Chapter Fourteen
He asked Jeff to find me a boyfriend. No wonder Jeff wouldn’t tell me what Chris had said.
Chris’s revelation gave a whole new aspect to the situation, one that set something quivering in Dave’s stomach and prickled his scalp.
When we met at the fair… was that entirely accidental?
Would Jeff have started talking to me, if Chris hadn’t put the idea in his head?
His phone vibrated, and he tensed until he saw it was Janine. “Hi,” he said absently.
“I’m just calling to confirm Christmas Day. What time do you want me to get there?”
“What? Oh. Yeah. Well, we’ll sit down to eat about two o’clock, so anytime before then.”
There was a pause. “Are you all right?”
He was about to tell her everything was fine, until he realized he had to talk to someone. “Not really. I’ve just had a shock.”
“What’s wrong?”
He told her what Chris had said, keeping his voice low. He didn’t want Chris overhearing this. When he’d finished, the silence hit him. “Janine?”
She cleared her throat. “Can I ask you something? Whose idea was it to meet the next day at the fair?”
“Mine.”
“And did Jeff invite himself to the house, or was that your idea?”
“It was mine.”
“And the gig? And Madame Tussaud’s?”
“Mine—no, wait. Chris invited him both times. And then I asked him.”
“So what you’re telling me is, you’ve done all the running.”
“I suppose so.”
“There’s no suppose about it. Jeff didn’t invite himself once.”
“But what about—”
Janine’s sigh cut him off. “Can you stop running around like a headless chicken for a moment and answer me one simple question that will clear all of this up?”
“Fine.” He stood in front of the photos, staring at the one of him and Matt on their wedding day.
“Do you really believe Jeff is duplicitous? What does your heart tell you?”
He fell silent, his mind going over all their conversations, the times they’d shared, the laughter… Dave expelled a long breath. “That he’s a genuinely good person.”
“Exactly. I get it. Hearing Chris come out with that had to be a shock, but you need to take stock and think straight. Which sounds like an odd thing to say to a gay man, but hey…” A pause. “Chris doesn’t know Jeff was behind that beard, does he?”
“No. There was no spark of recognition when they met.”
“Then I suggest you leave it that way. Jeff, on the other hand, needs to know what you’ve discovered. If you’re serious about him, then full and open disclosure is the only way to go.” Another pause. “You are serious about him, aren’t you?”
His throat seized. “Yes.”
“Will he be there on Christmas Day?”
“Yes. Him and his sister Amy.”
“Good. I’ll look forward to that. Now, go spend time with Chris. He’s had his first weekend away from you. And by the way… if you two need a babysitter at any time, I’m your girl. Okay? So if you want to take him out to dinner, or whisk him away for a dirty weekend… or a honeymoon…”
He burst out laughing. “Now I know where Chris gets his matchmaking abilities.”
“Aw. That’s my boy.” Pride rang out in her voice. “Okay, I’ll let you go. See you on Christmas Day. And one last thing…”
“Yes?”
“Wherever he is, Matt is smiling right now.” She disconnected.
Tears pricked the corners of his eyes. I think she’s right.
“I’ve written it.” Chris came into the sitting room, waving his notebook. “Have you got an envelope for it?”
Dave hastily wiped his eyes, then went to the cupboard where he kept his stationery. “Here you go. You fold it and put it in there, while I find you the address.”
Chris beamed. “Thanks, Dad.”
Dave let him get on with it. He had some online shopping to do—for a dining table. If they can’t deliver it by tomorrow, I’ll go pick it up myself.
It was going to be a very different Christmas.
Jeff was trying not to laugh as Chris did everything he could to avoid going to bed. First he’d asked if they could watch a DVD. Then he’d wanted to play Frustration again. By the time he’d asked Jeff to read to him, Dave had put his foot down.
“Bed, young man.” Then he smiled. “Jeff will still be here in the morning.”
Chris’s eyes lit up. “Are you sleeping over?”
Jeff smothered his laughter, and Dave seemed to having difficulty breathing. “Yes,” Jeff managed to get out. “I have to be at work by ten, but I’ll be done by two o’clock.” He glanced at Dave. “Do you two have anything planned for tomorrow? I know it’s Christmas Eve.”
“Nothing so far, apart from sorting out a table. Why?”
“Well, I wanted to go on the rides at Winter Wonderland, and I haven’t had the chance yet. So I wondered if Chris would like to go on them again, but this time with me?”
Dave’s eyes gleamed. “You like fairground rides?”
Jeff nodded. “I love them.” For some reason, he had the notion he’d said the right thing: Dave was beaming.
Chris was already bouncing. “Can we, Dad? I’d love to go on them one more time.”
Dave smiled. “Sure—but only if you go to bed right this minute.”
Chris dashed over to him and hugged him. “Night, Dad.” Then he came over to the couch, clambered onto it, and hugged Jeff. “Night, Jeff.” Before Jeff could respond, Chris hurried to his room.
Dave laughed. “Wow. I’ve never seen him go to bed that quickly. You do know you’ve got a friend for life, don’t you? Matt was always the one to take him on rides—at least, the ones he could go on at his age.”
“As soon as my shift is over, I’ll get out of the suit and meet you at our table by the bratwurst stand.” Jeff grinned. “It’s always going to be our table, you know that, right?”
To his surprise, Dave got up, went over to the sitting room door, and closed it. He joined Jeff on the couch. “There’s something I need to tell you, but I had to wait until he’d gone to bed.”
Something in his voice had the hairs on Jeff’s nape standing on end. “Okay.”
“Chris told me today what he asked Santa for.”
Oh shit.
Before Dave could continue, Jeff blurted out, “I’ve felt so guilty about this.
I didn’t plan this, honestly. I only went to the bratwurst stand to get something to eat.
Then I sat down with you and realized who you were.
But you must believe me—I wanted to be around you because of you, not because of Chris’s request. I—”
Dave stopped him with a kiss, and it was the best response he could have given. Jeff surrendered to it, aware of Dave’s arms around him. “It’s okay,” Dave murmured when he broke the kiss. “And I do believe you.” He stroked Jeff’s cheek.
“He doesn’t know it was me, does he?”
Dave shook his head. “And he never will. That will be our secret.” He met Jeff’s gaze. “There’s a change of plan for tonight.”
“Oh?”
Dave smiled. “You’re not sleeping in the guest room.”
“Oh.” Jeff coughed. “Damn, I forgot to bring pyjamas.”
Dave’s eyes sparkled. “That’s too bad. And I don’t have any I could lend you.”
“What a shame.”
Dave cocked his head to one side. “Want to watch TV? Or shall we have an early night? We could do both—there’s a TV in my room.”
Jeff stood, holding out his hand. “I think we can find something better to do.”
Jeff had no idea what had awoken him. Dave was sleeping soundly beside him, and all was quiet in the house.
Then he heard it. He shook Dave’s shoulder. “Wake up.”
“Waa?”
“I heard Chris shout.”
Dave threw back the duvet, grabbed his robe from the foot of the bed, and was out the door in a heartbeat.
Jeff reached for his borrowed robe and followed, going barefoot down the stairs.
When he got to Chris’s room, Dave was sitting beside him on the bed.
His eyes met Jeff’s. “He had a bad dream.” His arm was around Chris’s shoulders, and Chris clung to him, trembling.
Jeff approached the bed. “Hey, you’re safe. The dream’s over.”
To his surprise, Chris held out his hand.
Jeff sat on the other side of the bed, one hand on Chris’s back, the other holding Chris’s. “We’ve got you. No more bad dreams tonight.”
“Will you stay, please? Until I fall asleep?”
Dave stroked Chris’s forehead. “We’ll stay,” he said softly. “Both of us.” He stretched out on top of the duvet, and Chris shifted until he was lying in the centre. Jeff lay on his side, his hand on Chris’s chest.
“It was horrible, Dad,” Chris whispered.
“Shh, it’s over now. Jeff and I aren’t going to let any bad dreams come near you, okay?”
Jeff rubbed his chest in slow circles. “Your dad’s right. Any bad dreams try to sneak in here, we’ll toss them out of the window.”
Chris chuckled. “You can’t throw a dream out the window.”
“Oh really?” Jeff couldn’t help himself. He leaned over and kissed Chris’s damp forehead. “Just watch us.” He snuggled around Chris, and Dave caressed Chris’s cheek.
He heard the change in Chris’s breathing, and knew he’d gone back to sleep. Across the bed, Dave nodded. “We’ll wait a little longer, just to be sure,” he whispered.
Jeff gazed at the sleeping boy. You changed my life, Chris, and you don’t even know it.
When they got back to bed, Dave pulled Jeff into his arms. “You know I said I was coming to love you?”
Jeff nodded.
“Well, I don’t think there’s any doubt anymore.”
Jeff smiled. “I think we both came to the same conclusion at the same time.” Then all talking was forgotten as Dave kissed him, and it became apparent neither of them was going back to sleep right then.
December 24
Dave pointed to the bratwurst stand. “See? There he is.”
Chris let out a whoop and ran to where Jeff sat at their table. He swallowed hard to watch his little boy seize Jeff in a fierce hug, which Jeff returned.
Oh, Matt. Do you see this?
When Dave drew closer, he noticed the overnight bag at Jeff’s feet, and grinned. “Your pyjamas?”
Jeff released Chris and laughed. “Nope. Secrets. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow. By the way, I’ve sent Amy the address and told her to be at the house anytime after midday. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine.” He ruffled Chris’s hair. “Well? Which ride are you dragging Jeff onto first?”
“Can I have a bratwurst?”
Jeff pulled a face. “You want to eat one of those before you go on a rollercoaster?”
Dave laughed. “He’s ten. Kids his age have the constitution of a rhino. I think he’ll survive.” He handed Chris a pile of pound coins. “Go on. Get one for me too.”
“What about Jeff?”
“I’m fine,” Jeff assured Chris, who headed for the stand at his usual speed.
“So that’s it for this year? Santa has hung up his suit?” Dave said in a low voice.
Jeff nodded. “As of now, I am a man of leisure. I’ll look for a part-time job after Christmas.”
“Well, while you were busy being Santa, Chris and I were putting together our new dining table. It arrived this morning after you left. Thank goodness they could deliver it today.”
“So everything is set for tomorrow?” Jeff asked.
Dave nodded. “You can help me prepare the vegetables. As long as I get the turkey into the oven early, we should be all systems go for a two o’clock launch.”
“It sounds like a military campaign, not Christmas lunch.”
Dave thought it felt like one. He’d never fed this many people before.
Jeff shivered. “Have you seen the colour of that sky? I think the weathermen have finally got it right. It feels as if it might snow. Why does the sky look pink when there’s snow imminent?”
“I have no idea, but if it does, there’s a spare pair of wellies at the house that should fit you.” When Jeff gave him a quizzical glance, Dave grinned. “You’ll need them for when you’re in the garden, helping Chris build Yoda.”
“Oh, really? And where will you be?”
Dave smiled. “At your side.”
“When you said… we could watch the snow… I didn’t have this in mind.
” Dave’s palms were flat to the window, his arms braced, his knees on his pillows.
Behind him, Jeff gripped his hips as he moved slowly in and out of him, kissing his back and shoulders.
Dave peered out at the moonlit snowy scene.
“If there’s anyone out there…. They’re going to get an eyeful. ”
“Maybe I should sell tickets.” Jeff went deep, and Dave groaned. “Can’t last much longer,” Jeff gasped.
“Thank God. I’ve been thinking of Boris Johnson naked for the last ten minutes. There’s only so much torture a man can take.”
Jeff picked up the pace, his hand wrapped around Dave’s shaft, and suddenly they were there, Jeff’s warmth filling him as he came, his arms trembling, his legs shaking.
Jeff clung to him, his sweat-soaked chest pressed to Dave’s equally damp back, both of them shuddering.
When his heart returned to its normal rhythm, he dropped back onto the bed, Jeff falling with him.
“You know, this is my third night with very little sleep.”
“Are you complaining?” Jeff asked, stroking his chest.
“Hell no. I just need to evolve really quickly into someone who gets by on five hours’ sleep, that’s all.”
Jeff kissed him. “It won’t last, you know. The novelty will wear off, and a month from now, we’ll only be making love once a week.”
Dave snorted. “I was never a once-a-week man, and I don’t intend to start being one.”
“Thank God.”
Dave chuckled. “Although right now? Once a night would be an improvement.”
“Is that your way of telling me we’re not having sex again tonight?”
“Let’s just say I’m playing it by ear.” He pulled Jeff into his arms.
Minutes later, he was asleep.