Chapter 1
Mike was up early, sitting on a chair out on the sundeck and drinking a strong black coffee that he desperately needed to get his brain cells functioning. They’d gone to bed before the others, but he knew the afterparty had gone on until the early hours. Micky was asleep in the hammock and Davy on the couch, so he wondered who was sleeping in their beds.
Nick came out with a coffee and joined him, also joining him in the silence, watching the early morning runners and dog walkers on the beach.
“Morning, Mike,” he said quietly, looking like he had a sore head. “You okay?”
Mike nodded. “Yeah fine. I didn’t really drink as much as the others did. You any idea who stayed over?” He pointed to Davy and Micky out in the living room.
“I think Coco and a guy who turned up later…they seemed pretty close…very friendly, if you know what I mean,” Nick answered, taking a large gulp of his drink. “It was a good night, though.”
“I’ve got something I need to tell someone. I feel awkward knowing this. You know Ronnie and Vicky announced they’re both pregnant? Well, I figured out that I’m the father to Ronnie’s—something she said last month proved it—and I’m hoping, and keeping my fingers crossed that Pete’s the father to Vicky’s and not me. I don’t know how he’d take the news… I mean, what if both babies look like me? That’s bad enough as it is, but what should I do?”
“That’s something I’m glad will never happen to me. How about talking to Ronnie, see what she thinks or even talk to Pete? He might take it better than you think. I’m glad me and Claire are waiting a few years before starting a family,” Nick replied, not sure what else to say.
“I’ll think things through in my head for a bit. I can’t just come out with it.” Mike stopped talking when he noticed a half-awake Micky coming out to join them.
“Remind me not to give my bed up for my sister or anyone in future. I didn’t get much sleep in that hammock at all. Davy got to the couch first and said he had first dibs on it.”
“You know what he’s like, Mick. Hey, at least he spent the night here—it’s not that often he does. And how come Coco didn’t go back with Annie and Christine?” Mike asked as Micky sat beside him.
“Some of their friends were staying overnight and sleeping in Coco’s room, so she said she’d stop here. What do you think of her and Sam? Do you think he’s a little too old for her? I mean, she’s nearly nineteen and he’s twenty-five.” Micky was doing his overprotective brother act.
Nick answered before Mike. “From experience of having a younger sister, I’d say it’s hard to tell them what to do—it often makes them more determined to go against you. Annie was like that. She was pretty stubborn. growing up.”
“So let her do what she wants?”
“Yeah, just let her make her own choices. You don’t know how long it’ll last. Wasn’t she with a different guy just the other month? Don’t interfere. Let her make her own mistakes.”
“Thanks, Nick, but look at Annie—she’s about the same age, and she’s settled with children. You want that to last for her, don’t you?” Micky asked him.
“Yeah, I do. Christine’s nearly five years older than her too, but if things do go wrong, she’s got all of the family to fall back on. Dad thinks she’s just rebelling against him, but if the worse happened, I think he’d take her and the kids in back home.”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll take a step back and won’t interfere. Thanks, Nick.”
Mike was watching them both. “It’s interesting to listen to you both—with me not having any sisters or brothers, it’s harder to know what to say, but I guess you three would say I’m overprotective of you.”
Micky had stood up and was about to go back inside. “You’re right there, Mike—sometimes I’d say too much. You’re kinda like a dad to us. Well, maybe not so much Pete anymore…that would be wrong and oh so weird. I don’t even want to go there.” He then left the other two on their own.
“Speaking of Pete, you got any idea what time he’ll be up? I wanna ask him if he’ll take me and Claire to the airport later this evening. Mom, Gran and Chris are stopping on for a few days, but we’ve got to be back at work in a few days, so we’re taking a late flight back home.”
“I could drive you later. I don’t mind at all,” Mike suggested, getting up. “I’ll go check on him.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I wanna spend some time with Pete today. We don’t see each other a lot lately—you don’t mind, do you?” Nick asked, following Mike inside.
“No, that’s fine with me. You don’t need to ask.” He opened the bedroom door and went in. Pete was just getting out of bed. “Morning, babe. I just came in to see if you’d be up soon. Nick wants a word with you? I’ll go put the kettle on, make you some tea.”
“Thanks. I’ll be out in a few minutes. Will you let him know?” Pete picked up a T-shirt and started to get dressed.
“He won’t be long,” Mike shouted over to Nick who was now on the couch with Claire, Micky near them and flicking through the channels on the television, trying to find something to watch, and settling for some cartoons.
“Anyone want anything for breakfast?” Mike asked them, as he put the kettle on in the kitchen and poured himself another coffee. Claire appeared beside him and he poured her a cup too.
“I can make some breakfast for you all if you want. I know there’s some leftovers in the icebox and cupboard from yesterday’s party.” She found some bread and put some under the grill to toast. “You’ve got some eggs and tomatoes…anyone want scrambled eggs on toast?”
She got two yeses from Micky and Nick. “You go sit down and I’ll see to this. What would you like, Mike, and what should I do for Pete?”
Mike went and sat down. “I’m fine with anything. Are you sure you don’t want any help?”
“Not from you. Nick, you get over here and help me. Watch and butter the toast and plate it up. I’ll get on with the eggs—anyone want some tomato in theirs?”
“See what I’m gonna be putting up with every day soon? But it’s best to just nod and say yes to her, let her think she’s in charge. Always remember that, Micky, keeping your girl happy, then you’ll be happy too. Gran told me it’s ‘happy wife, happy life. I’m on my way, Claire,” he shouted over to her.
Micky just looked from one of them to another, finishing on Mike and laughed. “I think she’s got him trained…just like you do everything for Pete. I guess there’s lots of things I need to learn.”
“Hey, you need to get used to Gemma a bit more before! You’ve not been together that long yet. Oh, Pete come over here.” Mike moved to the couch and Pete sat next to him.
“Morning, Micky. What are you two on about?”
“Relationships. It was mainly Nick and Micky discussing things like how to treat a chick, and Claire showing us how she gets Nick to do what she wants.”
“She’s always been like that. She knows exactly how to get her own way with him. They’re good together though.” He looked over to the both of them in the kitchen, where Nick seemed flustered.
Soon Claire shouted over that breakfast was ready. Already on the table were cereals, orange juice, a huge plate of buttered toast, some scrambled eggs in two bowls—one with tomatoes. She’d even found some bacon and grilled it. They all sat down and started to eat.
Mike went to let Davy know everything was ready before he joined the others. “Thanks for this, Claire, Nick.” Mike helped himself to a plateful.
Micky was already stuffing his face with something of everything, his cheeks full like a chipmunk. “Hey, save some food for Davy.” Mike laughed.
“Yeah he’d better not eat it all. He’s got eyes bigger than his belly, the greedy pig.” Davy hit Micky around the head as he went to get a cup of tea. Micky laughed, helping himself to more eggs and bacon and covering them in red sauce.
Davy soon sat down and filled his plate, spreading some jelly on his toast. “S’good this. Thanks, guys.”
“No problem. It’s my thank you for letting us stay.” Claire was eating only cereals, which Micky commented on. “Hey, I’ve got a wedding dress to wear soon! My mom would freak out if I couldn’t fit in it, and I’ve got a fitting when we get back.”
“I hope all you guys can make the wedding. I’ll sort out hotel rooms for you, but there should be two spare bedrooms at home, or three if I share with Chris for the night. As far as I know only Gran will be staying at the house,” Nick said after he’d finished eating.
“How many bedrooms have you got?” Mike asked.
“There’s six, three of them en-suite. It’s a big old farmhouse with about forty acres. Did Pete never told you about it? There’s a lake, the maple tree farm, lots of outer buildings and the big barn we used to spend a lot of time playing in as kids. It’s a cool place.”
Mike stared at Pete and looked puzzled. “No, he hasn’t really said too much about the house. We’ve mainly talked about his childhood, and you moving around so much.”
“I don’t remember so much about that, I think I recall bits of Berlin but not a lot, Pete even started school over there didn’t you, an American speaking one for kids of army officers.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t too bad. I actually had schoolfriends the same age as me, and learnt German too. We had a big house there too, with a chauffeur and maids,” Pete replied to Nick.
Nick got up and stood behind Pete, putting a hand on his shoulder. “You wanna come and have a chat outside with me? I think we need to talk about a few things.” Nick started to walk out to the sundeck and Pete started to follow him, but first he turned and stared at Mike and shrugged.
“Go on, go with him,” Mike mouthed to him, so Pete went outside to where Nick had sat down.
Pete looked a little worried. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I’m just thinking about you, and this thing with the girls from the club, the whole pregnancy thing and you and Mike getting involved helping them… Are you really sure you’re both doing the right thing? Things could turn out so badly—have you thought about that?”
“Yeah, we’ve talked it through a lot. We wanted to help them. I want to be a father and have a family. That’s not something me and Mike can have together. You understand that, don’t you?”
“Yeah of course, but what about if you and Mike split up, or the girls break up and move away? Can you cope with that? You know yourself how sensitive you are—it would devastate you. I’m worried about you, and so are Mom and Gran. We talked about it last night.”
Pete just stared at him. “So you all think me and Mike won’t last? Don’t you have any faith in me? I’m happy with my life. I love Michael so much. You know what I’ve been through in the past. Right now, everything’s so good. My life’s as perfect as it could be.”
Nick put his hand on Pete’s arm. “Things might be good now, but anything can change. Yours isn’t a normal relationship. Feelings change, yours, Mike’s or the girls.”
Pete stood up and walked over to the edge of the sundeck, leaned on the fence and looked back at Nick. “You and Claire have been together a long time, Mom and Dad too, and Gran and Grandad were together over twenty-six years until he passed away. Michael’s the only person I want to be with. I love him.”
Nick could tell he was stressing Pete out. “I’m sorry, I just don’t want to see you getting hurt, the pregnancies are a big thing, you need to be sure of what you’re letting yourself in for, how it’ll affect both your futures.”
Pete wished Mike was there with him for support. He turned to face away and looked down at the beach, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down. He suddenly turned around when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Mike was there and looked straight into Pete’s eyes and took his hand, then looked at Nick. “Everything okay between you? I can tell Pete’s getting a little worked up. If there’s a problem, you could have talked to both of us together. We talk and tell each over everything, you know, so I’d find out eventually.”
“Mike, I’m sorry. I was just explaining to Pete how we’re all worried that he’s rushing into things, well that both of you are. Like I said to him, do you know what you’re letting yourself in for, if things go wrong?”
“Yeah we do. We’re like any normal couple in that way. We discussed the pros and cons. The girls are friends, and Vicky is like another sister to Pete. I know she’d never do anything to hurt him, and Ronnie was born into a similar situation and it worked out for her parents.”
“Okay. I’m sorry for going on. It’s only because I care—you’re my brother, Pete.”
“Listen, can we just forget this chat has happened?” Pete looked from Mike to Nick, trying to gauge if they agreed with him. “Mike and I are fine with how everything is right now, aren’t we?”
Mike squeezed Pete’s hand tightly and kissed him. “We sure are, and I agree.” He held his other hand out for Nick to shake, which he did straight away.
“That’s fine with me. Sorry for bringing this up,” he replied to them. “We’re cool now, aren’t we, Pete?” He pointed at the two of them and Pete just nodded in response.
Micky came outside. “We’ve got visitors. Annie’s here with the twins and your brother Chris, Pete and Nick.” Nick followed him back inside, leaving Mike and Pete alone out on the sundeck. Mike put both arms around Pete and hugged him close.
“You’re wondering what he’s here for now, aren’t you? I can sense it. I know when you’re nervous about things. I can read most of your emotions now, babe. Don’t worry. I’ll stay with you if you wanna talk to him. Let’s go inside.” He took Pete’s hand.
“I’m worried more what Chris had to say. He tends to take Dad’s side and his way of thinking. He’s not really spoken to me since he found out about us. Let’s go find out.”
When they got inside, Claire had finished cleaning up after breakfast, and Annie and Micky were fussing over the twins. Micky had Summer in his arms, and Davy and Chris seemed to be having a staring competition, until Chris saw Pete.
Annie came over and pulled Pete to one side away, from the others. “Chris wants a word with you, okay? Just give him a chance. We spent most of the morning chatting and he asked to come talk to you.”
“I’ve already had Nick questioning me this morning—I could do without anyone else telling me what I should be doing with my life! You should understand that more than anyone.”
“Please, Peter, he’s only a kid. He’s confused—we’ve all been there.” She looked over at Chris and nodded, then beckoned him over.
“Peter, can we talk? Maybe go outside away from everyone? I need to talk to you, explain a few things.” He looked pleadingly at Pete. “Please, is that okay?”
“All right, but Michael’s coming with us.”
Mike followed them both outside.
“What have you got to say to me, then? You’ve kinda been avoiding me since me and Mike got together. You’ve not spoken to me in months—why the sudden change? What’s happened?”
Chris looked nervously at both of them. “I know. I’m sorry. I guess Dad got to me. He convinced me you were just going through a phase, that it wasn’t serious…he even said you’d be back home soon.”
“Dad’s not always right. He might like to think he is… I had enough of him being like that with me.”
“I understand. I do now. He’s trying to make me and Nick like him. I don’t want that. I want to be me. I’ve decided to not go into teaching like he expects. I’m in my last year at high school and I’ve decided to do a political science degree. I want to do something different with my life.”
Pete looked at Mike, unsure what to say. “Good for you,” was all he replied.
“I’ve met someone too. A girl in my year. She’s different—she speaks her mind too. We’re both applying to MIT, so I’ll be near Nick and Claire if I get accepted.”
“Okay.”
“Dad hasn’t met her yet but I don’t think he’d approve—she’d argue with him. I met her when some friends were laughing about you to me. They found out from a friend of Jacob’s sister. I defended you the best I could, but it was me against three guys, but Charlie stepped in and supported me.”
“You didn’t have to do that. It’s not your problem.”
“They had a go at Charlie, laughing at her about her queer brother. She didn’t take the abuse from them and shouted back, saying she didn’t care for their small-minded opinions, that they were idiots. We went off together afterward and talked, and she made me realize how mean I’d been to you, not supporting you. I’m sorry, Pete, for everything. Can you forgive me? I’m here for you anytime you need me.”
Mike stared at Pete, who looked in shock. “Go on. He’s making a genuine effort here.”
Pete didn’t say anything but he just pulled Chris close and hugged him, to let him know everything was okay between them.
Mike stood back and watched as the brothers made up in their own way, happy that Pete now finally had acceptance from both his brothers. He knew how much it meant to him, but at the back of his mind he couldn’t help wondering if their father was involved somehow and was using Chris for some ulterior motive, and being betrayed again would destroy Peter.