by N. Schwalbe
Zoe blushed deeply. »Have you read my diary, Dad?«
Tom opened his mouth in disbelief. »You got pregnant on purpose?«
Zoe gasped, bent her head and said nothing.
»That’s unbelievable.« Tom circled around the terrace like a caged tiger.
»Wouldn’t you have wanted me otherwise?« Anton asked his father softly.
Tom went over to him and squatted down. »I’ve always wanted you, Anton. You’re my son and I love you. I love you so much that it hurts leaving you here behind, even though, I know that Mom is going to look after you very well.« Tom squeezed his shoulder, not daring to embrace him.
He got back on his feet again and walked over to Zoe. He stretched out his hand, holding it under her nose. »I guess, now we’re quits, aren’t we?«
»How do you mean?« Zoe did not dare looking into his eyes.
»You’ve ripped me off and I’ve ripped you off. One to one. Draw. Armistice!« Tom was still holding out his hand.
Zoe took it and lay in his arms a second later. First, she fought him back but, then, she hugged him tight and started to cry.
Tom just held her, rocking her softly while he caressed her back. »Did you hear then, that I had a crush on Hanna?« he whispered into her ear.
Zoe nodded sobbing. »Yes, damn it! I just didn’t want to lose you. You’ve already been my big crush at that time.«
Tom smiled. »You could have talked to me. No-one needs to get pregnant because of that!«
Zoe poked him. »You’re impossible!«
»You are, too!« Tom hugged her again and, finally, gave her a tender kiss. »Thank you very much for the happy years!«
Zoe dried her tears. »Thanks for staying, even though, you haven’t been keen on becoming a father in your early years.«
»You haven’t been the worst choice!« Tom joked and made her smile. »I’ve seen Hanna recently and she puffed up like a yeast cake.«
»Then, you’re not angry at me?«
»Yes, I am. You took me for a ride because you knew that I planned to leave you. But as I’ve already said, we’re quits now. There’s no sense to blame each other. We’ve had a marvelous time together. And we have great kids.«
Zoe embraced him a last time, then, she pushed him away. »Now go!«
»You can drop by at any time, okay?« Tom stroked her cheek and turned around.
He waved at Anton and walked to the door.
Jacob accompanied him and hugged him good-bye. »I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.«
Tom made a dismissive gesture. »That’s not your fault, Jacob. It’s difficult to drag around such a big secret all over these years.«
»Show up here, will you?«
Tom smiled. »I’d love to. But most important is that you won’t forget your grandchildren. You’re always welcome.«
***
Luca put his bag into the sleeping room and embraced Tom. »I’m damn excited.«
»Me, too,« Tom laughed lively. »I’ve been looking forward to this weekend since our visit at the zoo. After all, I’m allowed to sleep in one bed with you without having to feel sleazy.«
»You’ve felt sleazy in my bed?« Luca joked.
Tom pinched him. »Yes, I did. After all, I had to steal myself away from home and to make up fairy stories to be able to stay at your place. Today will be our first test.« His heart started to pound wildly.
What if they’ll find out that they felt bored with each other?
Maybe their bodily attraction was all between them?
»Are you really scared our partnership could be of pure sexual nature? I don’t believe that,« Luca said sensitively and pulled Tom back again. »We’ve already gotten over our first holiday – without quarreling or being bored.«
Tom looked out of the window, watching his kids romping around. Then, he turned back to Luca. »Holiday is holiday. Weekday is weekday. What do we do if we’ll find out that we won’t make a good couple?«
Luca frowned. »Why are you suddenly so insecure?«
Tom turned up his nose. »From the first moment, our bodies were attracted like two magnets. Bamm! But what do we do if this is all? What if we’re not meant for each other?«
Luca kissed his nose. »Are you seriously worried?«
»Yes.«
»Why?«
Tom did not dare to get it off his chest.
He did not want to put Luca under pressure.
But Luca understood. »You’ve put your family at risk because of me!«
Tom nodded, looking out of the window. He was terribly nervous, almost scared when he thought about his future. After all, he had to start all over again.
Luca pulled him closer. »I’ve already said that I’m not like other men. I prefer close partnerships. And I don’t belong to those guys who need as much exciting bed stories as possible to enjoy their life.« Luca breathed in. »Tom, I love you! And I’m over the moon to stay with you and the kids.«
»There are queers raising kids,« Tom said, still a little insecure.
»Yes, you call them rainbow-families. German authorities estimated that there are approximately seven-hundred-thousand of them in Germany.«
Tom let go of him. »That’s quite a lot! And you think, the both of us and the kids…?«
»Yes, why not,« Luca laughed impishly.
»Then, let’s go outside. We’ll see whether we can challenge the kids playing table tennis.«
»Great idea.«
They ran down the stairs, chased through the garden and, finally, arrived at the ping-pong table.
»Luca!« Maja dropped her racket and went for him. Luca lifted her up and swirled her around like a plane. Maja squealed with delight.
Immediately, Penny came running. »Me, too! Me, too!«
After Luca had swirled the kids through the air several times, they played table tennis and had some tea.
»Will you stay overnight?« Penny asked eating noisily.
»Yes,« Luca answered smiling and jumped up. »Good Lord, I’ve forgotten the zoo animals.« He ran into the house and returned with a huge bag of wine gums.
At lightning speed, the kids had shared the sweets, so Tom could not protest.
»Too bad, Anton’s not here,« Penny said sadly.
»Yes, I think so, too,« Benno interjected.
Maja nodded. »Anton’s living with Mom and Grandma Steffi now.«
»Too bad.« Penny pulled a face. A little teardrop rolled out of her eye.
Tom lifted her up and kissed her hair. »He’ll come for a visit soon.«
Penny sniffed. »Why then?«
»Don’t you want him to visit us?« Benno squealed.
Tom smiled. »Penny can’t understand why Anton doesn’t want to live with us anymore.« He turned his face. »Sometimes, juveniles aren’t to be understood. They do things they can’t even explain. And at the moment, Anton is very angry at me.«
Penny looked up at him. »Why?«
»Because Mom and Dad are getting divorced,« Maja interjected and bent her head.
»It happens that two people don’t want to live with each other anymore, even though, they still like each other.« Tom groaned inwardly. He had not got a clue how to explain the situation to his kids.
»Okay,« he finally said with a heavy heart, »I’ve fallen in love with Luca and that’s why Mom moved out.«
Benno clung to his bitten panther of wine gum and stopped eating it. »Are you going to adopt kids now?«
»But no, Benno,« Tom said shocked, »What gives you that idea? We’ve got you after all!«
»Gay penguins also steal strange eggs to breed them.«
Penny pressed her nose into Tom’s arm. »I still wanna have a little baby, Daddy.«
Tom wiped away a teardrop and rubbed her arm. »My little big snail, I love you so, so much!«
»But Daddy,« Penny replied snubbed, »Little snails can’t be big!«
Maja slipped from her chair and embraced her father. »It doesn’t matter that you’re gay now.«
>
Benno followed and, suddenly, all of them clung to him.
Penny was the first who let go of. She walked around the table and offered Luca a turtle of wine gum. »This is for you.«
Luca smiled and took it.
He let it squeal and fly through the air to catch it afterwards with his mouth. Immediately, the kids transformed their animal wine gums to speaking creatures which were eaten up one after the other by huge, evil giants.
After teatime, Tom played table tennis with Maja while Luca and Penny had a race on the bobby car. Benno caught the running wheel to flit after them.
Much too fast, the afternoon shook hands with the evening.
Tom and Luca prepared dinner they ate on the terrace and, then, Luca read out a fairytale. At last, they put the kids to bed.
»It was a beautiful day,« Maja said and let Tom cover her up.
»Yes, I think so, too,« Tom answered and caressed her hair.
»Dad, may we listen to a tale?« Penny asked and Tom got a CD from the shelves.
»May I sleep in Benno’s bed?«
»Yes, you can, Penny.«
»I want it, too,« Maja called out of her room.
Tom sighed. »Poor Benno! Where do you three want to lie?«
»My bed is big enough,« Benno reassured, taking away the CD. »I’ll do it. You can go downstairs and natter with Luca.«
»Thank you, my grown-up!« Tom ran his hand over Benno’s hair and went downstairs hesitatingly. It was a relief the three of them had each other.
How Anton possibly felt now?
»One penny for your thoughts,« Luca said as Tom came outside. Two glasses of wine were already waiting on the table.
»We don’t say ›penny‹ anymore,« Tom replied grinning. He fell on his chair, took his glass of wine and raised it. »Cheers!«
»Cheers!«
»Do you think Anton is well?«
»He’s in good hands with his mother.«
»I bet he’s missing his sibs!«
»I think his fear of your new sexual inclinations is bigger than his desire for his sibs.«
»You think so? I rather think he is standing in his own way, even though, his greatest wish is to be together with his brother and sisters, but the leopard can’t change its spots.«
Luca leaned his head against Tom’s shoulder. »Then, we’ll send him a request to the universe that he’ll be fine and that he won’t suffer from staying at his Mom.«
»Perhaps he’ll come back when puberty lies behind him?«
»Yes, maybe.«
***
The next morning, Tom was aroused by a little body which crawled over him. »Penny, let me sleep!« Tom blinked and was smacked by two mitts. Then, his daughter fell between him and Luca.
Tom raised his head.
Luca was still there!
After a wonderful romantic evening, they have slept together in one bed for the first time and, now, they would also spend the Sunday together.
Was it really possible that Luca felt like having a crammed family-life?
»One penny for your thoughts,« Luca said sleepily.
Tom grinned without opening his eyes while Penny huffed indignantly and smacked against Luca’s chest. »Don’t say that, Luca. I’m no coin!«
»I’m sorry, Penny,« Luca groaned.
»Dad, can I go play?«
»Sure sweetie!«
Penny crawled over Luca and marched out of the room to wake up her brother.
Tom propped up on his elbows. »Are you sure you wanna exchange your bombastic acting-party-life for us?«
Luca kissed his shoulder. »You can’t imagine how lonely the life of an actor can be! Even actors are normal people with normal desires and wishes. And many of them are lonely despite their jobs.«
»It’s not easy to believe you wanna be together with me of all people and that you wanna exchange your exciting life for this here,« Tom said snuggling up.
»There are many queers who do not only look for a partnership but also long for bringing up children.«
»I might ask you from time to time whether you’re sure with me.«
»Do that! You’re not only unbelievably taut, sexy and attractive but, above all, a mad rocket in bed,« Luca smirked, »How am I supposed to withstand?«
Tom bit into his shoulder. »You’re a superficial lecher! I knew you have it in for my virility.«
»Especially on that.« Luca tossed and turned, looking for Tom’s dick. »Oh, always ready!«
Tom laughed softly. »I’d rather say that’s a typical morning glory!«
»I particularly like those.« While Luca gave Tom a hand job, he whacked off.
»You won’t believe how happy I am staying with you and the kids. That’s a thousand times better than my former acting-party-life.« They kissed passionately and reached their orgasm at the same time.
»Dad, when do we have breakfast?« Benno burst into the room.
Luca covered himself quickly and smiled while Tom was fishing for a hankie to pass it on to Luca. »In a minute! We’re getting up now!« Tom smacked Luca’s butt and went out of bed.
When he came into the kitchen, Maja had already set the table. »Is Luca still here?«
»Yes.« Tom blushed, but Maja just got another plate. »Great! Does he move in here?«
Tom was surprised. »Would you mind it?«
Maja smiled and shook her head. »Nope, that would be cool. What do you think how envious my friends would be!«
»Envious of whom?« Luca asked.
»Of Maja,« Tom answered and got some eggs out of the fridge.
Questioningly, Luca looked at Maja who cast down her eyes.
»You’re a famous actor, Luca, and if you lived here Maja would be the heroine in her class.«
»Dad!«
»What? That’s the truth!« Tom made some scrambled eggs.
Luca embraced him from behind and kissed his neck. Then, he got some butter out of the fridge. »I’d love this idea!«
»Don’t tell me, you would give up your bombastic apartment to live here with us?« Tom stared at him in disbelief and forgot to stir the eggs.
Luca took the pan racket out of his hand and stirred them. »Yes. I’d love nothing more than that!«
»You’re crazy!«
»Only about you,« Luca said, winking at Tom.
***
Tom came in, holding out a piece of paper triumphantly. »We’ve got the permission,« he almost sang and kissed Luca in a wave of enthusiasm.
Maja giggled and turned away, while her father deeply blushed. »Kids, you’ve seen nothing,« he quickly said.
»Yes, we did,« Penny replied and smiled, »You’ve kissed Luca.«
»Caught,« Luca teased and took the letter. »Good Lord, this is great, Tom! In two weeks, we’re going to have our own fencing club.«
»Already in two weeks?« Tom sat down at the table and fished for a roll.
»Yes, the day before yesterday, I signed a rental contract of that clubhouse in Alsterdorf. I’ve already ordered the workmen who’ll start tomorrow morning. We had already fiddled about the plans after all.«
»Wow, now you’ve knocked me down with a feather.« Tom dropped his knife. »You haven’t breathed a word.«
Luca smiled. »I wanted to surprise you. And I thought if the authorities won’t give you a second acquisition approval, then I’m the only owner of the club.«
Tom grabbed some salami in the shape of a pumpkin and pulled a face. »Queer swordfighter, watch out! The ›Sword Club Unlimited‹ is also accepting you as a member. No hiding anymore – here you are allowed to be whatever you are – a man – irrespective of your sexual intention!«
Frowning, everyone looked at him.
Tom shrugged. »Sorry! That wasn’t funny at all, I know.«
»It doesn’t matter, Dad,« Benno said, »Nobody wants to have gay penguins either.«
»Thanks, that was encouraging,« Tom said grudgingly.
Luca waved with the permission.
»They’ve also allowed the child care. Then, I’ll call both girls who have applied for the job.«
»I’m more and more amazed,« Tom said impressed. »You’ve already placed an ad and done interviews?«
Luca twinkled at him. »I’ve trusted in the permission of our project.«
»Dad, what means ›child care‹?«
»We’ve got a kind of kindergarten in the club. The members can leave their kids there to go training, swimming or having a sauna,« Tom explained.
»May I play there, too?« Penny asked.
Luca ruffled her hair. »Of course, you can. And we’re even going to buy some dolls and princesses for the girls.«
»With rose and glitter?«
»With rose and glitter.« Luca smiled broadly at Penny.
Benno frowned.
»What’s wrong with you?« Tom asked.
»Then, you won’t have any game animals or animal books in your club kindergarten?«
»But yes,« Luca said quickly, »And you are going to choose them.«
Benno beamed.
Tom pinched playfully into Luca’s butt.
He has made Benno’s day.
***
The doorbell rang.
Was Zoe already coming with the moving van?
Curious, Tom opened it.
»Good morning, I’ve got a certified mail for Tom Weidemeyer.« The postwoman’s mouth was pinched.
Tom nodded. »That’s me.«
He signed and tore it open. »Divorce date.«
He looked up and jumped.
Maja was directly standing in front of him, looking sadly. »You’re really getting divorced?«
»Yes,« Tom sighed. He took her into his arms. »We are still your parents, darling! And we love you very much!«
»I know,« Maja said disappointed, »I’ve just hoped Mom would reconsider it.«
Tom kissed her hair and went into the kitchen to tidy up.
The doorbell rang again.
»Maja, could you please open the door! It might be Mom,« Tom called and hurried up to clean the table.
»It’s Luca,« Maja called back.
Surprised, Tom ran to the door.
»You’re already here? Zoe’s moving guys haven’t been here as yet. And the hall is overloaded with her stuff.«
That was actually true.
Moving boxes and sacks were standing everywhere. Zoe had also cleared out Anton’s room, even though, Tom had proposed to buy new furniture for him.