They were really getting along and it gave Anderson and George a chance to talk.
Cole kept one eye on them as he walked with Laura around the yard. There was just something so fascinating to him about the father-son dynamic, probably because he'd never experienced it for himself.
He'd had his mom and the visits of his uncle, but he'd never had a father of his own. It was just this strange relationship that maybe seemed a bit alien to him, while also making him feel a bit regretful.
"George is really happy that you and Anderson are doing so well," Laura said, holding his arm. "It's kind of funny how he treats Anderson like he's still a child. He's always been such a hard ass, but anything to do with Anderson and he melts into a pile of mush."
Cole laughed with her, slanting a glance back at Anderson and his father. They looked like some kind of before and after picture, the only real difference between them their ages.
"
He melts into a pile of mush
. I'm glad that I can be pretty sure that Anderson's going to age well, if his dad's anything to go on." He grinned. "He's going to be good looking forever."
"From the cradle to the grave," Laura said.
They laughed.
* * *
"Well, they look happy together," George said, lifting his glass to take a sip of his iced tea.
"I wonder what they're laughing at," Anderson said, frowning a little. "Do you think they're talking about us?"
George snorted, "Of course. What else could they be talking about?"
Anderson shook his head. "Nice ego, Dad."
"I'm not going to pretend to be anything less than me," George said. He pushed his glass a little away, the tips of his fingers dipping into the little puddle of moisture left behind. "So, have you thought about children yet?"
Anderson rolled his eyes. "Unless you haven't noticed, neither one of us is exactly equipped for the child production business."
"You know what I mean," George said. "Have you given any consideration to a surrogate pregnancy? Neither one of you is getting any younger, and the older you get the more energy kids seem to have."
Looking across the yard at where Cole was pointing something out to Laura, Anderson couldn't help the warm feeling that went through him.
Standing in the sunlight, Cole was so sexy in his jeans and button front shirt. He looked like he could have been in a magazine or something. He maybe needed a haircut because the ends of his hair were beginning to curl appealingly. He looked so young and full of life that it almost made it hard for Anderson to breathe.
Seeming to feel Anderson's gaze upon him, Cole looked up and smiled, displaying that dimple in his left cheek. He gave a little wave that Anderson returned with an upraised hand and a helplessly goofy grin.
Just seeing Cole made him feel happy. And once again he couldn't help thinking about a little girl or boy with Cole's black hair and sweet smile.
"Not yet," Anderson said, really considering the idea of letting his father arrange a surrogate mother. "But someday. Not like tomorrow, but soon."
Real soon
, he couldn't help thinking when he saw Cole throw his head back and laugh at something Laura said. It was such a bright, cheery sound.
He could listen to it forever.
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