Chapter 32: Surprise Libertines

The breakfast party was already underway with vibrant conversation about plans for the day and coming evening. There was a special light display that we’d gotten tickets to for everyone that started at six p.m. after it was dark outside. I wanted to take anyone interested to a beach pavilion for lunch and a walk along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. I offered for anybody interested some time at my nearest gym and fitness center. I had four parents that accepted that offer.

The dynamic at breakfast was interesting. I noted that Grace made sure to sit next to my father at the elongated dining room table. Opposite them, my mother Cat skillfully arranged to sit next to Garth despite the others preparing to sit in that space. I noticed her hitching her chair, so they were closer. The rest of us filled in around the table. Meanwhile, my brain was juggling a range of emotions about how Grace and my parents had probably had sex the night before.

I held court over my waffle and egg breakfast talking about how I’d expanded a simple gym into fifteen large fitness centers scattered over around the local geography. Everyone seemed interested, but I think it was more that the older individuals wanted a safe and neutral topic to discuss rather than what might really be on their minds.

We lingered over coffee and then people dressed in gym clothes, and Erin and I drove two cars to my nearby center, and I set everyone loose in the place after a wink to the desk attendant that knew me well. Many started doing the treadmill or ellipticals.

I was surprised on that day to find Lev leading a Krav Maga group in one of the large rooms. Kim was even there. Erin and I joined the class and got to lightly spar with Kim. Between one or the other of us being thrown to the cushioned mat, we got to wish each other a Merry Christmas. I asked whether she had family around, and she didn’t. On impulse, I invited her to join us. Erin reinforced that she should come and help celebrate the holiday. I suggested a mid-morning arrival on Christmas Day and made sure she had my address.

I checked with Lev, and he, too, was unspoken for on Christmas, not surprising since he was also Jewish. I invited him to come and help us celebrate and be part of our feast, and he rapidly accepted. I already knew that we’d have more leftovers than we’d want from the midday meal on Christmas. The centers were all closed that day anyway.

That afternoon, Cole and Stacy came by to say hello. They wanted to float a particular idea past me, especially since I was one of the potential fathers of Stacy’s baby. We introduced them to everybody. This was the first time that Stacy wore what she called entry-level maternity clothes. Additionally, her breasts were swelling, and she admitted to being hornier than a tree toad in the springtime.

The various parents flowed back and forth in the house and on the patio. Ellie and I sat with Cole and Stacy on the patio without caring who heard the conversation.

Cole led off, “We’ve thought about the fatherhood situation and decided that it would be good to know who the father is and to have a constant contact with any medical issues that they have. With that in mind, we were thinking of asking all the men in our group to have a swab so we could test. What do you think?”

I indicated with a thumbs up that I supported their decision. Since Cole had already pledged to be all things parental and economic to the baby, I saw no reason not to give them free rein to know who the donor had been.

I hadn’t realized that my mother heard his remarks and immediately understood what was going on. She spoke up immediately, “Wait! Am I to understand that my son may be a father to your baby?”

Stacy smiled, “Both of your sons. Yes. I love them both and I know they love me. We’re not about creating a scene, but we especially want to be attuned to any genetic pass downs as they are or as they emerge as the baby and his or her father get older.”

Cat looked at me, “You mean that I might become a grandmother, and you didn’t tell me? You knucklehead!” She whapped the back of my head with the flat of her hand as she used to do when I was a kid living at home and did something stupid.