Brad and Raymond both woke up early. Not wanting to take the risk and wake his wife and Father, he put on the clothes he had worn the previous day.
He decided he would make coffee, get the newspaper, and enjoy a bit of solitude on the patio. He was a bit apprehensive about how he and his father in law, Raymond, would interact.
He figured what happened the previous night was just another nail in the coffin of their relationship. He shrugged his shoulders, feeling rather helpless and incapable of mending a fence he hadn't broken.
In all the years he and Jean had dated and married, Raymond had never warmed up to him. He practically fawned all over Father which he thought odd considering Father was a priest who shouldn't be in a relationship with any woman, much less a married woman.
Then again, Norah also seemed captivated by Father which surprised him as he considered her an ally against Raymond. He wondered how long she had suspected the two were having an affair.
Her behavior the previous evening made him conclude she had taken sides, picking Father over him, not understanding the dynamics of his and Jean's marriage. Whatever Jean told her she had readily agreed to.
While she might have kept her conversation with Jean a secret from Raymond, he was positive his in laws had heard Jean's cries of pleasure and her imploring Father to plant his seed and make a baby with her.
They might have long suspected Jean was cuckolding him, but last night confirmed it.
Focused on an article he didn't hear Raymond open the door and join him on the patio.
He jerked when he sensed there was someone else on the patio.
"You startled me. I never heard you."
Raymond laughed, "Must have been a very interesting article or you were deep in thought about something else."
At this point, serving others was second nature to Brad.
"Do you want me to get you a cup of coffee?"
Expecting Raymond to say he would get his own, his father in law shocked him when he said, "That would be great. Black with a splash of cream and a spoonful of sugar."
He got up, went inside, and prepared Raymond's coffee.
When he returned to the patio, Raymond was sitting and looking at the newspaper.
He served him his coffee then sat down.
"Thanks. How about we share the newspaper? Give me what you've read."
Five minutes into reading, Raymond said his coffee was perfect.
Brad sensed Raymond was looking for a reason to initiate a conversation.
"I'm glad you like it. If you want another cup, let me know."
Raymond chuckled, then asked, "Are you always this solicitous?"
Brad answered, "It's a behavior Jean encourages. She finds it comforting to know I treat others well. She tells me I make them feel very welcome."
Raymond responded, "You've certainly made me feel very welcome this morning. This is hard for me to say, but Norah says I need to quit being afraid of having difficult conversations."
Brad felt a bit defensive as he thought the difficult conversation Raymond was going to initiate had to do with him graciously bowing out so Father could leave the priesthood and marry Jean.
Raymond continued, "You and I never got off to a good start. I want us to make amends. I treated you more like an interloper than a son in law."
"Why?" Brad asked.
"Projecting my own fears. I saw you as unmanly. I understood why Jean might be attracted to you; after all every woman wants to be treated like a queen, but there was something about your relationship that didn't set well with me."
"So what made you change your mind?" Brad asked.
"Last night. It was a real eye opener."
"And a relief for me. I've dreamt of this day when my in laws learn our secrets. Jean and Father are more than just sex partners, they are a couple and I'm a cuckold."
Raymond asked, "Meaning you get sexually aroused by their affair. Is what I said accurate?"
Brad nodded yes.
Raymond went on, "I'm still coming to grips with what I heard last night. I had to pretend I wasn't listening to my daughter having sex because it was so arousing, not just for me, but for my wife too."
"Did you know they are trying to conceive?" Raymond then asked.
Brad said, "She's been dropping hints about wanting to start a family, asking me if I'm ready to give up my career and be a stay at home dad. We never discussed specifics, but I figured if she got pregnant it wouldn't be with me."
"Didn't that upset you?"
Brad shook his head no, "I'm a cuckold Raymond. We raise the children our wives make with other men. It's obvious she's more attracted to Father than she is to me."
He continued, "I'm not surprised she didn't discuss with me before hand because that's not how our marriage works. She's the decider. I'm a follower. I am surprised she was so bold last night."
"Is she always so strong willed?"
Brad nodded yes, "That's what I adore about her. She behaves like someone worthy of being worshiped."
"And you worship her, don't you?"
Brad said, "Yes, I do. When they wake up I'll make them breakfast."
Raymond said, "She obviously needs someone like you, but she doesn't seem interested in Father catering to her."
Their cups drained, his cuckold son in law offered to get them fresh cups.
"That would be great. I hope I'm not being too intrusive."
"You're not. It's nice to be able to talk to someone other than Jean. I want to be an open book for you and Norah so feel free to ask away."
Brad returned a few minutes later with fresh cups of coffee.