Chapter 12
“Papa?”
“Yes?”
“Julie has two papa’s,” Nina said imperiously.
“Does she?”
“Yes.” she said very seriously. “I asked twice.”
Erik foresaw a future of getting phone calls from her classmates parents.
“That’s nice.”
“Yes." she said dismissively. "She told me she doesn’t have a mama. I told her that can’t be right because two boys kissing doesn’t make babies. And she said kissing doesn’t make babies anyway all you have to do is hold hands and make a wish.” She said like it was the most absurd thing she’d ever heard.
She hadn’t asked any questions so Erik didn’t really know what to say. This was also before his first cup of coffee so he wasn’t running on all cylinders just yet.
Nina continued her rant “Then James said a mama and a papa have to sleep in the same bed to make a baby and the mama pees the baby out after she gets too fat and can’t wait to pee any longer.”
“Ahhhh?” he hedged.
“Is that true? Do you have to have a mama to have a baby?”
“That’s – none of that- is true. But yes, you do need a mama and a papa to make a baby,” he finally settled on after a short pause to consider the implications off all she'd said.
Nina deflated at that, “Oh.”
“What’s wrong sweetie?”
“I want a little brother. But if you like kissing Charles then you won’t make me one,” she explained with a world weary sigh.
Erik was caught wrong footed again. “What? Since when do you want a little brother?”
“Katie is getting a little sister,” she pouted.
Erik was baffled by this non sequitur. And by the absurd theories a group of kindergarteners had about procreation. He glanced at the time; Charles should be over any minute to teach them how to make cinnamon streusel muffins. Hopefully that would distract her for a while.
“How would you like to go to the book store this afternoon? Maybe we can figure out the answers to some of these questions?” he asked calmly, not knowing how to unravel all she had said without the help of a few children’s authors.
“Yes! I love the book store! Can Charles come too?” she skipped around him happily.
Just then the door bell rang. “Why don’t you ask him?”
She cheered and bounced down the hall just ahead of him to glance out the window and dance in an excited little circle that told him that Charles was on the other side. He gave a small sigh of relief. It was always nice to have a bit of help from the full focus of Nina’s attention after a stressful week. And this had certainty been that.
He glanced out as well and let Charles in with a smile, “Hello.”
“Good morning,” Charles leaned up and pressed a kiss to Erik’s stubbled cheek before turning to Nina with a bright smile. “Hello, dear.”
“Hi! We’re going to the bookstore! Can you come with us?”
He glanced at Erik and received an encouraging smile before saying, “I’d love to dear.”
“Good. Then we can find out where babies come from!” she cheered.
Charles’ eyes went wide with panic “Um. What?”
Erik gave a weary shake of his head, “Nina and her classmates tried to figure out human reproduction on their own. We’re going to get some books on it to clear this matter up.”
Charles was deeply relieved to hear that, “Great idea!”
“Papa is super smart!” Nina confided in him as she grabbed his hand and tugged him down the hall towards the kitchen. “Muffins, Charles!!”
Erik trailed them with a soft smile, his heart light with hope for the future.
~~
After a fun, flour covered morning that led to Nina needing a bath. Erik took her upstairs to get them both cleaned up and changed into outdoor clothes. Meanwhile, Charles cleaned the kitchen and went home to change and get what appeared to be nearly a full tablespoon of cinnamon out of his hair.
They reconvened to enjoy some warm muffins that they unanimously declared a success before heading to the mall.
Charles was amazed by how cool and calm Erik seemed, Charles had a difficult time not looking over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching them. He had no idea how his boyfriend pulled this off to give Nina such a sense of normalcy.
He admired Erik more and more with each day and feared he had fallen head over heels with his raw confession the night before. Charles could only hope he could be the man the Lehnsherr’s needed him to be at this trying time in their lives.
“Charles? Are you alright?” Erik stepped close to his side and leaned down to speak into his ear to be hear over the bustle of the crowd.
He felt himself blush, “Yes of course, just thinking,” he replied softly, hoping he wasn’t bringing the mood of their outing down.
He was trying to play it cool but couldn’t help but worry for Nina’s safety in the crowded corridors of the large building. Every time a stranger caught his eye he felt trapped.
It helped that Nina was eager to hold his hand- he kind of felt like she was showing him off -but was happy to grasp her sweat sticky hand as she told him about watching the recording of her class performance at school the day before.
Erik relaxed at his words but stayed close enough for their shoulders to brush with each step they took. His worry that Charles would panic and declare that their relationship was too much for him was fading as the day went on. Charles was still tense, but that could be for any number of reasons Erik could think of right off the top of his head, he’d keep an eye on it just to be safe.
~~
They were watching Nina play in the massive Play Place in the Food court on the highest level of the mall. They had spent an enjoyable time at the massive bookstore and picked up several age appropriate books on alternative families, babies, and reproduction. Nina had happily spent nearly twenty minutes flipping through a huge picture book with detailed hand drawings of various wild animals she’d never seen in real life.
Charles sat with her in one of the plush chair scattered around the children’s section and read the descriptions to her and exclaimed over the animals excitedly.
Erik made tentative plans to take her to a petting zoo or perhaps one of those drive through animal experiences. She’d undoubtedly love that.
He snuck a quick picture of the adorable sight before heading over to them, “Ready to go?”
“Can we get this one too?” Nina asked sweetly.
“Of course,” he never said no to educational materials. Toys on the other hand were hit and miss with him as Nina well knew.
She beamed at him snuggled against Charles, causing him to startle in surprise, though he hid it well, “Come on, Charles. We can go to the playground and ride the train!”
“What train?” he asked fondly, patting her on the head. Nina had been all too happy to tell him about the tiny train that shuttled children around an open area on the top floor of the mall. Apparently one adult was allowed to ride with each child and since Charles had never been, it was only fair that he go with her. Or so she had explained to Erik as they made their way to the check out.
He was happy to agree, loving the evidence that Nina wasn’t withdrawing from Charles in light of the new revelations about their relationship. If anything she seemed to be even more eager for his attention.
So here they were, waiting for the train schedule to start while hordes of children spent their energy scrambling over a large plastic castle in a confined area.
“So how are you, really?” he asked Charles quietly, laying his hand over Charles’. “I know I put a lot on you last night.”
“I’m alright. Still processing everything,” he admitted.
“Of course.”
“I-I’m happy to be here with you. I’m having a great day, I know I’ve been a bit distracted but I think it will pass with time.”
“It will. I know it’s a lot to take in. I’m just happy you’re still willing to give this a chance,” he said honestly.
Charles gave him a bashful smile and stepped in to wrap an arm around the taller mans lean waist, “I have a good feeling about us. I’d like to see where we go,” he confided softly.
Erik pressed a soft kiss to the crown of his head, “me too.”
They chatted quietly about their plans for the near future while watching Nina cavort amongst the hordes of other children. It was nice and normal and far better than Erik could have imagined a day at the mall could be.
He wasn’t one for crowds, but Charles had a way of lifting his mood with his very presence.
Charles pulled away from their light embrace with a warm smile, and waved Nina over as the sound of a faux steam whistle echoed through the cavernous space, “Let’s see about that train.”