Part 65
"When we look at the parable of the sower, we see several different types of people…" Pastor Olivier addressed the congregation.
Meena and Alphonso sat quietly listening to the sermon. Tyler had opted out of church that morning, instead choosing to go see if Ash needed any help.
At the end of the sermon, while they were leaving, a zebra mare came over. "Excuse me, Mrs. Ramirez?"
Meena stopped. "Yeah?"
The zebra extended her hand. "I'm Tina Goodwin. I'm one of the choir directors. I saw your show. I've seen it a few times actually, it's very good. You and Mr. Ramirez would be very welcome to join the choir."
Meena and Alphonso exchanged a glance. "Thank you, Ms. Goodwin. It sounds like fun but we are very busy at the theater…"
She nodded. "I know. Practice is only one night a week, on Wednesdays. And please, call me Tina."
Alphonso chuckled. "We'll consider it, thank you again."
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Eddie read the morning paper while drinking his coffee. He smiled over at Gunter who was eating a kolache. "These reviews are amazing."
Gunter laughed. "It's addicting isn't it. I love reading the reviews."
The sheep nodded while his phone started to ring. He didn't recognize the number but he answered. "Hello?"
"Eddie? Don't hang up, it's your dad. Please don't hang up," the man pleaded urgently.
Eddie rolled his eyes. "What do you want, Mr. Noodlehead?"
"Eddie, I need you to listen to me. Your mother got herself released on bail by throwing me under the bus. She told her lawyer and the judge that I was the one who hired him and set it all up. She's out and I know she's planning something," the older sheep explained.
Brown eyes went wide. "You're kidding…"
"Look, I'm sorry for everything. I deserve what I get. I just couldn't not warn you," Frederick explained. "I'm sorry."
Eddie heard the man's heavy tone. "I'll tell Mama Rosita and Mr. Green," he said.
"I saw your show opening night. They had it on tv down here. Did you really write that?" He asked.
Eddie shrugged. "I co-wrote it with Gunter." He said coldly.
"Well, it was very good. Nothing I say could be enough, Eddie, but I am sorry. And I'm sorry for how I treated your Mr. Moon," he sighed. "I'll let you go now. Just watch out for Adelaide."
Eddie sighed. "Thanks for the heads up… and, Dad, I'm sorry if I've been a disappointment to you."
"No, Eddie. You are not now nor have you ever been a disappointment to me. I'm the one who has been a disappointment. I wish you well, son… the warden is giving me the stink eye, my time is up. Goodbye."
The phone clicked before Eddie could return his farewell. He looked at Gunter. "My… Mrs. Noodlehead got out on bail. I guess she hasn't given up."
Gunter took his hand and squeezed. "No matter what she has planned, I won't let her hurt you." He promised. "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day," he observed. "Should we be doing something?"
The sheep thought about it and smiled. "I have an idea." He bit his lip. He got up to get a fresh drink.
"Aren't you going to call Rosita? Or Marcus?" Gunter asked.
Eddie shook his head and laughed. "Please. I beat the guy she sent after me and I'm not about to fall for her lies again. Seriously, what can she do to me?" They went downstairs.
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Tyler stopped at the local diner and picked up a family-sized breakfast before continuing onto Ash's apartment. He found Clay and Sitara already there with Rosita. They were tackling the housework and entertaining the kids.
"Hey, Tyler," Ash greeted him and he could tell by her expression that she was a little annoyed but trying not to act on it. They were just trying to help in the best way they knew how.
"Hey, how're you doing?" He asked. "I brought some brunch. Didn't think you'd feel like cooking anything."
She forced a smile. "Thanks. I appreciate it." She grabbed the trash bag by the door. "I'll be right back, I'm running this trash out."
Tyler joined her. "They're driving you nuts, aren't they?"
"Yes! I love them! I know they mean well but yes!" She screamed. "I mean, not everyone completely shuts down when they're grieving. I can't. I have two kids now who are dependent on me having my shit together. You know?" She threw the bag in the dumpster. She leaned against the blue metal. "Yes, it hurts but… but…" She kicked the dumpster, hearing the satisfying hollow thunk.
"What are you thinking? For him, I mean…" Tyler asked. "Do you know what he wanted…"
It took a moment for her to understand the question. "He didn't really have any family. His parents were deadbeats. He'll be cremated and we'll just have a small, private to-do here." Her breath hitched and she punched the dumpster and her knees gave out. She slid down until she was on the ground. "I thought I was done with him five years ago. This is so unfair."
Tyler sat beside her silently. He could say nothing to make this any easier or make it hurt any less. All he could do was sit there, offering silent support.
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The next evening, Gunter stared with wonder at the aquariums of Les Calmars. "Wow! This place is amazing!"
Eddie nodded. "Buster always wanted to eat here, even though we could never afford it. He would try and sneak in outside food. He loved watching the squid." The waiter came over. "Yeah, we'll start with the house Pinot Grigio. And we'll split a fruits de mer." He smiled at Gunter. "Basically a seafood platter.
Gunter looked around. "I can see why Buster liked it. It's so prettiful." He touched Eddie's hand.
The sheep blushed. "You know… I really don't know that much about you… You know everything about me…"
The hog shrugged. "Not much to tell. I grew up in a small village outside of Heidelberg with my family. I have a brother and a sister that I haven't seen in a long time. My father was a banker and my mother was high society…" He rolled his eyes. "I was constantly being monitored on how I talked, what I ate, how I dressed, what I was allowed to do." He cringed and shivered.
Eddie chuckled. "Oh it's awful isn't it. And when they hold their money over you, it's the absolute worst."
Gunter nodded. "I hated it. I don't like the money. I don't want to live for money. I need money to live, to buy food and pay bills, but I don't want to live for money." He smiled at Eddie. "I just never cared about all that. My dad wanted me to go into banking. I wanted to be a performer. So I left Germany and came here. My father didn't approve of any of my life choices."
The sheep squeezed his hand. "Why do parents feel the need to control everything we do? Why do they think we have to live life their way?"
The pig shrugged. "Who knows. Your parents don't know what they had in you. Honor and integrity, intelligence, creativity…"
"Hey wait, we're talking about you. How did we get to me?" Eddie asked with a light laugh and a blush.
Gunter gave him a chaste kiss before smiling. "Sorry, I like talking about you." He chuckled amusedly. And he did not like talking about his family. His found-family was more important.
Eddie studied Gunter. For some reason, he felt almost like a teenager in high school again. "My dad owns his own business or he did. He wanted me to take it over but I had no interest. I guess we know why."
"You were destined for the theater. It's been calling to you as it called to me… Now, you're listening…"
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Just outside the city boundaries, Johnny and Ryan sat in the main room of the vineyard. There was a lot of guests and a waitress brought around trays of cheese and fruit. A hippo in a suit brought around bottles of both red and white wines.
"Would you like to try either the red or the white?" He asked the couple politely.
"I'll try the red and he'll try the white," Ryan replied.
The hippo nodded. "The red is our new batch of Cabernet Sauvignon. The white is our Riesling. Enjoy."
Johnny held up his glass. "Here's to our first Valentine's Day together." They gently clinked their glasses. "So… I started looking into some agencies. There's an agency here in Calatonia that specializes in our situation."
His tiger beamed at him. "That's great. What do we have to do?"
"We just have to set up a consultation and go from there." He sifted through his phone until he found the website in his history and offered it to Ryan.
Ryan looked at the online brochure. "Yeah, this is what we need. We can get this started right away." He nuzzled his husband's neck. "Maybe we should go ahead and move into one of the family apartments. That way we're ready." He kissed him, ignoring the few ignorant looks they were getting.
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In a small home, a few blocks away, a young quokka sat in a window seat, looking out the window.
AN: Sorry this took so long. I've had such writer's block. If you have any thoughts on what you'd like to see, please let me know. In the meantime check out my other works; Love and Pain, A Royal Production and Ever Ever After in Redshore City; and don't forget to leave a review please.