A Balance of Harmonies: One at a Time
Jun. 26th, 2012 01:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frogs_of_warWe went and saw Brave this morning. I really liked it, but I’ll say that the trailer was a bit misleading and, while discussing a major plot point afterwards, my sons said they learned about it while in Target, so if you don’t want to be spoiled, stay out of the toy aisle.
Title: One at a Time
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter seventy-three of
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: glass, questions, creativity, hearts, gift cards, waves, hugs, books, giggles, sketches, domesticity, joy, a request, a title, hugs, laughter, ages, a story
Length: about 2,700 words
Summary: Kurt spends the evening with family. Peregrine catches up with an old friend. And Emil is thought to be younger than he is.
Master list
Kurt rolled the hot glass in red frit and put it back in the furnace.
“Why don’t you just start with red glass?” asked Casey.
“The red we use looks black unless the color is thin enough for light to penetrate.”
Casey nodded, but Kurt could tell he had more questions. Kurt took the glass from the fire and rolled it on the table. “This is to cool the glass down enough to work with.”
Kurt used the tools to form the glass into a heart then he snapped it off the pontil and set it in the kiln. He explained about what happened if glass cooled unevenly and how the kiln prevented that.
Hunter frowned. “That isn’t Peregrine’s color of red.”
“I know.” Kurt sighed. “I need to work on that too, but I thought I better practice hearts. Maybe Mike can sell them at his gallery.”
He showed off how to make a heart from a bubble of glass.
Keith stood up from the lampwork desk. “I can’t believe it. I made something.”
Casey grinned. “You make stuff all the time.”
Keith grinned at Hunter then wrapped his arm around Casey’s waist. “But this was something so fragile and pretty that it reminded me of you.”
Casey arched an eyebrow. “Really?”
Zan adjusted the stool. “Solid glass isn’t that fragile. It can take quite the hit without breaking.”
“Well my Casey is more fragile than he lets on, but I wouldn’t want to break either of them.”
Casey leaned against Keith’s chest. They were really working at this showing affection thing. Or maybe it came natural to them.
“Casey, do you want to make anything?” Zan asked.
Casey glanced up at Keith. “I like the hearts Kurt made. Could I make something like that but smaller? Maybe the size to drop in a pocket or on a table to remind Keith that I’m thinking of him?”
“How romantic.” Autumn stepped into the room. “Zan can show you how to do anything. Hunter, I need you for a moment if you aren’t busy. Olivia wants your advice.”
Hunter followed her out the door. Zan went over the rules for the lamp and got Casey comfortable on the stool. While Casey’s first attempt at lampwork kept everyone’s attention, Kurt pinned a gift certificate to Zan’s glass vender onto the corkboard where she pinned her ideas. He had another for the store Autumn like to shop at. Zan and Autumn were generous with their time, the least he could be, as a friend, was generous with his money.
--
Peregrine pulled up in front of Tank’s house. Kali waved from the window. A kid in braces probably had to learn patience. He wasn’t going to make her wait a second longer than he had to. Emil grabbed a bag from the backseat, so he was still seated when Peregrine got around the car. Peregrine pulled him out and kept his hand as they walked up to the house. Emil smiled like that was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Maybe Mom was right. Emil needed more of his attention.
Tank met them at the door. “Come in, come in.”
He pulled first Emil then Peregrine into hugs. Saf smiled at them. Knox held out his arms. Peregrine snatched him up. “Let’s go see your sister.”
Kali was still by the window. Peregrine sat down beside her. “Emil’s here now. Do you remember you question?”
She bit her lip. Emil sat down on the floor. “Would you like me to read to you? I brought some books. Are there any you haven’t read?”
“Papa?”
Tank lifted Kali up and sat down. “Let’s see them.”
Five minutes later Kali was on Emil’s lap as he read to her about tigers. Knox was on his Papa’s lap, giggling as Tank played with him and Peregrine had finished his first sketch for Kali. He was sure she was going to want another. He got up and went into the kitchen where Saf was stirring sauce in a pan.
“If you thought this would be a night of stimulating adult conversation, I’m sorry.”
Saf smiled and shook his head. “That’s ok.”
Peregrine turned his sketchbook to a new page. “What’s it like being married to Tank?”
Saf looked up.
“I mean, as a kid he was full of energy and always had the greatest idea for things to do. I was just wondering what he was like as an adult.”
Saf grinned. “I’m happier than I have ever been.”
Peregrine grinned back. “That’s what I like to hear.”
Tank zoomed in with Knox. “Peregrine, are you seducing my husband?”
Peregrine laughed. “As pretty as he is, I think you can keep him.”
He added a light to Saf’s eyes that had appeared when Tank came into view.
Knox leaned toward Saf and Saf took him. Tank took his turn stirring the sauce. “So you think my husband is pretty?”
Peregrine grinned. “That is just to be expected since you’ve always liked pretty things.”
“I have?”
Peregrine nodded and turned the page. Domestic Tank was a side Peregrine hadn’t seen of him before. Twelve years was a long time. “You know, I think I missed you and Harrison the most?”
“The most of who? Not more than your parents. I heard you weren’t talking to them.”
“I wasn’t. Kurt’s mother dragged him off mid-semester just to get him away from me. I felt like a leper, unwanted by everyone and my family couldn’t understand my pain.” Peregrine took a deep breath. “But I associated with them because I had to. I hung out with you and Harrison and the others because I wanted to, but I was so hurt that I thought everyone agreed with the ones telling me that this meant I wasn’t gay.”
He smiled at his friend. “But I guess, being gay, you wouldn’t have said that.”
Tank shook his head. “I would have been outraged on your behalf. But I might have tried to seduce you, which would have messed up both out futures.”
He smiled at Saf. “I like the life I have now.”
Saf bumped his shoulder against Tank’s arm. “Good.”
“You have a nice sweet little husband and two precious kids. I want to put you on canvas. Do you have a spot to hang a painting?”
“How big is it?”
“How big is your space?”
Saf passed Knox back to Tank and took the spoon. “Later. Dinner is ready.”
Tank had such a sweet little househusband. No wonder he was thrilled. Peregrine just needed to get the joy down in paint.
--
Kurt sat back on Zan’s couch with Olivia in his lap. She really should be in bed. She had school the next day. Keith and Casey were saying their goodbyes in the kitchen.
Hunter looked at his hands then the floor then toward the kitchen and back at his hands. “I…”
Keith walked into the living room and held out his arms for Olivia.
“Dad?”
Keith smiled at Hunter. “What is it my boy?”
“I want… I think I want… to stay with you tonight.”
Keith’s grin brightened. “I’d like that, but there isn’t any rush.”
“No.” Hunter squared his shoulders. “I want to try.”
Kurt passed Olivia to Casey. “Why don’t you leave a toothbrush here?”
Zan put her hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “You will always be welcome and no one’s feelings will be hurt if you need a break from their house for a while.”
“Kurt is going to see Peregrine tomorrow and he won’t be home. And… and I want him near.” Hunter looked at the floor.
Kurt patted Hunter’s shoulder. “We understand. Do you need to pack?”
Hunter shook his head. “I did that this afternoon.”
“Oh, my son.” Keith got down on his knees. “You are making me very happy.”
Olivia stirred. “Hunter’s going to sleep in his room?”
Casey nodded. “For tonight.”
Olivia laid her head back against his shoulder. “If you are Hunter’s father, are you going to be mine too?”
Casey smiled. “If that’s what you want.”
Olivia nodded. “But we have to decide what to call you.”
Casey grinned at Keith. “Don’t I get a vote?”
“No.”
Casey laughed. “We better put this one to bed. I hope she’s open to negotiations in the morning.”
Keith brushed his fingers along Casey’s cheek. “I’m sure she will be. Hunter, get your bag. Goodnight all.”
He carried Hunter’s bag out to the car. Kurt sat back on the couch. “I should go too.”
“You say as you sit there.” Zan grinned.
“Not all of us sleep in until eight.”
She grinned wider. “The perks of not having an office job.”
Kurt nodded. He pulled himself to his feet.
“Kurt, darling,” said Autumn. “I found my little present. Thank you.”
Zan looked at it. “Not so little.”
Autumn grinned. “And you have one too.”
“I do?” Zan rushed to her studio. She was back a moment later and threw her arms around Kurt. “You have got to be my favorite big brother in the whole world.”
Autumn joined the hug.
Kurt wrapped an arm around each of them. “And you are my favorite sisters, and that means something because I actually have one.”
Zan laughed and stepped back. “Now go home you big lug and go enjoy your men this weekend and tell them to come back soon. I miss them both.”
Kurt nodded. That was what he planned. “I’m glad Hunter feels safe enough to stay with Keith.”
Autumn nodded. “His therapist had a huge difference as have you.”
Zan cracked up. “We should make a thank you to his therapist, a plaque or something that says, ‘Everything’s better with Bakkon.’”
Autumn rolled her eyes. But Zan’s laughter was infection. Kurt snickered over it all the way home. It was good to laugh.
--
Emil took a sip from his cup. He’d been worried about the evening because Tank had been so effusive in his affection for Peregrine, but that must just be the way he is. He was obviously in love with his husband. Saf, on the other hand, was a little distant, but Emil could live with that.
Tank got up and carried Kali to bed. The kids had been allowed to stay up after they got ready for bed, but Kali hadn’t lasted ten minutes. Knox was dosing off as he sucked on his fist, but he wasn’t yet asleep enough to move according to Tank and he was the expert. Plus when Saf held Knox he was less ridged.
Peregrine’s pencil was loud in the quite house. He was deep in his sketch. Emil was glad he’d brought an extra sketchbook and more lead.
“How long have you two been together?” asked Saf.
“Six years.”
Saf frowned. “How old are you?”
He was one to talk. He couldn’t be older than his early twenties.
“Twenty-seven. I met him when I was almost twenty-one.”
Saf bit his lip.
Tank sat beside Saf, wrapped an arm across his shoulders, and grinned. “If you don’t mind my saying so, you look years younger.”
Emil shrugged. “People say that. How about you two?”
“We met when I was in LA. Saf’s family owns a restaurant around the corner from where I worked. I used to eat there after work just to see the beautiful young bus boy.” Tank grinned at Saf, who smiled up at him.
Peregrine turned a page. “And let me guess. Tank was very affectionate with you, but as you never met him with anyone else, you didn’t know that’s just the way he is.”
Saf frowned and looked down at his son. Tank laughed. “That’s about it. You can’t imagine the headache when he discovered my dreadful secret. I have never in my life seen anyone so angry, but that just proved that he was in love with me.”
Peregrine smiled. “Tank: always looking at the bright side of everything.”
Tank grinned back. “That’s me. I had to work to earn back his trust, and those weeks showed me that I was definitely, totally in love with him.”
Saf looked up at Tank and smiled slowly. “He groveled.”
“I did and I’d do it again.”
Saf eyed him. “You better not need to do it again.”
Tank put his hand on his heart. “I swear.”
“You better.” Saf settled back against Tank.
Tank kissed his head. “And finally back on his good side, I got down on my knee and bagged him to marry me. He said no.”
Emil sat down his cup. “Because it wasn’t legal?”
Saf shook his head. “Because I wasn’t eighteen yet.”
“But his family saw us and took his answer for a yes and they closed the restaurant down for his birthday and after a giant party, I took him home with me.”
“That wasn’t a party.” Safron pushed his head against Tank’s shoulder. “That was a wedding.”
Tank grinned. “And I knew he wanted a baby, so the next week we went to meet with an adoption expert and she said we hadn’t be together long enough to have a child placed with us, but she wanted us to come back in a year or so because people who wanted dark, handicapped kids were few and far between.”
“My family fled a war.” Saf traced his baby’s lip. “They all have scars. My grandmother has been in a wheelchair since before I can remember.”
“But then marriage became legal and I rushed him to the courthouse without waiting for his family to throw another party —”
“Wedding.”
“— which was good because it was only legal for a month. But a marriage license opened doors for us and three weeks later we brought Kali home. His family threw another party.”
“Of course they did.”
Tank gave Saf a squeeze. “Kali was four years old and she dragged her self across the floor because no one in her life had the time and the patience to teach her to walk in braces. Saf did. His family was wonderful too; Kali simply bloomed under their attention. We are up here because my mother refuses to move to the civilized world and she doesn’t have anyone but me. But if I had my way Kali would be going to school with all her cousins around to protect her.”
Saf frowned. “I don’t think her teacher here likes her.”
Peregrine looked up. “I got that impression too. School has barely started and that teacher was already out of patience. I say give your mother an open-ended invitation and pack your babies up and go to where they will be safe and happy.”
Tank smiled. “This coming from a man who didn’t speak to his mother for a dozen years.”
Peregrine shrugged and added a line to the paper. “She could have called. I wouldn’t have hung up on her.”
“They did send you mail.” Emil rubbed his toes against Peregrine’s leg.
“Christmas cards. Christmas cards are about as impersonal as you can get and still pay postage. I work with homeless kids. The most precious thing you can give your children is safety. Everything else comes second.”
Tank leaned his head against Saf’s. “Do you see a lot of hurt kids?”
“That’s what the shelter is full of. I can’t think of a single child there who was safe physically, emotionally, mentally, and safe to be who they were born to be.”
“But,” said Emil. “We can save them one at a time.”
He told about his life in foster care and being adopted by his wonderful father and how Dad just kept on giving his love to more children in need.
Saf took Tank’s hand. “I want a big family. I want to save all the little ones we can.”
Tank held him tight. “We will, baby, we will.”
And Emil was sure they would.
Title: One at a Time
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter seventy-three of
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: glass, questions, creativity, hearts, gift cards, waves, hugs, books, giggles, sketches, domesticity, joy, a request, a title, hugs, laughter, ages, a story
Length: about 2,700 words
Summary: Kurt spends the evening with family. Peregrine catches up with an old friend. And Emil is thought to be younger than he is.
Master list
Kurt rolled the hot glass in red frit and put it back in the furnace.
“Why don’t you just start with red glass?” asked Casey.
“The red we use looks black unless the color is thin enough for light to penetrate.”
Casey nodded, but Kurt could tell he had more questions. Kurt took the glass from the fire and rolled it on the table. “This is to cool the glass down enough to work with.”
Kurt used the tools to form the glass into a heart then he snapped it off the pontil and set it in the kiln. He explained about what happened if glass cooled unevenly and how the kiln prevented that.
Hunter frowned. “That isn’t Peregrine’s color of red.”
“I know.” Kurt sighed. “I need to work on that too, but I thought I better practice hearts. Maybe Mike can sell them at his gallery.”
He showed off how to make a heart from a bubble of glass.
Keith stood up from the lampwork desk. “I can’t believe it. I made something.”
Casey grinned. “You make stuff all the time.”
Keith grinned at Hunter then wrapped his arm around Casey’s waist. “But this was something so fragile and pretty that it reminded me of you.”
Casey arched an eyebrow. “Really?”
Zan adjusted the stool. “Solid glass isn’t that fragile. It can take quite the hit without breaking.”
“Well my Casey is more fragile than he lets on, but I wouldn’t want to break either of them.”
Casey leaned against Keith’s chest. They were really working at this showing affection thing. Or maybe it came natural to them.
“Casey, do you want to make anything?” Zan asked.
Casey glanced up at Keith. “I like the hearts Kurt made. Could I make something like that but smaller? Maybe the size to drop in a pocket or on a table to remind Keith that I’m thinking of him?”
“How romantic.” Autumn stepped into the room. “Zan can show you how to do anything. Hunter, I need you for a moment if you aren’t busy. Olivia wants your advice.”
Hunter followed her out the door. Zan went over the rules for the lamp and got Casey comfortable on the stool. While Casey’s first attempt at lampwork kept everyone’s attention, Kurt pinned a gift certificate to Zan’s glass vender onto the corkboard where she pinned her ideas. He had another for the store Autumn like to shop at. Zan and Autumn were generous with their time, the least he could be, as a friend, was generous with his money.
--
Peregrine pulled up in front of Tank’s house. Kali waved from the window. A kid in braces probably had to learn patience. He wasn’t going to make her wait a second longer than he had to. Emil grabbed a bag from the backseat, so he was still seated when Peregrine got around the car. Peregrine pulled him out and kept his hand as they walked up to the house. Emil smiled like that was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Maybe Mom was right. Emil needed more of his attention.
Tank met them at the door. “Come in, come in.”
He pulled first Emil then Peregrine into hugs. Saf smiled at them. Knox held out his arms. Peregrine snatched him up. “Let’s go see your sister.”
Kali was still by the window. Peregrine sat down beside her. “Emil’s here now. Do you remember you question?”
She bit her lip. Emil sat down on the floor. “Would you like me to read to you? I brought some books. Are there any you haven’t read?”
“Papa?”
Tank lifted Kali up and sat down. “Let’s see them.”
Five minutes later Kali was on Emil’s lap as he read to her about tigers. Knox was on his Papa’s lap, giggling as Tank played with him and Peregrine had finished his first sketch for Kali. He was sure she was going to want another. He got up and went into the kitchen where Saf was stirring sauce in a pan.
“If you thought this would be a night of stimulating adult conversation, I’m sorry.”
Saf smiled and shook his head. “That’s ok.”
Peregrine turned his sketchbook to a new page. “What’s it like being married to Tank?”
Saf looked up.
“I mean, as a kid he was full of energy and always had the greatest idea for things to do. I was just wondering what he was like as an adult.”
Saf grinned. “I’m happier than I have ever been.”
Peregrine grinned back. “That’s what I like to hear.”
Tank zoomed in with Knox. “Peregrine, are you seducing my husband?”
Peregrine laughed. “As pretty as he is, I think you can keep him.”
He added a light to Saf’s eyes that had appeared when Tank came into view.
Knox leaned toward Saf and Saf took him. Tank took his turn stirring the sauce. “So you think my husband is pretty?”
Peregrine grinned. “That is just to be expected since you’ve always liked pretty things.”
“I have?”
Peregrine nodded and turned the page. Domestic Tank was a side Peregrine hadn’t seen of him before. Twelve years was a long time. “You know, I think I missed you and Harrison the most?”
“The most of who? Not more than your parents. I heard you weren’t talking to them.”
“I wasn’t. Kurt’s mother dragged him off mid-semester just to get him away from me. I felt like a leper, unwanted by everyone and my family couldn’t understand my pain.” Peregrine took a deep breath. “But I associated with them because I had to. I hung out with you and Harrison and the others because I wanted to, but I was so hurt that I thought everyone agreed with the ones telling me that this meant I wasn’t gay.”
He smiled at his friend. “But I guess, being gay, you wouldn’t have said that.”
Tank shook his head. “I would have been outraged on your behalf. But I might have tried to seduce you, which would have messed up both out futures.”
He smiled at Saf. “I like the life I have now.”
Saf bumped his shoulder against Tank’s arm. “Good.”
“You have a nice sweet little husband and two precious kids. I want to put you on canvas. Do you have a spot to hang a painting?”
“How big is it?”
“How big is your space?”
Saf passed Knox back to Tank and took the spoon. “Later. Dinner is ready.”
Tank had such a sweet little househusband. No wonder he was thrilled. Peregrine just needed to get the joy down in paint.
--
Kurt sat back on Zan’s couch with Olivia in his lap. She really should be in bed. She had school the next day. Keith and Casey were saying their goodbyes in the kitchen.
Hunter looked at his hands then the floor then toward the kitchen and back at his hands. “I…”
Keith walked into the living room and held out his arms for Olivia.
“Dad?”
Keith smiled at Hunter. “What is it my boy?”
“I want… I think I want… to stay with you tonight.”
Keith’s grin brightened. “I’d like that, but there isn’t any rush.”
“No.” Hunter squared his shoulders. “I want to try.”
Kurt passed Olivia to Casey. “Why don’t you leave a toothbrush here?”
Zan put her hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “You will always be welcome and no one’s feelings will be hurt if you need a break from their house for a while.”
“Kurt is going to see Peregrine tomorrow and he won’t be home. And… and I want him near.” Hunter looked at the floor.
Kurt patted Hunter’s shoulder. “We understand. Do you need to pack?”
Hunter shook his head. “I did that this afternoon.”
“Oh, my son.” Keith got down on his knees. “You are making me very happy.”
Olivia stirred. “Hunter’s going to sleep in his room?”
Casey nodded. “For tonight.”
Olivia laid her head back against his shoulder. “If you are Hunter’s father, are you going to be mine too?”
Casey smiled. “If that’s what you want.”
Olivia nodded. “But we have to decide what to call you.”
Casey grinned at Keith. “Don’t I get a vote?”
“No.”
Casey laughed. “We better put this one to bed. I hope she’s open to negotiations in the morning.”
Keith brushed his fingers along Casey’s cheek. “I’m sure she will be. Hunter, get your bag. Goodnight all.”
He carried Hunter’s bag out to the car. Kurt sat back on the couch. “I should go too.”
“You say as you sit there.” Zan grinned.
“Not all of us sleep in until eight.”
She grinned wider. “The perks of not having an office job.”
Kurt nodded. He pulled himself to his feet.
“Kurt, darling,” said Autumn. “I found my little present. Thank you.”
Zan looked at it. “Not so little.”
Autumn grinned. “And you have one too.”
“I do?” Zan rushed to her studio. She was back a moment later and threw her arms around Kurt. “You have got to be my favorite big brother in the whole world.”
Autumn joined the hug.
Kurt wrapped an arm around each of them. “And you are my favorite sisters, and that means something because I actually have one.”
Zan laughed and stepped back. “Now go home you big lug and go enjoy your men this weekend and tell them to come back soon. I miss them both.”
Kurt nodded. That was what he planned. “I’m glad Hunter feels safe enough to stay with Keith.”
Autumn nodded. “His therapist had a huge difference as have you.”
Zan cracked up. “We should make a thank you to his therapist, a plaque or something that says, ‘Everything’s better with Bakkon.’”
Autumn rolled her eyes. But Zan’s laughter was infection. Kurt snickered over it all the way home. It was good to laugh.
--
Emil took a sip from his cup. He’d been worried about the evening because Tank had been so effusive in his affection for Peregrine, but that must just be the way he is. He was obviously in love with his husband. Saf, on the other hand, was a little distant, but Emil could live with that.
Tank got up and carried Kali to bed. The kids had been allowed to stay up after they got ready for bed, but Kali hadn’t lasted ten minutes. Knox was dosing off as he sucked on his fist, but he wasn’t yet asleep enough to move according to Tank and he was the expert. Plus when Saf held Knox he was less ridged.
Peregrine’s pencil was loud in the quite house. He was deep in his sketch. Emil was glad he’d brought an extra sketchbook and more lead.
“How long have you two been together?” asked Saf.
“Six years.”
Saf frowned. “How old are you?”
He was one to talk. He couldn’t be older than his early twenties.
“Twenty-seven. I met him when I was almost twenty-one.”
Saf bit his lip.
Tank sat beside Saf, wrapped an arm across his shoulders, and grinned. “If you don’t mind my saying so, you look years younger.”
Emil shrugged. “People say that. How about you two?”
“We met when I was in LA. Saf’s family owns a restaurant around the corner from where I worked. I used to eat there after work just to see the beautiful young bus boy.” Tank grinned at Saf, who smiled up at him.
Peregrine turned a page. “And let me guess. Tank was very affectionate with you, but as you never met him with anyone else, you didn’t know that’s just the way he is.”
Saf frowned and looked down at his son. Tank laughed. “That’s about it. You can’t imagine the headache when he discovered my dreadful secret. I have never in my life seen anyone so angry, but that just proved that he was in love with me.”
Peregrine smiled. “Tank: always looking at the bright side of everything.”
Tank grinned back. “That’s me. I had to work to earn back his trust, and those weeks showed me that I was definitely, totally in love with him.”
Saf looked up at Tank and smiled slowly. “He groveled.”
“I did and I’d do it again.”
Saf eyed him. “You better not need to do it again.”
Tank put his hand on his heart. “I swear.”
“You better.” Saf settled back against Tank.
Tank kissed his head. “And finally back on his good side, I got down on my knee and bagged him to marry me. He said no.”
Emil sat down his cup. “Because it wasn’t legal?”
Saf shook his head. “Because I wasn’t eighteen yet.”
“But his family saw us and took his answer for a yes and they closed the restaurant down for his birthday and after a giant party, I took him home with me.”
“That wasn’t a party.” Safron pushed his head against Tank’s shoulder. “That was a wedding.”
Tank grinned. “And I knew he wanted a baby, so the next week we went to meet with an adoption expert and she said we hadn’t be together long enough to have a child placed with us, but she wanted us to come back in a year or so because people who wanted dark, handicapped kids were few and far between.”
“My family fled a war.” Saf traced his baby’s lip. “They all have scars. My grandmother has been in a wheelchair since before I can remember.”
“But then marriage became legal and I rushed him to the courthouse without waiting for his family to throw another party —”
“Wedding.”
“— which was good because it was only legal for a month. But a marriage license opened doors for us and three weeks later we brought Kali home. His family threw another party.”
“Of course they did.”
Tank gave Saf a squeeze. “Kali was four years old and she dragged her self across the floor because no one in her life had the time and the patience to teach her to walk in braces. Saf did. His family was wonderful too; Kali simply bloomed under their attention. We are up here because my mother refuses to move to the civilized world and she doesn’t have anyone but me. But if I had my way Kali would be going to school with all her cousins around to protect her.”
Saf frowned. “I don’t think her teacher here likes her.”
Peregrine looked up. “I got that impression too. School has barely started and that teacher was already out of patience. I say give your mother an open-ended invitation and pack your babies up and go to where they will be safe and happy.”
Tank smiled. “This coming from a man who didn’t speak to his mother for a dozen years.”
Peregrine shrugged and added a line to the paper. “She could have called. I wouldn’t have hung up on her.”
“They did send you mail.” Emil rubbed his toes against Peregrine’s leg.
“Christmas cards. Christmas cards are about as impersonal as you can get and still pay postage. I work with homeless kids. The most precious thing you can give your children is safety. Everything else comes second.”
Tank leaned his head against Saf’s. “Do you see a lot of hurt kids?”
“That’s what the shelter is full of. I can’t think of a single child there who was safe physically, emotionally, mentally, and safe to be who they were born to be.”
“But,” said Emil. “We can save them one at a time.”
He told about his life in foster care and being adopted by his wonderful father and how Dad just kept on giving his love to more children in need.
Saf took Tank’s hand. “I want a big family. I want to save all the little ones we can.”
Tank held him tight. “We will, baby, we will.”
And Emil was sure they would.
