Double Lines

While Ethan and Tyler slept, I put on a load of washing and went to the family room to tidy up. I even managed to vacuum upstairs, grateful that Tyler is a heavy sleeper. By the time my washing had finished and I had sorted the clothes into needing to be hung out or put in the dryer, I had managed to find a space next to a sleeping Ethan.

I laughed at how tired my (boyfriend? Because that’s what he is now!) boyfriend was. He’ll get used to it. Having a kid does require a lot more energy and a lot more of your time. But I wouldn’t change that for a second.

I turned the television on, watching reruns of Jag. I don’t know, Ethan is pretty hot, but there is something to be said about a man in uniform.

“Mummy, Daddy nap?” Tyler asks, suddenly appearing in front of me. I’m startled awake, feeling warm and comfortable as I lay on the couch. I notice Ethan’s arm is wrapped around my waist, and I smile. I love that he is so affectionate.

“No, of course not,” I scoff, making Tyler laugh.

“What ya watching?” Tyler asks, jumping up on us.

“Oof,” I hear Ethan say behind me.

“Hi Daddy! What you watching?”

“Mummy,” Ethan says, making me chuckle.

“Can we watch Thomas?”

“Sure, buddy,” I say, grabbing the remote which has fallen on the floor and switching it to the GBC service.

“How do I look?” Tyler asks, walking into my room. After watching television for about an hour, we all decided to get ready for the dinner David had planned. Ethan brought with him a change of clothes, showering in the downstairs bathroom, while Tyler and I went upstairs to get dressed.

“You look handsome,” I tell Tyler, getting down to his level and straightening up his collar. Tyler is very independent and tries hard to dress himself. He’s still a little uncoordinated when he does try, as it takes him a little bit to work out (it was funny watching him the first time he did it), but he manages.

Tyler had dressed himself in black jeans a blue checked shirt which he work over his favourite Thomas the Tank Engine shirt.

“How about me?” I ask, standing back up to full height.

“Beautiful mummy,” Ethan smiles.

“Let’s go to Davids!” Tyler then shouts, taking off out of my room running.

“No running!” I call out. I swear, one day, he’s going to fall down those stairs and break his arm, and it will be all his fault.

“Don’t you look handsome!” I hear Ethan say as I reach the living room.

“You can talk,” I say, checking my boyfriend out. He’s wearing tan chinos (because aren’t they always tan?) and a black dress shirt. I walk over to Ethan and wrap my arms around his neck.

“Thanks,” Ethan says, leaning down and giving me a kiss. I step forward, pressing myself further into Ethan’s body. Ethan responds by pulling my hips closer to him, and I love it. I love the feeling of his large, warm hands on me.

“Ew!” Tyler cries out, making me blush and pull away.

“Let’s go!” Ethan pleads.

“All right, all right. Hold your horses,” Ethan grins.

“I don’t have any horses,” Tyler states, folding his arms.

“Come on then, cheeky boy. Let’s go,” I smile, offering Tyler my hand, which he takes.

“Do you know where David’s house is?” Tyler asks Ethan as we drive in the car.

“I sure do buddy; he’s my uncle,” Ethan says.

“Really? I have Uncle Dan and Uncle Miguel. But David’s not my uncle,” Tyler explains.

“Is that so?” Ethan asks, looking at me.

“Yup. David is my G-poppy,” Tyler says. I chuckle.

“David wanted to be called ‘God-Pop.’ Melina and I put a stop to that,” I explain, making Ethan laugh.

“Growing up, Uncle David was all serious. Melina and you two seem to have mellowed him out.”

“Hmm. David’s a nice guy. I like him,” I reply.

“That’s good. I like you,” Ethan says.

“Melina, G-poppy!” Tyler yells when David’s butler opens the door to let us in.

“No running!” I call out. That boy is going to be the death of me.

“Hello Miss Mikaela, Master Lincoln,” Marcus, David’s butler greets.

“Hi Marcus. How’s Sharon?” I ask. Sharon is Marcus’s wife, whose recently retired.

“She’s bored at home. I’ve suggested she clean the house more,” Marcus admits.

“How did that go down?”

“She threw a cushion at me.”

“I would have, too,” I laugh.

“Master David and Miss Melina are in the formal living room. Follow the little kid running,” Marcus tells us.

“Thank you, Marcus,” Ethan says, grabbing my hand and entwining our fingers.

“You’re welcome, Master Lincoln. Dinner will be served in half an hour,” Marcus nods before leaving for the kitchen.

“You know Marcus very well,” Ethan comments as we walk towards the living room.

“He’s a nice guy,” I shrug.

“Hmmm. I’ve known him since I was a kid. His son is one of the gardeners here.”

“I know,” I reply, looking up at Ethan with a smile.

We walk into the living room, where Tyler is sitting between David and Melina.

“Kaela! Tyler was telling me all about his football game today,” Melina smiles, walking up to us, “and it’s good to see you both together, finally” she grins, giving me a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. I smile at that. If I knew who David and Melina were trying to set me up with, maybe I would have been a little more forthcoming, but as it is, Tyler is enough for me.

“Melina. Uncle,” Ethan greets.

“Hello Lincoln,” both David and Melina greet back.

“Leigh has outdone herself with dinner tonight,” David says.

“Yes. He asked her to make a three-course meal. I said no, but he wants to have a proper family meal,” Melina says. I nod, knowingly.

“Come get some wine with me,” Melina says, grabbing my hand. I nod and follow Melina to the wine celler.

“So did you tell Linc- Ethan that he’s Tyler’s father?” Melina asks once we get into the room.

“Yes. He asked for a DNA test, which we did on Thursday. The results should be in next week.”

“Tyler looks like Lincoln when Lincoln was little,” Melina states.

“You’ve seen pictures?”

“Yeah. When Tyler got bigger, David has his suspicions. He brought out Lincoln’s baby photos. They look alike. Except the eyes. Tyler has your eyes,” Melina explains. I nod.

“Yeah. I’m not worried about the results. Ethan is Tyler’s dad. I know it. If he isn’t then he’s the next Jesus. I’m sure he’s not the next Jesus, though. Tyler might be cute, but he can be a cheeky little shite,” I add. Melina laughs.

“He’d be a good runner.”

“I know. That boy never learnt to walk, he went straight to running,” I say, pulling out a bottle.

“Mascato?”

“Yeah, Pinot noir?” Melina asks. We make that bottom lip face and nod (I know, we’re classy).

“Ah, ladies, dinner is ready,” David says when we arrive back into the lounge. Melina and I follow David and the boys into the formal dining room, which has a spread of food for more than five people.

“Woah!” Tyler exclaims, making us laugh. On the table is a whole roasted chicken, pork, and vegetables, as well as bowls of peas, beans and broccoli. There are also a couple of bowls of rice, with more bowls which I can tell by the smell is curry.

“Is this how you normally eat?” I tease as I walk up to my seat, which has been place marked.

“You’re too funny, Kaela. Of course not. Tonight is a special occasion,” David says.

“It sure is,” Ethan adds.

“Yes, it’s the first time you two are having dinner with the family, as a family,” Melina says, oblivious to the look that David gives me and Ethan.

Marcus comes around and pours us our drinks, with Tyler getting a lemonade, and then we eat. I serve Tyler first, who’s asked for chicken and roast potatoes only.

“Are you sure you don’t want vegetables?” Melina asks Tyler, who shakes his head.

“Brussel Sprouts?” I add, getting a ‘yeech’ reaction from both him and his father. I smile. Tyler hates Brussel sprouts, and I can’t blame him, I’m not a fan either.

“I can’t eat any more!” Tyler complains after his tenth roast potato (they are so good, all crispy and crunchy on the edges and soft and buttery inside).

“Not even dessert?” Ethan asks.

“Dessert?” Tyler replies, sitting up straight in his chair, his eyes wide open.

“He is going to be hyper tonight,” I say, shaking my head. I help Melina gather the used dishes, while Marcus, who seems to be working late tonight, gathers the leftovers to put into the kitchen.

Melina and I help put the leftovers into plastic containers, setting aside some to take home (especially the chicken and roast potatos), while Marcus prepares our dessert.

“And what are you three up to?” Melina asks when we walk back into the dining room. David and Ethan are huddled around Tyler, looking at something, which David quickly puts away.

“Nothing!” Tyler says, his cheeks going red.

“You are a terrible liar! Now come give your aunty a big hug!” Melina says, opening her arms out.

“I think I’m ready for a nanna nap. How about you?” Melina asks me, hugging Tyler who is on her lap.

“You have to be old to be a nanna,” Tyler comments.

“Why thank you for the compliment young man,” Melina smiles, kissing the top of his head.

“Like G-poppy,” Tyler adds, making us all laugh.

“Wine?” Marcus asks after he puts out our desserts, (which is chocolate cake heated in the microwave so the ganache is all melted and syrupy and delicious).

“Yes, all of us, please,” David instructs.

“Before we begin with dessert, I would like to make a toast,” David says, standing up and smiling.

“My family is the most important thing to me. Taking Lincoln in as young boy not only gave me joy, but taught me what true love is. After Gloria and I parted, I thought I would never fall in love again, that no one could ever open my heart quite like having Lincoln in my life did. But I was wrong. And I am glad I was wrong. Six years ago, I met a beautiful woman,” David says, looking at Melina, “who didn’t want to have a thing to do with me. I tried talking to her, helping her when she delivered food at work, but nothing I did brought down that wall. Until I met her niece, who I’ve learnt, is as stubborn as she is.”

Melina and I both laugh, my cheeks going red as both David and Ethan look at me.

“Thanks to Mikaela, I managed to get a date out of Melina, and from there, our relationship blossomed. There is only one thing more, that would make me truly happy,” David says, walking over to Melina and getting on to one knee. I cover my mouth so I don’t scream, tears springing in my eyes as I watch. Even though I knew this was going to happen, I still felt emotional.

“Melina, will you marry me?” David asks. Melina, like me, stands there with her hands covering her mouth.

“Yes! Say yes!” Tyler yells out. We all turn around and laugh at my son. Ethan squeezes my other hand, and I look at him with a smile.

“Yes, I will marry you,” Melina says. I rest my head on Ethan’s shoulder as we watch David take the box back out of his pocket, opening it and placing the ring on Melina’s finger.

As predicted, Tyler was on a sugar high after dinner, but as we rarely have dessert and it was a special occasion, I let him stay up a little later.

I’m lying on my bed, reading on my phone, when somebody knocks on my door. I had put Tyler to bed an hour ago, making sure he was asleep before retreating into my own room. Tyler and I had our own rooms at David’s his attempt to get us to move in, but I had refused. I like my independence and I felt Melina and David needed some time alone as a couple.

I open the door to see Ethan standing there, and I blush, knowing that I’m wearing an old t-shirt to bed and no bottoms.

“Hi,” I greet.

“Hi,” he replies, before grabbing me and pressing his lips against mine. I hum in pleasure as his warm body surrounds mine, his large hands firmly on my hips. I’m going to have sex tonight; I think as he walks me backwards towards the bed.