“They think the world of you, you know. Charlie’s always asking me when you’re coming over. Even Katie’s doing so much better at school with your help. And don’t you dare tell her, but that spread was better than anything Mum has ever cobbled together.”
“All I need is a vagina and I could be your next girlfriend.”
Tom went quiet at that remark, and Marcus instantly regretted the words. “Shit. Sorry, Tom. You know I have a smart mouth sometimes, don’t you?”
“No,” said Tom sadly, shaking his head. “It’s not that. Mum’s been on at me to start dating again. She thinks it’s time. Says it couldn’t do us any harm to have a little lady around. Someone to help ground the girls, someone on my arm when I’m doing work socials with other couples, that kind of stuff. I just can’t get my head around the idea.”
At that, Marcus sat up.
At first Tom’s words had him irritated—at Moira’s pushiness, at her insensitivity. Straight on the emotional heels followed a flash of anger quickly replaced by anxiety. Would Tom still need him if he had a new woman in his life? But then Tom had sounded unsure, hadn’t he?
“Then don’t. You’ll know when the time’s right. Get used to having things back on an even keel before you take the next step. Don’t let anybody push you into doing anything you’re not ready for.”
Both men fell silent, watching the girls across the way as they hesitated before deciding which item of litter went into which recycle bin.
“Can I tell you something?” said Marcus, without turning.
“Go on.”
“If I saw you with another woman right now, I’m not sure how I’d feel. Redundant, maybe. Because our combined efforts are finally paying off, and we’re getting everything back on track. And I’m really enjoying being a part of the family again. Shit, does that make me a bad friend?”
“No, of course not,” said Tom, and when Marcus finally turned around, he noticed Tom smiling his understanding. “I know what you mean. And it’s great having you back.”
EARLYin the afternoon, when Marcus returned from the park shop, bringing ice creams for Tom and Charlotte and an orange iced lolly for Katie, a woman togged out in a one-piece scarlet-with-black-polka-dots swimming suit complemented by an emerald green swimming cap came toward him. She looked like a human strawberry as she waddled away from Tom, waving over her shoulder. When she reached Marcus she stopped, leaned in, and squeezed his forearm. Turning to look back at Tom and the girls, she said one word.
“Adorable.”
The moment Marcus followed her gaze, he smiled, knowing exactly what she meant. Tom sat with his back against the trunk of the oak, a proprietary arm around Katie. Lost in her new book, she sat leaning her back against him. On his other side, Charlotte, as hyperactive as ever, twirled around and around like a ballerina, hands clasped together above her head. Tom watched on, smiling, and leaned in to catch her when she inevitably fell over in a fit of giggles.
“Beautiful family.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re very lucky.”
“Yes, I suppose I am.”
“You are,” she said, moving beside him. Standing there briefly, she produced a wave that Charlotte returned enthusiastically. “You should be very proud. My son and his partner are talking about adopting. They live in Toronto. But they’re a little nervous about what effect being brought up by two dads might have on the kid. Wish I could magic them over here right now to look at this happy little scene. That would make up their minds in a heartbeat.”
Before Marcus fully caught on to her meaning and could correct her, she shuffled off. Had she thought Tom and he were a gay couple? They did get along pretty well together, so perhaps she could be forgiven for the assumption. Moving forward again, he wondered if he should say anything to Tom or if the remark might go down badly. No, best say nothing, he decided.
WHILETom looked after the girls, Marcus took the opportunity to try out one of the high curly slides. Nobody appeared to be able to pull off a dignified landing, most ending in an untidy mess of spray, limbs, and tangled swimming costumes. Even Marcus had to adjust his swimwear in the shallow waters before exiting the pool.
Letting the sun dry his skin, he took the opportunity to check out some of the men in the park. Most—married with wife and kids in tow—had let themselves go, but a few stood out. Even then, some of those in better shape were far too young for Marcus. In his honest opinion, the best-looking in-shape guy he had spied all day had arrived with him and sat now beneath the tree, reading Katie’s book to her. As if hearing his thoughts, Tom looked up, then smiled and waved at Marcus. Typical, he thought, waving back. The one man he fancied had to be straight, someone he would never get to have. At some point, like Tom, he needed to get out there more and start seeing people. Or at least have another fling. Maybe he should bite the bullet and give Fereddique a call.
“Chef Vine” came a vaguely familiar voice to his left. “Gorgeous as ever.”
Marcus turned to see a blond-haired Adonis approach him.
“Daniel? Dan Mosborough?”
Once upon a lifetime, Daniel Mosborough and Marcus had gone to the same high school. Although they had never been friends—Marcus was too tied up with Raine to bother spending much time with anyone else—both had sensed the other’s difference from other boys in their class, or to be more precise, similarity to each other. When Marcus had bumped into Daniel in a popular gay club in Central London, neither had been surprised. Back then Daniel had been in demand. Slim and in the bloom of youth, he’d had men of all ages fawning over him.
Over time he had filled out. Gym-toned, he had clearly come over to flirt. Marcus had never really been into blonds, but Daniel was more a dirty blond—in every sense of the word if rumors were true—and even though his well-defined chest and thick muscled arms were naturally hairless, his thin tanned legs—a shortcoming of some of his gay gym-bunny friends—boasted a pelt of golden hair. Marcus could see that Daniel rarely worked his legs, so the overmuscled upper body appeared at odds with the spindly legs. Still, Marcus enjoyed the attention.
“What are you up to these days?”
“Just back from holiday. As you can probably tell,” said Daniel, holding his hands out from each side of his waist as if to present the evidence. “Lanzarote with friends. Back to work Monday.”
