Savaro's Honey Buns (2 page)

Rajan giggled. "You called her Cruella! Classic!"

He hopped from the bed, snagged a piece of Savaro's bacon and darted out the door with a laugh.

"Hey, Moocher! That's my bacon!"

Savaro shook his head and shoved the rest of the

sausage into his mouth. The bacon he placed on the old dresser while he hauled on a pair of pants and a shirt. With that done, he raked his fingers through his hair in a half-assed attempted at combing it before shoving the bacon into his mouth. Taking a deep breath, he stepped from the room knowing he would have to sneak into the dining hall.

Peeking in the door, he noticed Laird had his back to him. He glanced around the room to see where Prudence

"Cruella" was and noticed she was in a deep conversation with the lunch lady. Tip-toeing, he hurried in and fell into the seat beside Laird.

"I got you a plate," Laird whispered. "Prue asked where you were. I told her you were in the bathroom. She

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probably thought you fell in, you've been in there so long."

"Thanks. I just didn't feel like eating, you know."

"You? Not feel like eating?" Rajan asked. "You feeling all right? I wonder if hell froze over—though I'm partial to the flying pigs dealie anyways."

Savaro broke off a piece of bread and hurled it at Rajan who caught it and stuffed it into his mouth. "Ass,"

Savaro muttered with a laugh.

"Your loss." Rajan smirked.

"You okay about yesterday?" Laird questioned. "I mean, Raj is right. You're not the one not to eat or feel like eating. I know what you did for us couldn't have been easy.

I understand why you did it and I agree with you, but I wouldn't have held it against you if you'd gone."

"I guess—I'm just—" Savaro started but was interrupted when his name was called. Standing, he turned to Prudence.

"You have a guest waiting for you in my office.

Wash your hands, fix your hair—my goodness you need a haircut—and come along. He's been waiting long enough."

Savaro exchanged looks with Laird and Rajan.

"Come on child! Chop! Chop!" She wacked him on the shoulder.

Frowning, Savaro rushed from the room to wash his hands then reported to Prudence's office. Knocking on the

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door he waited to be admitted before stepping into the room. A muscular, older man stood up and turned.

"Savaro." He greeted the teen. "It's good to see you again."

"Mr Anatolis," Savaro greeted. "I ah I didn't… I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"You didn't expect me back, I know," he said, then motioned to an empty chair. "Please… have a seat."

Nodding, Savaro walked to the chair and since his knees didn't seem to want to bend at that moment, he fell into it.

"The reason why I'm here—about what you said yesterday. I went home and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I know it cannot be easy living here and yet you gave up a life of comfort to stay here for your brothers. It hit home even harder when Prudence explained these brothers aren't even your blood. I admire that in a man… loyalty, I mean."

Savaro bowed his head. "I didn't mean to seem ungrateful. It's just they are all I have and turning my back on them hurt more than the thought of staying here."

"And I understand."

"Really? Because I could tell Prudence didn't get it.

She looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. I think she wanted to talk to me about it but was too angry to, you know?"

"Well, I understand perfectly. That is why I've

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signed the papers to adopt all three of you."

Savaro's head snapped up. He tilted his head to

level his eyes on the man before him. Mr Anatolis' greyish blue eyes danced at him but Savaro couldn't see deception there. He'd learned so long ago to spot a traitor he thought for sure his senses were deceiving him. "No one wants to adopt three gay, teenage boys. What's the catch?"

"The catch is you go to school, you get good grades, and you grow into men I can be proud of—that's the catch."

"Men you can be proud of…"

"Yes. You thrive, Savaro. Heck, I'm already very proud of you for staying loyal to your brothers. I don't know many who at sixteen would give up a world of luxury for this because he didn't want to leave someone behind.

That shows me a maturity way beyond your years. So if you three would have me, I'd love to be your father."

"Can I go tell them?"

Mr Anatolis nodded with a smile. "Yes. I have some more papers to sign, but yes."

Without thinking, Savaro tossed his arms around Mr Anatolis' neck, hugging him tightly then darting out the door with the older man's laughter following him down the hall. The dining hall was emptying out when he reached it.

Pushing himself through the throng of children dashing for the freedom of the soccer field behind the large building, he

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managed to find Rajan and Laird.

"So?" Laird asked, stepping close. "What was that all about?"

Rajan moved up, pushing on his toes to peer into

Savaro's eyes. He jabbed Savaro in the shoulder with an index finger. "I think we should get him some water. He looks like he's seen a ghost."

"No, I'm fine," Savaro managed. "I'm actually quite perfect."

"So why do you look like you're going to pass out?"

Laird and Rajan chorused.

"You should sit down," Laird said, taking Savaro's shoulders.

"We have a father," Savaro blurted out. "Can you believe it? We actually have a father!"

"Who?" Rajan wanted to know.

"George Anatolis," Savaro replied.

The three stood there, simply staring at each other until the room was completely empty. There was no need to say anything because Savaro knew all three were feeling the same thing at that very moment. Fear followed by overwhelming, cautious joy. Without saying a word, they reached for each other's hands and squeezed. They'd passed so many rainy nights, clutching to each other's hands. Rajan was the first to break, falling forward into Savaro's chest and wrapping his arms tightly around Savaro's body.

Holding Rajan to him, Savaro reached out and touched Laird's cheek and the fifteen-year-old stepped forward pressing his face into the side of Savaro's neck.

They were going home.

Savaro finished looking over payroll and slipped all the time sheets into the large envelope. Sealing it, he dropped it on top of his outgoing mail pile before turning to his computer. All he had to do next was check all the emails and ensure everything was ordered for the

restaurant, then he could go home for a boys' night with his brothers. He didn't want to miss it because Rajan was on his way to India for some movie premiere the next day and though Laird had taken the next day off from his firm, Savaro knew none of them would get any work done when they were together before a big trip. Shaking his head, Savaro scanned his email and deleted a few. After replying to some requests and the like, he shut down and shoved the laptop into his bag. He was just about to rejoice at going home and taking a shower when his office phone rang. He toyed with the idea of just letting it ring but eventually his workaholic nature won over and he reached for it.

"Anatolis. Savaro speaking."

"Sav! It's José! I tried leaving you a message on your cell but you never called back."

"Sorry man. I've been up to my eyeballs all day."

"No worries. You got plans tonight?"

"I was going to spend some time with the brothers.

Raj is heading to India so we want to torture him a little before he gets on the plane. Why, what's up?"

"So there's this new club opening up over in Moussa and I wanted to see if you'd be my date for the night. I hear the men over there are hot."

Savaro laughed imagining his friend doing a pelvic thrust to stress his point. That was just the kind of man José was. "Sorry, J. Not tonight. But you have fun for both of us.

And that does
not
mean a ménage-a-trois."

"Oh boo you're no fun. Say hi to the guys for me.

I'll call you at some point."

"All right… and José?"

"Yeah?"

"Please do
not
take off to Jamaica with whoever you meet tonight? The jet is being prepped for a trip to India and that's a long, long flight."

"It only happened once! And I thought he was my soul-mate. Doesn't that count?"

"Not when you try to elope in a country that is anti-gay! Just don't drink any of the hard stuff, okay?"

"You're no fun," José repeated.

Savaro could hear the pout in his voice but only

laughed. "I'll see you later."

"Peace out."

Savaro hung up and laughed even as he slid his

arms into his jacket. With a sigh, he reached for his cell phone. Ignoring the flashing message light on it, he dropped it into his pocket and reached for his laptop bag.

After stringing that over his shoulders, he picked up his car keys, a couple of file folders and a mint candy before exiting his office and locking the door behind him. Passing through his kitchen, he took a moment to snag a honey bun that was the signature for Anatolis and bit off a piece.

"Hey! Keep your grubby paws to yourself!" His pastry chef Aileen pouted.

Laughing, he kissed her cheek before dancing

around her and out the door.

He always loved the winters in Eros. They were not as severe as say, Toronto, but they were still something to fear. Trees that were normally green and lush were naked except for the snow heavy on their limbs. The air was frigid and made his cheeks red, but he welcomed it. It made him feel alive. Driving through the recently cleared streets, he made a left turn up the hill to his house. He stopped long enough to gather the mail before entering the code into the remote opening the large grey gates. Once he was through, he closed them and pulled up behind Rajan's Mustang Boss. He didn't see Laird's car anywhere but then again Laird was always late. George, their father, always joked that if Laird wasn't careful, he'd be late for his own funeral.

Chuckling, he turned off the ignition and made his way into the house.

"Laird is gonna be late," Rajan hollered from the kitchen. "Something about a Real Estate deal he's working on. But he is staying here for the night."

"Perfect," Savaro replied. He plugged his cell in then set it to silent before carrying his stuff into the office.

With it stashed away, he entered the kitchen and gave his brother a hug.

"Long day?" Rajan asked, handing Savaro a beer.

"Thanks. Something like that." Savaro took a swallow from the bottle before peering into a steaming pot.

"Something smells good. What did you make?"

"Spaghetti. Though it escapes me why this little party is for me and I'm the one cooking. How did you manage to get me to do that?"

Savaro grinned. "I got mad skills."

"Yeah whatever." Rajan laughed. "You two are always suckering me into doing things. It's because I'm the youngest, isn't it? I'm telling you us babies always get tricked into stuff."

"Would you rather go partying with José?"

"You win!" Rajan held up both hands in surrender.

"You do know doling out cruel and unusual punishment is illegal right?"

"It was only the one time!" Savaro laughed then sipped his beer. "Besides, I made him promise not to do that again."

"And do you seriously think it won't happen again?"

Both men looked at each other and burst out

laughing. José was a free-spirit who lived by the motto
if it
feels good and gives a boner, do it!
Shaking his head, the two set up the dominoes and sat down over a couple of games while they waited for Laird. By the time he walked in, the ruckus was so loud, neither Savaro nor Rajan heard.

Savaro looked up to see Laird leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded over his chest and ankles crossed.

"You two are in your own little world when you play that game." Laird smirked. "I want in!"

"Before we do that," Savaro said hugging his brother. "We need to eat. We've been waiting for you and I don't think we should drink on an empty stomach."

"Yes father," Rajan joked. "So, I made pasta."

"You made pasta?" Laird followed them into the kitchen. "I thought this little party was for you. How did you end up cooking?"

"Apparently, Sav here has mad skills so he managed to sucker me into cooking."

Laird laughed as Savaro smirked and folded his

arms.

Savaro gave Rajan the rest of the night off and set out dishing up the dinner while Laird set the table. Rajan stuck his foot on one of the chairs and lounged back as Savaro placed a large, steaming bowl of spaghetti sauce in the centre of the table. "Ah… this is the life!"

But even as they sat down to eat, Savaro was still a tad worried. He always got that way whenever Rajan had to go to India. Nowhere was safe but India just felt like such a world away to him. He ached to go with Rajan, just to be there if anything happened but he learnt a long time ago that though they loved each other dearly, he couldn't protect them from everything. He hadn't realized he was shoving his food around on his plate with his fork until Laird reached over and grabbed his hand.

"Hockey is for the ice, not your plate," Laird said.

"He gets like this every time I have to go to India,"

Rajan said softly. "You know you don't always have to be Papa Bear. I'll be fine. I have bodyguards and film crew everywhere."

Savaro smiled. "I've always been Papa Bear. I don't know how to be anything else."

"I will be careful, not talk to strangers unless they have candy or a white windowless van."

Laird, who had been attempting to swallow some

juice, burst out laughing, sending the liquid flying across the table. Rajan ducked out of the way and Savaro shook his head.