yup, but he’s super busy. He said as soon as he gets a chance he’s gonna text you about dates and flights and stuff. He misses us.”

A chuckle escaped. Anymore, that seemed to happen a lot around Sage. “I bet he does. What do you think he’d like for Christmas?” Getting out of the freezing winter for a week in sunny California was just the gift this Daddy wanted, but December was a long wait for Sage to see his bestie.

This is where a playwright would type insert dramatic sigh, because that’s exactly what I just got from him.

“I dunno. The only way we ever celebrated Christmas was at church. No gifts, nothing special. Lots of casseroles and Jell-O with chunky stuff in it.” He shivered.

Can’t say I was a fan of it either, which made them easy to eliminate from future menus. Regular Jell-O, sure, but add anything to it and you’ve lost me.

But now I understood the heavy sigh.

“Well”—I leaned over the couch and kissed his head—“that’s all changed. See if you can pick his brain and find out what he likes.” Meanwhile, I’d keep a mental list going for Sage. I swear, I could wrap a drinking straw and give it to him, and he’d think it was the best gift ever because it was just for him.

Holy hell my love for this boy ran deep.

As did my recent online expenditures. I’d managed to stash away a few prezzies to dole out to my good boy every now and again but soon the hiding part would be hard to pull off.

It’s funny how reflection hits at the oddest times, how I’d once thought my life was complete. Only I now knew that it wasn’t. Not before Sage came into it. Gazing down at this adorable man, sitting cross legged on the floor playing with his toys, Sage was the Little my life was in dire need of. My brain and heart were no longer warring, searching for who knows what.

Well, now I knew what and the who that went along with it.

My sweet Sage.

In the short time he’d been in my life it all clicked into place, completed the puzzle. Sage was my calling, what drew me to this magical Ranch as he’d lovingly dubbed it.

Between Master Derek being the ultimate matchmaker and my boy, who appeared to know what I needed even before I did, there might be some truth to his words and the magic that possibly lies within these lands.

“Are you okay, Daddy?”

I shook my head, clearing the fog. Those beautiful concerned blue eyes stared up at me. “I am, sweetheart. More than you know.”

More than even I knew or could understand, though I looked forward to a lifetime of learning with Sage by my side.

“Come here,” I patted my lap and he curled right up. “Do you have any idea how much your Daddy loves you?”

Those sweet curls tickled my chin as his head moved. “Yup. The forever kind.”

“Exactly.” Lazy Sundays had become my favorite. Totally lowkey, spent catching up on laundry, eating at home instead of at the restaurants. My cooking skills had improved, not that I was ever terrible at it, but basic microwave meals were about all I’d attempted before.

Who knew I had it in me to cook. I was learning so much about myself. “How about tubby time after dinner then a movie in bed?” Since Monday morning was just around the corner.

“Yes, please and thank you,” Sage snuggled in tighter. “Daddy, do you like-like me?”

“Like-like you?” Were we back at grade school?