I smiled back, flushing slightly. How had her sons described me, described my role in their lives? As a friend? A good friend? A “special” friend? God, I hoped they hadn’t mentioned Kristian, just how dirty we were, our set-up non-traditional to say the least.
But Violet gave me a knowing smile as she sat down, making herself comfortable in the wrought-iron chair. We were at a café in city center, a French bistro with waiters dressed in blue and white striped shirts, an excellent menu and even better drinks.
“Hmm, what’s good on here?” murmured the older woman, gazing at the menu. “Nah, I don’t feel like a coffee. How about a Bloody Mary?” she suggested with a wink, “Two please!” she signaled to the waiter, miming a drinking gesture.
And I liked her even more, this friendly, fun woman. It couldn’t have been easy raising Kato and Karl on her own in the U.S., a single mom without many resources and a set of rambunctious twins on her hands. So I felt comfortable immediately, knowing that this woman had probably gone through a lot in life, experienced some serious ups and downs. I decided to set things straight from the get-go and not mosey around.
“Violet,” I started slowly, “I don’t know what your sons have told you about me, but I wanted to clear things up before we began. Karl, Kato and I, we live together, share an apartment, but we’re not exactly … ah, roommates,” I finished lamely.
“Of course not honey,” said Violet, taking a sip of her drink. “They’d never be roommates with a woman, too much testosterone,” she said with a wink.
“Um, yes,” I said slowly. I couldn’t tell if we were on the same page exactly, so I decided to be more specific.
“It’s not just that, it’s that Karl, Kato and I, well, we like each other, like really like each other,” I said lamely, looking down at my hands and flushing. Why couldn’t I get the words out?I sleep with your sons! In a big bed all together! I’m with both of them, we love each other, and as a kicker there’s another man too!Hmmm, not exactly easy to say.
But Violet smiled and put a hand over mine.
“Honey, I know my sons better than you think. They’ve been with me since birth, remember? So I know their proclivities, their preferences, and besides they’re twins, they’ve shared everything since the womb and that includes women,” she said with a wink. I gasped, and Violet nodded.
“That’s right, Karl and Kato have always shared girlfriends. I don’t think they’ve ever dated independently,” she said, screwing up her face to remember. “Nope, don’t think so,” she nodded. “It’s always been a two for one.”
I leaned back astounded, and then sat forward quickly, sensing an opportunity to learn more, an opening of sorts.
“But have Karl and Kato ever done … more?” I asked, my voice hushed.
Violet looked puzzled.
“I think they may have dated two girls simultaneously, enjoyed two women together, but is that what you’re asking?” she said, shaking her head, puzzled.
I took a deep breath. This was so unbelievable, this conversation had started with a jolt, going better than I’d hoped with the twins’ mother no less. So I went for the grand prize.
“No,” I replied slowly, “What I mean is that there’s not just three of us, there’s four. There’s another man and we’re all together, it sounds complicated but it’s way less complicated than it sounds,” I said.
Violet threw her head back and laughed.
“Honey the way you just described it was like a riddle,” she said with an amused smile. “I can’t believe it’s not complicated but you’re young, you’ll figure it out.”
I paused momentarily.
“I know we’re young but that’s the thing. I think we’ve already figured it out,” I said slowly. “This is it. We’re all really happy, me especially so. But because the relationship’s so untraditional we’re keeping it under wraps for now.”
And Violet quirked an eyebrow.
“So this isn’t some youthful fling, exploring your sexuality, that kind of deal?” she asked gently.
I shook my head slowly.
“No, I don’t think so. I’m in a relationship with three men and it works really well for us. One of us is kind of um, high-profile, so we have to be discreet, but otherwise, it works for us,” I said simply. “I’ve never been so happy.”
Violet looked at me for a long moment before taking another sip of her Bloody Mary.
“Well honey, if that’s so, then I’m glad for you,” she said slowly. “That type of happiness is hard to find, and god knows if you’ve got three men it might be even better. Triple the fun, triple the excitement, right?” she asked with a wry grin.
And my smile burst out radiantly then, like a ray of light from between stormy clouds.
“Yes, exactly,” I said gratefully. “Thank you for understanding, you can’t imagine what this means to me. We haven’t cleared it with anyone, not that we need anyone’s approval,” I said hastily, “but the boys and I, we haven’t come out to anyone in our respective families, you’re the first,” I finished.
Violet smiled gently then.