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“Ah, Doc, that’s easy. Being able to see my grandparents’ old farm.” I reach out to caress his cheek with my spare hand, my other one interlaced with Charis’s fingers.
We get funny looks from time to time, but we’ve learned to simply ignore them. Everyone in the hospital, and at my school, know of our unconventional relationship. The school district never asked me to resign, but with my book being picked up, I’d felt all right moving on to the next chapter of my life.
“And what about you, GG? What are you looking forward to?”
After Scotland, Greece is our next stop. She’d decided that her hometown held too many memories of her and Jimmy growing up together, and with the accident so vividly fresh in her mind, she couldn’t sort through all of it yet. Instead, we’re spending a week in Athens.
Even now with Jimmy being sentenced to fifteen years in prison, the nightmares still haunt her. I’ve woken her up from her dreams so often. The second she starts muttering in her sleep, it startles both Stone and me. We try to stop it before the dream gets bad. However, knowing Jimmy can’t hurt Meadow again is a start of Charis’s healing process.
“I think, being able to speak in Greek to everyone is what I’m most excited about.”
She does love to speak Greek, and now that her parents have moved to Providence, into a condo ten minutes from us, she has more opportunity.
“Hey.” Charis leans over me to chat with Stone. “Why are you so quiet, baby?”
“Let’s see, someone or two someones kept me awake too late last night.”
I bring his chin to mine. “I think someone was a willing participant, right, GG?” I ask.
“Yeah, willing is a great word,” she retorts.
He lets out that deep chuckle that still turns me on.
“What the hell am I going to do with you?” Stone asks. And if that isn’t the million-dollar question, I don’t know what is.
* * *
STONE
The second night in Edinburgh, I’ve arranged for a family dinner. But not just any family dinner. I found an old castle an hour out of town. With a little persuasion and some donations to the upkeep of the facility, I arranged a sit-down dinner for all five of us. I had to look even farther to find someone to cater it, with Gibson’s favorite Scottish food from his youth.
“What are we doing all the way out here?” This is Charis. I’d told her it was a surprise, because it really is. They just don’t know it yet.
With both kids running over the dry mote on the drawbridge, Gibson attempts to keep up, being a pro with his cane. Charis stops for a brief second, taking in the scenery of the rolling hills, and I surround her waist with my arms.
“This is beautiful. And every girl always wants to feel like a princess.” I pull at her hand and listen for the kids, but everyone is quiet. Crossing over the bridge of what used to be a mote is an open-air grand entrance. And because I was very particular of the ambience, lights are strung up over us, and a round table is set for five.
The catering service I arranged for this event comes in and pours us wine, with the kids receiving minerals. And because I’ve pulled out all the stops for my family, a violinist appears.
“Baby, what do you have up your sleeve?”
“Giving you guys good memories.”
Jett and Meadow begin dancing to the music, and because Charis has some bad jet leg, she sits down at the table, watching them intently and sipping on her wine.
Our first course is served, of Gibson’s favorite dish. A traditional Scottish pie, and when his eyes water, I know he’s reliving so many memories. “You remembered?” he asks.
They’re still shocked when I do the things for them others never have. It brings me the most joy in life.
The next course is poached salmon, and because I know both kids would rather die of starvation, their plates are served with beef burgers.
Charis laughs at what’s in front of the kids but enjoys her fish.
In all of this, we chat about plans for the house and decor we’d like to buy while we’re on holiday. It’s all so very normal. Everyone has this idea that with Polyamorous relationships, all we do is have a fuck ton of sex. And where I wish it were the reality, we’re just like any normal traditional couple.
Dessert comes, a Scottish trifle, and Gibson laughs again. I hope they’ll finally figure out their needs come before anything else, except maybe the children.
“You amaze me.” He pulls for my hand, giving it a kiss.
