“Cool!” The two boys set them in the moat and filled it, so the dinosaurs’ heads poked above the water, guarding the castle.
“Awesome!” both boys exclaimed, admiring their creation, but Tessa was irate.
“Nooo!How is Prince Charming going to get to the castle?” She looked up at Jessi, bottom lip pushed out and arms folded over her chest.
“Don’t worry, baby.” Jessi stroked her daughter’s hair and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Prince Charming has special powers and can fly.”
Tessa’s dark eyes lit up. “Like Spiderman?”
“I was thinking more like Superman, but yeah. Only it’s a secret. Don’t let the boys know.”
Tessa nodded happily and returned to the sand, grinning. “That isn’t going to keep out Prince Charming,” she told the boys.
“Why not?” Lucas asked.
Tessa glanced up at her mother with a knowing smile, but Jessi placed her index finger to her lips, reminding Tessa that it was a secret.
“Because.” Tessa put her hands on her hips. “I have magic fairy dust.” She sprinkled an imaginary substance over the entire castle.
The two boys were unconcerned and returned to playing in the sand. Bory dumped his bucket of toys which also contained small plastic animals that looked like they were from a barnyard. Little sheep, goats, pigs, and horses spilled onto the beach, and the three kids positioned them around the castle.
A young couple came running over, waving, and Jessi’s heart momentarily stopped. So far, no one had recognized them, but she knew anonymity couldn’t last forever and smiled politely at the couple, even if her spine stiffened.
“I’m so sorry,” the woman apologized. “Is my son bothering you? He’s very social.”
Her accent was much heavier than her son’s. Jessi couldn’t decipher it, but it definitely sounded Eastern European. “Not at all,” she replied, relieved that the couple weren’t fans and just an ordinary family on vacation. “He’s very sweet, and the kids are having fun together. I’m glad they made a friend.”
The woman offered her hand. “We’re the Kovals. Nadiya and Roman. And you’ve already met Bory.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Jessi shook Nadiya’s hand, then Roman’s, then glanced at Tommy and Angel. She hadn’t needed to explain their relationship to anyone in a long time and wasn’t sure how the Kovals would react. If they weren’t open minded, they might take their son and leave, and that wasn’t fair. But she wasn’t going to lie. She had taught the kids early on that their relationship was different than most families and some people wouldn’t understand, but it wasn’t something to be embarrassed about. The other more important dilemma was that she didn’t want to give away their identity. Too much time was passing without Jessi returning the introduction, and she needed to say something. Before she realized it, she said, “We’re the Garcias. These are my husbands, Tommy and Angel, and our kids Lucas and Tessa.”
Confusion and then surprise passed over the Kovals’ faces for the briefest of seconds. Then their features relaxed, and handshakes and pleasantries were exchanged. “I’ve never met anyone with your unique dynamic,” Nadiya said. “I think it’s called a throuple? Yes?”
“Yes.” Jessi smiled and nodded, relief washing over her. “We have a polyamorous relationship.”
“It is nice. This is legal marriage in America? I assume that’s where you are from. Is that right?”
“Yes. We’re American. And no. Unfortunately, polyamorous marriage is not yet recognized. Same sex is, but not polyamorous. We had a private commitment ceremony.”
“Bory,” Nadiya called to her son. “Did you meet Lucas and Tessa’s parents? They have one mommy and two daddies.”
Bory looked up and gave a short wave. “Hi.” And then returned his attention back to playing in the sand.
“Hello, Bory.” Jessi smiled at the boy, whose innocence and acceptance of their unconventional relationship didn’t faze him one bit.
“We are here for another week,” Nadiya said. “Perhaps the children can play again, or we can have dinner one evening.”
“That would be wonderful.” She turned to Tommy and Angel, who were having a discussion with Roman about fishing. “Excuse me. Would you like to make plans to have dinner together tomorrow night?”
“What a nice idea,” Angel said. “Have you tried the seafood restaurant?” he asked Roman. “The Captain’s Table. It’s exquisite. The poisson cru is amazing.”
“It’s my favorite place to eat at the resort,” Roman agreed. “I’m a chef in my country. We are from Ukraine.”
Angel’s hands flew to his chest. “I’m a chef, as well. My family owns several Cuban restaurants in New York.”
“What a coincidence. We have much to talk about.” Roman raised his index finger toward the sky. “It is a date, as you say.”
“The Garcias?” Tommy questioned, with a quirked brow and a crooked smile, once they were back at the villa and the kids were passed out from exhaustion. “The Blades outnumber the Garcias three to two in this family.”
