What's His Passion 2 - Climbing the Savage Mountain (17 page)

“God, you little beggars, at least let them get inside before you start demanding presents.” Kelly strolled from the house. It was obvious she was Toby’s sister with the blonde hair and blue eyes they’d inherited from their mother and the slender build they got from their dad.

Jensen went over to where she stood and swept her into a big hug. She embraced him back, tight for a moment before loosening up. After setting her down, he frowned at her.

“Sorry. I’m just so glad to see you and that nothing happened while you were over there.” She smiled. “It would’ve destroyed all of us if something had gone wrong.”

He wasn’t going to dismiss her concern, just like he hadn’t done that with Toby before he’d left. “It was unseasonably good weather this season. We were lucky there wasn’t anything bad. Thank you for being worried about me.”

She punched him in the arm. “Of course, we worry about you. You’re our brother-in-law now, and even if you never got married, Toby loves you, so that makes you family.”

“She’s right,” Wendy agreed as she stepped out on to the front porch.

Jensen hugged her before greeting Bill and Shane, the ladies’ husbands. Then Toby’s parents came out and Nancy squeezed him so hard that he thought he might break a rib if she didn’t let up.

“Mom, you’re going to injure him,” Toby protested with a laugh. “Let him go. He’s fine. You’ve seen him since he’s been home.” Toby brushed a kiss over his mom’s cheek while tugging her away from Jensen.

“I’m glad you made it home without any injuries,” Toby’s dad said, giving him a quick hug then shaking his hand. “You’re looking a lot better than the last time we saw you.”

Jensen nodded. “I’m feeling better too, sir.”

“Now, Jensen, what did I tell you?”

“Sorry, Dad.” They exchanged smiles before Jensen returned to the car to help Toby carry their luggage inside.

“Toby, you and Jensen are in your usual room,” Nancy told them, waving her hand toward the stairs.

Nodding, Toby led the way upstairs where they dumped their bags. Jensen was pretty sure Toby would end up unpacking for them before the night was over and he didn’t mind. They were going to spend three days with the family then head out on their honeymoon. Toby still hadn’t said where they were going, but Jensen found he didn’t need to know. As long as Toby was with him, every place was paradise.

“Take this,” he told Toby after digging through his duffle for some things.

Toby took the scrapbook they’d put together of all the pictures Jensen took while on his trip. He’d also written down memories and thoughts he’d had during his trip and put them in there as well. They figured Toby’s dad would love looking at the pictures.

Jensen gathered all the brightly wrapped presents he’d brought for everyone then motioned for Toby to head out. Toby shook his head as they walked down the hallway.

“You spoil all of them,” he told Jensen with a scowl. Then ruined it when he leaned in to kiss him. “Thank you for loving my family.”

“Thank you for sharing them with me.”

Everyone was in the backyard, putting the finishing touches on the rose arbor they were going to get married under. The kids were running around, screaming and shoving each other, but as far as Jensen could tell, no one was getting hurt.

“The yard looks amazing, Dad.” Toby slung his arm over Donald’s shoulder. “We really appreciate you all going to so much trouble to do this for us.”

Nancy poked Toby in the side. “It’s no trouble at all. We did it for your sisters. Why wouldn’t we do this for you?”

Toby shrugged and Jensen knew what he was thinking. No matter how accepting a family was of a loved one being gay, that didn’t always translate to them being willing to show the entire world. Yet Jensen wasn’t surprised that Toby’s family went all out for this wedding. They were the kind of people who loved hard and were fiercely loyal to their members. That meant having a wedding for their gay son and inviting everyone they knew, not caring if some of those people accepted it or not.

“I know a few of your friends aren’t coming because they don’t believe in gay marriage,” Toby said.

Donald snorted. “Then they aren’t our friends any more, Toby. If they can believe in my daughters’ weddings, then they can damn well believe in my son’s. Doesn’t matter who you marry.”

Jensen nodded then held up the pile of presents in his arms. “I have stuff,” he announced and the children came running.

He passed everything out then sat next to Toby, watching as they all ripped the paper to get at the gifts. The kids all received child-size bow and arrows. Kelly wrinkled her nose at him and he pointed out that the arrows had rubber tips. They weren’t dangerous.

The ladies got the most beautiful scarves Jensen had ever seen, created with bright colors that he’d picked specifically for each of the women. He’d bought leather wallets, etched with gorgeous scrollwork for Bill and Shane. He gave Donald a Buddhist prayer flag like one he could’ve left up on Everest if he’d wanted.

Jensen hadn’t bought Toby anything. His present to his husband had been the notebooks he’d filled with letters.

“Oh Jensen, this is amazing,” Nancy exclaimed, running her hands over the scarf.

He got hugs from the ladies and backslaps from the guys. Toby handed him the scrapbook.

“I thought you might like to see my pictures from my trip.” He held the book up.

“Yes.” Donald grabbed for it. “You hadn’t finished downloading them when we visited last.”

Jensen watched as his family gathered around the table where Donald was then he went to join them as they started asking him about who the people were in the photos. He didn’t know how much time had passed while he told stories about his trip, but finally Toby spoke up.

“All right, guys. Why don’t we have lunch? You all can talk more about this tonight after the rehearsal dinner.” Toby clapped his hands, drawing the kids’ attention.

“Right. I thought we could have hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch then tonight we’ll go to a really nice restaurant here in town. The chef there is amazing.” Nancy got everyone moving toward the house.

Jensen picked up the scrapbook before going inside. After setting it down, he went to where the others stood around Nancy, getting their orders for helping with lunch. They chatted as they went about their appointed tasks. It was nice to be included in their conversation.

The first time he’d come to visit Toby’s family, he hadn’t known how to react to them. He’d never been part of a group like them. Not even Jigger and Cat were as boisterous and nosy as this family. He’d been nervous as well, not wanting Toby’s parents to hate him because he knew it would’ve broken his lover’s heart if he’d had to choose between them.

Luckily that didn’t happen and Jensen had found himself sucked into the love. Sure, Toby and his sisters fought like siblings did, and while he never saw them do it, he was sure Nancy and Donald argued. Both were strong people who had their own opinions.

“Jensen, when are Cat and Jigger getting in?” Nancy asked while chopping up lettuce for the salad.

“First thing tomorrow. They couldn’t get an earlier flight and Cat refused to let Jigger charter one.” He laughed at the dressing down Jigger had gotten for even suggesting it.

“I can’t believe I’m going to get to meet Jigger Richeleau,” Kelly squealed like a schoolgirl.

“He’s not that Jigger anymore,” Jensen reminded her, not wanting her to be disappointed when she met him. “He’s really toned down. Rehab and fatherhood can do that to a guy.”

“So true. Marriage and fatherhood does steal away your reckless youth,” Bill said mournfully.

“Hey there.” Kelly glared at him, hands on her hips.

He swooped in to kiss her. “And I don’t regret giving it up.”

Everyone laughed and Kelly asked Jensen about some of his other climbs. He talked about Fuji and Denali. They listened as he described some of his more harrowing climbs, but he always tried to downplay the danger he’d been in. No point in freaking Toby before he had to.

“Jensen and I are going to adopt a dog when we get back from our honeymoon,” Toby announced, which led to an in-depth discussion on the best kind of dog to get and which breeds were better suited for where they lived.

“You’ll want one that likes kids,” Nancy told them.

“Of course. The kids will be visiting during the summer like this year and we’ll make sure the dog won’t be upset by them,” Jensen reassured her.

“There is that, but you’ll want a kid-friendly one for when you start adopting.”

The way she said it was so nonchalant that Jensen frowned for a moment while he tried to make sense of what she’d said. He shot Toby a glance and Toby shrugged his shoulders before flashing him a rueful smile.

“She’s started already. I would’ve thought you’d at least wait until after the ceremony tomorrow, Mom,” Wendy spoke up from where she sat, feet up and her hands resting on her extended belly. “Plus I’m giving you another grandchild. You shouldn’t be so greedy.”

“They’ve been married six months, Wendy. It’s time they begin thinking about adding to their family, and I don’t mean a dog.” Nancy turned to eye both of them. “You’ll be wonderful fathers and there are a lot of children out there who need parents who love them. It doesn’t matter that you’re two men. All that matters is that you’ll give those children the best life possible.”

Toby took his mom’s hand in his. “Mom, we’ve talked about it, but I would like to wait a little while longer. Jensen’s going to Pakistan to climb K2 next year. I’m not sure getting a child then having Jensen gone for so long would be a good idea.”

Shane spoke up. “You wouldn’t get a child that quick. It can take up to a year or longer to be approved to adopt then to find the right kid.”

“See.” Nancy nodded in Shane’s direction. “He’s right. You should get the process started. By the time Jensen gets back, you should be approved and can start going through the selection process.”

“Maybe they want to get a surrogate instead of adopting, Mom. Some guys want kids of their own blood instead of someone else’s,” Bill interjected.

Toby shot Jensen a worried glance and Jensen smiled. Hell, he didn’t care where the kids came from, he just wanted to raise them with Toby in their home. In a way, he’d rather adopt children that were abandoned—or orphaned—than have one with his own DNA. He knew what it was like to not be wanted by his parents.

“Mom,” Toby said and waited until she looked at him before he continued, “Jensen and I will talk about this when we feel we’re ready. I know you would like more grandchildren, but you have to remember something. We might have been married for six months, but we haven’t lived together for most of those six months, not that I think being married will change anything.”

“We just need time to readjust how we think of things before we throw kids into the mix,” Jensen spoke up. He definitely wasn’t saying no to adding to their family.

She seemed content with that answer, though he figured they’d be hearing more about it as the months rolled on.

“Lunch is ready,” Donald announced and they went outside to circle the large picnic table.

* * * *

Jensen snuggled close to Toby under the blankets. The air conditioning kept their room cold and he was having a bit of a flashback to Base Camp. Thankfully, Toby wasn’t interested in pushing him away. He moaned a little when Toby ran his hand down his back to tease the small spot at the top of his crease.

“I’m sorry about my mom pushing for kids,” Toby murmured.

Jensen eased back far enough he could look up into Toby’s eyes. “Don’t be. She loves you and just wants you to have a happy family.”

“And since she’s happily married, she wants the same thing for all her children.” Toby gave him a small smile. “She did the same thing to my sisters when they got married. Like at the reception, she was asking them when they planned on starting their families.”

“You know my thoughts and opinions on it. Maybe we should start the process when we get back from our honeymoon. This time I don’t have to fly out to Pakistan until June. I’ll make a few trips out to Wyoming, and meet up with Jigger for some fourteen thousand foot climbs in Colorado. We’ll also do a lot of rock climbing, since there are a few more technical challenges on K2. Maybe we’ll be approved before I go.” He cradled Toby’s face with both hands and rubbed his thumb over Toby’s bottom lip.

“So you won’t be gone as long as you were for Everest?” Toby stuck his tongue out to lick the pad of Jensen’s thumb.

“I’ll be gone for around a month and half or so. It should take us up to forty days to climb the mountain, but that’s as long as we get good weather.” Jensen leaned up to meet Toby’s kiss. He didn’t want to talk about K2 yet. They had several months before his trip.

He had other things to do, like make love to his husband.

Chapter Sixteen

Love knows not distance; it hath no continent; its eyes are for the stars.

—Gilbert Parker

Toby dropped his bags on the floor by their bed then collapsed face down onto the mattress. He was so freaking exhausted and so happy to be home. As much as he enjoyed his honeymoon with his husband, they had been so busy with exploring and visiting friends that he was tempted to call in sick tomorrow just so he could sleep in.

“Toby, are you awake?” Jensen strolled into the room, setting his own bags with Toby’s before coming to sit next to him. Running his hand over Toby’s hair, he chuckled. “Jet lag catching up with you?”

“I could sleep for two days,” he muttered as he rolled over to nestle up against Jensen’s thigh.

Jensen trailed his fingers over Toby’s eyebrows then down the slope of his nose. “Why don’t you take a nap? I’ll call Mom and let her know we got back okay. I also have to call Jigger, see how they’re doing.”

After sitting up, he started stripping off his clothes. “Don’t let me sleep too long, or I won’t be able to tonight.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”