Chapter Five

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

"And if I ever turned back to a real boy, I'd jump off the house and say, chicken noodle doo! And then I'd hug Hunter and hug you, daddy, and find Honeydew and show her that I'm real again, but it won't happen because I will stay a cheese-haired turtle," Jace finished his long explanation about a very random topic.

Beau hummed and nodded at the boy. "That's good, buddy. But I don't think jumpin off the roof would help," He said and grabbed a napkin to wipe the fallen oatmeal off his chin.

"Oh! Ok!" Jace scratched his head and then reached across the table to hold Hunter's hand. "Daddy, I want you and Honeydew to get married right now and she can live with us!"

His words surprised Beau. This was his first time speaking about Honeydew living with them, but Beau was proud because it meant that Jace was slowly, but surely understanding how the marriage would work.

Hunter shook his head in opposition. "I-i'm not sure it should happen so soon, what if she turns into a psycho stepmother?" He said with a cautious look in his eyes.

And here Beau thought Hunter was over his reservations towards Honeydew.

One step forward sent Hunter two steps backward.

Jace gasped and smacked his hands on the table. "Wait! I get a mommy if you get married? I didn't even know that, did she give birth to me without me knowing?" He smiled and stared at Beau anticipating an answer.

Beau chuckled at his wild assumption, though it was fitting for him, and he shot Hunter a look telling him to hush with his paranoia around Jace.

"When we get married, Honeydew will be my wife and your stepmother. That doesn't mean that she's the one who gave birth to you, but she will be a mother who stepped into our lives to care for you both." Beau tried to explain the concept to both boys in a way that wouldn't make Hunter upset, but wouldn't further confuse Jace.

And by the swoon Jace gave and the small smile Hunter cracked, it seemed to work.

By the grace of God.

"I wanna hear more about Honeydew and you, daddy! It's like a stupid story that I like," Jace insisted and scooped some oatmeal into his mouth.

"Would we maybe get an extra sibling?" Hunter asked meekly, his cheeks tinted red.

Beau sent a silent 'thank you' to the Lord for the openness of his boys. This was something he didn't expect to happen so soon.

He smiled at his boys and tried to think of an angle to start.

Love.

"I love Honeydew, everything about her is beautiful. And she loves you two, she cares about everyone. I know that from the way she's treated you two, she'll be a great mother to you and our future children,"

Jace's oatmeal-filled cheeks turned red and he rested his head on the table. His eyes filled with joy.

It was precious.

Beau's phone began to ring, interrupting the sweet moment, but fitting with the sweetness, it was Honeydew calling.

He answered the phone and put it on speaker.

"Hi, Beau! I hope I'm not interrupting breakfast, but I was thinking that maybe I could do something with the boys. I just don't want them to think I'm coming in and breaking things up, but I really want them to see me as I am,"

Honeydew's sweet voice was a little nervous, as it normally got when speaking about the boys.

She never seemed to want to disrupt anything, but she was doing the farthest from that.

"You can come to our house, bring Baby, and then you can marry Daddy so we can be a family, you can be my mommy, and we can get a baby!" Jace said before Beau could answer, though his answer was a good one.

Honeydew's giggles broke through the call making Beau smile. His sweet sugar was flustered.

"O-oh, hi Jace! I can come over later once you and Hunter get out of school, and you can help with wedding stuff if you'd like, Hunter as well. And I'll bring Baby and cookies, along with a few games," She said sounding more collected than before.

Hunter eyed Beau and then nodded. Jace screamed yes.

It was unanimous.

"Sounds like a good plan, sugar. I'll call you once the boys are at school to check on you," Beau answered gently and she hummed in response.

"Okay, well I have to get back to planning, but I hope you all have a great day and I love you all," Her answer was perfect to affirm the boys and to show one of the many reasons why Beau loved her.

She was simply perfect.

"I love you TOO! And Hunter loves you, but he's too shy to say it," Jace told Honeydew, making Hunter groan in annoyance, but he didn't deny it.

"I love you too, sugar. Take it easy, baby," Beau said and she ended the call.

Both boy's cheeks were flushed, Jace was beaming, and Hunter was staring at his hands as if they were the most intriguing things he'd ever seen.

God only knew how much Beau loved his unique boys.

-

After breakfast, Beau hurried to get Jace into a new shirt before taking the boys to school.

And as usual, Jace was dropped off first with a kiss on the forehead and a promise of something special for lunch.

Which left Hunter and Beau alone for a much-needed conversation.

"How do you feel about everything, and be honest," Beau said to Hunter, he just wanted to clear up his anxiety, confusion, and anything else he was dealing with.

Once and for all.

Hunter looked at Beau from the corner of his eye and saw that he was watching him intently.

He wanted to finally open up. He'd done it so many times, but it seemed like the more he spoke, the more fear crept up on him.

But he wanted to face his fears with his father.

"It's a shock because everything happened so soon, but I do like her," Hunter admitted. "A-and thinking of her as a stepmother, it's refreshing and horrifying at the same time. I had a mother before and she did everything wrong, but she used to be nice, like Honeydew," He said frustrated at his fear.

Beau always found himself shocked by the confessions of his son. It was never something small or frivolous, Hunter had real reasons to be afraid and Beau was grateful that he trusted him enough to share.

He put the parking brake on and faced his son. He wasn't going to speak yet, but he was giving Hunter his undivided attention.

"Dad, what if she decides that she doesn't like us anymore? What if she starts hitting us or being mean to us? What if she talks about Jace? I-i can't just trust her and not know if she's gonna love us forever," His eyes were heavy with tears as he opened up about a topic so close to his heart.

This was something he never mentioned to his father or anyone, but he wanted a mother for years. Someone to hold him and care for him, just to be sweet and soft.

Honeydew was all of that and more, and she scared him more than anything.

Beau's heart broke for his son. He couldn't imagine how it felt to be so afraid. To feel unsure even when things were harmless, but the boy didn't know it was harmless.

And Beau felt terrible for marrying Stacy. If he could've had the boys without having her around.

He couldn't change the past.

"Hunter," He murmured and wiped his tears. "I want you to know how proud I am of you. You've been so honest with me and I'm listening bud. You can tell me anything and I can even get you in with the therapist today if you need it, but don't ever hold this in. Write it down, talk to God, talk it out, bud." He held onto his son's hand and rubbed it comfortingly.

Hunter nodded and wiped his tears as they fell.

"In life, we never know how things will end up, it will never go the exact way we plan, but that's why we have faith. God knows everything and we trust in His way. He gives us wonderful ideas and hearts that are open and able to love everyone," Beau hoped that his words could ease some of Hunter's worries.

He was growing, but still had things to overcome.

"Now, Honeydew, she's got a real sweet heart. And we got to see it before, and as time goes on nearing the wedding, we'll all spend more and more time together, and you'll get to see her heart all for yourself. But even then, you have to trust what you're seeing, and if you get scared, say something. I know that she'll listen and you know that I will always listen." He squeezed Hunter's hand and patted it gently.

Hunter nodded, feeling a little better about Honeydew. He knew that she was kind and sweet, but his dad was right. He would get to see it for himself, but he couldn't judge her so harshly right now.

It wouldn't be right.

"Okay, dad. I'm glad to have you as my dad because you don't ignore how I feel and you really love me. And I'm gonna keep trying with Honeydew, she's nice." Hunter said.

But that meant that he had to take a chance on Honeydew. And trust his father's judgment.

Beau opened the glove compartment, grabbed one of the wipes he bought for quick clean-ups for Jace, and wiped Hunter's face clean.

He was going into his school and didn't need to look as if he'd been crying, though he had.

"That's all I can ask, just be open because that's how you'll grow a relationship with her." He said and threw the wipe in the mini trash can.

Hunter took a drink from his water bottle and grabbed his backpack from the back row.

"Thanks dad, you're the best. But seriously the best," He hugged Beau quickly and got out of the car.

Leaving Beau with new things to add to his prayer list.

Fear wouldn't cripple his son or anyone dear to him anymore.

And his boy would continue living a somewhat normal life. That was Beau's most petitioned prayer.

His boy deserved it.

-

It was time for the highlight of Honeydew's day.

Dinner with the Carpenter boys.

After working on tedious wedding details, she was excited to be refreshed by Jace's quirks, Hunter's shyness, and her darling Beau.

Of course, she wanted to make a good impression on Hunter, Beau let her know a little more about his new level of hesitance with her, and she was ready to take it on.

Being fifteen and going through everything Hunter did at such a young age was scarring, and Honeydew understood that he needed more time, but also more love and affection.

This is why she brought his favorite little dog, Baby. She hoped that Baby would provide all the cuddles the boy needed that she couldn't provide for him just yet.

She went to knock on the door, but it opened revealing Jace with traces of purple marker on his cheeks.

"She's here! Honeydew, I missed you soooo much!" He opened his arms to show how much he missed her and then hugged her.

She kissed his head and walked into the house with him.

"I missed you too,"

Jace snatched the bag out of her hand and poked Baby's nose. "Look, I can run really fast!" He said before running to the coffee table and making it back with impressive speed.

"Wow," Honeydew gasped and he beamed at her.

Beau poked his head from the kitchen and emerged showing his always handsome self.

How charming and suave.

Baby wiggled in Honeydew's arms and she placed him on the floor, watching him run down the hall with Jace.

"Look at my beautiful world," Beau crooned as he admired the love of his life.

She was magical.

Honeydew's heart hopped, skipped, and jumped at the new endearment. My beautiful world.

"Hi," She said feeling shy.

He had a way of making her feel that way and she loved it.

Beau walked to her and pulled her to his chest.

Soon enough he'd get to have her completely, but goodness, soon wasn't soon enough.

He placed a kiss on her neck. "How was your day?" He asked and kissed her softly.

Honeydew tried to recall her day, but Beau's kisses weren't helping. "Uh, I, I narrowed down the guest list my parents sent, and I baked cookies! J-jace took them," She cursed herself for being flustered.

Beau hummed deeply.

"How lovely, sugar." He kissed her again, truly loving the love he got to show her.

The sound of a door slamming made them break apart, neither wanting the boys to see them so close.

"Daddy! I think the food is burning," Jace screamed while running to the living room, but Baby was nowhere in sight.

Beau glared at his scheming son and walked back to the kitchen, where nothing was burning.

"Finally, he's letting you go! Come with me, I wanna tell you something, but you can't say this to my daddy or Hunter." Jace said and made a zipping motion at Honeydew.

His mood and smile told her that their conversation wouldn't be something she'd need to tell Beau about.

She just didn't want something to be wrong.

"Well, alright," She said, took his hand, and walked to his room.

Jace gently pushed Honeydew into his room and closed the door.

He sat down on his bed and patted the spot next to him, which she took.

"My daddy said that you're gonna be married to him, and you'll be our step-mommy, and then I'll get a little baby," Jace told her.

She nodded. "That's right, how do you feel about that?" She wanted to see where he stood in this.

Jace's cheeks turned pink and he smiled. "I like it a lot because you're always nice to me and, and everyone!" He said bubbly.

He was adorable.

"I like it too. Now, what did you want to tell me?" She asked to bring him back to his initial purpose of taking her away in private.

"Oh!" He smacked his head and giggled. "I just want you to be my mommy, no step. My daddy told us what it means, and I want you to stick around and so I can say that I have a mommy and a daddy, with no step." He finished and held her hand.

As Jace poked the palm of her hand, Honeydew sat stunned at his words.

He liked her enough to want her to just be his mom.

"Aww, Jace! I'd like that too because you're such a sweet boy and you deserve to just have a mommy with no trouble," Her words made the boy scream and he hugged her tightly.

"Yay! And now I just want Hunter to like you too, he likes you, but he's scared to show because our old mommy, but you're super like a star! And my daddy just loves you and he smiles and dances in the kitchen, he was dancing before you came and singing a silly song," Jace rambled happily and released her from his tight grip.

Honeydew laughed at the image of Beau dancing around the kitchen. "Well I'm gonna do everything I can to make you all very happy, and I love you all." She told the sweet boy seriously.

Jace nodded, mocking the serious, yet gentle look that Honeydew wore. "Oooooh! I'm super duper happy to have a mommy who's nice, loves me, my daddy, Hunter, AND brings me cookies! I gotta get them all before somebody steals them!" He jumped off the bed and left the room in a hurry.

"OH! Hi Hunter! Daddy calls this easy droppings, when you listen to people talk, but they don't know it! I gotta get some cookies in my tummy before I DIE!"

Honeydew walked to the door and saw Hunter holding Baby with his eyes downcast.

He was eavesdropping, as Jace meant to say.

"I-i'm sorry," Hunter said quietly, his eyes darting up to see if Honeydew was upset with him.

Honeydew narrowed her eyes trying to figure out what he was sorry for.

"I've been making things difficult," He continued and sighed in defeat.

Honeydew shook her head and motioned for him to join her back in Jace's room.

Hunter walked in, sat on the bed, and let Baby down to wander.

"I've been a jerk, and you've been nothing but kind to us all. I-i wanted to p-protect myself from the possibility of you leaving, or t-turning on us, but I know it's not true," He admitted to her, finally catching her gaze and holding it.

The fear and anxiety he felt were evident in his stare.

"No, I understand,"

Hunter shook his head. "You make my dad so happy, you've accepted Jace and I heard what you said, and I-," He could be honest. He could be honest with her and face what he's feared since meeting her. Rejection. And he would deserve it for how unfair he'd been to her, but he wanted to try and make things better.

"And you make me happy too, and you're so sweet. I know it's probably too late for me to be open and say this, but I wanted to-,"

His nervous rant was stilled at the feeling of arms enveloping him in a hug.

A hug from a woman.

His grandmother was the only woman he ever hugged. But Honeydew's hug felt warm, and in a silly way, it felt like he was eating freshly baked cookies.

His eyes stung with tears as he slowly, but surely hugged her back and allowed himself to feel loved.

"Hunter, there's never going to be a cut off time for anything I do for or with you. I understand, when I say that I mean it, not everyone can jump into something new and get the hang of it, but I think we can all try," Honeydew said softly as she held the boy.

She cared for him the same way she did for Jace. Hunter was just a child with a broken heart from his mother's abuse and neglect.

She was going to be patient with him.

"You're a courageous boy," She told him.

He lifted his head and her heart broke. His blue eyes were filled with tears and his face was flushed.

"T-thank you," His voice quavered and he hid his face back on her shoulder.

This was a good step for them both.

The door opened and in came Beau and Jace, who was holding a few cookies.

"Hey, buddy," Beau said to Hunter and sat beside him. "Jace told me you were in here with Honeydew, and I want you to know how proud I am." He pulled him away from Honeydew and held him. "Crying is good for the soul," He noted and used his sleeve to wipe his son's tears.

Hunter laughed and sniffed away his snot. "I-it is, I feel better,"

Honeydew smiled at the boy and saw Jace nibbling on one of the many cookies in his hand.

"I see you got your cookies," She said trying to lift the mood for him.

And it worked.

He nodded rapidly and rushed to her, taking a seat on her lap. "I did! And they're so yummy!" He squealed and then motioned for Honeydew to give him her ear. "I should give one to Hunter to make him smile, right Honey-I mean, mommy,"

Honeydew nodded as warmth filled her heart.

Jace poked Hunter's back and handed him a cookie. "To make you smile! Mommy makes the bestest cookies in the world and you will smile and I know you'll feel better!" He said with hope laced in his sweet tone.

Hunter took the cookie and tasted it. His dim eyes brightened.

"You're right Jace!" He took another bite and nodded approvingly.

Beau kissed both boys' heads and winked at Honeydew. "I think it's safe to say that Honeydew is absolutely lovely, just wonderful, and the best cookie maker," He praised her and the boys hummed in agreement.

And she was flattered for sure.

She could only be herself and she was blessed that they loved her.

What they had was one of a kind.

"And now we just need a baby! Right now!" Jace suggested proudly.

Honeydew stared at the boy, who smiled showing his chocolate-covered teeth.

God, they surely were one of a kind.

-

Authors Note

Hello, children,

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net