February.
The seductive rhythm of work and progress took over my life for the next month. Scarcely a sexual thought entered my head as I prepared classes and helped Ulrika and Karl to absorb new knowledge, working with them while they practised using it, rejoicing with them as it became automatic and natural and their ability to express themselves grew. As the end of the month approached, and with it half term I went looking for Angela.
'Hello, Luke, I haven't seen you for ages. Is there a problem?' I shook my head cheerfully.
'Just the opposite. I'm prepared to bet that Karl and Ulrika's half term reports will knock your socks off, and I've come to ask you to declare a three day holiday as a reward. I'd like us to go to Salzburg and hear a concert at the Mozart Hall, and make them think that hard work brings rewards. You can justify it as behavioural reinforcement'. She looked thoughtful for a moment.
'That'll fit in nicely with my plans. It's about time I hosted something, and if you're all out of the house Trudi can get everything ready while cook supervises the caterers'. She looked in her bag and pulled out a Gucci diary. 'I'll tell you this evening which days and Frau Kurtz can order tickets and book hotels. She'll throw a fit, of course'.
'She's got a vested interested in the kids being incorrigible. I'll let you break the news to them. Don't tell them it was my suggestion'. She beckoned me towards her then pulled my head down and kissed me.
'You are something else. I feel another invitation creeping up, but not just yet. You've turned this into a happier house, Luke, and I don't know how or why'. She let go of me and I retreated, feeling pleased.
When I got back to my room Trudi was lounging in an armchair leafing through a book. She looked up as I entered.
'I had to something to get your attention. When you focus you focus, don't you? I could be walking round the house stark naked with a rose between my teeth and you'd still nod vaguely and be absent mindedly polite. I don't know why I'm not offended. Come and give me a kiss'. I did as I was told and flopped into the armchair opposite.
'You want to tell me something and you're a little bit nervous. Anything serious?'
'How the hell do you know these things?' I shrugged.
'I watch people and sort of know what they're feeling. Tell me what's up'.
She'd come to confess that she'd been spending time chatting to Ulrika, who'd fallen into the habit of going to the kitchen and getting a hot drink before homework.
'We've been having girl talk and I sort of tricked her into saying more than she meant to about Christmas and now I feel bad about it'. She looked at me apologetically and I shrugged again.
'She's in the middle of a crash course in becoming autonomous and she need lessons in what the real world's like, as well as school subjects'. A thought struck me. 'Did you whisper any confidences back to her?' Trudi looked guilty.
'Nothing specific, but she's probably wondering how come I know so much about you. I didn't tell her directly that we're fuck-buddies, but she's not stupid'.
We'll deal with that if it comes up. How's Olga?' She made a face.
'Back with her mum, poor thing, in the middle of nowhere with just her vibrator for company. I'm going down this weekend to see her and charge her batteries'. She giggled at her own joke and went to make a start on supper.
*********
Angela appeared at the supper table to make the announcement, Frau Kurtz had a head attack, Karl and Ulrika looked overjoyed, and I stayed quiet and tried to look surprised and pleased. After the meal we went up to what I was beginning to think of as the teaching suite, and the kids settled down to the rest of their homework. The fire was glowing and I slumped in my favourite armchair and closed my eyes. The next thing I knew was a pair of soft lips grazing mine and a warm hand stroking my cheek.
'We've finished, Luke. Karl's gone to watch TV and I'm going to have a shower and read for a while'. There was laughter in her voice. You look quite tired, you poor thing. Have all your women been tiring you out?'
'What's that supposed to mean?' Her eyes were bright and loving.
'It means that I know you're not a one person guy. I'd already worked that out and Trudi's a dead giveaway. I saw her face when she was talking about you, and I was hurt at first, but after thinking about it I'm not going to try to change who you are. You've done too much for me to be selfish. Would you mind if I let Trudi know that I know? She's different from me but I feel as if she could teach me lots of the things that you can't'. I reached up and drew her onto my lap and bit her ear gently.
'Talk to her as much as you can. Underneath all the surface froth she's a sensible person who knows herself and lives happily with the knowledge. That's a good trick to learn. I couldn't do it when I was her age'. I kissed her ear. 'You've been very patient and studious lately'. She squirmed as my tongue traced down her neck.
'I'm trying to copy you. Calm and patient and thoughtful'. She wriggled off my lap. 'Go back to sleep. Maybe you'll need your energy when we're in Salzburg'. She ran her hand down my cheek again and left, humming quietly.
**********
Our plans solidified. Frau Kurtz was told to book a suite and to hire a car so I could get us all down there in comfort and on the Tuesday of half term I watched the kids piling luggage into the boot. Trudi came and stood by me.
'I wish I was coming too. The party's on Thursday and it's going to be horrendous. Still the caterers and cleaners will do most of the hard work'. Her eyes strayed to Ulrika. 'God, she's beautiful. I don't know what you've done to us, Luke. You've taught me not to grab everything all at once, Olga's happier about her body than she ever used to be, Ulrika's turned into someone who's totally different. She's so good with clothes and she's been helping me to alter some of my stuff while we've been chatting. Even Frau Fischer's less tense than she used to be'. She cocked her head and looked up at me. 'Ulrika and I have talked a lot about you, completely honestly, and neither of us resents the other; we still don't know how you do it'. I felt the familiar shrug starting.
'It's a gift. I don't work at it'. She looked at me exasperatedly, then reached up and ruffled my hair. She blew me a kiss over her shoulder as she went back into the house.
***********
Austria isn't a big place and we were rolling into Salzburg by mid-afternoon. Our hotel was a gaudy wedding cake of a building, and I boggled as we pulled up, but Ulrika wasn't fazed. She slipped out of the passenger seat and nodded at the doorman.
'Herr Fischer's party', she said simply, and an army of porters descended on the back of the car. I handed the doorman the keys, feeling like someone important.
The comfort level in the suite was bordering on the sybaritic and I was hard put not to join the kids as they explored it. We were a step beyond mini-bar country, and I opened an elegant cocktail cabinet and extracted a bottle of wine. My case had been unpacked by a cheerful chambermaid and there was nothing to do until the concert the next night. Karl and Ulrika came out of their rooms.
'Help yourself to drinks, guys. You're the ones who've been working, so you get to decide what we're going to do this evening. If you argue I'll cast a deciding vote'.
To my horror they elected to go to MacDonald's and then a movie. I was about to protest but remembered that it was their treat and that this was something they'd hardly ever done. I braced myself and we went out.