Saturday, 3rd April

 

This morning, my brother, his wife and I went for a hike and a picnic on Hampstead Heath. We walked around and saw many birds resting on the trees. I took pictures of them, which I felt they didn’t like. How can I possible know?

 

It took ages for my sis-in-law to find a free spot she liked and take out the food prepared yesterday (that’s why no answer to my calls). I must say, delish! But I am easily impressionable by anybody who cooks for me. I can't be taken seriously on this.  Dan kept repeating “this is an important day” and that we had to celebrate it properly to remember it forever, which didn’t make much sense to me.

 

Then this guy stopped by, weirdly dressed I noticed. He wanted to know how to get to the men’s pond but we had no clue. Very rudely he left without saying a word. Thinking about it over lunch I got what was wrong about him: apart from being too smartly dressed for a park, his eyes had lingered on my brother and then on his wife as if they kind of knew each other. 

 

Anyway, we carried on although awkwardly. I resented that guy who, out of nowhere, had spoiled our day. But not for Dan who determined as ever, produced a bottle of bubbles like a rabbit from a hat (that's the way he like it). “Got to celebrate something big” he announced. “I am going to be a dad, she’s going to be a mum and you (pointing at me) are going to be an aunt to beautiful baby girl, in the summer”. We were back to our enjoyable us. 

 

On the way back and on my own, I met that guy again. I pretended not to see him but, guess what, he came over and started talking to me as if we knew each other since ever. Said something like...I prefer sex with straight men because they don’t want romance. I kept walking, I was scared at this point. He went on...with gay men there’s always the possibility that they could get the wrong end of the stick and aim for something more. I didn't want to engage so I stopped and told him I couldn’t care less. He said I should. At that point I had the phone in my hand and ready to make a recall and he….I’m in an open marriage with another man, so I’m not interested in falling in love. And then this...I’m in a relationship with your brother. That’s what he said. I’m going to be an uncle and you’d better bear it in mind, I’m family.

 

Getting ready for bed my brother called. “Can I drop by?". What the f.…k!