Chapter 159 - If Man Comes Bringing Gifts…

"This is the first time I am at my son's house" said Mr. Zygmunt looking around the interior. "It's quite nice and… warm here. I guess I was expecting something different in the apartment of two men, but probably one of you is the housekeeper here." He looked at Nowicki. "Probably Dominik."

"We share responsibilities," Andrzej said quickly, although the truth was that the actor actually did most of the housework. Not because he had to. He just liked it. "Please, sit down. Would You like to drink something?"

"Yes," he said, and took a bottle from his coat pocket. "You don't come empty-handed."

Andrzej blinked seeing half a liter of clean vodka. If Śliwiński came bringing gifts, he could not have any bad intentions. In that case, it was impossible to refuse, although the photographer did not like vodka.

"I'll make some appetizers," he said, and headed for the kitchen.

Yesterday he bought rollmops, he also had pickled mushrooms and cold cuts. He put everything on plates, pulled out yesterday's bread and carried it to the coffee table.

"Oh, royal feast" Mr. Zygmunt laughed, unscrewing the bottle. A characteristic smell wafted through the interior.

"Glasses" Andrzej remembered.

He was hungry and should not drink on an empty stomach, but Dominik's father was already pouring vodka. Nowicki decided that he would bite after the first one.

They poured out their glasses.

There was an awkward silence.

Should I say something? Yes, I should say something, Andrzej thought feverishly, but nothing came to mind.

"When you have children" warned Śliwiński "you think about who they will be, when they grow up. It is a dream for them to form a life for themselves. So that they would find someone nice, start a family, give a bunch of children, have a bunch of grandchildren. It is dreamed that they will live up to our expectations and that they will enjoy it. Children, however, grow up and choose their own path, which is completely different. And what can a parent do then?"

Andrzej did not answer, considering this question as rhetorical. Instead, he watched his glass fill.

"I don't know if what you are doing with my son is good or bad, but I will not judge it. Dominik is an adult and has the right to seek happiness himself. If he prefers men ... Well, I will respect that. That's why I invite you, dear boy, to us for Christmas Eve."

For the second time that evening, Andrzej was astonished. Not knowing what he was doing, he reached for the glass and poured its contents into himself.

"Are you sure you know what I have in common with your son?" He asked finally.

"You are lovers, but I don't want to know the details."

"And you invite me anyway? For Christmas Eve dinner? But your wife ..."

"Helena decides many things, but this is still my home and at the table I will have those I want."

"But why? Why are you accepting me? I do not understand…"

"Do you remember when you brought Dominik to us in the fall? For seven years, we only watched our son on TV and in newspapers. I did not understand why this was happening. I thought fame hit his head and he doesn't want to know us. It hurt, but I was too proud to contact him. And I should have. When he first appeared after those years, he was no longer the energetic boy who left home. I could see the pain in his eyes. Pain only disappeared when he had you in sight. It's as if you were an anchor or a safe haven for him. I was afraid to ask what had happened to my boy over the years because I knew the answer would fill me with despair. It was my fault for letting him go at such a young age and for losing sight of him. Everything that happened to my son then was my fault ..."

"Don't say that, Mr. Zygmunt, please ..."

Śliwiński poured again.

"I'm the father. It is my duty to keep my children safe and happy. I have failed. But when Dominik was with us, I saw that he was leaving all those bad experiences behind him. That he found someone who would comfort and support him in his life. A friend who genuinely supports him even when it is inconvenient. I'm right?"

"Dominik is very important to me. I will always support him. In everything."

"I did not realize then that you are lovers. I'm an old man and I didn't even think about it. Helena too. The kids figured it out. The world has changed a lot since I was young. When it all came out, I was surprised. My wife was crazy, but Olek took your side. It surprised me. I started to think, wonder why. After all, Olek is a decent boy. Helena thinks he is young and stupid, that he is rebelling against religion and parents, but I think he just understands that you make Dominik happy. And I understand it too. That is why I accept you as a son and I want you to sit down with us to Christmas Eve dinner."

"I do not know what to say. Really. I am very happy and can assure you that I will never hurt Dominik, but as for dinner ..."

"Are you afraid of my wife?"

"In fact, yes. I don't want her to feel awkward. I know that Dominik also cares about her well-being and they broke up in really bad relations. Besides, we've already accepted an invitation from my foster family, so I guess we'd have to discuss it with Dominik."

"A foster family? So you don't have parents?"

"They died a few years ago. I was in college then. Speaking of my foster family, I mean my goddaughter and her mother. I have been spending Christmas with them for several years. My friend likes Dominik very much and has been a supporter of us from the very beginning. Her daughter doesn't understand our relationship, but she loves your son."

Śliwiński smiled faintly.

"I am glad that Dominik has good friends. People who love him. I just don't want him to forget about us again for so long. So if not Christmas Eve, then maybe the first day of Christmas? Or The Second Christmas Day[1]. I'll make sure Helena behaves decently."

"I'll talk to Dominik about it."

"How is he? Recently, there have been such ugly rumors about him again in the newspapers."

Andrzej did not know what to answer. After all, he spoke to his lover's father, and it was a rather strange situation in itself without any additional revelation. Śliwiński was, however, a father who was worried about his son, to which he had a right, and he accepted his difference. How much can he tell him then?

"Now Dominik is fine, but he has experienced Werner's death and his slander hard. Werner had unhealthy fantasies about Dominic. Maybe you can guess what. He was rejected, but refused to accept it. Dominik was his obsession. He killed himself and blamed Dominik for his death only because in his fantasy he created an imaginary, sick image around him. But Dominik, though innocent, felt responsible."

"Do similar situations happen often? There are so many things I don't know about my own son."

"No, it was an isolated incident. Only Werner had been giving him trouble lately."

"And this agent of his, Marczak? Why was my son so unhappy in his care?"

"Didn't your wife tell you?"

"No."

"They were lovers. From the beginning, actually. Dominik was blindly in love with him and often did not notice some… not entirely good behavior of Marczak. They finally broke up. It was a tumultuous end. Dominik felt it very much."

"There was so much wrong in my boy's life and I was blind and deaf."

"It's not your fault. Dominik cut himself off from you himself."

"Is it because he was with a man from the beginning?"

"I do not think so. He was young and inexperienced. In love. He let himself be controlled by Marczak, and he was rather afraid of your reaction and the fact that you would take Marczak from him. Marczak cared very much for Dominik for private and professional reasons. He overdid it a bit, but had already learned his mistake. Currently, Dominik is not associated with him either professionally or privately, but we can always count on his help. Sam says that they broke up like an old, close marriage with too many things connected for them to forget about each other."

"What about his health? So much has been written and we don't really know anything."

"He was exhausted, stressed, anemic. He caught infections easily. But that is also behind him. I think you have nothing to worry about at this point" Andrzej smiled at Śliwiński.

The old gentleman sighed.

[1] In Poland we have Christmas Eve, which is very family day, especially important is diner, and two Christmas days.