Chapter 18

It’s February 2021 as I write this. The year did end, though the trouble it brought just continued straight on. We’re back in full lockdown, a short sharp one for a few days.

Life gradually returned to normal, whatever that is. Lockdown restrictions steadily eased, and case counts stayed at zero. The healthcare system gradually stabilised. We get these short lockdowns when the virus escapes from hotel quarantine, and we’re going to have to keep it bay until enough people get immunised, but they work. Did we do the right thing with how we handled the virus? All the choices we had are bad one way or another, but I’m OK with the one our government chose for us – glad, even. Though no one knows what the endgame looks like.

Tim and Michelle have committed to staying at home for another year, though they holidayed on his family’s farm for a couple of weeks, and we missed her deeply. And our one lamb has become two and then four ... I can see it’ll turn into a dog as well. But it’s Tim’s problem – he’s in charge, and I am completely confident in him. Michelle is doing nursing, with a focus this year on childbirth.

Zara turned out to be quite good at the office work, enough that I don’t worry about Eleni becoming pregnant anymore. Unfortunately, Zara’s father committed suicide once he found out from me that the rest of her family was in counselling. Then we found out why – he’d molested all the girls when they were very young. But he kept molesting the youngest sister for longer, and she remembered. Zara didn’t, though her mother knew all along. Zara says that finding that out he molested her upset her for precisely as long as it took her to think how we all love her, and Zach cares for her. Her mother tried to commit suicide too, it was touch and go for a while. The girls lived with us for a while, before going to back their mother, once she was able to care for them again. While they were with us, Zara showered them with love, and we all got a break. She’s quite something, that girl. Zara actually decided not to go back to school this year – she said she didn’t see the point. She had my work, the family, the house (she took over from Sal, and shares it with all of us, but does the most), and Zach to love. What would she benefit from school for? Why wear clothes for that? Actually, she enrolled anyway, so she could be with Zach if she wanted, but she doesn’t bother going. We weren’t thrilled, but we talked to Zach about it, and he decided. We’re sure she ... talked ... him into it. One way or another (though it’s not as obvious as it sounds; if you already do anything Zach wants, what do you bargain with?). We’ve talked to the school about it, and they’ve planned based on that.

Lem and Sal had to give up trying to get Jael to move out – she just wouldn’t budge on the idea – obsessed, I think we would say. They’ve got that little bedsit, just the one room and a little shower/toilet, down the road we live on. Michael sleeps there with them sometimes, on the spare bed, otherwise he sleeps in the tent, and the three kids still sleep out there on Saturday nights. Jael still sleeps in with Toni, except when she goes down the road for a night occasionally. But she’s back quickly, usually at the crack of dawn, to swim.

Jael and Toni kept swimming. And getting faster. And changing beside the pool. The school’s given up arguing with them about it, and they’re not the only ones now. Toni’s gone back to gym and dance. Is Jael serious about swimming? She doesn’t know. She knows what she’s serious about – family. She is doing dance with Toni. Honestly, she and Toni are so close, I don’t think there’s space there for a ‘friend’ of any gender right now. But both of them are looking around, so maybe soon – they’re surrounded by kids that are crazy hot for them.

Michael? He tends to be in the shadow of Toni and Jael but he’s content with that. He’s got an underlying confidence after making his own space outside this year, and I really like the calm assured empathetic way he interacts with girls. They like it too. That sleepover they went to – the three of them did keep a close eye out for trouble, and Michael ‘rescued’ two girls from tricky situations. Word got around amongst their friends, and now they trust him to look after them. He’s got a flock of interested girls who are always trying to visit our house – and his tent – but he’s taking his time before getting involved with any of them. Two have managed to sleep over in the tent, but Michael made sure Toni and Jael were there too, so he got lovely friend time with them, and they didn’t sleep well – too many limbs in one small space, and they didn’t get what they wanted. Yet. He’s doing more building projects with Lem, and with Tim, and I think he’s doing great for a fifteen-year-old.

Lem’s selling his wood carvings at markets, now that they’ve started up again, and through social media. They’re amazing – naked couples in evocative poses, in turns wistful, sad or erotic. All are deeply intimate. They tell his and Sal’s emotional story and they really resonate with a lot of people. He’s had people in tears in his tent at the market. He gave us a beautiful one of a couple, bound together with ropes as they couple, with a caption “Bound to be a couple”.

Lem and / or Sal visit our house pretty much daily, and maybe once a week, they join us for sexy times, sometimes with all three of us couples. Kat and I talked about it with all of us, and we toned it down from the very intense anniversary night. Sal is very happy, and Lem – fortunately for him, or for her – has staying power that I don’t anymore.