The Cardmaker and the Caretaker - 4. Chapter 4 Plans for the future

A few surprises and family matters.
Thank you, Carlos, for keeping most of the chapter from becoming too sentimental.  

Once they were settled next to each other on the sofa with a mug of hot, milky tea each, Patrick decided to ask the most important question first.

“What are your plans? I mean for now, but also for the future? How can we make this work when we live in two different countries?”

In spite of having shown he was quite forthright himself, Peter seemed momentarily taken aback at the candid acknowledgement of their commitment. But the cardmaker could sense he was pleased. He smiled wryly and took Patrick's hand in his. The desire to kiss the man he loved shone briefly in the blue eyes, but the Viking met the challenge head on.

“Well, I guess this is where I should say sorry for not letting you know earlier. But I didn't expect to win your heart so quickly, min ven.[1] The fact is I'm on leave for the rest of February. If the hospital was able to offer Michael treatment, the only way it would work was to move to London. Mannaz, the company which employs me, has an office in London, and they have a position open. I have to go there tomorrow and meet with my future boss and discuss matters. The plan was I'd spend the rest of the month looking for a place to live and organizing everything back home.”

Patrick's mouth fell open halfway through this explanation. He couldn't believe his own ears and just stared at him. The blond guy chuckled and made his move, shifting them around. Suddenly Patrick was straddling his lover, trying to ignore a suspiciously large bulge against his butt, while Peter nuzzled his neck and hugged him tight.

“You didn't really think I would leave the love of my life, when I'd just found him and gotten him to agree to be mine, did you, Patrick?” A warm hand moved slowly up and down his back, and he felt himself relax into the embrace of his partner.

Wait a minute, partner? The word came out of nowhere, but he knew they were on the same wavelength with this as well. However, there was an even more important matter, and he frowned in concern and sat up to look at Peter.

“But what about Michael? Who will look after him? You can't drag him around with you, and he's too young to be here on his own.”

He didn't even mention the third impossible option, because he knew Michael's health wasn't up to being exposed to the shop during normal opening hours.

For the first time Peter looked unsure of himself.

“Ehm yes, that's actually the bit I wasn’t sure how to tell you. My mother's sister is a retired nurse. She has two grown children, but no grandchildren yet, and she's very fond of Michael. Her son Kim is my age, he works for an engineering company and travels all over the world. His sister Alice is twenty-four and very beautiful. She's a model and plans to move to London this spring. Moster Grethe offered to come over here and look after Michael.”

The name he said sounded strange, but Patrick ignored it for now. He noticed the fond expression on Peter’s face as he described his aunt and her decision to be with him and Michael. Did this mean the three Danes would live together? Somewhere else? He didn't want to be alone anymore.

“So this Moshta Greita, or whatever her name is, when is she coming over?”

Peter chuckled and explained Moster was a Danish word meaning aunt as in mother's sister. A father's sister was called Faster. A third word was Tante and this was used for aunts by marriage but lots of people also used it for all kinds of aunts. When he tried to go on explaining uncles and grandparents also had different designations according to how they were related to you, Patrick realized he was being distracted.

“OK, fine, so when is your Moster arriving?”

“Ah…mmm, tomorrow morning.”

The answer was almost inaudible, but in the silence of the living room he heard him anyway.

“What?! She's arriving tomorrow, and you haven't told me?”

Patrick wrestled with the scary thought of already meeting a close and obviously loved relative of Peter's, almost as bad as meeting a prospective mother-in-law! Did she know about them? Did she even know he was gay? Or was it bisexual? He could almost hear his devil of doubt howling with laughter at the back of his head.

“Yes. Sorry, I –” Peter began, looking worried.

“Never mind,” he interrupted. “We need to figure out where she’s going to stay. Is she coming here to look after Michael?” He decided to take care of the practical details and worry about meeting Peter’s aunt later.

“I haven’t really thought it through. Originally, she was staying at the hotel with us for the first few days, but I cancelled both rooms. I wanted to find something closer to here, but there hasn’t been time.”

He smiled a bit sheepishly. “I guess I got caught up in enjoying our weekend together.”

“That’s easy. The pub is part of a hotel, which has small but OK rooms. Shared bathing facilities, but it’s clean, cheap and fine for a day or two. I can call the landlord and book one of those. My parents used them on the rare occasions they had friends staying overnight.”

“Perfect, skat. I'll take Michael over there, and they can go for a walk in the park if the weather is nice. Or Moster Grethe might read him a story; I know she'll bring the next book in the series we're reading.”

“She could come here instead. It would be more comfortable. I have to leave early for the shop, but you know where most things are. Oh, and that reminds me...”

Patrick got up and went over to the old bureau which had been his mother’s. He opened one of the drawers and got out the two house keys which had belonged to his parents. Somehow, his dad’s key had survived the car crash unharmed and was given to him with the other belongings salvaged from the car. His mum’s keys had been hanging on the hook by the front door, waiting for its owner who never returned. Tears burned at the back of his eyes, but he managed to keep his voice steady.

“Here, I want you to have this key. It belonged to my dad.”

He handed the one with a small book keychain to Peter and held his mother’s house key with the flower keychain design up.

“I’ll leave this on the kitchen table, and your aunt can use it if she wants to go out with Michael in the afternoon. We won’t worry about the security alarm for now.”

Peter stared at him in a daze, and then suddenly laughed.

“Patrick, you are one of the most surprising guys I’ve ever met. Not only do you invite two complete strangers home a few hours after you’ve met them, but now you trust me and Moster Grethe with keys and everything. It makes me love you even more, but how can you be so sure?”

He didn’t really think now was the time to explain his ability to see into the hearts of people. In any case, the other reason he gave was true as well.

“You’re entrusting her with the most precious thing in your life, aren’t you? And you place trust in me too, Peter. You left Michael here with me on Saturday morning. How did you know it was safe?”

“Well, I just… I knew… of course…,” he stammered. He shook his head and grinned.

“Damn, I guess you have a point. I never questioned my instincts telling me you’re a good guy, a man with intelligence and integrity, someone I’m proud to call my friend – and partner.”

He stood up and came over to hug Patrick. “I’m honoured to be gifted with your dad’s key. I’m sure they were proud of you too. You must miss them terribly.”

“Yes,” the word was quiet, strained, and Peter didn’t say anything else. He held him while the cardmaker sobbed on his shoulder for a few moments, purging another slice of the hurt and loneliness caused by the death of his beloved parents. He was sure they would have loved Peter and Michael, and knowing what they’d missed, he mourned them all over again.

“I know a little of how you feel. My dad died when I was thirteen. I still miss him so much. Never more than now, because I want to tell him about finding the man I intend to spend the rest of my life with. I’m sure he would have liked you.”

“You must be reading my mind,” Patrick exclaimed, pulling his head back to look at him. “I was thinking the same, feeling sorry about not being able to introduce you – and Michael – to my parents.”

He leaned in to kiss Peter’s cheek, murmuring, “I love you.”

Only after the words slipped out, did he realize what he had done. He had declared his love for the first time ever, and most astonishing, it felt right and true and wonderful. Peter reacted immediately, his arms tightened around him and his mouth claimed his lover’s in a long kiss full of delight, ardour and need.

The two first kisses they'd shared in the shop had just been connections of mouths and hands. This time their bodies touched all over and Patrick was quite unprepared for the bonfire of desire which roared to life inside him, as soon as their lips met. He was instantly erect and his knees threatened to buckle. His mind was blank, all the sorrows momentarily erased as he focused on the man he loved and wanted more than anything.

It was only when Peter broke their kiss Patrick realized he'd been almost-but-not-quite rubbing against the blond hunk. Rather than dwell on the wave of passion caused by only a couple of kisses, he tried to get his urges back under control. But it wasn’t easy and he had to take a couple of deep, shuddering breaths. Peter looked at him with concern, probably misunderstanding the cause.

He had them sit down on the sofa and put an arm around the younger man’s shoulder. There was nothing sexual in the small rubs of his shoulder and back, a friendly squeeze of his hand, the occasional quick kiss on his cheek. Patrick was relieved, since it gave him the chance to recapture his calm. Even if the pleading voice and caring words got to him in a different manner.

“Please Patrick; I can't stand it when you're hurt or worried. I'm sorry if I’ve gone too fast again, made assumptions about us... I love you too. I want us to be together. Even if Michael didn't need it, I'd have moved over here to stay with you. Unless you don't want me... us to? I know we've just sort of invaded your life and house and your privacy and...”

Oh no, his Viking was NOT allowed to worry or lose his confidence. The moment Patrick sensed the flicker of uncertainty, he forgot about being upset and a needy virgin. He jumped on top of his lover and kissed him senseless. When he finally pulled back, Peter stared at the fierce man in his lap, speechless and with huge, surprised eyes.

"Stop it, you crazy Dane. I love you. Of course I want you and Michael here. I'm never letting you go, and I don't care if you invite your whole family, as long as they're OK with us being together.” The unspoken question was easily detectable.

A huge smile spread all over Peter's face, and Patrick felt as if the sun had suddenly come out and made everything bright and warm. He wanted to laugh from utter joy.

"Don’t worry, my family knows about you, about us. Oh, they think I'm slightly mad for falling in love so fast, but they know I'm serious - and that I like men. Even if I've never had a committed relationship before, I haven't hidden my preference." Suddenly he blushed. "That sort of became impossible, after Moster Grethe walked in on me and Kim fooling around when we were teenagers."

The laugh broke out; he couldn't help it, even if he felt a little jealous of the thought of Peter being with other men. But his angel of faith was gloating over the suddenly tiny and mute devil in his head 'Did you hear that? His first serious commitment! He has never loved anyone before, either.'

Patrick wanted to yell his utter delight out loud. He was Peter's first too. So what if his lover had sex before? That just meant they wouldn't both be fumbling around with mostly theoretical knowledge of what to do. Oh and speaking of sex, something hard was poking him intimately down below. He shifted suggestively and leaned in for more kissing. To his surprise, Peter ignored the opportunity. The look in his partner’s eyes was heated but determined as he carefully eased Patrick off his lap and on to the sofa.

"Patrick min skat, jeg ... ah, I mean sorry, Patrick, but I can't think when you're sitting on top of me. You're just too hot and I want you so much. But we need to talk about tomorrow."

He decided to tease a bit. “What's this with calling me poo? Are you trying to give me at hint of some sort of weird fetish?”

Another laugh broke out as Peter's jaw dropped and he stared at him in utter confusion.

He knew he was being rather ridiculous but it felt so good to let go and just fool around, secure in the knowledge their love and desire was mutual. Somewhere in the back of his mind Patrick's logical brain told him he was a bit over the top, probably running high on endorphins and hormones, but his reaction was only natural after being lonely for so long.

"You know what scat means, don't you?"

Peter shook his head and he explained, grinning when his normally relaxed Dane got all flustered and prudish for a moment. He looked funny when he made disgusted eewww-like faces. Both of them started laughing and then they kissed and settled down next to each other. The blue eyes looked at him with such fondness and pleasure it almost took Patrick's breath away.

"The Danish word skat means treasure, but I guess 'min skat' would be translated as my darling. I'll try hard not to use it again. It just sort of slipped out."

Patrick pouted: "But I like it when you call me Danish nicknames. Please don't stop. Although I guess you should avoid skat, at least in public, or I may have to start calling you Pooh Bear."

“Huh?” The blank look on Peter’s face was quite funny.

“Don’t you have Winnie the Pooh in Denmark? The story of a friendly, naïve teddy bear and his friends Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Piglet, and Eeyore?”

“Oh, yes, of course, Michael loves the books and cartoons. I’d forgotten his English name. We call him Peter Plys.”[2]

“Peter Plys?” He tried to control himself, but failed and collapsed in helpless laughter, “You mean I have my very own Danish Pooh bear, Peter Plys?”

The cardmaker sat up and pulled his slightly scowling man into a hug. “Aww, don’t be mad, Pooh, I love the idea of cuddling a hot teddy bear in my bed.”

This caused another small bout of kissing and touching, but the two guys wisely kept the making out light and sensual rather than fierce and intimate. It was as if the love-starved men knew they might've gotten naked and naughty on the sofa, if they let go of all their inhibitions.

A deep breath and a little tension in the warm body against his told Patrick his lover wanted to ask a favour.

“OK, about tomorrow. After my interview, I thought maybe we could come by your shop. And if you have time, I could take you all out for a meal?” He stopped and nuzzled his nose against Patrick's hair, obviously waiting for a reaction.

Patrick decided to see what else the man had up his sleeve and mumbled an OK in reply. His distraction and acceptance had nothing to do with the fact he was being cuddled and kissed, no certainly not – even if he had a hard time imagining objecting to anything his hunky teddy bear suggested.

“I look forward to you meeting my aunt. I think the two of you will like each other.”

Interestingly, he could sense Peter genuinely thought his aunt would be fond of the new man in his life. He felt less certain but still quite convinced Patrick would appreciate his Moster. Clearest of all was his desire for Patrick to join his family, not only him and his son, but his extended family, and his hope they would welcome his partner with open arms. Even if their relationship meant he would relocate to London permanently and not just until Michael was well.

The thought of being part of a family again made Patrick's voice thick with emotion as he responded. “I’m happy to meet your aunt.”

He tried to get a grip on himself, but a choked sound gave him away. Moments later his face was buried in the soft warm sweater Peter was wearing, and the worried Dane tried to comfort him while working out what his lover was saying.

“Not sad… I'm OK." Sniff, "Happy tears, not… I'm just so glad… nice family…" He drew a long shaking breath, "Hate my awful aunts… stupid uncles, fucking useless cousins…" Peter felt a hard grip and heard muffled swearing, "Love you, man… Want you… in my life, my house, my bed…”

This time the ensuing kisses were long, passionate and needy, and when they broke off, both men were flushed and panting hard. Patrick felt as if he might burst from all the strong feelings that emanated from his companion. Not only physical desire, but protectiveness, caring and an almost possessive love. A love that demanded closeness and sharing and intimacy, but in a good way, not with jealousy or one-way ownership. Peter felt like a genuine caretaker, who could be trusted with his heart.

Even better, the man practically ached to belong to Patrick, body, heart and soul, just as much as he longed for Patrick to be his. The innermost wish in Peter’s heart was clear as day to the talented cardmaker, and he was looking forward to fulfilling his lover’s desires. This was the moment the two silly beings in his head decided to join forces and pop the inevitable question: 'So you reckon he's versatile?'

The deliciously hot possibility was exactly what he needed to snap out of the ridiculous state he was in. He pushed himself upright to sit next to his partner, taking a deep breath and reaching out for his mug for a few gulps of lukewarm tea.

“Sorry about that, I'm a bit emotional today. Don't know why – oh wait, might be something to do with getting a boyfriend, and my first kiss, and a family, and…and just having the best Valentine's Day and weekend ever – even if I never got a card.”

A quick glance showed Peter was smiling, oh good, he knew Patrick was teasing. “But next year I expect us to celebrate in style.” A deep, joyful laugh and he was caught up in another exuberant embrace.

“Don't worry. I'll pay homage to St. Valentine every year from now on, in gratitude for bringing us together. Cards, chocolate, wine, flowers, any love token you want. We'll go out for dinner, when you've finished at the shop, and come home to make love all night. And I hope there'll be a Valentine's Day very soon, where we'll promise each other to have and to hold, to love and to cherish... forever.”

A proposal already – did you see that coming?