43
Having made his declaration, PJ was instantly stumped for words. Glancing over at Maggie, who sat close beside him, he took a deep breath, almost sighing in relief as Maggie beat him to it.
"You two know how much I love you both, right?" the boys nodded at her, and PJ smiled at the sight. Both boys clearly adored their Mum, loved her with only the adoration that children their age can have. She was their world, and anyone that threatened their Mum, or made her sad as he had, well they would stand up for her with everything that they had.
"Love you Mummy," Joe said softly, and Tom nodded, glancing over at PJ, who gave him a smile in return.
"And I love you too Joe, and you Tom. I really truly do. And I know that you must be feeling a bit confused and scared at the moment, but so are we. PJ and I, we – well – ok. He's telling you the truth. I know it's hard to take in, and I know it seems like I lied to you, but PJ is telling you the truth. He is your Daddy."
Tom sat still on the couch, his little mind confused and bewildered. Beside him, Joe's expression matched his twin's, and it almost broke PJ's heart.
"I know it's scary, and I know it's hard to understand. You have to believe me, though; your Mummy didn't lie to you." PJ said gently. "I know it seems like she did, and I know that she said your Daddy was in Heaven, and now she's saying that I'm your Daddy, but you need to listen carefully and we'll try to explain, ok?"
After what seemed like an eternity to PJ and Maggie, both Tom and Joe nodded, scrunching tighter together, their hands seeking out each other's and holding on tightly. Maggie's heart almost broke at the worry and confusion she saw on their faces, while at the same time swelling in pride at the close bond they shared with one another.
"Ok," She took another deep breath and began to try to explain. "Ok. So, well, a long time before you were born, Mummy used to live in a place called Mount Thomas. It's a long way from here, but it's a beautiful place. There are lots of farms, a fantastic footy oval – " she grinned as two sets of identical blue eyes lit up at that revelation.
"Thought you'd like that! Anyway, you'll just have to take my word for it, Mount Thomas is a great place to live. Anyway, 'tective PJ and I lived there for a long time, and he was my best friend. And then' over time, well, we started to go out together."
"Where did you go?" tom asked, but it was the more astute and insightful Joe that saw what his Mummy was trying to say.
"Like Mummies and Daddies do?" came Joe's quiet voice.
PJ smiled inwardly, Joe's answer intuitive and insightful, just like his Mum.
"Yes mate," PJ answered with a smile. "Yes, your Mummy and I started to go out like Mummies and Daddies do. I fell in love with her, guys, I loved your Mummy so much, and after a while we started talking about getting married"
"And you love 'tective PJ too Mummy?" Tom asked curiously.
"Yes, I loved him too, sweetheart. I loved him lots and lots. As much as you two love your chocolate ice-cream" Maggie revealed, and PJ couldn't help his laughter at the expressions on his son's faces.
"Wow!" Joe said, eyes wide, glancing at Tom. "That's lots and lots and lots!! "Tective PJ, you love Mummy like chocolate ice-cream too?"
Tom was clutching Joe's hand tightly as he waited for PJ to answer. If they were totally honest, they liked 'tective PJ. Liked him lots and lot – chocolate ice-cream lots. He made Mummy smile, and anyone that made Mummy smile made them smile. The only thing that worried them was this thing about him being their Daddy. It couldn't be true, cos Daddy was in Heaven, but there was Mummy, sitting there right in front of them, not looking like she was lying ( which wasn't allowed anyway), there was Mummy saying that 'tective PJ was their Daddy, and – and it was all so confusing…..
"If it's at all possible, I love your Mummy MORE than chocolate ice-cream. Lots and lots and lots more" PJ told them, turning slightly to smile at Maggie, who couldn't help herself, placing a soft kiss on his lips.
"I love you too PJ" she said, lavishing him with a brilliant smile, before turning her attention back to their wide-eyed sons.
"So does that tell you how special it was? How much I cared about your Mummy, and how much she cared about me?"
Joe and Tom nodded, finally understanding how much Mummy and 'tective PJ loved each other.