Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 23007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“Well, uh, we don’t know, but I had you. I swear,” Mum says.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“We weren’t sure how you’d react. When you were a baby, it was easy. The four of us did it all. Feeding, changing, soothing. Even as you got older the first six years of your life, we carried on as we always did, but then someone said something to us when you started primary school. We didn’t want you to be embarrassed. You were getting more acting jobs. We knew you were going to be a big star, Patience. We didn’t want the press to get wind of unconventional lifestyle and cause you problems down the road. We did what we thought was best. You don’t remember Ray and Rita being here all the time?” I nod because I do remember it. My mind flashes back to the time I fell off of my bicycle and Rita was the only one home. She didn’t work when I was little. She bandaged my knee and kissed my boo-boo. I vividly remember saying “thank you, Mama.” How in the hell could I have forgotten that? Who forgets a second set of parents? A self-absorbed bitch that’s who.
“I do. Rita stayed at home with me during the summer.” I look her, really look at her. She used to hang the moon for me, and I just forgot about it. I can’t imagine what she’s been going through all these years. As Auntie Rita, I loved her, but it couldn’t have been the same for her and it certainly wasn’t the same for me. My budding success robbed us. I have to make it right, but not tonight. Not while everyone is so… undressed.
“That’s right. I didn’t work. They all did, but I took care of the house and cooking.”
“Toad in the Hole,” I murmur, suddenly vividly remembering making it by her side in the house we all must have lived in before I started school.
“That’s right. It’s her recipe.”
Okay. I’m in Hollywood ninety-nine percent of my time before that I was a theater geek. I’ve seen some crazy shite before. I’m also pretty sure everyone is embarrassed by their parents at some point during their awkward adolescence. I can totally handle this.
“What kind of quad?” I ask. My dad, Roger, I guess I need to start differentiating, nods like he knows what I’m meaning, which is good, because I have no idea what I mean.
“Quad might be misleading, but that’s what we call it. We are all together, all in love.”
“Desperately and equally,” Rita says, moving closer to my mum, grabbing her hand. I watch as my mum squeezes it.
“Why am I an only child?” I ask, praying that they didn’t stop having kids because of me.
“Rita had a miscarriage about nineteen years ago and neither of us ever got pregnant again,” Mum says.
“Not for lack of trying,” Ray says, making me laugh.
“Jesus, go put something on, Ray,” Dad says. Ray backs out of the room and disappears into the bedroom.
“Nothing has to change, Pum Pum.”
“Um, not to be difficult but this most assuredly changes everything,” I say as Ray comes back into the hallway.
“Patience, please. We are sorry for lying but don’t shut us out,” Mum says, and I smile.
“Mummy, please. You know me. I was just confused, but now my entire childhood makes sense. You should have told me, but I get why you didn’t.”
“What are saying, Paysh?” Ray asks moving to my dad, who takes his hand and Rita’s in his. The four of them are standing, together, like an immovable wall.
“We are a family. We always have been. Now, I have four parents who I’m pretty sure all love me.”
“We do,” Rita and Mum say at the same time. Dad and Ray nod vigorously.
“I knew it. I knew my parent’s best friends wouldn’t come see me in school plays if they didn’t.”
“We should probably tell you one other thing,” Mum hedges.
“What?” I ask, cautiously.
“Okay. This is where it gets legally confusing. I’m married to your dad and Ray is married to Rita, but the four of us did a commitment ceremony as a group and as four separate couples.”
“Okay, so to clarify. Mum and Dad are married in the eyes of the law. As are Ray and Rita. Then Ray and Dad committed to each other, You and Rita committed to each other. Dad and Rita did the same and you and Ray rounded that out.”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Well. I guess I’ll see you guys in the morning then. I quickly buss kisses on each of their cheeks and grab my purse and carry one before dashing up the stairs.” As I walk past the bedroom, I glance inside. The largest bed I’ve ever seen in my life is in there as well as several dressers, and not one, but two sex swings hung right next to each other in one corner. Nope. Not going there.