Flare (21 page)

“In my files, Mr. Magnus, I have Hugo listed as a caregiver. Is that correct?”

“He was my late wife’s caregiver, that’s why he’s listed that way in Finn’s records,” Kevin clarified, but Hugo stayed quiet. He smelled trouble and leaned back in his chair, pressing a warning with his palm into Kevin’s lower back.

“And he
cares
for Finn?”

“Yes. Hugo and Rowan, the nanny.”

“Why is Hugo here but the nanny isn’t?” Mrs. Swanson asked with an ugly look on her age-worn face. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all. This woman could make Finn’s life hell if this wasn’t handled right.

“Because she is my employee and this isn’t nearly as much of her concern as it is Hugo’s,” Kevin said in such a matter-of-fact way it would’ve intimidated a lot of people, but not Mrs. Swanson.

“I’m confused. You’ve hired a nanny, but you feel she is less involved in this than your… your…?” She left it open for Kevin to fill in the blank.

“Yes,” Kevin said, not giving Mrs. Swanson the answer she so desperately wanted. “I’m confused as to what any of this has to do with Finn’s progress in the first grade. Hugo is listed on all the appropriate paperwork. I’ve made sure of that not only with the school district, but also with the principal and my lawyer. It’s my choice whether or not he is included in parent-teacher conferences, and my choice is that he’s here. He helps Finn with his homework as often as I do, if not more. So, can we please get back to discussing my son’s educational goals here rather than the setup of my house and home?”

Hugo’s natural instinct to get pissy with Mrs. Swanson was pushed away as he saw her finally get back on track, talking about Finn rather than Hugo’s relationship to Kevin. Each and every question after that point, though, was directed entirely to Kevin. It was as if Hugo wasn’t even in the room.

Kevin, being the perceptive businessman he was, took control of the situation, redirecting questions to Hugo when Hugo knew the answers better than he did. Kevin made it excruciatingly obvious they were raising the kids together, but Mrs. Swanson seemed to prefer her world with blinders on.

“I’ve noticed his homework has been handed in with greater accuracy and much neater than during his first month. I’m pleased with that,” she said with a self-satisfied smile.

“That would be Hugo’s doing. He spoke with a good friend who’s a kindergarten teacher who helped devise a system to help Finn’s concentration. He struggled at the beginning of the year.”

“And what
techniques
is Hugo using with Finn?” she asked Kevin, making Hugo want to wave his arms around and shout that he was right there so why not fucking ask him.

“Hugo?” Kevin redirected.

“I’m using more sensory strategies to help him better understand concepts and to keep his attention focused on the work.” As Hugo talked, Mrs. Swanson looked down at a piece of paper, not writing or reading, just staring while he spoke, so he kept on, throwing out bits of educational jargon he recalled from his conversations with Summer. “He does much better as an active rather than passive learner. We break activities down into smaller chunks and allow him time to move in between them. When working, he chews gum or bounces on an exercise ball. I bought some fidgets that he uses, all in an attempt to keep him at an optimal level of stimulation so he can focus on his work rather than getting distracted.”

“Fidgets? That’s nonsense,” she said under her breath, still looking at her paper.

Hugo glanced over at Kevin and was about to let him know he was going to leave the classroom before he said something he would regret when Kevin leaned back and put his arm around the back of Hugo’s chair and palmed his neck.

“Remind me again when you noticed the variance in Finn’s work? When did it improve?” Kevin asked, a vision of nonchalance.

Mrs. Swanson pulled out a chart that showed some sort of graph. “September was the worst of it. It often is with children after a long summer, but then as you see here”—she pointed to a huge spike on the graph—“his work improved to a large degree. I was wondering if he had a sibling helping him.” Hugo realized immediately what Mrs. Swanson was implying.

“No. Finn does his own work each and every night,” Kevin said. “The one thing I can tell you is that Hugo’s intervention happened at the same time you noticed an improvement, so the
nonsense
you just dismissed seems to be working. Finn’s an active kid, and he learns by doing. Hugo tuned into that very quickly, and it’s a good thing.”

As they walked out of the school building, Hugo had a hard time not laughing and feeling fucking giddy. “You were brilliant!” he said, realizing he’d started picking up on some of Rowan’s phrases.

“She was so far out of line. Finn hasn’t said a bad word about her, so I assumed things were going well, but now after seeing her in action, I’m not so sure. I felt like I was in a business negotiation or in mediation with Kyle and Tasha.”

“Yeah. That was hot,” Hugo said.

“What? How was that hot?” Kevin seemed to be trying hard to control himself but a chuckle left him.

“I don’t know. It just was. You were direct and powerful and you stood up for me. And you were so
polite
. You
owned
that room.”

“You get turned-on by the craziest things,” Kevin said, shaking his head as he unlocked his Lexus and climbed in.

Hugo hopped in on his side and leaned across the console to kiss Kevin. “Says the man who loves it when I wear lipstick.”

“I’ll give you that one.”

“You’d better. I think I might go to work with you tomorrow just so I get to see Business Kevin again. I’ll fuck you over your desk.”

Kevin shook his head and started to drive.

Hugo smiled because he could tell how much he’d affected Kevin.

H
UGO
WAS
expecting some sort of shit to fly at school after the parent-teacher conference, whether it be snide comments said to Finn or Mrs. Swanson being stricter with him in the classroom, looking for ways to get him in trouble, but there was nothing. There was no way Hugo was going to pick a battle where there was nothing at stake but his own wounded pride, so he kept doing what he’d been doing prior to the conference, helping Finn with his work and watching him easily grasp new lessons.

W
HAT
TO
do about Rowan? Her contract was up before Christmas, but they had an option to keep her on. She was a great addition to the family—one they obviously needed during the crazy summer they’d had—but as the school year moved along, much of her time was spent away from the kids. Earlier, Hugo had shared that he’d noticed Rowan seemed anxious when she wasn’t busy. Did it make sense to employ her anymore?

“We’re eventually going to have to figure out how to be full-time dads on our own,” Hugo said, and Kevin agreed, but Kevin worried about what would happen again next summer. What if Hugo’s career took off to soaring heights after his movie was released around Christmas, and he was needed on sets far from home for weeks at a time? That was where Rowan’s presence made sense, and Kevin said as much to Hugo.

“Are you really willing to keep paying someone on the
off
chance I become a movie star?” Hugo laughed as if the notion was absurd. “That’s a huge gamble.”

“You never know. I’ve seen you act. You’re great.”

“Not really the point, Kevin. I’m not the Hollywood type. I’m not moving out there. I refuse to live out of a suitcase for months at a time too. I learned that this summer. I want to be in Minneapolis directing and doing vocal work when I can. I don’t want the instability of movie sets or the long hours. I don’t want people obsessing about my image or my life or any of that. It’s not worth it to me.”

Kevin was confused, not sure if Hugo was saying this because it was true or because of something else. “But it’s your work.”

“The only reason I took the job in the animated film was because it was animated.
I’m
not in the movie, just my voice.”

“And you’re not turning work down because you feel like you need to take care of my kids?” Kevin finally got to the heart of his worry.

Hugo’s brows drew together and he reached for Kevin’s hand across the small distance that remained between them on the couch in the sunroom. “Maybe this is presumptuous, but I don’t see them as just your kids. I sorta feel like maybe they’re kinda mine too.”

“That was a lot of maybes and sortas and kindas,” Kevin teased, but he saw how serious Hugo was, so he tried to warm his smile.

“Yeah. I don’t want to step on toes and start calling myself their dad.”

“But you are. That’s how I see you, which is why I’ve had Mark draw up so many damn legal documents that I’m sure I’ve paid for his son’s braces by now. He’s probably started saving for his twin daughters’ braces with what’s left over.”

“I wish it didn’t have to be so hard and expensive,” Hugo said with a frown, obviously feeling guilty, as if his mere presence in Kevin’s life was costing him money.

“I’m not complaining about the cost,” Kevin soothed. “That came out wrong. I’m not saying any of this right. Let me start over. Are you turning work down for any other reason than you not wanting those particular jobs?”

“No. I’m taking what I want and that’s it.”

“And you feel like you’re accomplishing the career goals you want to be working toward? You don’t feel held back?” Kevin had to make sure.

Hugo shook his head and laughed. “With questions phrased like that, I feel like I’m on a job interview. Kevin, I’m working jobs I want. I’m in a better place than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m finally able to turn shitty jobs away and say no. That’s new to me, and in no small part, that’s because we’ve combined our lives. I have fewer bills to pay. Granted, I have less time too because I’m busy being a dad, but I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

“But we’re really talking about Rowan,” Hugo continued. “Summertime is going to be our biggest nightmare when it comes to childcare. We could hire nannies for the summer months or maybe find a high school or college student to help out. Another option is that I could not take work during June, July, and August. I’d be fine with that. There would be a few shows Miss Cherrie would love to do with Ginger and the Fringe Festival, but we could find someone to watch the kids for those.”

“It won’t be long before Brooke could watch Finn for a few hours, if it came down to it,” Kevin pointed out. “Besides, I like what you said.”

“What did I say?” Hugo asked, looking worried.

“That we have to figure out how to be dads on our own someday.”

“Well, we do. I feel like it’s time.”

Kevin nodded, happy they both felt the same way. “Okay. I think I’m ready. I’ve
got
to be.”

“We’ll be fine. And if we aren’t, we always have the option of getting help again. Maybe we could even get Rowan back.”

“Always the optimist,” Kevin said, shoving Hugo with his own shoulder.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Stirrings

H
UGO
DECIDED
to get their game night hosting over with in mid-November, before the chaos of Thanksgiving, his movie opening, and Christmas happened. Having Rowan around to help would be a bonus as well, and she was excited about the thought of helping plan a party. He and Rowan sat down for a few nights, planning activities for the kids that would entertain them all and not get them too overstimulated since they’d have to remain indoors. It was too cold to play outdoors now, but the playroom downstairs was plenty big to host all the munchkins who would be coming over.

Kevin helped plan the menu, suggesting that it might be worthwhile to buy some of the food from a local caterer so they wouldn’t be stuck in the kitchen cooking, too tired to enjoy the games once they started. Hugo disagreed and ended up designing the menu based on the wines Kevin wanted to serve.

Rowan called one of her nanny friends up and asked if she’d want to help out that night, because she felt two adults in the basement might be better than one. When she showed up an hour before the party to help Rowan set up, Hugo immediately recognized her. It was Emily, Tori’s nanny who Hugo had once thought was Tori’s mom. Kevin and Hugo were going to pay her the same amount as they had promised Rowan for that night; they deserved a little extra for dealing with all those kids so the adults could play upstairs.

Ten minutes before everyone was supposed to be there, Hugo dragged the step stool over so he could pull down several bottles from the wine rack built into the top of the kitchen cabinets. “A Merlot, a Cab, and a what?” he shouted to Kevin, who had just disappeared upstairs.

“Pull down a Sangiovese to go with the red-pepper hummus,” Kevin said, his voice growing louder as he walked back toward the kitchen.

Hugo had to stand on his tiptoes to reach the Sangiovese because it was on the very top rung of the wine rack. He felt Kevin’s strong hands on his hips, supporting him.

“Be careful.”

“I am,” Hugo said as he turned around to wink at Kevin before bending over to set the bottle on the countertop.

He gasped when Kevin bit him on the ass.

“What are you doing?” Hugo chuckled.

“You put that sweet thing in my face, and I can’t help but bite it.”

Hugo shook his head and started to descend the stool’s steps. “Not now,” he chided as he planted his feet back on solid ground. Kevin leaned forward to kiss him, easily slipping his tongue past Hugo’s lips. The doorbell rang, so Kevin pulled away to answer while Hugo put the stool back in its place.

By the time the wine was freely flowing and the games were being set up, Hugo was introduced to yet more new people. This time it was Steve, Kevin’s golfing buddy, and his wife, Beth. To Hugo, Steve seemed like your typical country clubber, with his acerbic humor hidden behind a gleaming smile. Beth seemed very Stepford-y, but Hugo tried not to judge too harshly as she asked if they had a very specific bottle of wine.