A Place for Cliff (22 page)

“It had to be you. Why else would Papa make us flee the country?”

“Because Papa ran an underground paper printing, posting warnings of raids and sources for aid. He spoke out against Milošević. The night they took him he bartered for our lives. He promised to lead them to the hidden print press in exchange for his release. ”

“Wh-?” the stuttered word was shared by most of them.

“Why did you never tell us this?”

“Because it wasn’t your responsibility to know this!” Pyotr shoved into him one last time then tossed himself back. Turning, his hand raked through his hair and he bowed his head stepping away for a moment.

“Pyotr?”

Pyotr said nothing.

Pavle drew close. His expression ran deep that he had always suspected there was more to the story, but trusted Pyotr kept it to himself for a reason. “Pyotr what happened to them?”

Pyotr glanced over his shoulder finding a dozen set of eyes staring at him widely, their surprise no more than his pain clearly evident on his face. He had not only sacrificed, he had carried the heaviest of burdens with it. “There was a raid a few days later. Word came out that several martyrs were executed on a firing line for disobeying the news blackouts and for ridiculing Milošević directly.”

“They were shot?”

“I don’t know for sure, but yes most likely.”

“And you didn’t think to tell us.” Pavle was deeply hurt. That never in all this time had Pyotr told them what happened to their parents. Letting them assume they had died during the Nato raids months later.

“Tell you what? That Papa not only gave up the location of the press, but the names of those involved as well?” He turned away again his head hung low and he leaned against the wall a moment as if needing it to steady himself. “They gave him twenty four hours. He was supposed to call everyone in the group to meet so they could be arrested. He warned as many of them as he could. Said they would be found no matter what and to use the time they had to get their families out.”

“The others on the truck?”

“Yes. They all sent their children away.” He glanced over his shoulder finding Jovan standing behind him.

Jovan threw himself into Pyotr’s arms, his own wrapping around the man he blamed all these years for his loss, “I’m sorry. I thought it was something else.”

Pavle was there next then the others, all gathered one by one piling into the hug.

Cliff was still at the table completely awe struck and moved his arm pulling Kimmi into him and hugged her as he watched Pyotr with his family all eleven of them. Gathered around the one man that had managed to keep them together through hell and high water. He glanced at the other added family members at the table like him, seeing the same compassion and a few teary eyes and he felt pretty damn warm and fuzzy inside right then.

The pile of Laszkovians stirred and began to break up. Pyotr’s hand darting out from the thick of bodies to pat each one of his siblings, “Come on let’s move to the great room for a drink. And if there isn’t enough to go around we’ll just have to wait for Jovan to go take a piss.”

The family laughed, while Pyotr came back around the table. One hand touching Cliff’s face to reassure himself while he squatted between them and then actually quizzed Kimmi that she was okay.

“Oh my god is this what families do on Thanksgiving?” Kimmi asked under her breath. She had heard of family holiday horror stories before, but had never been ring side for one and she didn’t hold back that she found the whole thing a little more than overwhelming.

Pyotr smiled “There’s eleven of us, plus a few wives and a gaggle of nieces and nephews. A disagreement is bound to come up. It’s how we land on our feet that count. Arguing is part of life as long as we make sure our love for each other wins out in the end.

“So well said, Pyotr.” Maggie said from across the table. She was one of the ones wearing tears. “Thank you Pyotr.”

Pyotr sent Maggie a warm smile and planted a kiss on Kimmi’s forehead then turned to Cliff. “And you.”

Cliff raised a brow at him.

“You, I could really use a kiss from.” He sighed to him. Letting it show that he really did need some reassurance from Cliff, that love was with him.

Cliff smiled and leaned in. Nothing pleased him more than knowing Pyotr needed him as much as he needed Pyotr.

They gathered in the great room and right away the tv was on with the football game and several of the guys were sucked into the excitement as a means to burn off the tension. The ladies gathered putting together a game plan for shopping in the morning.

Pyotr stretched out on the sofa with Cliff between his legs and laying back on him so he could snuggle with him.

“So what are you boys going to be doing while we’re out spending the paychecks.” Maggie glanced at Pyotr while she strummed through the newspaper flyers for the best black Friday bargains.

Rury’s boyfriend, Liam was instantly ecstatic, “Oh I am so going with the girls.” He turned to Rury, “Hon dear, where’s the credit card?” He tossed a broken wrist wave his way that got the girls laughing hard.

Rury rolled his eyes, but even that didn’t stop the grin on his face as he fished out his wallet and passed over a card. While everyone else saw Liam as just playing around he knew Liam liked to shop. Even better this boyfriend could afford to let him. “Okay but no fur coats.”

“I know you like it smooth and hairless.” Liam teased with a wiggle of his hips, before reaching for one of the flyers on the floor.

Kimmi hid her face behind her hands blushing at the open banter.

“Well Pyotr?” Maggie had not forgotten her question.

Pyotr was in his zone but he gave her a sleepy like smile, “We’re going out on the river.”

“The river?” Maggie straightened. “Are you insane? Its freezing outside.”

“Hey some men play football Thanksgiving weekend. Laskovians go sculling.”

“Real athletes row. Everyone else just plays with balls!” The room of brothers chanted out loud.

“Is there room for everyone?” Jovan paused from the game to look over his shoulder.

“I have the two quads and I got the keys for the boathouse if we want to switch up for any one of the longs. You coming?”

“For a chance to row with the Greenwich Queen champions? Hell yeah.” Jovan grinned at his brother. He knew his banter wouldn’t be taken wrong. They were all really proud of the team and they deserved the notoriety that went with their new championship.

“So can I go shopping with the girls?” Kimmi looked hopeful at her brother.

Cliff felt the nudge from Pyotr before he could answer. Just a bit of encouragement to let her live it up. She would be in good hands. “Okay she can go.” He chewed at the inside of cheek bottling up the mirth to keep her locked inside, away from the germs and cold and most of all too far from his watchful eyes.

“You can give Maggie the 101 care package before they go and we’ll all have our cells on us if there’s a problem.” Pyotr’s reassurance was purely for Cliff. He didn’t usually try to steer Cliff when it came to Kimmi, but he knew it would be good for her to be out and about with the girls and have a little bit of freedom from her brother.

Cliff only frowned back at him, bordering on pouting over the release he’d just granted.

“So I really can go?” Kimmi’s eyes lit up despite the weariness that had begun to set in after a long day with a house full of guests.

Pyotr didn’t make a sound nor did he nudge Cliff again, he’d given the encouragement, but as he had always said within their relationship Kimmi was forever his responsibility.

Cliff could see she really did want to go, but he still wasn’t all too sure of letting go.

“You know I can send for a wheel chair for her.” Pavle pulled away from the game to make the offer, “Maggie can keep her in it so she doesn’t wear out. I know that’s a concern in her condition. We could even set up for a nurse to be with her for the day.”

Cliff took in a deep sigh, “No, that won’t be necessary, but I think a chair would be best. But not one of the department store ones. She has to have her own.”

“Done.” Pavle turned to his ex-wife, “I’ll make the arrangements Mag. You’ll just have to swing by my office at the hospital to pick it up.”

Maggie gave Kimmi then Cliff both a warm look. She understood the concerns that had underlined the conversation, but she was glad the young man could let go a little for her emotional benefit. Life without living just didn’t count.

Pyotr reached out taking Kimmi’s chin in his fingers and pulled her around so he could see her face better.

Cliff saw the day’s wager on her face, but knew well she wouldn’t go to bed. Not with so many people still up. “You’re looking tired right now. Wanna curl up here with us?” he asked. He and Pyotr instantly shifting on the sofa to make room for her as she saddled over their legs and tucked herself under Pyotr’s arm and wedged in between his warm body and the sofa.

Pyotr woke to a flash of bright light startling him from his slumber. He blinked his eyes open finding an overly teary-eyed, happy Maggie beaming over him with a camera in her hand. She didn’t say a word as he looked up at her just that million dollar smile that likely made angels jealous, she was that warm and sweet. His eyes went to the camera in her hands and reached a long arm for it. She hit a button then turned it around for him to see the viewer. Pyotr glanced at the image on the viewer of him, Cliff and Kimmi curled up in the sofa sound to sleep in each other’s arms. He grinned in a way he couldn’t explain and handed it back, “I want a copy of that.” he whispered.

“You betcha.” her smile refreshed before tip toeing away.

“So ever row before?” Pavle was quizzing Maxum for any experience. Sculling was a big thing with them but it wasn’t a huge sport with most men.

“Can’t say I have.”

“Put him in the coxswain seat then and Darko can take the stroke position in front of him, that way Maxum gets an up-close and personal look of his man in action.”

Darko was instantly grinning to himself, happy to get the favoritism from Pyotr. It never failed to impress when they watched you row.

Pyotr, Darko and Pavle loaded up in the eight slider scull first, Darko taking the first slider on the tail end as Pyotr had suggested while he took the first position at the bow of the shell and Pavle went into one of the center seats. The others squatting at the edge of the dock waiting for the call to load up. Pyotr gave out a call like someone calling hut for a football pass, the three of them leaned out away from the dock to counter the boats shifting while the others loaded in. Rury immediately behind Darko, then Jovan. Behind Pavle sat Stanislav, Trofim, Cliff and last was Pyotr. All held the dock’s edge and Pyotr gave the okay to Darko who then helped Maxum into the rudder seat facing him at the rear end of the boat.

Another call from Pyotr and they all shoved off the dock and away they went. The chant called out by Darko, Pavle and Pyotr that set the rowing cadence for everyone else, soon changed over into conversation as they headed up stream.

“So tell me again—why is Sasha not out here with us? He is still on the team is he not?” Jovan called out to anyone willing to answer.

“He wasn’t going to risk the boys going out unsupervised.” Cliff answered.

“He sure is overly possessive of them isn’t he?”

“Needs to be.” Pyotr offered up the details, “Isaiah had another setback not too long ago. So he’s had to keep them under tight supervision, taking them shopping with the girls was a way to reward them with some time for them.”

“You gotta hand it to him though, he takes good care of them. They live a far better life with him then they would with anyone else.” Darko called back.

“Yeah I’ll definitely give him that. I just don’t know if I could handle having two husbands.” Rury shook his head.

“So what’s it feel like to be champions now?” Stanislav changed the subject.

“Feels might good.” Trofim responded to his little brother sitting in front of him.

“I wish I could have come down to see it.” His voice trailed off and he shook his head, “I’ve missed too many things. Sasha’s wedding—the races—Pavle’s divorce.” they all laughed.

“So how is it you came up with the name?” Maxum asked aloud.

“That parts pretty obvious, we’re all gay.”

“Hey, hey, speak for yourself.”

Darko laughed over his shoulder, “I meant everyone on the team.  A few even live in Greenwich village. So that made it legit, but it started off as a goading to get another team to accept a challenge and that got us in the competition circuit, but we kept it because once word was out that there was an all gay male sculling team we had guys from all over coming out to cheer us on.”

“We have one of the largest fan bases outside of a collegiate team in the entire New England district.”

“So the name Greenwich Queens stuck, its legit yet rhetorical at the same time.” Pyotr added in mid stroke.

“Damn I’m sweatin’ my ass off—I’m ready to lose another layer.” Darko called ahead for the oars to still so he could strip his jacket off.

“Well you got the cox’n in front of you put him to work.” One of his brothers called back to him.

Darko let out a slight chuckle, “That’d be you.”

“What am I suppose to do?”

“Call them to
Let it run
.”

“Let it run?”

“Yeah, only louder. So we can all hear it.”

Maxum straightened, “Let it run!” he called out with a perplexed expression not knowing what to expect and right then all eight rowers stopped rowing, lifting their oars from the water while Darko pulled another layer off. Several of the others following in suit.

Pyotr took advantage of the moment and slipped an arm around Cliff and pulled him back for a kiss. “Mmmm you look incredibly sexy rowing in front of me.” He kissed him once more and paired it with a nip to his cheek, “I may end up jumping you in the shower.”

A call from the coxswain had him returning to position setting is oars in line and followed in sync as the chant and swing of oars went back into play.

Pyotr watched the muscles of his lovers arms and shoulders roll with each stroke. While Cliff had never had a lot of muscle he had enough to satisfy his own preferences and just under the strain of the oars had them pumped up like a tantalizing party favor.