Chapter 9 -- The Homecoming
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It was Friday morning, and I was driving to work when a call came through on my mobile. I glanced at the car's LCD screen, I didn't recognize the number, but decided to answer -- it only takes a second to get rid of those "we've been trying to reach you" assholes. I pressed the button on my steering wheel for my car's hands-free mobile system. "Hello?" "Hello! Mr. Parsons?" "Speaking". "This is Irene Inez, from the Department. of Child Safety". "Yes, of course! Do you have any news for me?" "Yes, I have very good news for you: the protective custody order has been revoked. I can return the children to you and your husband today". Fantastic! That is wonderful news! Thank you so much for all your help". "It's been my pleasure. I can bring the children by this afternoon, say between 2 and 2:30. Will that work for you?" "Absolutely! I'll be there!". "Great! Well, see you then. Goodbye".
I pulled the car over to a turnout on the side of the road to decide what to do and make some calls. My first instinct was to call Rick but quickly decided against it. To surprise him would be much better. I called my boss at work instead. "Hi, this is Dave. I'm sorry, but my car broke down on my way to work" I lied, "I'm going to have it towed to a shop and figure out what's wrong with it. So, sorry, I can't make it in today. Oh, thanks for understanding, appreciate it. See you Monday? Ok, thanks again". I decided on my next move. The grocery store! I've got to stock up on food, and get something for dinner tonight. I pulled back out onto the highway and headed for Safeway.
I was in the Safeway, forlornly looking over the selection of frozen pizzas, I had decided pizza for dinner would be fun for the kids. "Well, hello, Dave! What are you doing here this time of day?". I turned to see Gretch. Gretchen was a divorced lady who was about my age. She had made her attraction to me very obvious, and I'd had to have one of those private conversations with her to tell her: "I'm very flattered by your interest, but I'm gay, sorry". "Hi!" I greeted her, "yeah, I have the day off. My kids have, um, been away for a few days, so I'm trying to figure out what to have for dinner". Gretch looked at me curiously. "Your kids?". I held up my left hand to show her my wedding band. "You're married? But you told me you were very definitely . . .". "Yep, still very definitely gay. I'm married to a man, Rick Richardson". "Oh, that poor man whose wife, Ellen, was murdered?". I nodded. "And yes, I remember they had three children, those are your children now?". "Yes. Rick and I hooked up and fell in love. The children were living with us at my, um, our place. But some jerk made a complaint to the Department of Child Safety about the `poor children' living in a home with two homosexuals and got a custody order to take them from us. So, Rick and I got married, which nullified that. So, the kids are being returned to us this afternoon. And Rick doesn't know about it yet, we're going to surprise him".
"How wonderful for you! But frozen pizza isn't going to cut it. If you're set on pizza, do you know how to make one from scratch?". I shook my head. "Wouldn't have a clue. But our oldest boy, Steve, is a really good cook, he'll know what to do". Great! So, do you have all the ingredients you'll need?". I shrugged. "Depends. What all ingredients do I need?". Gretchen laughed. "Well, for starters, do you have flour and yeast?". "Flour and yeast?" I repeated, "what do you use that for?". "A lot of things, but for starters, the pizza dough". I shook my head. "Well, next aisle over. Follow me!". She selected a bag of flour and yeast for me and put them in my cart. "Look on the internet for recipes for pizza dough, you'll find a bunch that will tell how much flour, yeast, salt, and water to use. You'll want to make the dough a couple of hours ahead of time and set it aside in a warm place for the yeast to rise. Now, do you have a rolling pin and waxed paper?". I shook my head. "Follow me. Oh, and this is my favorite pizza and spaghetti sauce". She put the jar in my shopping cart. "And you do have a hand mixer, to mix all the ingredients together?". "Yes, that I have". She put a rolling pin and box of waxed paper in my cart. "Ok, you can probably figure out what you want for toppings. Onions and peppers? Oh, and some mushrooms would probably be nice. And meat? Pepperoni is essential, and maybe sausage?". I nodded. "Yep, I think I can figure that out. Thanks so much, you've been a big help". "Glad I could help. You know, Dave, when you told me you were gay I started thinking: Damnit! All the really nice guys are gay! But then I met a fella, a real nice fella. We've been seeing each other for a couple of months now". I cupped my hand to my ear, and acted as if I was trying to hear something. Gretch looked at me curiously. "Oh! I thought I heard some wedding bells off in the distance". "Oh you! Much too soon for that! But . . . maybe". "Well, I hope I get an invitation to the wedding, when and if it happens. Rick and I would love to be there for you". "If that comes to pass, you'll be the first invitation I send out". "Thanks, and it's so great to see you! And thanks for all your help with everything". "My pleasure, and so great to see you" I'm so very happy for you. Congratulations!".
I found a good recipe on the internet and made the pizza dough and set it in a sunny window for the yeast to rise. At 2:15 the state van came up the driveway, and I went out to greet them. I hugged the kids all tightly and thanked Ms. Inez, and we went inside. "So, how was it?" I questioned. "Well, it wasn't as bad as being in jail, I guess" Steve replied. "But not much. They kept us in some kind of holding facility, with dormitory rooms and bunk beds. There were some other kids there, and they separated us, boys, from girls, not by families". "And they took our phones away!" Paul complained bitterly. "They said they weren't allowed, so I couldn't play games on my phone, or text my buddies". "And there was just one big bathroom for girls!" Sarah gushed. "I've never had to go to the bathroom in front of other people before, it was very humiliating!" "Well, sorry about that, but it's all behind you now. You're home now, and for good". Steve peered into the kitchen, at the mess on the kitchen island. "What you got going on in here?". "I thought pizza would be nice for dinner, and frozen pizza wouldn't cut it". Steve wrinkled his nose. "Frozen pizza? Yuk!". "Yeah. I ran into a lady friend at the store who helped me figure out what all I needed. The dough is in the window, it should be ready by now". Steve walked over to inspect it. "Yep, it looks good to go. And great, you have a rolling pin and some wax paper. I'll start getting it ready. Paul? Can you slice the onions, peppers, and mushrooms? And Sarah, maybe you can set the table with plates and silverware?". "No, we need to wait on setting the table. Your father doesn't know that you're home, I thought it would be great to surprise him". "Oh! I love surprises!" Sarah said, "that will be great to surprise dad, good idea!". I nodded. "So, we'll get the pizzas in the oven, and when we see your dad coming up the driveway you guys go back to your rooms and I'll call you out, one by one: You, Steve, then Paul, and last but not least, you Sarah". They all nodded enthusiastically.
We got the pizzas going and waited. "Ok! There's your dad coming up the driveway! Go to your rooms!". Rick walked in the front door and greeted me. "Hmm, smells good in here, smells like pizza!" He peered into the kitchen and saw the mess. "Homemade pizza? I wouldn't have thought you knew how to do that". I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't, I had a little bit of help". Rick studied my face, searching for a clue as to what was going on. I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled out: "Come out, come out wherever you are!". Steve came strolling down the hallway. "Hey dad! How's it hanging?" "Steve!" Rick cried out. He rushed to him, hugging him tightly. "Come out, come out wherever you are!" Paul came walking down the hallway. "Hey, dad! Great to see you, and really great to be home!". Rick reached out to hug him. "Come out, come out wherever you are!". Sarah came running down the hallway to her father's waiting arms. "Daddy, I missed you so very much!". "Oh, and I missed you so much, honey".
"Ms. Inez called me this morning on my way to work. She told me the custody order had been revoked, and she would bring the kids home this afternoon. I almost called you, but then decided it would be more fun to surprise you. And when the kids got home they agreed to get in on it too". Tears were streaming down Rick's face. "This is the best surprise in my whole life!" My eyes got a little moist as well.
We sat down, enjoying dinner. "This pizza turned out really well," Steve said, as he bit off another mouthful. "Yeah, it did" I agreed. "So how is it going, working at the restaurant?". "Oh, it's going really well. The owner, Mr. Fleming, has taught me how to cook all the dishes on the menu. Now he's teaching me how to take inventory, and order supplies. I didn't realize how much is involved in running a restaurant. I'm thinking maybe I set my sights too low just wanting to be a chef. I'd like to manage a restaurant, and maybe even have my own restaurant someday". "That's great!" I told him, "Always aim high, and set your sights on the stars. Your father and I will always be behind you, helping you any way we can". He nodded, and smiled. "Paul? Do you know what you want to do?" "Well, technology. I'm thinking maybe networking is the way to go". I nodded. "Well, keep your grades up in school, and start looking around for colleges with good programs in that. Even a two-year degree can help you get started with a good company and good pay, and your father and I will help you get that degree". "Thanks!". "And Sarah, do you know what you want to do?" She nodded enthusiastically. "I just want to be happy". "That's all?". She nodded again. "Seeing my mom so unhappy her last couple of years made me realize how important it is to be happy in life. So that's all I want, just to be happy". I held my arm up. "Well, I've been keeping this a secret from you, but I just happen to have a very special, very magical wand". I tapped the top of her head with my magic wand. "Your wish is granted, fair princess. You will always be happy in your life". She giggled. "That's funny!" "You don't believe in magic?". She shook her head. "Well, I believe in magic". "You do?", she asked, her voice sounding skeptical. "Oh yes! There's magic everywhere! It's magic that your father and I found each other, and magic brought us together. And it's magic that brought all of us together as a family. There's magic everywhere, sometimes you just have to look very carefully to find it". "Well, maybe," Sarah said skeptically. "Well, just in case, if anyone ever tries to make you unhappy, you just tell them that you have two fathers who want to have a word with them, and we'll straighten them out". "Sarah laughed. "Now that I can believe".
"Say, dad?" Steve began. Both Rick and I turned our heads to him and said yes?' at the same time. Steve laughed. "Um, now that we have two fathers, maybe we need to work out this dad' thing?". "Well," I began, "your father is your father, so he gets to be your dad. Let's think of something else to call me?". "How about pops'?" Paul suggested. "That's what dad calls grandpa," Sarah said quickly. "Well, maybe he wouldn't mind if I borrowed it?" I replied, "I'm fine with pops' if you guys are". "Pops?' Sarah questioned, trying it out. Paul followed suit, and nodded in agreement. "Looks like `pops' it is," Steve said, nodding.
Rick and I rinsed off the dishes off as the kids got ready for bed, no doubt catching up with friends with text messages. Rick and I walked toward the family room. "Wanna get high?" Rick shook his head. "No, What I want is you". "Oh yeah?" "Yeah. This has to be the happiest day in my life, and that makes me want you, need you, badly". "Oh yeah? How bad?" "Real bad". I knew that look in Rick's eyes. "Ok, you talked me into it".