Cozumel Country
Club. It wasn’t a world-class course but it was good. Peter had brought his
clubs with him to golf at every chance he had. Andrew had been with his dad
many, many times over the years but this was Rory’s first time. He was an
attorney that had spent the last several years building his practice with his
partner, a good friend he had met in law school back in Washington. Now they
had several associates working for them and Rory felt that he could finally
scale back his work hours to take a vacation every now and then, and of course,
start their family.
“I think every child should have a mother,” Peter had said.
“But when you think about what some children are subjected to, two fathers
can’t be all bad.”
Andrew had said that was his dad’s way of giving his
approval of them adopting a baby. Rory needed that approval, as his own parents
had all but disowned him when he ‘came out’ after high school. He came from a
religious family that preached tolerance but didn’t actually practice it. So
when the Lathem’s had welcomed him to their family with open arms fourteen
years ago, their acceptance and approval became very important to him. He had
told Andrew how very lucky he was to have a family like that. Not every gay man
was that fortunate.
So golf with Peter was a highlight for Rory, even though he
wasn’t very good. A day with his husband and father-in-law golfing was going to
be a great day.
*****
Maureen and Patty walked down the pier to the port each
pushing a stroller. When Maureen had overheard Janie’s plans to leave the
children with their grandmother for the day, Maureen had immediately offered to
help. Patty graciously accepted and the two women decided just to stroll around
the port for a little while, stocking up on souvenirs and having lunch.
“This will be a nice way to spend a couple of hours,”
Maureen chatted as they headed down the massive concrete pier towards the
myriad of shops and restaurants.
“I thought the children, well, Ella, would like to go for a
ride,” smiled Patty.
Ella was indeed having a great time sitting in the stroller,
hat and sunglasses on, sitting up straight watching the multitudes of people
all around them and the waves rolling onto the beach. Christopher was sound
asleep, just having been fed, in an infant drunken state.
The two grandmothers strolled through the shops, purchasing
magnets and postcards. Patty bought t-shirts for her other grandchildren, her
daughter Elizabeth’s children, who lived in Atlanta.
“You’re very lucky,” Maureen smiled as Patty took her bag of
purchases and they left the small store.
“Why is that?”
“You are a grandmother with lots of grandchildren.”
“Eight,” Patty smiled. “Well, actually nine if you count
Derek. And four each for Janie and Elizabeth. Lilly isn’t married yet and I am
not sure she ever will be. She is married to her job and career.”
Maureen snorted. “I understand that. I didn’t think Matt
would ever settle down. But then Janie arrived and…well, we are just thrilled.”
Patty was glad that the Lathem’s had been so welcoming to
her daughter.
“And Mark has Katy too,” Patty added.
“Oh yes. But…”
Patty raised her eyebrows and looked at Maureen. “But?”
“Well,” began Maureen, “It would just be so nice if they
would just get married! I have tried giving hints, some not so subtle. But
according to Mark, Katy just won’t budge.”
“Katy is a head-strong girl and she has been through an
awful lot.”
“I know,” Maureen sighed. “I love her dearly. I just want
them to make it official.”
“In their time,” Patty smiled. “In their own time.”
*****
The plan was they would all meet up for dinner to share the
highlights of their day. So, once again, they all arrived at the dining room
and announced they needed a table for seventeen. Matt held the booster seat for
Ella and Christopher was asleep in his stroller. The staff ran around
Club. It wasn’t a world-class course but it was good. Peter had brought his
clubs with him to golf at every chance he had. Andrew had been with his dad
many, many times over the years but this was Rory’s first time. He was an
attorney that had spent the last several years building his practice with his
partner, a good friend he had met in law school back in Washington. Now they
had several associates working for them and Rory felt that he could finally
scale back his work hours to take a vacation every now and then, and of course,
start their family.
“I think every child should have a mother,” Peter had said.
“But when you think about what some children are subjected to, two fathers
can’t be all bad.”
Andrew had said that was his dad’s way of giving his
approval of them adopting a baby. Rory needed that approval, as his own parents
had all but disowned him when he ‘came out’ after high school. He came from a
religious family that preached tolerance but didn’t actually practice it. So
when the Lathem’s had welcomed him to their family with open arms fourteen
years ago, their acceptance and approval became very important to him. He had
told Andrew how very lucky he was to have a family like that. Not every gay man
was that fortunate.
So golf with Peter was a highlight for Rory, even though he
wasn’t very good. A day with his husband and father-in-law golfing was going to
be a great day.
*****
Maureen and Patty walked down the pier to the port each
pushing a stroller. When Maureen had overheard Janie’s plans to leave the
children with their grandmother for the day, Maureen had immediately offered to
help. Patty graciously accepted and the two women decided just to stroll around
the port for a little while, stocking up on souvenirs and having lunch.
“This will be a nice way to spend a couple of hours,”
Maureen chatted as they headed down the massive concrete pier towards the
myriad of shops and restaurants.
“I thought the children, well, Ella, would like to go for a
ride,” smiled Patty.
Ella was indeed having a great time sitting in the stroller,
hat and sunglasses on, sitting up straight watching the multitudes of people
all around them and the waves rolling onto the beach. Christopher was sound
asleep, just having been fed, in an infant drunken state.
The two grandmothers strolled through the shops, purchasing
magnets and postcards. Patty bought t-shirts for her other grandchildren, her
daughter Elizabeth’s children, who lived in Atlanta.
“You’re very lucky,” Maureen smiled as Patty took her bag of
purchases and they left the small store.
“Why is that?”
“You are a grandmother with lots of grandchildren.”
“Eight,” Patty smiled. “Well, actually nine if you count
Derek. And four each for Janie and Elizabeth. Lilly isn’t married yet and I am
not sure she ever will be. She is married to her job and career.”
Maureen snorted. “I understand that. I didn’t think Matt
would ever settle down. But then Janie arrived and…well, we are just thrilled.”
Patty was glad that the Lathem’s had been so welcoming to
her daughter.
“And Mark has Katy too,” Patty added.
“Oh yes. But…”
Patty raised her eyebrows and looked at Maureen. “But?”
“Well,” began Maureen, “It would just be so nice if they
would just get married! I have tried giving hints, some not so subtle. But
according to Mark, Katy just won’t budge.”
“Katy is a head-strong girl and she has been through an
awful lot.”
“I know,” Maureen sighed. “I love her dearly. I just want
them to make it official.”
“In their time,” Patty smiled. “In their own time.”
*****
The plan was they would all meet up for dinner to share the
highlights of their day. So, once again, they all arrived at the dining room
and announced they needed a table for seventeen. Matt held the booster seat for
Ella and Christopher was asleep in his stroller. The staff ran around
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