Chapter 4
Pete sat at Mike’s side, tears still flowing down his cheeks. “I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you all along. We need to tell the girls we can’t go through with it.”
“Pete, babe, this was an accident, a one-off. Look, she’s fine and happy now.” He showed Summer to Pete and it looked like she was smiling up at him. She stretched out her hand and Pete took a hold of it. “There, look. Everything’s fine.”
“Hey, Pete, if I can cope with a little baby, anyone can. Honestly, you’re brilliant with them. Annie must trust you and think so as she always brings them for you to look after,” Micky added to try to help.
“Well, look how good you were, Mike. You took control and knew exactly what to do. You’re brilliant in a crisis. You really would be a perfect father to any child—look how she is with you.”
“I didn’t have much time to think about it though. It just all happened so quick. I’m sure you’d have reacted the same if it was the other way round.” Mike passed Summer over to Pete.
“I don’t know, but as you say, she’s fine now. She looks settled and it’s as if it never happened. But that’s all thanks to you—I just panicked and was useless.” He held Summer tight in his arms. “What’s Annie gonna think of me?”
Mike put his arm around Pete and stroked his face with his other hand. “She’ll be fine. It could’ve happened when she was feeding her. Don’t worry about it.”
“Listen, you two. Can’t you see that you’d both be perfect dads? Just think, the lucky children will have both of you and Ronnie and Vicky, so two dads and two moms! What more could anyone want? I think you should go for it.” Micky started to wind Dylan after he finished his bottle.
“They’ll get two uncles and two aunts too to help us, plus we can also give our parents grandchildren. Your mom would love that, I’d imagine, Michael. It might be our only chance.”
“I need to maybe talk to the girls a bit more before I commit to anything,” Mike answered but he could see Pete was hoping he’d say yes—he could tell from the way he was looking at him.
“Imagine if both Vicky and Ronnie got pregnant at the same time, so it’s like a baby each. Not quite twins, but brothers or sisters and they’ll grow up together! A little baby Michael would be so cute, just like you. It’ll be perfect. Please think about it, Michael, for me.” Pete gave Mike his best pleading puppy-dog-eyes expression, which he knew often won Mike round to his way of thinking.
“I’ll call Ronnie and ask them to come over so we can discuss things. That okay for now?”
“Yes, that’s brilliant! Thanks. I love you—you know that, don’t you?” He leaned over and kissed Mike on his cheek, causing him to blush a little.
“Yes, I do, Pete.” Mike kissed Pete on his temple and got up to call Ronnie.
Vicky answered the phone and explained Ronnie was busy downstairs, but they’d both come around to the pad to see them as soon as she had finished work.
Micky and Pete put the twins back in their stroller so they could have a sleep and Pete went to help Mike make a start on lunch for them all. “Anyone any idea what time Davy might be home?” Mike asked them both. They both shrugged and said they had no idea.
After lunch, Annie arrived and Mike explained what had happened to Summer. “Has she been okay since? I wonder if I should taker her to see the doctor?” she asked.
“She seems to have been all right since. Like I said to Pete, I think she was just trying to drink the bottle too quickly. He panicked though, but seems okay and calmer now as well.”
“I can’t thank you enough. It makes me realize you are the best person I could have picked for a guide parent for her. You seem to be able to cope and know what to do in every situation and have shown you’ll always be a support for her.”
“Is it hard bringing them up full time?” Mike realized he said his thoughts out loud.
“It can be at times, more so with there being two babies, but luckily I’ve always had plenty of support from you guys and Christine. I don’t know what I’d have done without your help.”
“Would you go through with it again, if you had the chance?”
“I don’t know…they weren’t planned, as you know, and I know it’s possible to have more children, but I think I’m happy with two. At least I got the chance to be a chance to be a mom. It’s a really good job! They’re both so precious to me. The most important thing in my life—I couldn’t be without them.”
“So, having, like, an unconventional family set-up doesn’t bother you?” He encouraged her to go out to the sundeck where they could sit and have a private chat, hoping she could help him with his feelings of confusion of what to do.
“No. Why do you ask that? I’m glad Christine came around as I don’t think I could do it on my own, and Dylan will have his uncles around if he needs a guy to talk anything over with.”
“It’s just…do you know about Ronnie and Vicky wanting to start a family? Well, they’ve kinda asked me and Pete to step up and help them out, you know be the father. They both want to get pregnant.”
“Ah, okay…and you don’t know what to do or say to them, and Peter is all up for it, I guess.”
“Yeah, you’re right on both counts, but after the incident with Summer, Pete started having doubts too, about if he would make a good father, like if something went wrong, because he panicked earlier.”
“Do you want children, Mike? Do you see a future with or without them? Or are you thinking about your and Peter’s future together, wondering how long it will last? I hope you last a long time as I can tell you make each other happy and are so well suited. I think Peter is one hundred percent or more committed to you—I couldn’t see hum with anyone else.”
“Thanks. I guess you’re totally right. I never wanna lose him. I dread the thought, but if we ever split, having children would make it so complicated. My mom and dad divorced when I was young.”
“So that’s why you have doubts? Our parents have been married twenty-six years this month, and Gran and Grandad had about forty years together before he passed away.”
“That’s a long time. We’ve only just passed six months together.” Mike was playing nervously with his fingers.
“You need to go with what your heart wants, and not your head, Mike.”
Think exactly just what Pete does, always optimistic. That’s why I love him. He always puts everyone else first before himself, always thinks with his heart. I can do this for him. Mike smiled. “I guess you’re right, after all”
“I hope I helped you a little, but it’s all up to you. Can you see yourself in the future, you and Pete bringing up children? You nearly had it with Amy, didn’t you.”
“True, and Pete was willing to break up with me if I wanted to have a family with her. He put my happiness before his own, so I think I should give us both a chance. Thanks for talking with me. I think I’ve come to a decision. I need to tell Pete before the girls come round.”
Annie stood. “I’m going to get the twins ready to take them home. You want me to ask him to come and to talk with you on my way out?”
Mike nodded with a smile. “Yes please. Thanks again, Annie, and see you later.”
“Bye, Mike, and good luck with whatever you decide, but if you do go for it, the child will be so lucky to have you and Peter in their life.” She hugged him.
Pete came out to join Mike a few minutes later. “Pete, will you come and sit here with me, please? I need to talk to you.” Pate sat on the chair next to him. “I’ve decided what I’m going to do.”
“Okay, is it good or bad news?” Pete looked a little worried.
“I think we should do it, say yes to them. I know you want to, and I’ll do anything to make you happy, just as you were going to do with Amy, but this will make me happy too, for both of us together to help bring up children. It might not be a normal family, but it’s what’s best for us.”
“Thanks, Michael, I’m so happy!” Pete more or less dived on Mike’s lap, pulling him in close to kiss him. “We’ll both be dads! It’ll be so groovy—you really will be the most amazing father.”
“So will you, babe. We’ll be there for each other through everything, every stage, supporting each other, and Ronnie and Vicky too.”
“Can we tell Micky and Davy first? Davy’s here now he got here just before Annie left, or do you want to talk to Vicky and Ronnie first? I think they’ll be happy we’ve decided to help them.”
“I don’t mind. It might be best to tell them, get them involved from the start. I hope they’ll be okay with it, but they were fine about the twins being around.”
“I think so. Do you want to talk to them? You’re a little calmer about this than me.”
“All right. Just let me get up and we’ll go and see what they think.”
Pete stood first and followed Mike into the living room.
“Micky, Davy, me and Pete need to talk to you. We’re gonna be doing something which is kinda gonna affect both of you.”
“What’s wrong now? Have either of us done anything wrong?” Davy glared at Micky.
“Hey, why you looking at me like that? You’re not perfect—you were as much to blame about that fight with those chicks the other night. I’ve only got the one girlfriend,” Micky stated to Davy.
“Guys, I’m not having a go at you about the gig the other night. It sounds like it was funny. Ronnie told me all about and didn’t seem too bothered. This is something totally different.”
“Okay, Mike, no problem. This gonna take long, because I’m gonna be out again soon.”
“Another date, Davy? Who with this time? There gonna be any girls left you haven’t dated?” Micky laughed and nudged Davy.
“It won’t take long, if you at least give me a chance to talk, guys. Well, how can I put this…you know Ronnie and Vicky asked to talk to us the other day?”
Pete excitedly interrupted before Mike got a chance to finish what he was trying to say. “Mike and I are gonna be fathers! The girls wanna get pregnant and they’ve asked the two of us to help them, and they’re coming round soon and we’re gonna tell them yes.”
“Hey, Pete, babe, slow down a little there. It’s something that we discussed but we thought it best to keep you updated as it’s a lot for us all to take in, I guess, some more than others.” He sighed.
“So more little people for Davy to be taller than.” Micky laughed, nudging Davy in the ribs.
“They’ll be smarter than you as well, Mick, your jokes get worse as you get older. You two definitely thought about this properly? It ties you to the girls for eighteen or so years…kinda a life sentence.”
“Yes, we have thought things over, Davy. I’m looking forward to it. I imagine the girls will do most of the work, but we’re willing to do our share, aren’t we, Mike.” Pete gazed lovingly into Mike’s eyes and moved closer to him.
“Yes, guys. As Pete says, we discussed things between ourselves, and I had a chat with Annie about her experiences with the twins, but as and when things happen, we’ll tell you.”
“So, Mike, how are you both gonna well… One of you with Vicky and the other with Ronnie? Won’t it get complicated?”
Mike could see Micky trying to figure things out in his head. “No, Mick. Before you think about that, nothing like that’s involved. We just give them our sperm—it’s called artificial insemination, and no physical contact is needed. The woman just injects it through a syringe. There’s no guarantee it works first time. It could take a while.”
“But it’ll be worth it when it does happen, won’t it, Mike?” Pete said.
“Well I’m gonna be heading out. Got a busy day and night planned. Don’t wait up for me, Micky. I think I’ll be home in the morning. Bye, guys.” Davy took his jacket and left through the back door.
“I don’t think Davy looked too convinced. I hope he comes around.” Pete looked a little upset.
“He’ll be fine. Don’t worry, Pete. He coped when Annie and the twins were here, didn’t he? Let’s just wait and see how things work out.” Mike took Pete’s hands to reassure him.
“So are you two gonna be doing your bit soon? I guess at least you can help each other out.”
“Mick!”
“Hey, Mike, I mean getting each other in the right mood! How about I help you out? I could surprise you with a romantic meal, with things like oysters, chocolate and strawberries—aren’t they supposed to be the food of love? A good bottle of wine, some romantic music playing in the background on the juke-box…” Micky seemed to be thinking of more ideas.
“So you want to help?”
“Hey, not in that way, Mike.” He grabbed the TV Guide. “There’s a soppy film on the TV later, I can go out and leave you both alone.” He winked at both of them.
“That sounds nice. Thanks, Micky.”
“No trouble, Pete. Set the table just right…some flowers and candles, scented ones…you both get dressed up in your best clothes… Am I getting you in the mood already, guys?”
“Sounds like you’re getting into this idea a little too much, Mick.”
“Mike, shut up! I’m trying to help you out, setting the scene. Can you both slow dance? I did learn once for a part in a TV show. Now this is where Davy would be useful—he knows better how to woo someone. You know any of his chat-up lines, Mike?”
“I don’t need to chat Pete up, though, do I? We’re a bit passed that stage.”
Pete leaned over and kissed Mike in thanks for the comment.
“I suppose…so when the girls have gone later, you two go off for a romantic stroll on the beach and I could have everything ready, some low lighting or candles in the bedroom too. Wear something you can remove quickly once you get in there—the meal could keep for another night if you need a few attempts…”
Micky stopped talking as a few pillows were thrown at his head “Hey, guys, I’m only trying to help.”
“I don’t think we need your help, thanks. Come on, Pete.” Just thinking about what Micky was saying had got Mike in the right kind of mood. He took Pete’s hand and led him to the bedroom. “But you can help by giving us a shout when the girls do get here—we might be busy for a while.” He winked over at Micky.