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1740 Words
Markus' eyes widened as he watched his father open the first bottle before pouring it down the sink.
"Your mom left,” Trace continued. “She left, and almost took you with her. I begged her not to take my boys from me, and after several arguments, she left without you. I never heard from her again, and it tore me up inside. I didn't realize what an ass I was being to the two most important people in my life. I realize now that I was hurting you both. It might not have been physical, but I still took my anger out on you."
Lukas sobbed, hiding his face behind his hands. He felt Markus pull him close. Gathering his courage, he stared at their father and said, "It was the name-calling, the blaming us for stuff we didn't do, and the constant drunken yelling. We can't take it, Dad."
"I know, Lukas," Trace's shoulders sagged. "I've been a horrible father all because I didn't know how to deal with your mother leaving."
Pouring the last of the liquor down the drain, he put the empty bottle down with the others and sighed. "I didn't think I would have the strength to do it. Turns out I did. That's it, the last bottle. Unless it's a social drink with the guys, I'm not touching the stuff anymore. I already talked to Amber about A.A., and my first meeting is next week."
"Alcoholics Anonymous?" Markus asked. His voice was strained from holding back, but he forced himself to stay calm.
With his back still to the teens, Trace sucked in a breath. Letting it out, he said, "I'm going because I'm sick of not being able to mess around with my kids because they're afraid I'm going to get physical. I'm sick of watching my boys drift away from me because I keep breaking my word to them. I challenged myself not to drink for a solid month after Jaxon forced my hand. I did it."
"It's a stupid habit anyway," Lukas muttered. “Drinks with friends is fine, but I was scared you were going to drink yourself to death.”
Laughing, Trace turned, leaning his body against the counter as he crossed his ankles. "Why didn't you bring up the real reasons you wanted me to stop? Why didn't you tell me about the verbal abuse I was dishing out when I lost control?"
He stopped talking for a moment, then, as he looked at them, he knew what he had to do. "Mark, your boyfriend’s got some serious guts. See, it was Jaxon who told me that if I didn't stop drinking, I was going to lose my boys or my life. It pissed me off, but he made a decent point. I get that it's only Friday and all that, but I'd like for you two to accompany me to Confession this evening. I'm going to need a lot of help, guys.”
Their eyes wide, Markus and Lukas nodded in agreement.
"There's nothing wrong with you liking boys, either, Mark. I know I didn’t have the best reaction at first, but David was right," Trace said. He stood straighter, running his hands through his black hair. "I was ticked off. I thought it was something I did or didn’t do, so I went to talk to our Pastor about it. He reminded me that the Lord loves all His children regardless of race or preferences, and to not believe the Devil's propaganda. That conversation made me see things differently. I realized that love and acceptance are what truly matter."
Sliding his gaze to his younger son, Trace smirked, "By the way, Lukas, when did you decide to take the Vow of Celibacy?"
"I just want it to be with the right one. If I ain't putting a ring on it, I ain't sleeping with it. I don't know, I guess I thought Jaxon had a pretty good idea to wait, too. He's an atheist, but he understands that following Christianity is something our family takes seriously. He was the one who suggested I take the Vow if I was that set in my ways," Lukas explained.
Trace's brows shot into his hairline. "He's an atheist? I didn't know that. What do you mean when you say he understands?"
"The night I called about sleeping over to his place, I got upset. So he sat with me and held my hand while I prayed. He's never said anything about it. He doesn't want anyone forcing religious practices down his throat, though."
"It's his right to choose, Luke. I'm not going to force him to go to Sunday service with us unless he wants to go. He's given you acceptance and understanding, so it's only right we return the favor," Trace said patiently.
Markus started laughing hysterically. "I didn't realize how philosophical you are when you're sober."
"Cut the crap, Markus," his father grimaced. "You're starting to sound like your Uncle Elias."
Markus's laughter stopped at the mention of his uncle's name. "He won't take my calls anymore. I came out to him, and he just started ghosting me rather than talking it out."
"My older brother is an i***t," Trace scowled. "He talked to me last week, telling me that he would pray for the stain on the family tree. I told him to practice what he preached. In his normal petty fashion, he told me not to call again and hung up."
The doorbell rang, and Lukas jumped to answer it. When he returned, a much older woman followed him into the room. Her silvery hair was tied up in a loose braid and wrapped in a bun that was covered with a scarf. One of her wrinkled, aging hands held onto an ornately carved walking stick while the other was tucked into the elbow of Lukas’s arm.
"Mutter, what are you doing here?" Uncertainty flashed in Trace’s grey eyes until his phone went off. A single message from Ambrosia lit up his screen: Told the guard to get her up to you safely. Proof provided. Have a good visit!
Happy that his employers weren’t making a huge fuss about it, he sat down at the table to watch as his mother glanced around the room. True to their word, after he admitted his addiction to his friends, they pulled together to help him through his recovery. It was then that he understood the reason why Nix and his friends did what they did for each other.
Shaking her head, she glared at the bottles on the counter. Keeping her voice level, she spoke in German. "Your brother, Elias, called me a week ago. He said you needed guidance, and so I am here to be with my child when he needs me most."
Pale at the news of Elias’ unwanted intervention, Trace watched his mother walk up to Markus and kiss his cheek. He was worried about her reaction to his boys, but he didn’t expect her next actions at all.
"Elias could have been gentler, child,” she said gently. “The Lord works in mysterious ways, and gives us the means to forge our own paths in life through our free will and humility. Tell Oma, are you happy, Markus? Does this boy you are seeing hold your heart?"
"Ja, Oma. I love him so, so much. In fact, I'm going to marry him someday," Markus stated proudly. He no longer cared what his extended family thought of his sexuality. Only his father and brother mattered now.
Shaking her head in regret, she said, "If this is His will, then I will not argue. It disappoints me, but life is filled with thorns and trials that we all must rise above. As long as you are happy, then Oma will support you, my child."
Moving to Lukas, she went through the same motions. "And you, Lukas? Do you have a special partner in life?"
"I'm not interested in relationships right now, Oma. School is far too important at the moment," he answered.
Turning to her son, Marie sighed heavily. "My grandbabies are fine. It is you that needs me, Tracy. I will stay a week or two, ja? I will help with the house."
“Mother, that’s not necessary,” he said quietly.
“Nonsense,” she snapped. “You listen to your Mutter now, Tracy Adolph Roberts. Your work is your business, but you are my son, my baby boy. I will be here to help for a few weeks as you’ve been helping me.”
“Mutter, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Trace leaned away, instinctively knowing what she would do to him.
“Gör!” Gripping his collar, Marie pulled him down until she could grip his ear between her fingers. “I know it was you putting money in my bank account. I kept the farm because of your help, Tracy. Even your sisters, Diane and Helga, said you do more for me than Elias, and he lives in the same country! Besides, it has been years since I was with my grandbabies.”
“Mama! Mama, es tut mir leid!”
“You are not as sorry as you ought to be, Child,” she groused. Turning to her grandsons, she scowled. “Both of you clean your rooms. I will be inspecting them. You are old enough to assist with house chores, ja? Now, get it done!”
Amused, the brothers left the kitchen to go to their respective bedrooms. They were already clean, but they went anyway.
Once his boys were gone, Trace turned to his mother. “Will you join us this evening? We’re going to the church so that I can get a few confessions off my chest.”
Marie nodded solemnly. Drawing her shawl tighter around her shoulders, she sighed. “You are sick from the drink, my son. You must let God purify your soul as you turn from the wicked path of addiction. Will Markus’ love be joining us as well?”
“No, unfortunately not. He isn’t staunchly religious like we are.”
Wagging her finger at him, she chuckled. “I still fail to see how a man working in the world’s most feared mafia can also be so God-fearing.”
“It’s easy when your friends are as open-minded as mine are, Mutter.”
- Writer
