AA Lock, Stock and Barrel 6

Isabel. Entrepreneur and asset stripper.
Edward Thorpe Isabel’s father. Deceased.
Josephine Thorpe Isabel’s mother.
Lucinda Thorpe Isabel’s sister.
Abigail Thorpe Isabel’s 2nd sister
Veronica Thorpe Isabel’s 3rd sister
Jacqueline Thorp Isabel’s youngest sister
Marjorie Tansley Lawyer to Edward Thorpe
Shula Isabel’s bisexual female partner.
Betty Edward Thorpe’s secretary.
Pete Machine shop supervisor.

Chapter 6 © Copyright to Beverly Taff.

“Hello-oo! I’m home!”

“In the kitchen darling!”

“Where are the kids?” I asked, wondering why they hadn’t come scampering down the hall as they usually did, the moment I called out to announce my return.”

“They’ve gone with Dawn to my mum’s. I wasn’t expecting you so early.”

“Traffic was light and the snow didn’t stick around so I was faster than I expected.” I explained as I eagerly wrapped my arms around my partner Shula’s waist and nibbled the back of her neck.

“Mmm. That’s nice,” Shula sighed as she pushed backwards into my embrace.

We continued hugging each other as our lips grazed each other’s until Shula twisted round and we finally achieved the lip-lock we sought.
We were so engrossed in our passion that we did not hear Dawn arrive with the children.

“If the wind changes, you’ll stick like that.” Dawn sniggered as our children bounced forward to inveigle themselves into our embrace.

Their demands for attention caused Shula and I to stumble into the drawing room and flop down onto the settee where the children climbed onto our laps. Dawn sniffed appreciatively at the smell of Shula’s cooking.

“Seafood Paella? It smells good.”

“Well if these little scamps will let me get up, it’s ready to serve.” Shula declared.

Shula liked being a home bird and she was more than willing to share her affections between Dawn a very attractive lesbian and me, an attractive transsexual husband. She extricated herself from the tangle of arms and legs to attend to the food while Dawn took her place.

Dawn and I were not sexually involved but she was happy to share a hug with the children. Two of the children were Shula’s and the third was Dawn’s, I was father to all three conceived by my frozen sperm.

“How was it with your family?” Dawn asked.

“Much better than I expected. They accepted Isabel.”

“Oh! That’s good news then.”

“I’m going back on Friday night; to see my family properly. I’m thinking of introducing the children to their paternal grandma if you two are happy for that.”

“Will she approve, you know, the open relationship?”

“I don’t know but knowing my mum as I do now, she’s been aching for a grandson. Eddie will go a long way to easing any tensions. So far, both her married daughters have only given her granddaughters.”

“Eddie should break the ice then.”

“I looked up into Dawn’s grin as Eddie continued to arm wrestle my free arm and I grimaced. My son was growing stronger by the day.”

“He’ll break my arm if he gets any stronger.”

“He’s a boy Izzie, (That was Dawn’s private nickname for me,) stronger he’s going to get and he loves football.”

“Well, if we get the chance, I’ll take him to a Match in Newcastle.”

“Oh he’ll love that. What d’ you say to that Eddie?”

“What?” Eddie responded.”

“A football match in Newcastle.”

“Who’ re they playing.”

“I dunno, you’ll have to find out.”

This caused Edie to spring off the settee and my lower stomach. It was a good job I’d had my surgery.

“Oooff!” I gasped as Shula called us to the table.

Soon we were discussing the weekend. Fortunately, everybody was available, though the children had to forego their football little league games.

From their laments about missing their little league game and subsequent joy about visiting St James’s Park, I quickly realised that I had three fanatical followers and players so the Trip to St James’s Park stadium was going to be expensive.

As the meal ended Shula reminded me.

“Don’t forget, you’ve got a gig tonight.”

“How could I forget?” I grinned for I still enjoyed my drag nights.

“Will you be late?”

“Nah, it’s a Wednesday; Student’s night. I’ll be home before four. You’d better sleep with Dawn so I won’t disturb you when I crawl in.”

I did not miss the flash of anticipation that passed between Dawn and Shula as Shula turned to me.

“You can join us if you want.”

“Nah. I’ll be whacked at that time of the morning. The last thing you want is me waking you up at four or five. Dawn’s got work and you’ve got the kids. I’ll sleep at mine next door. Thursday night will be better, the club closes at midnight and I’ll leave the locking up to the staff. I’ve already arranged for the weekend so on Friday we can drive up to my mum’s after school. I’ve booked some rooms at the local hotel. I want the grandchildren to be a surprise for Josephine my mum.”

“A surprise!?” Both Shula and Dawn cackled. “I should co-co!” Dawn added as she choked with laughter.

“Hello mummy, these are your grandchildren and your daughters in law! I can’t wait!” Dawn continued laughing as she cleared the plates.

ooo000ooo

Thursday went as planned; after a hectic but enjoyable Wednesday drag night I stumbled into my own apartment at five in the morning and Zonked out till noon. Wednesday had been a killer but the club’s takings had been enormously successful. Thursday I recovered by lunch time so Shula and I went shopping before collecting the Children from school.

Finally we met Dawn as she left work and we dined in the village before I left for the club while the family went home. On Friday I helped Shula pack the microbus and four o’ clock saw us on the way to Newcastle. Eight o’ clock found us booked into the Drover’s Arms again and me phoning my mother.

“Yes mummy. It’s your newest daughter again, can we come over.”

“It’s ‘Can I come over darling.’ Remember your grammar.

“Yes okay mummy, ten minutes enough? Do you need extra milk or anything.”

“Don’t be silly Isabel! I’m beginning to like that name you know.”

“Thank you mummy, and I don’t have to tell you how relieved I am that you’ve accepted her.”

“Thinking back darling, I should have seen it coming. The only thing I regret is no grandchildren.”

“That’s water over the dam I’m afraid mummy. See you in ten.”

“Drive carefully, it’s started snowing up here.”

I put the phone down and gave Dawn a joyous fist pump.

“She doesn’t suspect a thing!”

Excitement grew as we bundled into the Minibus and set off for my old family home.

Everybody’s eyes widened when I pulled into the forecourt.

“Flippin ‘eck.” Shula giggled. “It’s a proper country bloody mansion this.”

“Well, it’s a comfortable house I suppose, “ I replied defensively “It’s only got seven bedrooms, though I know they’ve put extra bathrooms in.”

“Why didn’t we stay here.” Dawn wondered.

“Well firstly some of my sisters are still living here, secondly it’s a bit unfair to just unload five plus one people on my mother without warning and thirdly I wanted this to be a surprise. Hey-up here comes my youngest sister Jacqueline.”

My youngest sister stopped and stared as she took note of our seemingly crowded minibus

“Who are these?” She asked as Dawn slid back the door.”

“Your sisters in law, your nieces and a nephew.” I grinned like a Cheshire cat.

Jacky was a sharp cookie and she stared at the unexpected gaggle as they decamped from the van.

“Two sisters in law. That’s not legal.

“Well one wife and her life partner. We’re a threesome. The three children are mine. Frozen sperm.”

As Jacqueline’s mind raced, she smiled at Eddie her new Nephew.

“So mum gets the grandson she’s always wished for. Is he a turkey baster?”

I frowned at first then shrugged off the untoward remark. Jacqueline was still a kid.

“Got in one little sis and his family name is legitimately Thorpe.”

“Well I suppose you’d better come in. I can’t wait to see mums face.”

ooo000ooo

Jacqueline led the family inside then paused at the drawing-room door.

“Isabel’s here mum.”

“Well tell her to come in, she’s family and doesn’t have to stand on ceremony.”

Jacqueline grinned at me.

“You heard her; family is welcome.”

She stepped aside as young Eddie marched boldly ahead of me through the door and stood staring at my elderly mother Josephine.

“Daddy says you’re my grandmother.”

Josephine turned to stare at the boy child as her jaw sagged. Then her shocked gaze turned on me.

“Is this true?” She replied uncertainly.

I nodded and smiled as Josephine struggled to take in both the information and image.

“Are they all yours?”

“Yes.” I assured her. “And these are your daughter in laws. Shula and Dawn.”

Josephine was so overwhelmed that she had to sit on the settee as a tear glistened in her eye. Shula took the seat beside her and offered her hand. Josephine took it and squeezed it as she whispered. “Thank you.”

“I should be thanking you.” Shula whispered. “The children now have roots. We should have done this sooner but Isabel had issues with her dad.”

“Yes. He was cruel to her and I should have been more forthright about his bullying. So;- the little girls?” Josephine pressed Shula, “What are their names.”

“Lucy and Abbie, or more correctly Lucinda and Abigail.” Shula confirmed.

“After your sisters?” Josephine observed while turning to me.

I nodded then elaborated.

When Shula and Dawn asked me about family names those where the only ones I knew. I told them and they liked them. So here they are, your grandchildren Eddie, Lucy and Abbie.

“You could have told me on Wednesday.”

“I Needed to sound you out and be sure.”

“But after Wednesday you could have told me.

“I’m transgender mum, and it’s been a rocky road and I’ve had to tread carefully.”

“So,- so what d’you call your partners?”

“Shula’s my wife, all legal and above board. Dawn is Shula’s partner. I’m registered as the father to all three children. It’s a sort of societal menage-a-trois but without the three-way sex.”

“But is the relationship legal I mean two wives.”

“No, no Mummy. One wife and one very close platonic partner.”

“How do your friends see that?”

“Come on Mummy. I’ve been living for seventeen years in the gay village of Manchester. Stuff like ours is pretty normal in those parts.”

“What about the children, do they get bullied or teased in school?”

“There are about a dozen same sex parent families in the school and two of the teachers are openly gay. Even one of the coppers who patrols the village is openly gay, and she frequently patrols the school gates at school times.”

“What does Eddie call you?”

“It used to be daddy as he copied his sisters, but he’s recently taken to calling me dad. He’s growing up and becoming more boyish; the girls still call me daddy.”

Josephine wagged her head slowly as Jaqueline entered with a tray of tea.

“We’re a bit short of milk, we were only expecting one.

I looked down at Eddie.

“Can you go and get one of the big bottles of milk from the car please son.”

Eddie took the proffered car keys and soon returned with the large six-pint supermarket plastic bottle.

Josephine smiled as the young lad hefted the bottle onto the table. Then she turned to me.

“And he calls you dad?”

“Why not? I am his dad.”

“Quite; I suppose. Why not?”

Having seen the large milk bottle, Jaqueline returned with three beakers for the children’s milk and Josephine thanked me for anticipating the milk shortage.

“Well, in all fairness mum, we can’t just descend on somebody like the golden hordes. And we’re booked in at the Drovers Arms before you ask.”

“Thanks for that.”

We sipped our tea and savoured the biscuits while chatting about all things family. Very soon both my older sisters came over with their families and my children got to meet their cousins. It soon turned out that one of my nieces was also a keen football fan and when she learned we were already booked for the match at St James’s park she quickly inveigled her father to let her go as well,

For an evening meal we voted for a ‘take-away’ because the young ones outvoted the adults. It was quite late when we finally made it to our beds at the Drover’s Arms Hotel.

ooo000ooo