Widower
Chapter 4
"Alfred, I can't see!" Matthew whined.
"I'll tell you what they're doing, stop pulling on me!" Alfred said.
They were on the top step of the slide and spying on their dads. There was only room enough for one to peek over the metal poles that served as a fence, and Alfred was hogging the spot.
"But I wanna see, too!" Matthew stomped his foot.
"Okay! They're not doing anything anyway," Alfred moved from the fence as Matthew quickly took over.
"No, but they're sitting close. Daddy and Papa used to do that," Matthew said.
"You remember your daddy?" Alfred asked suddenly. He sat at the top of the slide, his chubby legs hanging down the bright red plastic.
"Well, yeah. Don't you remember your mommy?" Matthew replied.
"No. I was too little when she went to heaven," Alfred said sadly.
Matthew turned away from their dads to look at Alfred. He looked so small and sad sitting at the top of the slide. "Its okay," Matthew grabbed Alfreds pudgy and dirty hand. "I remember my daddy, but I still get sad, too."
Alfred smiled thankfully. "Wanna play tag?"
"Yeah. You're it!" Matthew pushed Alfred down the slide, giggling.
"Cheater!" Alfred called as he tried to stop himself. He wouldn't let Mattie get away!
"So, I get inside the house, mind you I smell something burning," Francis talked with his hands, a lot. "And he's asleep on the couch with our newborn son on the ground with lasagna burning away in the oven!"
Arthur laughed. "Did you guys not have fire alarms?"
"We do, but since he always burnt things, he disabled them," Francis shook his head with a fond grin. "I turn off the oven and make sure it's not on fire, then I go pick Matthew up. Poor thing was coughing on the smoke, I smack Andrew awake and he looks at me like I'm the bad guy!" Francis finished with a laugh.
"That's awful!" Arthur said, though he too was chuckling. "Sounds like me, Audra had banned me from the kitchen the moment we got that house."
"No wonder Alfred asked for seconds last night. He's starving!" Francis joked.
Arthur punched his arm. "Shut it. He will eat anything."
Francis laughed. "So does Matthew. I still have to take things from him he thinks he can eat."
They finished laughing before Francis nudged Arthur. "Okay, what's your favorite Audra story?"
"Don't get weirded out," Arthur said with a grin, "But this story is a little crazy."
"Oh, no." Francis leaned closer to Arthur. It was nice having someone to talk to. Especially someone who understood. Francis didn't want to forget Andrew and move on. People didn't know he would always love Andrew. Death didn't mean you stopped loving the person, and Arthur understood that. Sharing their stories helped heal the sting he felt when he thought of burning lasagna, or how Matthew would cry for his daddy when Francis wasn't enough.
"We were spring cleaning and Audra found an old box of condoms. She set them on the counter to throw away or put in her junk box. Anyway, a little while later, Alfred's mad that the balloons won't work." Arthur laughed behind his hand as Francis cracked up beside him. "He came into the living room throwing a huge tantrum about the condoms not blowing up right."
"I can't wait until he's old enough to understand that story," Francis chuckled.
"His face was covered in the lube and he kept saying his mouth tasted funny." Arthur laughed at the memory. Alfred had been barely to his knee when he discovered the 'balloons.'
Francis shook his head and wiped at his eyes. "We have some pretty crazy kids."
Arthur nodded. "At least they're cute."
"I had no idea a British man could be so witty," Francis grinned.
Rolling his eyes, Arthur found Alfred bolting from the bottom the slide. "I had no idea a French man could make good company."
Francis watched Matthew sprint after Alfred, both of them shouting. "Now you're just being cruel."
Arthur let out a snort of amusement. They sat in comfortable silence until Francis spoke again.
"Would you ever remarry?"
Arthur frowned. "I don't know. It's hard to date someone while raising a kid on your own. Plus, I don't think many women would want to date a widowed father of an adopted child. That's a lot of baggage," Arthur looked up at Francis. "What about you?"
Francis shrugged. "It would be nice to have someone again. I would just need Matthew to be okay with it."
"Of course Matthew should be okay with it. Dating someone that makes your child uncomfortable is cause for disaster," Arthur said.
"He's just so shy. I'm worried he won't ever be okay with me dating," Francis replied.
"Well, Alfred can help with that," he waved a hand over to their sons, who had added a small group of children to their game. Alfred and Matthew were obviously in charge. "Being shy, I mean"
Francis smiled as he watched Matthew chant something about a tiger getting his toe caught. Then he pointed a chubby finger at an adorable girl with mocha skin and wild curls, dubbing her 'it.' Screaming with laughter, the children scattered and the girl chased them.
"It would be nice if he wasn't so shy. He's always on my leg at family parties," Francis g rinned. "Andrew would carry him around all the time. It's a wonder he can walk."
Arthur chuckled. "When we first got Alfred, Audra practically moved into the nursery. I had to drag her to our room most nights."
"She sounds amazing, Arthur," Francis said, suddenly solemn. "I bet she was a wonderful mother."
"Andrew sounds pretty great, too," Arthur glanced at Francis. They both wore smiles. "Matthew was lucky to have him. Even for such a short time."
They weren't happy smiles, but both men felt a release on their hearts as they talked about those who left earth too early. Arthur hadn't felt this happy since before that call from the hospital. Francis hadn't felt his chest this light since that dreadful day on Canyon Highway.
"Would you like to come over for dinner?" Arthur suddenly asked.
"Didn't you just say you were banned from the kitchen?" Francis teased.
Arthur shoved his shoulder. "It's movie-pizza night. Alfred's favorite. "
Francis beamed. "Sounds like fun. We'll be over around five?"
A small wave of relief fell over Arthur. He had been wary about asking Francis to come over. He hadn't had much company since Audra died. She had been the one with all the friends. Plus, asking so suddenly made it almost feel like it was a date between two middle schoolers.
"Great. Alfred is going to be thrilled," Arthur checked his watch and found it well into lunch time. "We better go, Alfred will be needing lunch."
Francis stood. "Same as Matthew. He gets cranky when he's not fed," he held his hand out to Arthur, who took it shyly.
"Alfred's the same way," he stood and (almost) reluctantly let go of Francis's hand. He looked over the play equipment. A group of men and women, most of them holding the hands of children. One man stayed back, standing by the slide, waiting for his child to come down.
Francis smiled and turned to the playground. "Matthew! Alfred!" Identical heads looked up from the top of the slide. "Let's go!"
"Coming, Papa!" Matthew called.
Alfred waved his arm wildly before planting himself at the top of the slide. "Did you see their hands?"
"What?" Matthew asked.
"They held hands! Didn't your Daddy and Papa do that?" Alfred grinned.
The lightbulb turned on and Matthew beamed. "Our plan is working!"
Alfred laughed and high-fived Matthew before pushing himself down the slide. He laughed all the way down the twists and turns. He and Mattie were going to be brothers! It was going to be so awesome!
At the bottom of the slide, he ran into a grown-up's knees. With a small 'oof' sound, Alfred stumbled back to the end of the slide.
"Oh! I'm sorry, are you alright?" the man asked.
Alfred looked at the grown-up. He was wearing a ballcap with the bill low over his eyes. Alfred couldn't see most of his face. "I'm okay, my daddy will check anyway."
The man grinned. "Good, is anyone else coming down the slide?"
"Just my friend, Mattie," Alfred replied. He hopped off the slide. "It's against the rules to stand at the bottom, unless you're catching someone."
Another grin. "Thank you, I'll remember that."
Alfred offered a weak smile, very different than his usual one. "I have to go to my daddy now."
"Of course! Bye-bye," the man waved.
Alfred didn't bother to wave back. He bolted around the man and end of the slide and to his daddy. The man gave him the heebie-jeebies.
"Daddy!" Alfred cheered and jumped on Arthur's arm, practically dragging him down. "Can Francis and Mattie come to our pizza night? I wanna watch the movie with Olaf!"
Arthur staggered before altering his balance to hold Alfred up. "Why don't you ask Francis if he wants to come over?" he gave Francis a look that only parents teaching manners could understand.
Alfred groaned but planted his feet, and in his best voice, asked Francis to dinner.
Francis laughed. "We would love to."
"Awesome! Daddy gets pizza and breadsticks and sauce and sometimes we have rootbeer floats!"
"That sounds like lots of fun! Matthew and I will be there," Francis tousled Alfreds hair and was once again reminded of how similar the two boys are.
Francis looked behind Alfred, expecting Matthew would be close since they were both on the slide. He only saw the mostly empty playground, most of the kids gone home for lunch.
"Was Matthew behind you on the slide, Al?" Francis asked.
"Yeah. He was probably waiting for the guy to move. Mattie always waits until no one is at the bottom. It's a rule," Alfred said.
"Wait, there was a guy at the bottom of the slide?" Arthur knelt down and looked his son in the eyes.
"Yeah, I hit his legs. I told him the rule though. He said okay and I came here," Alfred frowned. "Was that bad?"
"No, baby," Arthur looked up at Francis who was frantically scanning the playground. "Did this man say anything else? Anything about Mattie?"
"No. He just said he would follow the rule," Alfred followed Arthur's gaze to Francis. He was now at the base of the slide, calling Matthew's name. "What happened?"
"I don't know, baby," Arthur stood and clutched Alfred's hand. "Don't let go, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy."
Arthur jogged over to Francis and placed his free hand on his shoulder. "Any sign of him?"
"No, he would have heard me," Francis's eyes were swimming with tears. His face had taken on an ashy color.
"We'll find him," Arthur squeezed Francis's shoulder.
Francis barely nodded before turning back to the playground. "Matthew!" Only silence answered him.
Arthur looked around before spotting a few women sitting on a bench nearby. Clutching Alfred's hand, he went to them.
"Excuse me," he approached the women. They broke off their conversation and gazed at Arthur. "I'm looking for a boy. He looks just like my son here," he pointed to Alfred. "His name is Matthew, he seemed to have wandered off."
The women dropped their eyes to Alfred, who was becoming upset. Where was Mattie? And why was Francis crying?
"Oh, yes. He looks familiar. The other one had longer hair though," one woman said. She was slim in her slacks and pumps.
"You're right, Emma," the other woman, a slightly plump girl with a pencil skirt. "He was with a man."
Arthur felt his breath catch. "Did you see which way they were going?"
"Er, yes," the first woman said. "Down that way," she pointed north. The street opened up to parked cars and stores. There were a few people gathered on the sidewalk.
"Thank you," Arthur scooped Alfred up and ran to Francis.
"Francis! I know where he went!" Arthur grabbed the other father's arm. "This way, lets go."
Tears had been replaced with rage as they almost ran down the sidewalk. Francis yelled his son's name, frantically checking every child they ran by.
Suddenly, Alfred pointed. "That's the man with the hat."
Arthur found the man. He had a little boy in his arms, one that looked just like Alfred. "Francis! There!" Arthur grabbed Francis's arm and together they ran to the man.
"Matthew!" Francis shouted.
The little blond head whipped around. "Papa!"
The man broke out into a run. People around him shouted for him to slow down. Arthur let Francis go, knowing he could run faster without him and Alfred weighing him down. As Francis sprinted after his son, Arthur dug his phone out to dial 911. Phone pressed to his ear, Arthur continued to follow Francis.
"911, what's your emergency?" a calm woman answered.
"A boy, a little boy has been taken," Arthur huffed. He was struggling to keep Francis in his sight. Alfred wasn't the lightest kid in the world.
"Is he your son? Did you see who took him?"
"No, he's my friend's. He's chasing him right now."
"Matthew! No!" Francis's shriek was accompanied by banging fists on windows to a 2001 sedan.
"He has Matthew in a car!" Arthur wailed into the phone. He watched Francis run with the moving vehicle, desperately trying to open the doors.
"Licence plate!" the dispatcher snapped.
"X53 1YP!" Arthur shouted. He gasped as the sedan jerked to the right, promptly throwing Francis into a gutter. "He's going north on Kiesel Street!"
"Units will be there soon, sir. Can you describe the child?"
Arthur knelt beside Francis. His hands and arms were scraped to the elbow. Tears ran freely down his face. Arthur set Alfred down and wrapped an arm around Francis. "He's five, blond hair, blue eyes. His name is Matthew."
"What was he wearing?"
"Francis," Arthur dropped the phone to his shoulder. "What was Mattie wearing?"
"I don't know," Francis said dumbly.
"Francis, what was Matthew wearing?" Arthur all but yelled in Francis's face.
The man hardly flinched, but some light came into his eyes for a moment. "Purple shirt. There was a green character on it. Jean shorts. Black and blue tennis shoes."
Arthur quickly relayed the information.
"He was Donatello. I was Leonardo," Alfred said suddenly.
"What, Alfred?" Arthur asked.
"He had Donatello on his shirt. The Ninja Turtle," Alfred pointed to his blue shirt. "I was Leonardo."
Arthur watched quietly as Alfred hugged Francis tightly. "You can be Mikey, you're happy like him. Daddy is Raphael because he gets mad like him."
Francis merely stared at Alfred. He had freckles on his nose. They were light, hardly there unless you looked. Matthew had the same freckles. He wrapped his arms around Alfred and cried.