Walter found his son sipping a cup of coffee when he stumbled downstairs to the kitchen the next morning.
In spite of Adele's blithe assurances, he wasn't at all sure that Curt would be okay with what had happened in his bedroom (
she is his girl, after all!
); but when Curt gave his father a broad and genial smile, he knew that everything was fine.
Walter got a cup of coffee for himself and sat down next to his son at the kitchen table.
"She's really something, isn't she, Dad?" Curt said softly.
"That she is, Curt. A wonderful young woman."
"I'm glad you had a nice time with her."
"It was more than 'nice,' Curt. It—it was . . . a revelation."
"What do you mean, exactly, Dad?"
Walter looked pensively at his son. "What happened last night showed me how much love there still is in me—and Adele gave me an outlet for that love. But no, that's not fair to her.
She
was the one who brought that love out; not just any girl could have done that."
"You're right about that, Dad. She's one of a kind."
It was only now that Adele, a bit stiff and sore, tramped into the room in her nightgown. She gave both men a hearty kiss on the mouth and said:
"What have you been talking about? Should my ears be burning?"
"Yes, they should be," Walter said—"only because you're a princess among women."
"Is that right?" she said. "Well, this princess is ravenous. Any chance of a big breakfast around here?"
"Yes, ma'am," both men said together as they leaped up and got to the task of preparing a lavish breakfast of eggs, ham, biscuits, and other comestibles for their enjoyment.
There was scarcely any need for the three of them to articulate the plans for the remaining three weeks of the visit. Adele slept alternately in Curt's and Walter's bed, and it became clear to her that both men yearned for intimacy every night they had her. For all the recency of her own deflowerment, she was quite accustomed to such a schedule, given her popularity with the men in Magnus's house, and she obligingly made herself available in whatever way each man wanted. But Walter and Curt were also careful to satisfy her wishes in turn.
About a week later, when she and Walter had had an initial and very intense coupling, Adele slipped out of bed and drifted out into the hallway. She made a quiet beeline for Curt's room. He was dozing placidly in his bed, and waked immediately when Adele knelt down next to him.
"Something wrong?" he said.
"Not at all," she replied with a smile. "I just think . . . you should join us."