R.M. Neill - Finding the right forever

Finding the Right Forever

Sheltered Connections

By R.M. Neill

Copyright 2022 R.M. Neill

All Rights Reserved.

I never know where to start, there's always so many who help me with a book. But here's an attempt to cover you all.

Thank you, to you dear reader, for enjoying the stories I create and coming back for more. Your messages and emails truly lift me from dark days and I'm so thrilled you gave my book a chance. Because of you, I keep writing more.

To my city mouse (you know who you are), thank you for being there when the path got rough. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for not letting me fall. Your friendship and support means the world to me.

For all the wonderful members of Neill's Naughty List! You're the best group of readers I could ever hope for! Thank you for laughing at my dad jokes and providing some of your own.

Thank you Jean, you're a gem! We had a rocky start, but we got there eventually.

Thank you Hayden once again for listening to my rambles and keeping me on track. As always, I appreciate you so very much.

For my reader team, a giant thank you! You're all rock stars and I can't love you enough! I am seriously so lucky to have you all on this journey with me.

Finally, thank you to my husband, Superman. Your belief in me never wanes and I love you.

Most mornings, I pinch myself on the way to The Screaming Bean. I still think its all a dream. But with every day that passes proving its a reality, I smile a little more at how my life is coming together. Im a recent graduate with my Le Cordon Bleu Pastry Diploma and Im now the head baker at The Bean. Well, Im the only baker, but it doesnt matter. Its something I never thought Id ever achieve, but here I am, creating yumminess every day and getting paid for it. Life is good.

The staff is great. The pay is great. I would even say my boss is great. Its not that hes mean or anything, he just never seems happy. Like every day somebody pissed in his cornflakes and his face can never crack a smile. If you can ignore all that, its a fantastic place to work. I cant understand why Owen, my boss, never smiles. He has a successful business and does what he wants. He even has a great best friend. Why wouldnt you smile at all that?

I stretch out in my bed to wake up, and roll over to my side. My face lands in a pile of fur, tickling my nose and making me splutter. I wipe the hairs from my tongue and sit up, sending an evil eye to the source of the fur in my mouth. Cheddar, my giant, lovable orange tabby cat, is on my pillow again, crowding out my personal space. I shove him off and wipe my lips again. Really Cheddar? How about you learn how to live with boundaries and not attempt to smother me while I sleep?

Its my day off this week. The last Sunday Ill have off before the Christmas rush and all the custom baking for December starts. As soon as the calendar hits December first, people go insane and ramp up their Christmas orders. While Im thrilled to get my start at custom orders and work my way up to a specialty baker for wedding cakes, Owen constantly second-guesses my decisions.

Ive worked there for months now, and he still second-guesses my skills. Im good at what I do. And the constant scowl on his face throws off my morning mojo. I dont like to not be happy. It attracts bad things.

Cheddar jumps off the bed with a thud and paws open my door to go wander the group home. Im temporarily staying at Auslos Loft, a shelter for the LGBTQ youth who keep getting the short stick in life. I landed here several years ago when I needed to escape a situation and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Jacob and all the boys here became my found family, and I couldnt have been more grateful. After I graduated with my pastry papers, I needed a place to stay while I looked for work. Jacob offered me a spare room here, so I took it. Its not much, but its home until I find one of my own, and finding one has been harder than I thought. I was only supposed to be here for a month, tops, and its now my fifth.

I poke my head out my bedroom door and sniff. Smelling the coffee brewing, I head downstairs to the communal kitchen and pour myself a cup before plopping into a chair at the kitchen table. Jacob wanders in, looking just as bothered to be out of bed as I do. In a house full of mainly teenagers, the quiet moments are few.

He pours a cup and joins me. Hey Parker, day off today? Youre usually out of here before the sun comes up.

I smile over the rim of my coffee. Yep, day off, but Im still up with the chickens. Need any help with anything today?

Actually, yes, if youre offering your only free time to me.

I would do anything for Jacob. The man is there for so many of us when we need a safe place. Its only right to give back everything I can to him. When I landed on his doorstep alone and afraid in the middle of the night, he saved my life. How can you repay someone that rescued you from the edge of a cliff?

Of course I am. What do you need me to do?

Its December first tomorrow, and I've done no decorating. The two younger kids here need to feel welcome. I want them to look forward to a holiday for once instead of dreading it, you know?

Oh, I know. A little too well. I know what its like to dread a holiday. With the shitty foster family I landed with, and my own so-called family before that, holidays were not something I looked forward to. Since the first time I spent holidays here, my outlook has changed, and I know exactly what Jacob is saying.

I would love to do that today, Jake. The kids might even help?

He nods. They might. Caleb doesnt talk much, and Katie is still adjusting. All you can do is ask.

If they dont have homework to do first, Ill drag them into it then. If we have the ingredients, Ill make some cookies now too. Nothing to get you in the spirit like Christmas cookies, right?

We continue to talk as I rummage through the cupboards and find what I need to throw together a batch of sugar cookies. Jacob manages this shelter and the animal shelter next door. His brother Austin, and Austins husband Logan, built them when they envisioned a place they would have liked as younger boys. All three of them devote so much time and effort to the shelters. It gives me hope there are more wonderful, accepting people out there. I cant believe how much Jacob takes on with both facilities and it all comes from his pure heart.

My mom overdosed when I was only eight, placing me in a foster care merry-go-round. I had hoped it was a new beginning. One that would get me into a house with heat and food in the fridge and parents that hugged you instead of telling you how a kid ruined their life and was a waste of space. So yes, I get where these kids come from, and I respect the hell out of Jacob for giving his time to help people like me. Hes like the big brother to every kid that comes here, and he loves playing the role. From what hes shared with me, he and his brother Austin didnt have great home lives either. While they'd had all the basic needs covered, there was no love, and they had even arrested his dad for some shady happenings while he was mayor of their town. Jacob hasnt talked about it much, but I know hes even closer to his brother because of whatever happened.

Jake snags a hot cookie from the tray, juggling it with a hiss. You could have waited until they cooled. I laugh.

Im afraid there wont be any left! He kisses me on the cheek as he leaves for his suite. I need to do planning for the Christmas day dinner. Ill catch up with you later.

After placing the cookies on a rack to cool, I pull on a pair of shoes to lug in the Christmas decorations stored outside in the garage. Thank God Jake is a stickler for organization or it would take me twice as long to find everything. Everything is marked and colour coded in green and red. I dont even read whats in the boxes, I just start carrying them all inside to the common room where we'll put all the decorations up.