Epilogue
“ Y ou got ’em?” I ask Ethan as I shove the car keys into my pocket.
He grumbles behind me. “I got them, don’t worry about it.” I turn to see him carrying a stack of wrapped gifts that’s far too large for him.
I chuckle. “If you insist, but if you break Mom’s gift…I’m telling her.”
“Oh, well, that’s one way to treat your husband,” Ethan teases me back.
I walk over and grab a couple of the gifts from the top of the pile. The driveway of Ethan’s parents’ house is freshly shoveled, but the snow is coming down pretty hard.
“You’re the one insisting on carrying everything,” I remind him. “As if I’d really let ya.”
“Hey, give those back.” Ethan follows me up the sidewalk to the front door. Before we can even get up the porch all the way, the door swings open.
“My boys!” Anne greets us with a smile on her face. “Richard, Greg, the boys are here.”
She steps to the side to let us in. I stomp the snow off my boots first, and Ethan follows suit.
“Hey boys, let us get those for you,” Richard, Ethan’s father, says.
Greg, their boyfriend, takes the boxes from our arms with Richard’s help.
“Come on, it’s freezing out there. Goodness, you didn’t have to bring so many presents,” Anne says.
“We absolutely did. We have three new babies in the family,” Ethan reminds her.
I take off my winter gear and help Ethan with his, pulling off his hat and brushing his hair down with my hand. He smirks at me when I take my own hat off.
“What?” I ask.
“Your hair.”
“You could help me with it.”
“Nah.” Ethan leans up and kisses my nose, but then brushes his fingers through my hair anyway.
“Oh, you two are so cute,” Anne giggles.
“Come on, there’s hot cocoa ready,” Greg says once he returns from putting the gifts away.
I head to the kitchen with Ethan, feeling him slide his hand into mine, and I tangle my fingers in his. His hand is so much colder than mine, even though he’d been wearing gloves, too.
“He needs it, he’s freezing.” I motion to him.
“Our boy has always been sensitive to the cold.” Anne nods. “Let’s get you both warmed up.”
She pulls out a couple mugs, and Greg pours the hot chocolate. Richard is checking on something in the oven. The entire kitchen smells like rosemary and butter, with a hint of chocolate, of course.
“It smells so good in here, Mom.” Ethan smiles and lets go of my hand to hug her, and she squeezes him back.
“Ah.” He hisses slightly when he pulls back.
“Oh, is it your shoulder, honey?” she asks. “Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m okay. The pain is worse when it’s really cold,” he explains.
I sigh. “I told you we should’ve brought the heat pack.”
“We have one,” Richard says as he takes the oven mitts off.
“I don’t need the hot pack. Not right now, anyway. Can we just…settle in?” Ethan says, looking tired, but there’s a soft, loving look in his eyes.
“Of course, of course. Here.” Anne slides us our mugs across the island counter.
We all move to the living room.
I sit beside Ethan on the couch and wrap my arm around him. He snuggles in close to me, and I almost forget where we are. I want to lean in and kiss his shoulder, his neck…he smells so good, even after several hours in the car.
“So, how’s school?” Anne asks.
Saved by the mother-in-law.
“Good. Really fuckin’ exhausting, but good,” I tell her.
“Do you think it’s worth it?” Greg asks. “I mean, moving up from EMT?”
I blow on the hot cocoa. “Yeah. I like being an EMT, but…I want somethin’ more.”
“Med school is no easy task,” Anne comments. “Especially while you’re still working.”
“Yeah, he works long hours,” Ethan says. “But I wouldn’t trade him for anyone.” He leans his head on my shoulder.
“We’re all proud of you both,” Richard insists. “My son, team lead in a science lab, and my son-in-law, soon to be a doctor!”
My chest and face feel warm, and I know I must be a little tense, because Ethan pats my thigh comfortingly.
“Y-Yeah, thank you,” I say before sipping my drink.
“Dante’s still not used to how supportive you all are, and how…open,” Ethan explains.
“After five Christmases, you’d think he would be,” Greg chuckles. “Guess it’ll take another five.”
All three parents laugh, and Ethan and I share a glance.
More family starts to arrive—aunts, uncles, and cousins. As the house fills up with laughter and noise, I’m grateful for those few moments of talking and sipping a warm drink in peace.