WARNING: This story contains sexually explicit parts involving sex between minors and adults. Do not read the contents if it will offend you. If accessing this story causes you to break local laws (village, town, city, county, province, state, or country, etc.), please leave now.

 

Any characters portrayed in this story are fictional and not representative of anyone living or dead.

 

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The Angel of Pie Jesu.

 

By John T. S. Teller.

 

Part 64.

 

Book two: Journey of the Coin.

 

*******************

 

Gareth.

It's a warm night. The top windows are open and in the distance I can hear the sound of the sea. How many people have done just that here... lay in their beds and heard that wonderful sound? Llantwit Major is an ancient place with remnants of human occupation going back fourteen thousand years. Perhaps one or some of them may have been my ancestors. History tells us that they believed in spirits. That was before religion reared its ugly head and distorted humanity to be a tool of control. That's why I have no time for religion. It was created to do just that... a few powerful men at the top using the fear of purgatory or hell-fire in an afterlife to control the subservient. But I've never been subservient to anything or anyone. Leonardo Da Vinci had to dodge and weave and play politics to survive in the world of religious fanatics and control freaks. So if it was good enough for Leonardo Da Vinci, then it's good enough for me. I'm a good dodger and weaver. I have to wear many false faces to survive in my world.    

 

But this spiritual stuff is something else. What would Da Vinci have done in my position? He would have to have been an agnostic. Maybe he believed in spiritually and not religion. His works are often described as `Godlike' or `Spiritual'. For centuries so-called experts have studied his Mona Lisa and still they haven't worked out what was in his mind when he painted it. Why the hell don't they just accept that it's the work of a genius and enjoy the fucking thing?!

 

The same sort of thing can be said of Love. What is it? Mere mortals can write volumes of books on relationships and how to fuck, but I've never read a manual on how to love. I mean... How... To... Love! You can't learn it. It has to happen and cannot be taught. Take my love for Aleric as an instance. There isn't a mere mortal on this earth that can describe the love I have for this wondrous creature by my side. Ours isn't a love you can learn about in the books, and it certainly bloody well isn't one of those that people describe as... We grew on one another. Jeezus wept! I looked at Aleric and into his eyes just the once and the love I have for him was akin to a battleship on `full speed ahead!' crashing bow first into Cardiff docks! It was pure chaos. Nobody can even begin to describe my emotions that night as I wept on that car park far away after I'd dropped Kurt off and drove like crazy when we left the theatre. My heart was literally exploding inside at the power of the hurtfulness I felt at having had to leave behind the person I'd fallen in love with. I very nearly took the gun out of its hidey-hole to blow my fucking brains out! Nobody could ever write a manual about that experience, unless, that is, they'd been through the same as I had. Then they could, but, like me, they could only describe the despair of what it was like. There was certainly nothing joyful about the moment. It was the cruellest experience of my entire life. And I was not alone. Aleric's description of how it affected him was similar to my own.

 

And neither could they write about the sensations of that that love when it came to pass that it was to be fulfilled, and neither could they even remotely begin the describe the poetry; the art; the soulful music when you discover that all those chaotic feelings you felt were echoing in the breast of the one who had caused them in your own. But that's what happened to me and Aleric... a thirty-two year old man and a thirteen-year-old boy. And why can't mortals write about this stuff? Because it's spiritual, and nobody believes in spirits. I didn't either, but I do now. Why? Because it's actually logical. And I'm a logical person. If someone wants me to invest in a machine that can turn out a million more condoms a day than anything else that's been invented, then I do that. Why? Because it's logical. If some young genius invents a tiny piece of software that will put a phone manufacture ahead of the game, then I invest in it. Why? Because it's logical. I'm $135,000,000 richer today than I was twelve months ago because I acted logically. So now, in my hour of need rather than greed, why should I not accept the logic of spirituality after all the stuff that has gone on in this last eight months?

 

I'd be an utter lunatic not to, and that's why I snuggle the boy I love closer to me as I sit up in bed and look around the room that's only part illuminated by the bedside lamp that I've turned to low. I like blue to sleep to. That's probably a spiritual thing. It calms my soul, and I reckon it's a good colour to greet a spirit if it was to show its face. Even so, despite all these previous thoughts, I feel like a lunatic when I kiss the gold ring on my finger and whisper, "If you're there, then show yourself. And give me three signs that you understand why I need you and that you will help your boy out."    

 

************ ************** ************* ************** *************

 

The Spirit of Csaba Szolnoky.

I didn't expect to be needed so soon but the moment I sensed danger I was ready and waiting. I know what's going on and I have a duty of care to the spirit of my beloved László Nemeth. But to do that I need to communicate with the human that is Gareth Rhys-Jones. That's why I've decided to put him in a trance. I considered appearing as Raul Garcia Ramirez but decided against it. If I did that then Gareth would feel he was in communication with someone on his own level, and that I most certainly am not! I need to impress on him the seriousness of the situation. To make a real impression to this fiercely agnostic man, Gareth will, in part, have to accept me as I was when I left this earth. In fact, as I was in the last few moments of my earth consciousness. He seems to be a human of strength. He'd better be.

 

************ ************** ************* ************** *************

 

Gareth.

I've been waiting for ages trying to stay awake to see if anything happens, but natural tiredness overcomes me and I drift off to sleep. But then I'm not asleep. I'm in one of those terrible sleep hypnosis things where one is helpless but fully conscious and I can feel a weird presence near me. My eyes are closed but I sense It. Oh... my... God! The stink! The awful stink! I want to puke.

 

*************

 

I would know that smell anywhere and memories come flashing into my mind. An accident on the M4 motorway; I was in my car immediately behind the family car in front of me that smashed into the back of an articulated lorry that had come to a sudden halt because the airline to the brakes of the trailer had burst and the in-built safety feature made the brakes on the eight wheels of the trailer come on and bring the vehicle to a rapid halt. In the family car were a father and mother and three children under ten. Maybe the father was distracted by the children? Who knows? But the family car ploughed into the back of the trailer and burst into flames. When everything had stopped we tried desperately to get the people out of the car but the doors were jammed and the flames became too intense for anyone to get near it. We were completely helpless. Then came the stink that I can never forget and is the reason why I could never eat pork for years after. The stink? That sweet, sickly, horrible smell of human bodies being cooked is the same smell as pork being cooked.

 

*************

 

And that's what I can smell now... the stink of pork being cooked as I sense whatever it is surrounding me as I try desperately to wake myself up. Then I hear it but I don't hear it. It's like being in an echo chamber and a hall of twisted mirrors at the same time. Aleric stirs beside me and I feel his right hand clutch my left bicep and his grip is so strong that his fingernails dig deep and break the skin. Then he pulls himself up and leans over me, staring into my eyes that are now open even though I'm paralysed. The eyes I'm looking into are different than the eyes that looked into me before when Aleric tried to take over me to have crazy sex. These are older eyes... eyes filled with pain. I've got a logical brain. I've worked out what has happened. The spirit that Aleric was talking about is now inside the boy I love. It has to be. It's logical. But I have to check. I stare back at those eyes and try to ask it a question. But I can't speak. What to do? Think! Just think your thoughts Gareth! So I do, Are you the spirit Aleric was talking about?

 

It nods Aleric's head and the echo-chamber voice replies, "You need three signs. This is the first. Be on your toes for the other two, and don't try to be logical when you receive them."

 

More thoughts from me. And if I get them? Does that mean I won't have to go and deal with Brucher and Beirmaier?

 

It nods Aleric's head. "There is no immediate danger from those two. They are not your nemesis. Look within yourself and put aside all emotions. The danger you face will come from an unexpected source. Then you will have to make a choice... the boy you love or something that will damage you for the rest of your life. There can be no other way. Take heed of what your own spirit is telling you, and then use the sharp brain you were gifted with. Instinct and logic. They are your weapons against those who would harm you and those you love. Your boy is wrong. I am not here to protect you... only the spirit within the two boys I love, and I will destroy you to protect them if I have to. Three signs. You have had one. I will provide you with two more. And now I must go."

 

*********************

 

I'm now wide awake, it's gone and the smell of pork has gone with it. I can move! I look at the semi-luminous alarm clock on the bedside cupboard. It's exactly 3.47 am. My brow is covered with sweat and I'm trembling because of the crazy experience. I get out of bed and fill my glass to almost overflowing with Bourbon and take a large draught from it to calm my nerves and pace up and down the room to try and rid myself of the adrenaline overdose that is causing all the muscles in my body to tense up. That was the craziest fight or flee moment of my entire life... without options. I could do neither, which was horrible. I empty the glass and look at the beautiful boy I love sleeping peacefully in our bed, and tears well up in my eyes. I need him now more than I have ever needed him.

 

********************

 

I get into bed, and without bothering whether I wake him or not, I pull him to me and hug him tightly. His head is on my left shoulder and his upper body is revealed because the light duvet has slipped down us. I kiss the back of his head and run my hand along the beautiful contours of his back. The duvet is still covering his bum, so I push it off and fondle the soft, amorphous buttocks that I adore. But he's too beautiful to be half hidden, so I reach across and turn up the light so I can see him properly. The duvet is still too high for my liking, so I remove it from us completely.

 

When he's been at home during this summer, he's been shirtless some of the time. It shows. He has a tan line in the small of his back and two across the back of both his thighs. Those two are quite high up because he wears short shorts and not Bermuda ones as most kids wear these days. So I have a tanned boy with gorgeous pale buttocks.

 

How strange! I've just been told that, I am not here to protect you... only the spirit in the boys I love, and I will destroy you to protect them, and it doesn't bother me one bit. That's exactly what I wanted to hear. This is not about me... this is about this wonderful boy beside me who means more to me than my own life. I didn't need a fucking spirit to tell me that he would destroy me to protect Aleric. I'd do that myself to protect him, so he can fuck off with his threats. But I am intrigued by the other things he said.

 

The danger you face will come from an unexpected source. Then you will have to make a choice... the boy you love or something that will damage you for the rest of your life. What the hell can that mean? What could damage me for the rest of my life? I could lose everything I've built up over the years, but that wouldn't damage me for the rest of my life as long as my boy was safe and well. I'd get over that shit and go and work in Ralf's boatyard and it wouldn't bother me just so long as Aleric was happy. This unexpected source? It's not those two bastards in Velilla de San Esteban. That's surprised me. I thought Brucher was the danger to us. Us! This is not about Us. This is about Aleric. Who would harm him now we've got those two bastards out of the way?

 

Kurt? Never in a million years. Nobody in Aleric's family. That's a definite no-no. Pete Sawyer? No way. We're not important enough to him. What about the cur dog with the vibrating tongue? No way. The old Turk loves Aleric too much to do him any harm.

 

Logic and intuition!

 

Logic. Why would someone want to harm Aleric? That's the first question. As far as I'm aware, he's never harmed anyone. So, it's his presence with me that's placing him in harm's way. That's a different kettle of fish and could easily be cured if he didn't love me so much. I could just walk away and never be involved with him again if I had to. Then you will have to make a choice... the boy you love, or something that will damage you for the rest of your life. Damage ME! That's what it says on the tin... or in this case out of the mouth of a fucking spirit that smells like cooked pork. No mention that it would damage Aleric. Walking away from him would do that, so, because I'm now accepting that the spirit is Aleric's guardian, then he wouldn't want his boy to suffer as he would do, and possibly end his own life if I walked away. There'd be no winners there... just two losers. So I reckon I can dismiss walking out of Aleric's life as the something that will damage you for the rest of your life.

 

So, I reckon I might have the answer. Would it damage me for the rest of my life? Most definitely! Would I do it? Most definitely, and I'd live with the consequences of my actions. I wouldn't want to. It would destroy part of me, but for this creature by my side, I'd sacrifice anything... or anybody.

 

Intuition.

 

I was gifted with an intuitive disposition. It lives off Bourbon and Schnapps and Glenfiddich. The food of spirits. 

 

********************

 

4.05 am. I snuggle Aleric into me, and just as I do, I hear the sound of a car drawing up in front of the house. That's Gunther coming back from his date with Dai's daughter, Angharad. The naughty boy! Those two seem to have hit it off big style. More wedding bells? Nothing would surprise me in this crazy world I now live in that's filled with wonderful people and beautiful boys and spirits that stink like cooked pork. 

 

********************

 

7.45 am. I'm wide awake. I've had one of my power sleeps. I feel as fresh as a daisy, but I need a shower. The bed stinks of sex. I'll need to change the bed linen when the little bugger beside me rouses himself. But he's out for the count. I look at him. He's bloody gorgeous. I want to wake him and tell him how much I love him... but I don't. 

 

 The hot water is luscious as it flows over me, but the places where Aleric's fingers drew blood last night are quite sore. I still can't take it in. It isn't every day that you have a session with a spirit. But the bugger has got to leave me two more signs before I believe it completely. I dry myself but decide not to blow-dry my hair. It might wake the little man up, so I give it good towelling and brush it back, and then I dress in jeans and a tee-shirt. I'm just about to leave the bedroom when I realise my silver Iphone is on the dressing table, so I turn back to get it. I'm shocked. By the side of it is The Coin! My God! So that's another sign! That bloody spirit is a quick worker. If he was real I'd find him a job working for me.

 

Gretel is already up as usual. I can hear her talking downstairs. Ralf is with her. I need to sort this coin thing out before it gets out of hand, so I walk quietly along the long landing upstairs and enter their bedroom. Ralf must have been the last to get out of bed. It's unmade, so that's how I know he was up last. That's good. It will help. I lift the duvet and slip the coin under it. Now it's down to providence. Gretel will have to find it and work out herself how it's come out of the locket when she makes the bed. I'm going to play dumb on that one if she brings the matter up. I can't do anything else. At least she'll have it. But I need to get out of here... pronto. I'll be in deep shit if Schatz finds me in their bedroom.

 

********************

 

Big grins when I walk into the breakfast room. I don't need to ask what they're grinning at. Doesn't every groom get the same thing after they've just spent their wedding night with their new wife? So, after I've said "Good morning," I ignore their grins and go and make myself a coffee.

 

 Small talk... the weather is nice again... is he awake yet?... What shall we do today?... Did you hear what time that Gunther got in?! It was after four o'clock when he got home! I nod and grin and grunt and then I open my laptop to do some work. They'll leave me alone for a while now. Well, I'm left alone until Kurt comes down with Heindrich and they join us. He comes to me and kisses the top of my head, and says, "You look tired this morning. I wonder why that is?" I hear the others giggle, but I neither answer him nor do I respond to their amusement. Then Kurt adds, "Who's got the grumps then? Got out of the bed the wrong side, have we?"

 

I snarl at him. "Just be quiet and drink your coffee will you! Can't you see I'm busy! We're going to the beach today, so iron your bloody bikini!"

 

Then Gretel asks, "Do I need to make up some food for us?"

 

I shake my head. "The kids will have hot dogs and cakes and stuff from the cafe. If you don't want English food then put up what you like. I'm having what the kids have, so don't put anything up for me."

 

And so it goes on until, at half past nine, Gretel says, "I'm going to roust that lot out of bed! We're on holiday and all they do is sleep all morning! The day will be gone before that lot get up."

 

Kurt gets up and says, "I'll get my little one out of bed. He likes his Mum to wake him up."

 

********************

Ralf and I are outside at the big table when Gretel and Kurt have done their stuff and the boys come bleary eyed to us. Gottwin is first. He gives me some skin and then sits down. Then comes Hansie when Kurt walks beside him as he uses his walking frame to get to the table, and then Aleric comes and parks himself in the chair next to me... his reserved spot. He's got the usual grumps, and my arm gets its usual thump. I ignore him. Then he wraps his arms around my bicep and rests his head against my shoulder. I ignore him. Then he kisses my cheek and relaxes against me again. I kiss the top of his head and recall the old saying: There are some people who could hear you speak a thousand words and still not understand you. And there are others who will understand you without speaking a word. We've just done the latter. We've both greeted each other and each of us has told the other that we love them. It's what we do. Now we're together again, we're both completely happy. But my thoughts are different to Aleric's this morning. How could they not be after what happened last night?

 

 Aleric senses my mood, and he asks, "What are you thinking about?"

 

I look into his beautiful eyes. These are my boy's eyes and nobody else's! I half smile at him. "You know what I'm thinking."

 

He stares back into my eyes and smiles. Then he nods. Then he lifts his right hand up and shows me his watch... Granddad's watch. He looks at me. "It's stopped. I wound it up before we went to the chapel so it shouldn't have stopped. I think it's broken. I've wound it up again as far as I can, and I've shaken it, but it won't start again."

 

"Give it here and let me look at it." He takes it off and hands it to me. I see the time on it... exactly 3.47 am, the exact moment when the spirit left me last night. The third sign? Definitely! I shake it. The seconds hand begins to move. I adjust the time and give it back to him. Now there are no ambiguities.

 

He looks puzzled. "It wouldn't start for me! What did you do?"

 

I grin at him. "It's a magic watch like in the fairy stories. It does what I tell it."

 

So that's the three signs... the appearance of the spirit; the coin, and now the watch stopping at the exact time when the spirit left me and it starting when I shook it but it wouldn't do so when Aleric did exactly the same thing. That will do for me. Then Aleric sees the marks on my arm where he drew blood last night. He looks up at me and asks, "How did you do that?"

 

I grin at him. "I didn't... you did. You were having a nightmare last night and dug your fingers into me."

 

He stares at me. "Did I really? I'm so sorry."

 

I smile at him. "No worries. That's bodily stuff. It's only the inside stuff that hurts as far as you're concerned."

 

His eyes are full of sympathy when he says, "I know what you mean, but I'm sorry." Then he grins. "I'll make it up to you tonight when I'm awake."

 

I decide to take us away from the subject so I tell him, "I'd rather you dug your fingers in me. I'm having a job keeping up with you."

 

He giggles. "That's because you're useless... Old Man."

 

Just then, two cars come down the drive to the house and park by the garages. One man comes to the table and asks for a Mr Rhys-Jones. When he knows who I am, he tells me the blue Honda SUV is the other car I've hired. He gives me the keys. I tell him that I'll drop it off at the airport when we leave. And after I've signed his forms, off they go.

 

Gretel looks at me and asks, "What do we need that car for?"

 

I grin at her. "Gunther needs his own space."

 

She smiles and says, "You spoil these boys! Nobody ever hired a car for Ralf to take me out."

 

I grin at her. "Especially one with a really comfortable back seat."

 

Ralf laughs... Gretel chuckles, and then Gottwin says, "You'll be having grandchildren soon Mum." He looks at me and I wink at him. He grins an evil grin that is exactly like those I get from his identical twin brother.

 

Gottwin. The revelations of last night have affected the way I think about him. In fact I've been thinking about both twins most of the morning. One spirit – two boys... or three boys. It explains so many things to me. Their spirit must know it's a divided one. But there are times when it's not divided. I've been brought to tears a few times when I've seen them snuggled together when they're asleep. Perfect harmony. That's the only way I can describe them when they're like that. I now know why. Their spirit becomes one again. So what must the spirit have been like in its former life? God... it must have been one hell of a creation! That spirit last night! He was in no doubt that he'd destroy anything that harmed his boys. Yes, that's what he said. It passed over my head last night to a degree, but that's what he said... I am not here to protect you... only the spirit within the two boys I love.

 

My thoughts are interrupted when Aleric asks me, "What are you thinking about again?"

 

I grin at him, and whisper, "There'll be lots of beautiful boys on the beach today."

 

He giggles and whispers back, "I know. I've been thinking the same thing. I've got a hard-on here thinking about the gorgeous hunks I'm going to see who'll be ogling me all day. We'll have some fun tonight in bed."

 

*******************

 

We've used both vehicles to go to Cwm Colhugh beach at Llantwit Major and we've loaded them up with beach items so we can be comfortable and have fun. When the former owners sold the house, it was described as fully furnished. Indeed it was, and in the double garage there's loads of stuff that can be used at the beach, including sun beds, beach tables, sun-shade umbrellas, buckets and spades, and surfboards.

 

Cwm Colhugh beach is not an ideal one for families with disabled members, but it is the only one around that we can possibly use because of the disabilities Hans and Ralf have. There are others around, but access to them is by steep, uneven paths down the tall cliffs. Cwm Colhugh beach is a rocky and boulder-strewn one with a few sand patches as premium spots, and there have been a couple of deaths over the years when the Jurassic cliffs have collapsed there. But it has excellent toilet facilities, and it also has a small cafe that sells chips and egg on toast and pies and hotdogs and stuff. It's basic, so when you order a cup of tea, you get it in a builder's mug and not fancy cups. It's certainly not The Adlon, but I don't give a damn about that. This is what I am... an ordinary Boyo from South Wales when you strip away my wealth. And every single person with me is unpretentious.

 

I've been here many times as a kid and I know the pitfalls. One is that when the tide is out it can be a long hike to the sea. But today we're lucky... the tide is a low one and it's halfway in, so the boys will be able to have fun with their surfboards while it's coming in, and because the tide is a low one and won't quite reach the base of the cliffs, we'll be able to stay on the beach until we decide to leave. It's not the ideal surfing place, but it will have to do.     

 

We find a half-decent spot and set up camp. Kurt, who is dressed in shorts and not a bikini, has carried Hansie's wheelchair across the beach and Heindrich has carried the little man in his arms. Ralf, with a few moans and groans on the way that he's not a bloody cripple when Gretel has helped him, has managed the trip okay. So we're all comfortable. Well, until we've been there five minutes and the twins decide to go into the sea. Hansie has no intentions of being left out, so that means Heindrich has to carry him into the water to be with the boys. Then I get roped in and I have to join them. Kurt, having no intention of being parted from his beloved Hansie, also joins us. Thank goodness it's a sunny day and it's warm, because the sea certainly isn't. I've been through it all before. Grandma and Granddad used to laugh at me when I used to laugh and squeal when I first went in it. And the boys are no different than I was. Neither is Kurt.

 

For half an hour we have fun together while Gretel and Ralf watch us. It's beautiful... unpretentious people having fun with lots of other unpretentious people around us. And there are lots of other people. That's why Aleric, on a couple of occasions, tells me to look at the young men on their surfboards, and he even tells me which ones he likes. One in particular takes his fancy, and he sidles up to me and says, "He'll be in our bed tonight. He's gorgeous. I've got a real hard-on here just looking at him."

 

We're just above waist deep in the water, so I grab his crotch and tell him that the bloke would laugh at him when he discovered the shrivelled up thing I had my hand on. Then I direct him to look at a red haired boy of about thirteen who is out of the water and with his parents, and I tell him, "He's bloody gorgeous. He'll definitely be my fantasy tonight."

 

Aleric giggles. "Good choice. I like red-haired boys. They're dead sexy. I'll be sharing him with you."

 

Then he darts off and joins Gottwin and Hansie... the latter having tremendous fun because he's being helped by both Kurt and Heindrich while he enjoys the freedom the water gives him.   

 

************ ************** ************* ************** *************

 

Gretel.

I grin at Ralf. "That lot are having fun."   

 

He grins. "I've been watching them. There's something about the sea that's a great leveller. No fancy clothes to show who's got money and who hasn't. Pick the billionaire. The only thing that makes Gareth stand out apart from his good looks is that expensive watch on his wrist that's waterproof. Nobody else has got one on."

 

I look at him. "You've got sharp eyes!"

 

He grins again. "I don't miss a lot. You're the one that's half-blind, Schatz!" He points along the beach. "Look who's coming."

 

I follow his finger and see Gunther and Angharad walking along the beach, and they're obviously searching for us. I look at Ralf and tell him, "I left a note for him and told him to join us if he wanted. Looks like they're doing just that. I reckon we might be having another wedding on our hands before long. What do you think?"

 

He chuckles. "You might be right. They've got it bad. What's the betting that Gunther will want to come and live here or Angharad will want to come and live in Germany, and I reckon we'll know which one before the week is out?"

 

I give him a smug grin. "Germany. Gunther won't want to leave his Mum. And that boat venture you and Gareth are setting up will soon be up and running once the paperwork is finished. He's enthusiastic about it. He likes his motor cars, but he's like you... he prefers his boats. He spent an hour talking to me about boat engines when you were taking a nap last week. It all went over my head, but there was no doubt that he's looking forward to working in the boatyard."

 

Ralf is serious when he nods his head. "That's where I'd put my money. But we'll see."  

 

************ ************** ************* ************** *************

 

Angharad Williams.

I'm feeling nervous as we approach Gunther's Mum and Dad. We changed at Gareth's house and I'm wearing a one-piece swimming costume. I've got a decent body, but I'm no supermodel. And they might wonder whether I'm a hussy considering the time me and Gunther have spent together. They won't be so stupid as to think we've been whispering sweet nothings to each other until the early hours of each morning since they arrived. They'll know what we've been up to. I'm hoping Gunther was right when he said they would love me to bits once they knew we were serious. I hope so. The last thing I want to do is get off on the wrong foot with my future in-laws.

 

We reach them and I'm pleased at the lovely smiles we get. Thank goodness I can speak their language. I smile at them and say, "Good morning."

 

Ralf grins at me and says, "Morning! It's two o'clock! In Germany our mornings end at midday. Is it different here in Wales?"

 

I laugh. "I overslept."

 

Gretel grins at me and points at Gunther. "So did that one! Are you going to sit with us or are you going to join that mad lot out there?" She points out to the sea and I see all the others.

 

I look at Gunther. "What do you want to do?"

 

He laughs. "I don't want to sit with these oldies. Let's go and join them."

 

Ralf grins. "Off you go then... children!"

 

******************

 

Now I know what Gunther meant when he said that you've got to know Aleric before you understand him. He's far and away the naughtiest and cheekiest of the twins. There wasn't much difference between them when they were in the sea, but on dry land, his naughtiness is obvious. He's the one who, when he's giving me hot dog and chips that he and Gottwin and Gareth have fetched from the café, whilst giggling, whispers in my ear, "Mum says you're going to wear my bro out before he goes home and he'll have to have a week off work to get over being with you."

 

I look into his eyes, and we chuckle. Then he goes and sits by Gareth and leans against him and grins at me. Gareth knows he's being naughty and he growls at him and says something. Aleric ignores him and continues grinning. Then he winks at me. Then we share secret giggles for a while whenever we look at each other. Eventually, Gretel points a finger at him and says, "You behave yourself!"

 

He pretends to look sheepish and says, "Me, Mum? I'm not doing anything!" But that makes him worse, and his grins turn into stifled chuckles.

 

Then Gretel says to me, "Just ignore him. He's rude and he won't do as he's told." She points at Gottwin, who is sitting by the side of Aleric. "That one is just the same. Think yourself lucky you're with the best one out of the three of them. At least Gunther isn't as stupid as those two."

 

Gunther, who is beside me, points a finger at them and says, "Behave you pair of daft buggers before I beat you both up!"

 

Then the strangest and most beautiful thing happens. They stop giggling and their heads come together and they rub cheeks. Gunther was not serious when he told them off and they know that, but even so, just an innocent threat has created a closeness between them that I've never seen in my life before.

 

Gareth looks at me and asks in Welsh, "Do you speak Welsh?" I answer him back in our native tongue that I do... fluently. Then he grins at me and says, still speaking in Welsh, "Then we can have a conversation and they won't understand a word we say. Just don't mention any names and they won't have a clue what we're saying. You and you-know-who seem to be getting along fine. Is it too early to read too much into it?"

 

I reply to him in Welsh. "No. We've decided I'm going to move to Germany, near where his parents live and set up a home together."

 

Gareth narrows his eyes. "Isn't that a bit soon?"

 

I shake my head and look directly into his eyes. "We don't think so. I know how I feel, and it seems to be a trait of you-know-who's family." For a moment I see a flare of anger in his eyes, and I quickly add, "I worked it out myself. I saw it when we were in the pub, and everything I've seen today confirms it. I don't have any problems with it." I smile at him. "He's wonderful and he adores you."

 

Although he's half-smiling, there's nothing smiling about Gareth's eyes that are boring into me right now. Apart from the fact that he's a handsome sod with gorgeous eyes like Paul Newman, he doesn't come across as anything extraordinary, but now those eyes are studying me, I sense the power within him. He's working me out. Am I bothered? Yes I am. Why? Because I know that whatever conclusions Gareth comes to about me will affect what Gunther and I do from now on. Then he says, "You're very perceptive. Have you and you-know-who discussed it?"

 

I nod. "He didn't dare tell me about it. He didn't know how I would react. He thought I would reject him if I found out about you and you-know-who. Then I told him that your business was your business and wouldn't come in the way of what we have. Then I told him of my own rules before I would go."

 

"And what are your rules?"

 

Now I return the stare he's giving me, and I tell him, "I know what you've done for him and his family, but I want us to be a normal family and work for what we want."

 

"So that he wouldn't get it into his thick head that you were after my money?"

 

I nod. "Exactly that. I don't mean to be rude, but everything you've got means nothing to me as far as you-know-who is concerned. I'd go and live in a cave with him if I had to."

 

Gareth's face softens. "I understand you perfectly. I'd give everything away that I've got before I'd lose you-know-who. But he's different than you. He enjoys spending my money. And guess what? It hasn't made a scrap of difference to what we are. So a bit of advice to you... don't let wealth get in the way of your home comforts. When are you two going to let you-know-who's family into your secret? And does your Mum and Dad know?"

 

"We've decided to wait `till about Thursday." I chuckle. "We could have told them on Sunday morning, but we thought it would be a bit previous to do that."

 

Gareth laughs. "I understand. It took me and you-know-who an entire month before we dared let on, but even now we still have to pretend some things are not happening. You-know-who's parents are old fashioned in that respect. But you and you-know-who are different than us. Your task is `normal' compared to what we had to do." Then he winks at me. "Thanks for being honest. I'll do you a deal. I will help you settle in, and then you can do your own thing. Your man does that anyway. He's bought his car by saving his money and asks nothing of me now his parents are looked after. So how does that sound to you?"

 

I smile at him. "It's a deal, but please don't mention anything. We want to do this on our own."

 

"Suits me. But this little monkey by the side of me has already worked it out. He's the one who's going to give the game away."

 

"Can't you ask him to keep it quiet?"

 

Gareth laughs "I have no control over him. The only person who has is his mother, and it's only when she's really serious that he takes any notice of her. You'll find out what he's like when you get to know him."

 

I laugh. "That's what you-know-who told me. I think I'd rather be in my shoes than yours."

 

Another laugh. "Tell me about it. Shall we speak in their language now? We'll tell them that we've been practicing our own language because we rarely use it. If they ask what we've been saying, tell them that I was enquiring about your education. They know I'm a nosey bugger so they'll swallow that."

 

Aleric interrupts. "Who's a nosey bugger?"

 

Gareth grins at him. "You are."

 

Aleric laughs.         

 

************ ************** ************* ************** *************

 

Gretel.

It's been a truly wonderful day and most of us are tired. Aleric is between me and Gareth, and Ralf is by my side as we sit at the long table and look out at the sun settling into the sea. All the others have gone inside. Gareth gets up and wanders onto the lawn in front of the house and stands with his hands in his shorts pockets and his strong legs apart, looking at the beautiful sunset. Aleric is also watching him. Then my boy links my arm very tightly and rests his head against my shoulder. I understand exactly why he's doing it. He loves Gareth deeply, and seeing the man he loves silhouetted against the sunset in his homeland has affected his emotions. I kiss his hair and whisper to him, "Go to him. He'll enjoy you sharing this moment with him."

 

Aleric gets up and goes to him. When he reaches Gareth's side, he snuggles into him and wraps an arm around his man's waist. Then he looks up at Gareth. Gareth looks down at him. They share an unashamed soft peck of the lips, Gareth wraps his arm around my boy's shoulder, and they both stare at the sunset. I have my easy-to-use camera on the table in front of me, so I pick it up and begin to snap away at the two of them. Ralf asks me what I'm doing. I tell him, "I'm saving this moment for posterity. If these pictures come out right then we'll have one of those big canvas prints made and put it on the wall at home."

 

"That will be lovely," says Ralf. And then he adds, "Give me the camera. Let me take some. You women can never get anything right when it comes to taking photographs."

 

I hand it to him, he takes more photographs, and then he grins at me. I give him a quick kiss, and say, "Come on... let's go inside and leave these two lovebirds to their own devices."

 

And that's just what we do.

 

To be continued...

 

You can find my other stories on Nifty here. If you wish to comment on this or any of my other stories, just drop me a line to john.thestoryteller@gmail.com Genuine comments will be appreciated. All flames will be extinguished in the trash bin.