“It’s nothing, Gabi. Just a bit of smut,” the general said.
Kurt grinned. “You’re right, general, but we all like a bit of smut, don’t we?”
More polite conversation while coffee and cake were served.
“Gabi, Heinz mentioned that it was your birthday last week. Happy Birthday—how old are you?”
Gabi turned to Kurt, surprised by his interest in her. “Nineteen,” she said.
Kurt leaned forward. “Did you know that birthdays are good for you? Apparently, the more you have, the longer you’ll live.”
Heinz rolled his eyes and coughed and Gabi could tell that he was embarrassed by his brother’s tired joke. She burst into laughter, joyful eyes flitting to her father to gauge his reaction. Smothering a chuckle behind his fist, the general whispered, “At least the peacock has a sense of humour.”
With satisfied stomachs and a chorus of infectious yawns, the afternoon drew to its pleasant conclusion. Gabi and her father thanked Frau Dorfmann for a delicious meal and delightful afternoon, although in truth, Gabi knew that her father had found the visit tiresome for he grew impatient and distracted as the hours passed.
Heinz would be joining them at Manor Grand Oak but it took almost half an hour for him to say goodbye to his distraught mother, for she was ill-prepared for their parting. She fussed over him, packing freshly washed clothes and soap, reminding him to change his underwear daily, sniffling into a handkerchief that grew moist with tears until she ran out of excuses.
Kurt made a hasty exit, claiming that he had a long journey back to his base at Jever, Lower Saxony. His farewell hug was fleeting and unemotional, and like his father so many years before, Kurt left his mother standing teary-eyed at the front door.
Helmut was already waiting outside when the limousine pulled up only a few inches from the tips of his lacquered shoes. He scurried to the back of the vehicle and removed the items of luggage.
“I hope your journey was pleasant,” Helmut muttered to neither Gabi nor her father; for his eyes were fixed on a tall, conspicuous young man who shuffled from one giant foot to the other.
“Yes, it was fine but I am tired. See that supper is served as soon as possible.” The general disappeared into the bright light of the foyer, leaving Gabi, Heinz and Helmut to the luggage.
“Helmut, this is Heinz, my friend from the academy.” Gabi presented Helmut with a peck on the cheek as always, slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way inside for she too, was tired and longed for a quick bath before supper. Heinz smiled uneasily at Helmut and extended his hand—a gesture that was ignored. Instead, Helmut studied the youth through thickly magnified glasses like a scientist scrutinising a bug on a Petri dish.
“I’ll be watching you so don’t get any ideas,” he said and he ushered Heinz to a guest room in the farthest wing from Gabi’s bedroom. Heinz followed Helmut like a puppy, awed by the size of the manor; he was sure to get lost just going for a pee.
That evening, they enjoyed a light supper of cheeses, pastries and of course Gabi’s favourite: cherry crumb cake. Although generous in size, the cake was quickly devoured as both Gabi and Heinz filled their cake plates twice over. They toasted to Gabi’s nineteenth birthday, Heinz seemingly unimpressed with the champagne served. He quickly sculled the delicate flute down to rid himself of the distasteful brew.
“You like the champagne then?” the general asked as he watched the youth down the glass in one gulp. Heinz suppressed a cough and nodded.
“Good, then I haven’t wasted an expensive drop after all. Here, Gabi, I have a present for you.” He offered no apology for his belated birthday present and handed the gift to Gabi as though nothing was amiss. She kissed her father on the cheek before opening the box. It was an elegant Swiss watch set in gold with a few jewels tastefully embedded around its face.
“It’s beautiful, Papa. Thank you. On my, look at the time, it’s almost midnight.” She winked at Heinz.
The general watched this daughter and her boyfriend bid each other a coy goodnight and head off to their bedrooms at opposite ends of the house. He chuckled at Helmut’s prudent selection of guest accommodation and poured himself a cognac, taking a deep whiff followed by a satisfying swig. It was a fine brew, extra old and smooth as silk.
He wondered how long it would take Gabi to sneak into Heinz’s bed. He knew that Gabi was no longer a virgin, her innocence lost long ago in a manner that should have made her repulsed at the thought of physical intimacy with a man. And yet Gabi had gone the other way, promiscuous and longing for love, much the same as someone else close to his heart.
Memories of Gabi’s mother, Mary, drifted into his thoughts—the day they met down by the River Elbe as clear as though it were yesterday. She was staying with relatives in Dresden, catching his eye as she promenaded with her cousins, giggling as they flirted with the soldiers who strutted like peacocks in their uniforms. He was the only one that could speak any English, and so began their clandestine liaisons, Mary not yet twenty and madly in love with her dashing German soldier.
Their passion for each other was intense, their courtship swift, their commitment to each other a fait accompli with the news that Mary was with child. But he did love her and grew to love her more when Gabi was born. He fell into a wistful stare, polishing off the last of the cognac before retiring to his bedchamber.
“I thought you said riding a horse was like riding a bike. It’s nothing like it. How do I get this thing into gear?”
Gabi and Heinz had risen early to explore the estate on horse-back but Heinz had never ridden before and was finding his seat, so to speak.
“Just jab firmly with your heels, like this.”
Heinz followed Gabi’s example but the horse turned the opposite way and sprinted up the hill with obstinate determination, Heinz holding on helplessly, having surrendered control from the moment he mounted the beast. Gabi chased them down and coaxed the mare to a canter.
“Trust you to give me a crazy horse.”
“Never blame the horse, Heinz,” she said.
“My arse is sore and so are my balls.”
“Like I said, never blame the horse. You should have taken it slower last night.”
Heinz screwed up his face. He swung his leg over to dismount, catching the other foot in the stirrup and hopping until he had freed himself.
Gabi slid down beside him. “Had enough already?”
“I prefer horsepower of another kind.”
She leaned against the trunk of the old oak, gazing blissfully at Heinz. Was this love?
He stepped closer, thrusting his groin into her pelvis.
“What? Again?”
Heinz’s lips curled adorably. Unable to resist such a face, she relented and unfastened the buttons of his trousers, slipping her hand inside.
“Whoa, that’s cold.”
“Let me warm it a little.” Gabi knelt before him and tugged at his trousers, pulling them down to his knees. She gently caressed his erection and teased him with her tongue and lips. Heinz groaned and ran his fingers through her hair.
“Stop it, I’m losing concentration,” Gabi scolded.
Heinz disentangled his fingers. “No, don’t stop.”
She resumed her routine and his legs began to twitch and shake. He moaned with pure relief, releasing himself into her before dropping to his knees and kissing her zealously.
“So that’s what I taste like.”
They sniggered at each other like two naughty children sampling from the lolly jar. A soft drone could be heard over the fields and Gabi turned to take a look.