Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Esmerie snatched the bottle from his hand. “You’re disgusting, Fabrice,” she snapped. “Positively revolting.”

“That’s our son,” Fabrice said. At least he thought that was what he’d said. It was hard to tell with how slurred his words came out.

“Gaspare is a perfectly normal human being. I know what happened to you, Fabrice. You’ve crammed that story down my throat for decades. I also know the man who assaulted you wasn’t antero and even admitted he lied just to get his way,” Esmerie said. “Your delusion doesn’t even have an ounce of basis in fact.”

“Those who say they are antero are all child molesters and monsters,” Fabrice roared, sweeping the papers on his desk off with one wild swing of his arm.

“Is my brother Georg a child molester and a monster? Is my uncle Stefan?” Esmerie demanded, slapping her hands on the wood.

Fabrice blinked at her owlishly. “What do they have to do with this?”

“Georg and Thierry have been married for the past forty years. Stefan has been married to Neal for the past sixty-four years. Are you saying my brothers and uncles are child molesters and monsters? Because if you are, I will have the divorce decree in front of you by tomorrow morning, and the girls and I will leave you to drink yourself to death. I know Emele has suggested I do just that,” Esmerie said.

Fabrice wasn’t as drunk as he thought he was because the words were making too much sense. “Georg and Thierry are married?”

“Yes, they’re married. And they have five beautiful children through the use of a surrogate,” Esmerie said. “Where do you think my nieces and nephews came from, Fabrice? Georg has never shown an interest in women, not even the Pleasure Seekers. Also, why would he always bring Thierry to family events if they weren’t married?”

“You always referred to Thierry as your brother. I simply assumed that Georg and Thierry were both your biological brothers and had just never grown out of living together. Some families do that,” Fabrice muttered.

“What of my uncle Stefan? How do you explain the fact that Neal is with him every time we see him?” Esmerie demanded.

“I thought they were just good friends, and that maybe Neal didn’t have any family of his own,” Fabrice said. “Stefan always struck me as the kind to never leave anyone out in the cold.”

“He is, but that’s not why Neal is with him. Neal’s family is larger than ours, though it’s more through cousins than his siblings,” Esmerie said. “Not once have those four men done anything you accused Gaspare of. They are decent, loving human beings who just happen to love someone of the same gender expression as them.” She paused. “How could you treat your own son with such cruelty, Fabrice? Our only son?”

“He’s a traitor, Esmerie. He sided with the Colonies,” Fabrice roared. There went the rest of the papers with another swipe of his arm. “He married a man when he knew I was against that kind of relationship. What else was I supposed to do?”

“How about listen to the man your son has become and learn why he made the choices he did? Or is that too hard for you?” Esmerie snapped. “Is it too much to believe your children don’t all want to grow up to be military officers? Did you know Honore is threatening to go into one of those religious orders that prevent all contact with men if you try to force her into marriage with that young man you picked for her? She’s in love with someone else – and is terrified to tell me who.”

“How many of our children are going to defy me?” Fabrice growled.

“All of them, since you’ve proven yourself to be an unfit father,” Esmerie told him with some heat. “I have a good idea how you grew up, Fabrice. I tried to raise our children with the love they never got from you. They know what it’s like to have a parent who cares about them and their thoughts, even if I’m not the best at it.”

Fabrice slumped back down into his chair. Unfit father. Disgusting human being. Was he these things? Esmerie dropped a holo still in front of him. It was of two adorable reddish-blonde haired children with bright blue eyes. One was a toddler and the other an infant.

“Who are these?” Fabrice asked, staring in fascination at the adorable children.

“Pascal and Gael Rezouac. It seems Gaspare used a surrogate to produce two gorgeous children. My sources tell me it was the twin sister of his husband who provided the eggs and then the younger sister of his husband who was the carrier for both children. I had to pull in a few favors from High Admiral Seaton to get this,” Esmerie said.

“Gaspare has children?” Fabrice asked, sitting up again.

“A boy and a girl. He’s also looking at adopting a set of twins who, once they’re out of the med center and therapy, will need a stable home. Did you know that, in the Colonies, they specifically look for antero couples to provide homes for orphaned children?” Esmerie asked.

Fabrice picked up the pad and stared at the children. They were heavyworlder stock, but he could see something of his son in the line of their jaws and the shape of their bodies. He stared at their faces, caught in a moment of laughter. “They look happy and healthy,” he said slowly.

“From what I understand they are,” Esmerie said. “Gaspare is living with Kuen and his wife. The four of them do a good job raising and protecting all the children. Fiera and Kuen have a set of twin girls a year older than Pascal.”

Fabrice looked up sharply. “Does Michi Nakano know about those girls?”

Esmerie gave him an exasperated look. “Possibly. I don’t know what that woman knows.”

Fabrice peeled himself out of his chair. “Can you call the barber for me? I need a haircut and a shave,” he said. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“What are you going to do?” Esmerie asked.

“Both Gaspare and Emele have sided with the Colonies. I want to know why. What is it about the Colonies that has so changed both my children that they are willing to stand up against the CAF, against the CWA, and help the Colonists? Also, what started the conflict between us? I know what I was told, but that can’t be the whole story. I have to know,” Fabrice said, shaking free from his stupor. He tapped the picture. “For their sake.”

Esmerie smiled. “I’ll put in the call right away, Fabrice.”

“Do me one other favor. Get rid of all the liquor in the house,” Fabrice said. “I don’t want the temptation to slide back into that pit.” He shuffled out of the room.