The Adoption Plan

Max walked into the house like a zombie feeling the tiredness finally showing its ugly claws. He was too far gone to observe his environment as he staggered upstairs where he fell on his bed like a dead beat.

Hours later, he was awoken by the sound of laughter coming from downstairs. He wiped the sleep of his eyes and let slip a magnetic smile. He felt refreshed after the nap he had. Yes. It was a nap for it didn't last long.

The clock by his bed read exactly 1.30pm in the afternoon. He washed up and walked down stairs to take care of his growling stomach. As he walked down stairs, he could hear several voices talking excitedly over the meals they were probably having.

The dining table become silent the moment Max made his appearance known. " Ohoo. Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus. Here comes. "

"Shut up bro. I feel like a hammer is nailing an iron in my head with your voice. It would sound better if Princess Jazz sung it. Good afternoon family." Max bend down to peck Jasmine's cheek, ruffled Travis hair and jerked Emilio's head forward who looked thoroughly annoyed.

He then went near his old man and kissed his forehead before his head come face to face with a very gorgeous manly face. He pecked Beau on the cheek and stood upright to sit between his father and Beau. Jasmine who had been following Max with her eyes let out a hearty chuckle as she saw her manager's extremely red face.

Max who had been oblivious to the consequences of his actions looked at Beau and for a moment was mesmerized. Wow! He is cute. Was the first thought he had as an amused smile graced his lips. He continued eating as though he did nothing out of the ordinary.

Emilio, being the innocent soul he was decided it was alright to highlight the obvious. " Hey Beau, why is your face so red? Do you have a fever or something bro?" The man who has almost calmed down before started blushing all over again. Travis laughed out loud . " "Dumbass.!" He muttered silently . Thankfully only Jasmine heard him.

"Language bro. You don't want dad pulling at your ears right?" She voiced whispering into his ears. Upon the mention of their father pulling his ears, Travis turned pale and made a zipping his lip motion with his hand. He winked playfully at Jasmine who smiled shaking her head.

Edgar who have been silently watching the whole interaction thought, 'it would be really nice to have a daughter in law but since they are a lot of trouble and I wont know how to handle one, I guess a son-in - law would be even better. 'He continued eating as though there was nothing out of the ordinary.

Max ate to his fill and finally put his fork down. The table was cleared by the house butler Iker. The family continued sitting around the table waiting for their old man to move first but before he did Max spoke out. " I have something to share with you guys, May I have your attention please? I need your opinion as my family. "

Beau looked around and tried to stand up from his seat when his hand was held. " Where are you going? Do you have work to do? " came Max's inquisitive voice. For a moment, Beau's throat felt dry and words failed him. Every contact he made with Max was enough to set his heart ablaze.

"Ummm, You said you have something important to talk about with your family. I was just excusing you." The moment he said that every body's face scrunched up in displeasure. "Dude, you are family, don't you know that?" Said Travis. " I mean, you literally live here sometime . Sit your ass down man! Ouch. Sorry dad"

That was Emilio being blunt but of course he was hit for cursing at the table. Jasmine was the next to talk. " If you don't sit down, I would feel really upset. I thought by now, you know how important you are to us." Beau looked towards Edgar who nodded in confirmation before his eyes landed on the source of his heart beat.

Max smirked before pulling him down into his seat." As I was saying, before someone rudely interrupted me, " he glared at Beau who lowered his gaze in embarrassment. " I have a very important issue to discuss with you as my family. As you all know, I am currently on vacation for the next six months but got an emergency call last night.

There was an accident which left ten people dead may their souls rest in peace, and the remaining forty injured. Unfortunately, one of the passengers was a heavily pregnant young mother. We lost her after successfully removing the baby from her womb.

What is even more unfortunate was that, we found out the baby had lost both his parents the same night it was born. The parents were both orphans who grew up in the orphanage and fell in love. That leaves the baby without any family member to take care of him."

He paused to watch their reactions. Beau was looking at him with a frown on his face , Jasmine's eyes were wet with tears, Travis was clenching his fist so hard veins could be seen, Emilio being the biggest softie around was out right sobbing as his father rubbed his back to sooth him. Edgar's face looked plain but he felt pained inside.

From their reactions, he got the courage to continue with his next words. " I felt responsible to take care of the child since I have the capability. I want to adopt the baby in order to give him a family and a safe place to call home. I don't like the idea of him being adopted by abusive families or growing up in an orphanage without anyone to take care of , teach and love him.

For that to be possible, I need all of you to help me take care of him. My line of duty wont let me be available all the time no matter on vacation or not. I will need your support to bring up a baby. I have never thought about taking care of a new born but here I am. I need you because I don't even know where to start from. Can you help me?"

There goes the elephant in the room. He let out a heavy sigh of relief as he had finally got that out of the way.

Silence greeted him making him feel anxious and unsure. Edgar was the first to speak. " That was such a tragic thing to happen to the baby but before I give you an answer, I have some questions for you. Are you ready?" Max nodded feeling more anxious.

" Are you sure about your decision to adopt or is it just an impulse?"

"I have never been more sure of anything else as am sure of this Dad."

" That's good to hear. You do know that it would be hard for you to find a woman who will accept a baby that she had not given birth to right? Are you ready for that?"

Max took a few seconds to think about the question. " To be honest Dad, I didn't think of it in that aspect. But you know father, if adopting that little angel means staying without a partner for life, then I will live and die without any regrets. If I abandon that poor baby, my guilty conscious wont let me live in peace. So , I guess, I will let fate decide what happens in the future."

Edgar was looking at Beau the whole time Max was talking. The subtle smile on Beau's face was enough answer to his unasked question. " Alright then. Before my answer, I would like to hear the others response! "

" When can we finalize the process?"

" Can I name him?"

" I can be his God father!"

Come three voices all at ones. That was enough answer from the three siblings.

Only one person was left. All eyes turned to look at Beau. The poor guy felt trapped as they looked at him expectantly. He didn't think his opinion mattered but here they were, waiting for an answer from him. " I...I... I think that is a very noble idea. I am willing to help whenever I can." He finally spoke.

Edgar smirked internally. Of course you will, he thought. " Alright. That is a yes from me too. Why don't you finalize the process as we prepare a room for the new member of our family?" Your old man is excited to become a grand father already. " He finished with the most sincere smile he could master.

Max breathed out loud show casting his magnetic smile eliciting everyone else's.