A Balance of Harmonies: Effort
Feb. 19th, 2013 02:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frogs_of_warI had three weeks busy weeks at work and now is the time for famine. I only work two days this week. I’m going have to ask the deli if they have a few hours to spare. They didn’t last time I asked, but one can hope. And until then I’ll work on finishing the Wolfman story (the notebook I’ve been writing it in before bed is getting full) and Gestures 2 (16k, and several story-days, in and Colt has yet to get more than a kiss from either of his predators).
Title: Effort
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred nine of
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: loneliness, begging, negotiations, intentions, questions, cookies, comfort, a ’20 painting and another, sleep, morning, ignorance, stories, homework, making out
Length: about 2,600 words
Summary: Kurt works alone. Peregrine paints. Emil comforts.
Master list
Kurt set the last two small canvases in the second spare room. Mike had gotten distracted by Peregrine’s portrait of Olivia on their way to the stairs with the first big canvas. He was down there now arguing with Peregrine about viewing it in the gallery.
Kurt could do all the moving himself if he had to, but he’d rather do it with someone else. He was a social animal. He went downstairs. Peregrine’s bag of paints and brushes and his easel were in the ball room. Maybe Kurt had been alone because he was the only one taking everything upstairs.
Emil glanced in from the kitchen. “Willow saved us dinner, but she didn’t know when we’d be back, so it’s going to take twenty more minutes.”
Kurt nodded toward Mike’s begging. “I think they will be at that at least that long.”
Peregrine crossed his arms. “No. You negotiate with me, not Olivia or Keith.”
“But the picture is his and of her.”
“And I’m the artist, who loves them and knows you.”
Olivia hugged Peregrine. “I love you too.”
He patted her back. “They want the painting here. Take a picture of it if you must, but the painting stays here.”
“Please. I’ll pay fifty dollars a week.”
“We already said no.” He flung an arm out and pointed to the door. “Just go.”
Mike crossed his arms and grinned. “I can’t leave while you still have stuff in my van.”
Emil stepped into the living room. “Kurt and I emptied it.”
Mike’s face fell. “Please, man. Please I have to have it.”
Peregrine sighed. “Why?”
“Because you made her beautiful. Not that you aren’t already.” Mike grinned at Olivia. “But a think a lot of other parents would want Peregrine to paint their little sweethearts looking as sweet as you look there.”
Olivia twisted in place, causing her shirts to fluff and rustle. “How sweet do I look?”
Mike had walked into that one. Any compliments to the painting that weren’t compliments to Olivia could be seen as an insult and any compliments to both were to Olivia and not the painting and therefore not a good argument for the painting spending time in Mike’s gallery. He glanced from Peregrine to Emil to Kurt to Keith and then turned back to Olivia. “You are adorable. A lot of parents wished their kids were just as cute.”
Peregrine rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to waste my time painting people’s babies.”
He gave a good impression of someone who didn’t have a soft spot of kids. Mike sighed deeply. “I guess.”
“And I plan on painting Willow and Liam, maybe in several poses.”
Mike’s eyes strayed toward the kitchen. “Will I get any of those?”
“That’s up to them, but two college kids might be convinced to let you borrow one or two for the right price.”
“Please.”
“The sooner you leave, the sooner I can start.”
“I’m going. I’m going.” He turned to the door. “Let me know when to I can pick the first one up.”
Peregrine walked him out.
Willow looked in. “Dinner’s nearly ready.”
Kurt grinned at her. “Thanks.”
“No problem. Did I just hear that someone would be interested in a painting of Liam and me?”
Keith nodded. “That’s sure what it sounded like.”
“Because he wants paintings by Peregrine?”
Kurt hugged her. “Because you two look so good together.”
Willow looked down and back up. “Peregrine isn’t going to give me breasts or anything weird like that?”
“Perish the thought.” Peregrine tossed himself on a chair. “He’s finally gone. Emil, run up to our room. I have cookies in one of my bags. I can’t think of a better time than now to eat them.”
Emil turned to Willow. “If we promise not to ruin our dinner?”
“I only have a dozen,” Peregrine opened his eyes, “and the house has eleven people. I don’t see one cookie ruining anyone’s appetite.”
Willow nodded and Emil ran upstairs. Kurt set beside Peregrine and rubbed his shoulder. Peregrine moved so Kurt could reach more of his back. Kurt accommodated him. He would do what he could to ease Peregrine’s stress, today and forever.
--
Emil lay between his men, nice and warm and comfortable, but knowing Peregrine was just waiting for him to fall asleep to start painting, made falling asleep harder. His body was tired, but his brain wasn’t. Kurt was wide awake as well. His gentle fingers gave him away.
Emil sighed. “Peregrine, paint.”
Peregrine lifted a lock of Emil’s hair. “I can stay.”
“Go.”
Peregrine frowned. “You aren’t just saying that. We hurt you a lot without realizing it. I don’t want to do that again.”
Emil closed his eyes. “That was nothing.”
“Nothing doesn’t leave you sobbing.” Kurt rubbed his face against Emil’s neck.
“It really was nothing.” But Emil felt tears prickling his eyes. “I just…” He didn’t even know what he wanted to say. “I should have told you how I felt earlier.”
Kurt snuggled closer. “I should have known.”
Emil turned. “That’s crazy. I shouldn’t have expected you to read my mind.”
Kurt had only been with them since August and not forever like Emil’s heart felt like he had.
Kurt frowned. “I should have known. Or at least I should have asked.”
Emil kissed him. Kurt eased back onto the bed under him. Emil licked his lips. Kurt was really wonderful, his heart and soul and his handsome body, which practically begged Emil to enjoy him thoroughly. Emil looked over at Peregrine. “You can stay if you like, but I think I need to convince Kurt just how much he means to me.”
He put his hand on Kurt’s chest. “You are such a part of my heart and life that I forget you haven’t been beside me forever. I’ve always had a Kurt shaped whole in my heart.” Emil grinned at Peregrine. “I always thought that I would never find anyone to love me the way I wanted to be loved. And then I found you.” He looked down at Kurt. “And you.”
He kissed Kurt to convey his love and felt love in return.
--
Kurt stroked Emil’s hair. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I should have explained myself.”
But Kurt should have known. “It wasn’t about being useful.”
Emil rolled over and pulled the sheets over his chest. “It wasn’t?”
Kurt sighed. He hadn’t said it right, but now he needed to plow ahead and hope he wasn’t digging himself deeper. “Being useful is just a symptom.”
“Is it, doctor? And what is my underlining problem?”
“I’m sorry.” Kurt was playing psychologist again. Emil hated that. But Kurt liked to talk about things that really mattered now that he had someone he could trust. He rolled over. “Good night.”
“Hey. You don’t get to just turn over and go to sleep after saying that.” Emil leaned on Kurt’s arm. “I… Did I hurt you?”
Kurt shook his head. “I’m sorry I brought up something you don’t want to talk about.”
“But you want to talk about it?”
Kurt turned back over and wrapped an arm around Emil waist before he could get away. “I just want…” he was going to put his foot in it again. He knew he was. “I don’t want to be pushed away. ‘Kurt is a nice enough guy, but only when I’m in the right mood.’”
Emil clung to him. “Don’t feel like that.”
“Why shouldn’t I if you never let me in?
Emil put his chin on Kurt’s chest. “But I did talk to you about it.”
Kurt sighed. “Only superficially and not when you were first upset.”
Emil stared at the lamp. Maybe Kurt had gone too far, but he needed to get it out. “We know, Peregrine and I, that saying you need to be useful is another form of saying you don’t want to be a burden, which you aren’t. To any of us.”
Emil sighed. “You talked about it?”
“Yes, because you didn’t seem to want to. Peregrine and I are with you because that’s where we want to be.” Kurt would say that as many times as necessary.
Emil laid his cheek against Kurt’s chest and drew circles on Kurt’s skin. Kurt picked up Emil’s hand and kissed his fingers. “We love you. All of us. Peregrine and I, and your dad and the rest of your family. We want to be with you, to spend time with you, to be the ones that make you happy, hear you laugh. You don’t need to do anything to deserve our love and attention. You just are and that is enough.”
Emil laughed. “I love you too.”
He climbed onto Kurt and slid a leg between Kurt’s thighs. Kurt reached up for him. He laid a finger on Kurt’s lips. “Do you have more to say?”
Kurt did, but it could wait until after Emil had had his way with him.
--
Peregrine glanced back at the sketch of Willow and Liam. He was starting with them in their Halloween costumes pretending to be uninterested in each other while the sexual tension sizzled. Willow was at the bar with friends who were eyeing Liam and his friends. He was a thug she would never associate with and he stood with his back to her. Peregrine caught them the second after their eyes had met yet again in the mirror above the bar.
A dark haired man shaped like Kurt and a blond who looked vaguely like Emil stood by Liam. Zan and Autumn flirted with each other in the background. Peregrine peopled the rest of the paintings with figures vaguely based on other friends and acquaintances.
He got that painting to nearly complete and started on another canvas. This was Willow in her fluffy turquoise dress, changed a bit to give it a fifties look, at a table with other young people. He did give her breast in this one because she wore padding with this dress. She was visually ignoring Liam who the other girls flirted with. Another young man leaned close to Willow showing off his watch. She was trying not to look bored, but they had most of Liam’s attention.
Peregrine yawned. He should go back to bed now that Emil and Kurt were asleep. He’d stayed with them until they’d both come. They needed a chance to talk things out alone. He looked over the second painting. He’d give the other people faces later. He put away his stuff and made sure that no one would trip over anything on their way to see the paintings.
Then he went to bed. He didn’t want still be up when Keith got up.
His men were curled around each other. He slid into the free side of the bed and fell asleep listening to his men breathe.
--
Emil woke while Kurt was still in the shower. Peregrine slept peacefully. Emil got up without waking him and put on yesterday’s clothes. The smell of coffee wafted up the stairs. Dad must be up.
He was going over a math problem with Tyler. Emil sat at the bar. “You could ask Liam for help.”
Tyler sighed. “I…” He looked toward the stairs. “I don’t want Dakota to know how stupid I am. I shouldn’t even be going to this school.”
“It’s ignorance,” Dad bopped Tyler on the forehead, “not stupidity. Ignorance can be cured. The school stretching you is good. Learn all you can.”
Tyler hung his head. “I’m only going there because Dakota won’t go without me.”
Emil smiled. “He’s pulling you with him, kicking and screaming?”
“No. I mean…” Tyler closed his text book. “I want to be the kind of guy he thinks I am, but I’m not.”
“What kind of guy does he think you are?”
Tyler looked down. “Smart and kind and good.”
“You were smart enough to see a good thing and grasped it. You were kind enough to do what makes you uncomfortable for someone you love. And you’ll never convince me that you are not good.”
“I…”
Dakota and Kurt came down the stairs. Kurt kissed Emil’s cheek. “I didn’t expect you to be up.”
Emil grinned up at him. “I had a good night’s sleep.”
Kurt held him tight.
Dakota nodded at Tyler. “Do you want me to look over your homework?”
Tyler held the book against his chest. “I…”
Dakota touched Tyler’s check. “You are so cute. I don’t expect you to keep up with me, you know. I don’t mind teaching you anything you missed.”
He poured cereal into a bowl. “I want to be a teacher.”
“What do you want to teach?” Emil got the milk out of the fridge.
Dakota shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe one like Kit only for advanced kids.”
“Smart kids.” Tyler frowned.
Dakota pointed his spoon at Tyler. “There you are wrong. I don’t care how smart someone is if they are lazy, I don’t want them. Effort is what got me where I am.”
“I agree.” Kurt put cream and sugar in his coffee. “Art comes easy to me so the effort didn’t feel like effort. With law I felt each and every hour of study, but I put the effort in and got my degree.”
Tyler frowned. “Why?”
“My family were jailers and my house a cage. Law set me free.”
Emil put his hand on Kurt’s back. Foster care had been his cage and turning eighteen had set him free, but at loose ends. Without Dad, his life would have been a lot worse. At least Kurt had had Peregrine to look forward to after he was freed. And Emil, although Kurt hadn’t known it.
“Dad pushed me,” Emil grinned at Dad, “when I had no hope. Writing comes easy, but writing well doesn’t. Each book takes less time because all the things I learned to do and not to do in all the previous books, but I still have to put the effort in or nothing will get done.”
Dad patted his back. “Emil supported himself through his own efforts.”
Emil nodded. “The more I write, the more I get paid.”
Tyler sighed. “I don’t know what I want to be.”
Dad patted his head. “I didn’t know that I wanted build a big family when I was your age.”
“But that isn’t your job!”
Dad laughed. “When I was your age I didn’t even know that someone could run a company that does nothing but change light bulbs for other businesses.”
Tyler poured himself more cereal. “Maybe I should work for you.”
“Are you good with heights? You’ll spend a lot of time up by the ceiling.”
Dakota set down his glass. “How high are the ceilings?”
Dad laughed. “And you have to like to drive. I should take you boys to work with me sometime. You can drive the lifts in the warehouse.”
Dakota grinned. “Sounds like fun. Tyler, let’s go over your homework.”
Tyler took out his math. Emil carried his bowl to the table to be less of a distraction. Kurt came and sat by him and once they were through eating, Kurt led him to the living room couch where they made out. Mornings with his men were delicious.
Title: Effort
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred nine of
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: loneliness, begging, negotiations, intentions, questions, cookies, comfort, a ’20 painting and another, sleep, morning, ignorance, stories, homework, making out
Length: about 2,600 words
Summary: Kurt works alone. Peregrine paints. Emil comforts.
Master list
Kurt set the last two small canvases in the second spare room. Mike had gotten distracted by Peregrine’s portrait of Olivia on their way to the stairs with the first big canvas. He was down there now arguing with Peregrine about viewing it in the gallery.
Kurt could do all the moving himself if he had to, but he’d rather do it with someone else. He was a social animal. He went downstairs. Peregrine’s bag of paints and brushes and his easel were in the ball room. Maybe Kurt had been alone because he was the only one taking everything upstairs.
Emil glanced in from the kitchen. “Willow saved us dinner, but she didn’t know when we’d be back, so it’s going to take twenty more minutes.”
Kurt nodded toward Mike’s begging. “I think they will be at that at least that long.”
Peregrine crossed his arms. “No. You negotiate with me, not Olivia or Keith.”
“But the picture is his and of her.”
“And I’m the artist, who loves them and knows you.”
Olivia hugged Peregrine. “I love you too.”
He patted her back. “They want the painting here. Take a picture of it if you must, but the painting stays here.”
“Please. I’ll pay fifty dollars a week.”
“We already said no.” He flung an arm out and pointed to the door. “Just go.”
Mike crossed his arms and grinned. “I can’t leave while you still have stuff in my van.”
Emil stepped into the living room. “Kurt and I emptied it.”
Mike’s face fell. “Please, man. Please I have to have it.”
Peregrine sighed. “Why?”
“Because you made her beautiful. Not that you aren’t already.” Mike grinned at Olivia. “But a think a lot of other parents would want Peregrine to paint their little sweethearts looking as sweet as you look there.”
Olivia twisted in place, causing her shirts to fluff and rustle. “How sweet do I look?”
Mike had walked into that one. Any compliments to the painting that weren’t compliments to Olivia could be seen as an insult and any compliments to both were to Olivia and not the painting and therefore not a good argument for the painting spending time in Mike’s gallery. He glanced from Peregrine to Emil to Kurt to Keith and then turned back to Olivia. “You are adorable. A lot of parents wished their kids were just as cute.”
Peregrine rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to waste my time painting people’s babies.”
He gave a good impression of someone who didn’t have a soft spot of kids. Mike sighed deeply. “I guess.”
“And I plan on painting Willow and Liam, maybe in several poses.”
Mike’s eyes strayed toward the kitchen. “Will I get any of those?”
“That’s up to them, but two college kids might be convinced to let you borrow one or two for the right price.”
“Please.”
“The sooner you leave, the sooner I can start.”
“I’m going. I’m going.” He turned to the door. “Let me know when to I can pick the first one up.”
Peregrine walked him out.
Willow looked in. “Dinner’s nearly ready.”
Kurt grinned at her. “Thanks.”
“No problem. Did I just hear that someone would be interested in a painting of Liam and me?”
Keith nodded. “That’s sure what it sounded like.”
“Because he wants paintings by Peregrine?”
Kurt hugged her. “Because you two look so good together.”
Willow looked down and back up. “Peregrine isn’t going to give me breasts or anything weird like that?”
“Perish the thought.” Peregrine tossed himself on a chair. “He’s finally gone. Emil, run up to our room. I have cookies in one of my bags. I can’t think of a better time than now to eat them.”
Emil turned to Willow. “If we promise not to ruin our dinner?”
“I only have a dozen,” Peregrine opened his eyes, “and the house has eleven people. I don’t see one cookie ruining anyone’s appetite.”
Willow nodded and Emil ran upstairs. Kurt set beside Peregrine and rubbed his shoulder. Peregrine moved so Kurt could reach more of his back. Kurt accommodated him. He would do what he could to ease Peregrine’s stress, today and forever.
--
Emil lay between his men, nice and warm and comfortable, but knowing Peregrine was just waiting for him to fall asleep to start painting, made falling asleep harder. His body was tired, but his brain wasn’t. Kurt was wide awake as well. His gentle fingers gave him away.
Emil sighed. “Peregrine, paint.”
Peregrine lifted a lock of Emil’s hair. “I can stay.”
“Go.”
Peregrine frowned. “You aren’t just saying that. We hurt you a lot without realizing it. I don’t want to do that again.”
Emil closed his eyes. “That was nothing.”
“Nothing doesn’t leave you sobbing.” Kurt rubbed his face against Emil’s neck.
“It really was nothing.” But Emil felt tears prickling his eyes. “I just…” He didn’t even know what he wanted to say. “I should have told you how I felt earlier.”
Kurt snuggled closer. “I should have known.”
Emil turned. “That’s crazy. I shouldn’t have expected you to read my mind.”
Kurt had only been with them since August and not forever like Emil’s heart felt like he had.
Kurt frowned. “I should have known. Or at least I should have asked.”
Emil kissed him. Kurt eased back onto the bed under him. Emil licked his lips. Kurt was really wonderful, his heart and soul and his handsome body, which practically begged Emil to enjoy him thoroughly. Emil looked over at Peregrine. “You can stay if you like, but I think I need to convince Kurt just how much he means to me.”
He put his hand on Kurt’s chest. “You are such a part of my heart and life that I forget you haven’t been beside me forever. I’ve always had a Kurt shaped whole in my heart.” Emil grinned at Peregrine. “I always thought that I would never find anyone to love me the way I wanted to be loved. And then I found you.” He looked down at Kurt. “And you.”
He kissed Kurt to convey his love and felt love in return.
--
Kurt stroked Emil’s hair. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I should have explained myself.”
But Kurt should have known. “It wasn’t about being useful.”
Emil rolled over and pulled the sheets over his chest. “It wasn’t?”
Kurt sighed. He hadn’t said it right, but now he needed to plow ahead and hope he wasn’t digging himself deeper. “Being useful is just a symptom.”
“Is it, doctor? And what is my underlining problem?”
“I’m sorry.” Kurt was playing psychologist again. Emil hated that. But Kurt liked to talk about things that really mattered now that he had someone he could trust. He rolled over. “Good night.”
“Hey. You don’t get to just turn over and go to sleep after saying that.” Emil leaned on Kurt’s arm. “I… Did I hurt you?”
Kurt shook his head. “I’m sorry I brought up something you don’t want to talk about.”
“But you want to talk about it?”
Kurt turned back over and wrapped an arm around Emil waist before he could get away. “I just want…” he was going to put his foot in it again. He knew he was. “I don’t want to be pushed away. ‘Kurt is a nice enough guy, but only when I’m in the right mood.’”
Emil clung to him. “Don’t feel like that.”
“Why shouldn’t I if you never let me in?
Emil put his chin on Kurt’s chest. “But I did talk to you about it.”
Kurt sighed. “Only superficially and not when you were first upset.”
Emil stared at the lamp. Maybe Kurt had gone too far, but he needed to get it out. “We know, Peregrine and I, that saying you need to be useful is another form of saying you don’t want to be a burden, which you aren’t. To any of us.”
Emil sighed. “You talked about it?”
“Yes, because you didn’t seem to want to. Peregrine and I are with you because that’s where we want to be.” Kurt would say that as many times as necessary.
Emil laid his cheek against Kurt’s chest and drew circles on Kurt’s skin. Kurt picked up Emil’s hand and kissed his fingers. “We love you. All of us. Peregrine and I, and your dad and the rest of your family. We want to be with you, to spend time with you, to be the ones that make you happy, hear you laugh. You don’t need to do anything to deserve our love and attention. You just are and that is enough.”
Emil laughed. “I love you too.”
He climbed onto Kurt and slid a leg between Kurt’s thighs. Kurt reached up for him. He laid a finger on Kurt’s lips. “Do you have more to say?”
Kurt did, but it could wait until after Emil had had his way with him.
--
Peregrine glanced back at the sketch of Willow and Liam. He was starting with them in their Halloween costumes pretending to be uninterested in each other while the sexual tension sizzled. Willow was at the bar with friends who were eyeing Liam and his friends. He was a thug she would never associate with and he stood with his back to her. Peregrine caught them the second after their eyes had met yet again in the mirror above the bar.
A dark haired man shaped like Kurt and a blond who looked vaguely like Emil stood by Liam. Zan and Autumn flirted with each other in the background. Peregrine peopled the rest of the paintings with figures vaguely based on other friends and acquaintances.
He got that painting to nearly complete and started on another canvas. This was Willow in her fluffy turquoise dress, changed a bit to give it a fifties look, at a table with other young people. He did give her breast in this one because she wore padding with this dress. She was visually ignoring Liam who the other girls flirted with. Another young man leaned close to Willow showing off his watch. She was trying not to look bored, but they had most of Liam’s attention.
Peregrine yawned. He should go back to bed now that Emil and Kurt were asleep. He’d stayed with them until they’d both come. They needed a chance to talk things out alone. He looked over the second painting. He’d give the other people faces later. He put away his stuff and made sure that no one would trip over anything on their way to see the paintings.
Then he went to bed. He didn’t want still be up when Keith got up.
His men were curled around each other. He slid into the free side of the bed and fell asleep listening to his men breathe.
--
Emil woke while Kurt was still in the shower. Peregrine slept peacefully. Emil got up without waking him and put on yesterday’s clothes. The smell of coffee wafted up the stairs. Dad must be up.
He was going over a math problem with Tyler. Emil sat at the bar. “You could ask Liam for help.”
Tyler sighed. “I…” He looked toward the stairs. “I don’t want Dakota to know how stupid I am. I shouldn’t even be going to this school.”
“It’s ignorance,” Dad bopped Tyler on the forehead, “not stupidity. Ignorance can be cured. The school stretching you is good. Learn all you can.”
Tyler hung his head. “I’m only going there because Dakota won’t go without me.”
Emil smiled. “He’s pulling you with him, kicking and screaming?”
“No. I mean…” Tyler closed his text book. “I want to be the kind of guy he thinks I am, but I’m not.”
“What kind of guy does he think you are?”
Tyler looked down. “Smart and kind and good.”
“You were smart enough to see a good thing and grasped it. You were kind enough to do what makes you uncomfortable for someone you love. And you’ll never convince me that you are not good.”
“I…”
Dakota and Kurt came down the stairs. Kurt kissed Emil’s cheek. “I didn’t expect you to be up.”
Emil grinned up at him. “I had a good night’s sleep.”
Kurt held him tight.
Dakota nodded at Tyler. “Do you want me to look over your homework?”
Tyler held the book against his chest. “I…”
Dakota touched Tyler’s check. “You are so cute. I don’t expect you to keep up with me, you know. I don’t mind teaching you anything you missed.”
He poured cereal into a bowl. “I want to be a teacher.”
“What do you want to teach?” Emil got the milk out of the fridge.
Dakota shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe one like Kit only for advanced kids.”
“Smart kids.” Tyler frowned.
Dakota pointed his spoon at Tyler. “There you are wrong. I don’t care how smart someone is if they are lazy, I don’t want them. Effort is what got me where I am.”
“I agree.” Kurt put cream and sugar in his coffee. “Art comes easy to me so the effort didn’t feel like effort. With law I felt each and every hour of study, but I put the effort in and got my degree.”
Tyler frowned. “Why?”
“My family were jailers and my house a cage. Law set me free.”
Emil put his hand on Kurt’s back. Foster care had been his cage and turning eighteen had set him free, but at loose ends. Without Dad, his life would have been a lot worse. At least Kurt had had Peregrine to look forward to after he was freed. And Emil, although Kurt hadn’t known it.
“Dad pushed me,” Emil grinned at Dad, “when I had no hope. Writing comes easy, but writing well doesn’t. Each book takes less time because all the things I learned to do and not to do in all the previous books, but I still have to put the effort in or nothing will get done.”
Dad patted his back. “Emil supported himself through his own efforts.”
Emil nodded. “The more I write, the more I get paid.”
Tyler sighed. “I don’t know what I want to be.”
Dad patted his head. “I didn’t know that I wanted build a big family when I was your age.”
“But that isn’t your job!”
Dad laughed. “When I was your age I didn’t even know that someone could run a company that does nothing but change light bulbs for other businesses.”
Tyler poured himself more cereal. “Maybe I should work for you.”
“Are you good with heights? You’ll spend a lot of time up by the ceiling.”
Dakota set down his glass. “How high are the ceilings?”
Dad laughed. “And you have to like to drive. I should take you boys to work with me sometime. You can drive the lifts in the warehouse.”
Dakota grinned. “Sounds like fun. Tyler, let’s go over your homework.”
Tyler took out his math. Emil carried his bowl to the table to be less of a distraction. Kurt came and sat by him and once they were through eating, Kurt led him to the living room couch where they made out. Mornings with his men were delicious.
