"You think you're the only one going through growing pains?" Gage's smile was open, but he was tired of listening to Alfie go on and on about how Lucas was growing and almost walking.
They were finally getting together after the holidays. Perhaps, they were starting the new year together, over coffee and leftover Christmas cookies and pie.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound, you know, mad or anything. It's just one thing leads to another, and I wish we could find a house." Alfie shrugged and dipped an oatmeal cookie into his coffee, then ate it.
"Alec," Gage shook his head in thought. "I hardly know him anymore. I don't want him growing so fast either, but they can't be babies forever."
"You're telling me, my mother bought Lucas clothes for a fifteen-month-old, and he can grow into them-" Alfie shook his head as if it was all going too fast.
Gage chuckled. He knew Alfie wasn't really listening. "We have to be happy and enjoy this. Not bicker about it. There's nothing to be sad about, and you know that. We need to be thankful and be the dads we should be."
Even so, Gage did worry about Alec. He didn't want Alec to make mistakes, but he knew that was part of growing up. He didn't know if he was a soft parent; maybe he was. He'd done his best to be there for Alec when he could. He knew it was Nora who'd help so much in raising him.
Alec knew about chores. He knew how to cook. He knew how to help out with his baby sister. Nora was the one who made time to teach him how to do a layup and throw a baseball. Yet, Alec wasn't afraid to tell them his own worries, and Gage wasn't sure how that happened. Maybe he didn't need to know. He hoped they could navigate these teen years together.
"Don't you feel so old now?" Alfie asked.
"No," Gage cracked up. Maybe he'd always feel young even if his lower back wasn't as great as it used to be, but he didn't feel that right now. He was happy to come this far and hoped the future was bright, even if there were so many uncertainties in the world.
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