Chapter Fifteen December 25
Chapter Fifteen
Jeff’s first thought was that the bedroom had been hit by a tornado.
Then he realized it was Christmas morning, and Chris was bouncing his way up the bed toward them.
“Wake up! It’s Christmas. And it snowed even more. Come on, Dad.”
Dave opened one eye. “Chris, how old are you?”
That stopped him in his tracks. “Ten.”
“Do you want to reach eleven?”
Chris rolled his eyes. “Come on, I waited till it was light.” Then he was off the bed and dashing through the door, thudding down the stairs.
Dave blinked. “Wow. He didn’t bat an eyelid at finding you in here.”
“Why would he? Chris grew up with two dads.”
“Then it’s official.” Dave kissed him. “Welcome to the family.” He sat up in bed and glanced at the alarm clock.
He froze. “Have you seen what time it is? It’s eight o’clock already.
I should have been up an hour ago. I have things to do.
” He dived out of the bed and into the bathroom.
Seconds later the sound of running water came through the open door.
Jeff grinned. He got out of bed and sauntered naked to the doorway. “Can I wash your back?”
Dave glared at him, holding out the loofah as if it was a lethal weapon. “Keep back. Stay away. This is all your fault in the first place.”
“Excuse me? Last time I looked, there were two of us in that bed. And I didn’t hear you saying ‘no no no, let me sleep.’” Jeff glanced at his morning wood. “Want help with that?” He licked his lips.
Dave’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding? Chris is up.”
He strolled into the bathroom, closed the door behind him, and bolted it. “You were saying?”
Dave dropped the loofah onto the tiled floor of the shower, his dick jerking.
That was all the encouragement Jeff needed.
Jeff nursed his much-needed mug of coffee, watching with amusement as Chris tore the wrapping paper from his present. Dave sat beside him on the couch, smiling. Chris sat on the rug, surrounded by Christmas paper. His presents so far from Dave had been clothes, games, and books.
He doesn’t spoil Chris. And Chris’s exuberant gratitude left Jeff in no doubt that every gift was appreciated.
The snow had stopped, but the clouds held the promise of more to come.
The world beyond the sitting room windows was a blanket of white, the park submerged beneath at least a foot of snow.
The fire burned behind the grate, and in the background, choristers sang carols.
The air was filled with a mixture of pine and turkey.
We got a white Christmas after all. It was already shaping up to be the best Christmas ever.
“Oh wow.” Chris stared at the school backpack, with its colourful image of Han Solo tensed, a weapon in his hand. “Jeff, I love it.”
Dave squeezed Jeff’s thigh. “You hit the bullseye with your first attempt. Very impressive.”
Jeff smiled. “As soon as I saw that, I knew it had Chris’s name on it.”
Chris threw himself at Jeff, hugging him. “Thank you.” Then he went back to opening up all the pockets and investigating every inch of it. “This is great.”
“Chris, there’s one under the tree for your dad. Would you pass it to him, please?”
“When did you sneak that in?” Dave frowned as Chris handed over the small package. “You weren’t supposed to get me anything.” He slit the paper with his thumb nail and tossed it onto the floor. Dave arched his eyebrows. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
Chris peered at the present. “That’s a bolt, like the one on my bathroom door.” He frowned. “Why has Jeff given you a bolt, Dad?”
Dave covered his mouth. “I have no idea.” The words came out muffled, as though he was trying not to laugh. He pointed to another present. “That one is for you too, Chris.” When Chris grabbed it, Dave glanced at Jeff, who grinned.
“I’ll have it fitted to the bedroom door by the time we go to bed,” Jeff said in a low voice. “To use when required.”
Dave exploded into a coughing fit, and Jeff passed him his mug. The delicious aroma of roasting turkey was already permeating the room.
“Aw, Dad.” Chris held the box containing the little silver Christmas tree with its candle. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Dave held his arms wide, and Chris launched himself into them. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
Chris placed the box on the floor next to his other gifts, then reached under the tree. “This one is from me.”
Dave blinked. “When did you find time to buy me a present?”
Chris smiled. “Remember when I went on the rides with Ethan and his mum? Well… we did go on some of them, but I asked her to take me around the Christmas Markets too. I’d taken all the pocket money I’d saved in the piggy bank Papa bought for me.
Then she kept it at her house so you wouldn’t find it. I brought it home on Monday.”
Dave removed the shiny red paper. Jeff looked across and saw something wrapped in a lot of tissue paper. Dave tore it open, and his breathing hitched. “Oh Chris.”
It was an ornament made in a gold metal, comprising a stand with fittings for four small candles, four tiny angels with trumpets set above a star, two arms extending from the centre with a chime on each one, and above them were sails designed to catch the heat from the candles.
At the top was a larger angel, complete with trumpet.
“The lady who sold it said it’s called an Angel Chime. When you light the candles, the angels and the sails spin, and it makes a pretty sound.” He pointed to the topmost angel. “That’s Papa,” Chris said, his voice tight.
Tears glistened in Dave’s eyes. “Of course it is.” He put the box down and held his arms wide again. “Come here.” He held Chris to him, his face buried in Chris’s neck.
Jeff swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Why don’t we light it now?” he suggested.
Chris pulled back from Dave, nodding. “Yes, please.”
Dave got up and went to the fireplace to retrieve the box of matches, while Jeff unwrapped the four slim white candles. He stood them in their holders, and Dave struck a match to light their wicks. Within seconds the angels began to spin, and a tinkling chime filled the air.
The glow from the candles lit up Chris’s face. “Do you really like it, Dad?”
Dave wiped his eyes. “I think it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Too beautiful to hide away when Christmas is over. I think we’ll keep this on the mantelpiece.”
Chris smiled. “I like that.”
Dave covered Jeff’s hand and squeezed it. “Now I’m just sorry I don’t have a gift for you.”
Jeff lifted Dave’s hand to his lips and kissed his fingers. “Yes, you do. You already gave it to me.”
The turkey had half an hour left to cook, the vegetables were peeled and in water, and the stuffing was ready to go into the oven along with the sausages and the roast potatoes. Chris had set the new dining table, and it looked amazing with its deep red tablecloth.
When Chris turned pleading eyes on him, Dave finally relented. “Go fetch your wellies.”
Chris ran out of the room with a whoop.
“Do we have time in your schedule for snow?” Jeff asked with a grin.
“There’s always time for snow, especially on Christmas Day. How often do we get that?”
Minutes later, the three of them were in the garden, scooping handfuls of snow and bringing them to a central spot Chris had picked out.
Jeff gazed at the white blanket around them. “Do you think we’ve got enough here to make Jabba the Hutt?”
Chris’s eyes sparkled, and Dave groaned. “You had to say that, didn’t you? You don’t think we have enough problems? We still haven’t figured out a way to do Yoda’s ears.”
“I’ve changed my mind about that,” Chris declared. Both Dave and Jeff heaved a sigh of relief. “I want to make R2D2 instead.”
“I have a better idea.” Jeff pulled his phone from his pocket and scrolled. He held the phone out for Chris to see. “What about this?”
Chris’s eyes widened. “Oh yeah.”
Dave tried to peek over Jeff’s shoulder, but Jeff hugged it to his chest. “Nope. It can be a surprise. You go back into the house and cook something. Chris and I will take care of this.” His gaze met Dave’s. “That’s if you don’t mind.”
Dave smiled. “I think it’s a lovely idea.” He closed the gap between them, and Jeff’s lips parted.
“Wait!” Chris yelled. They turned their heads to stare at him. Chris grabbed their hands and tugged them toward the front door. “Now you can kiss.”
Jeff frowned, but Dave saw the light. He pointed up to where he’d suspended a sprig of mistletoe.
“I think this is what he had in mind.” He cupped Jeff’s face with his snow-covered gloves, and Jeff shivered.
“Oh hush.” Dave leaned in and kissed him, a warm, sweet kiss that might not have been hot enough to melt the snow, but it warmed Dave’s heart.
When he caught Chris’s sigh, he broke the kiss and turned to face him.
Chris’s smile made him feel so light.
Then Chris coughed. “Okay. Enough kissing. Back to work.”
Dave laughed. “Yes, sir.” He gave Jeff a peck on the cheek. “Love you,” he whispered.
Jeff’s eyes glistened. “Love you too.”
Then Dave trudged back into the house to see to the stuffing. He smiled as he opened the oven door.
Maybe Santa will have some different stuffing in mind tonight.
Half an hour later, the turkey was out and sitting under a layer of foil, and the stuffing and potatoes smelled glorious.
Jeff poked his head around the front door. “You can come out now.”
Dave wiped his hands, then went outside, not bothering with his coat. He gasped when he saw the large round ball of snow. “You made BB-8!” It was a great likeness. He peered at the head part. “What’s that?”
“We used a round glass coaster with black paper behind it for his ‘eye’,” Jeff told him.
“That was my idea,” Chris said proudly.
Dave hugged him. “I think it’s wonderful, but you both need to come inside. Janine and Amy should be here soon.”
Chris let out a squeak and ran into the house.
Dave took Jeff’s hand. “And I have something inside for you.” He led Jeff into the house after much stomping on the doormat. Once inside, they removed their boots and left them on the mat.
On the kitchen table stood an ice bucket and champagne glasses.
Jeff’s face lit up. “My birthday present. I’d forgotten all about that.”
“Well, you did say we could share it.” Then he froze. “Except we might need more glasses.” A moment later, the front door opened.
“Merry Christmas, everyone,” Janine called out. She peered around the door. “I found another guest outside. I told her to barge in, because everybody else does around here.” Her eyes lit up. “Ooh, champagne.”
Dave laughed. “You’ll note her first words weren’t ooh, new table. Which tells you a lot about my sister.”
Once Chris had met Amy and hugs had been exchanged, Dave opened the champagne and poured it into five glasses. He stared at Chris. “You get a sip, okay?” They stood around the table, and Dave raised his glass. “Merry Christmas everyone.”
“Dad, can I do a toast?”
Dave blinked. “Of course you can.”
Chris gazed at them, his face glowing. “To Dad and Jeff.”
Dave couldn’t resist. He took Jeff’s hand in his and kissed it.
Amy gasped. “Wait. Seriously? When did this happen?” Then she preened. “Damn, I’m good.”
Jeff gaped. “You think you brought us together?”
“Of course she didn’t,” Janine announced, her eyes glinting. “Because I did that.”
Dave was trying not to laugh.
“You’re both wrong,” Chris declared. He smiled. “I asked Santa to find Dad a boyfriend, and he did, but I think he had some help—from Papa.” He turned his head to the photos on the wall. “To Papa.”
“To Papa,” they said in a chorus.
Heat radiated through Dave’s chest. He put his glass down on the table and turned to face Jeff. “Merry Christmas. May it be the first of many.”
“I’ll second that,” Jeff murmured.
Dave moved closer, but stopped when Chris huffed loudly. Chris rolled his eyes. “Okay, there’s no mistletoe in here, but you can kiss him.”
Dave and Jeff burst into laughter, joined by Janine and Amy. And just for a second, he thought he caught the sound of a familiar wry chuckle.
Merry Christmas, Matt. And thank you.