Chapter 17 #2
“I used to go out with friends, but since I have Lizzie, we play games and have family time. I try not to resort to the TV, because it seems like it should be something special. Mom helps make appetizers and a few other things for dinner, and then we spend time as a family. Once Lizzie goes to bed, then Santa pays a visit. After that, Mom and I usually sit down with a glass of wine and take a breather, because it always seems like as soon as I go to sleep, Lizzie is up and bouncing on the bed, telling me that it’s Christmas morning. What sort of things do you do?”
“We used to go caroling with the church sometimes. Mom and Dad had friends who always had a big party. We’d spend the evening with them, and then in the morning it was time for presents.
I don’t think Mom and Dad had a bunch of other traditions.
I think they were just happy it was over and they could relax for a while.
” Forrest paused. “My mom is a really social person. My dad less so. He went to the parties, but he was the one who always sat in a small group in the corner most of the evening. So Dad was always in favor of quieter holidays.”
“I get that. The biggest thing for me is that Lizzie has a good day.” He rolled over, tenderly running his hand over Forrest’s smooth chest. “That’s all I really hope for with the holiday.”
Forrest stroked Conrad’s cheek. “So there isn’t anything that you want for Christmas?”
Conrad shrugged. “I don’t know. Right now I have just about everything I could want.
So there’s nothing more that I really need.
Lizzie is amazing, Mom is in good health, and I have this relationship starting with this really great guy who listens, and he’s sexy as well.
So as far as my list to Santa, I’d say that I already have the trifecta. ”
Forrest leaned closer. “What’s that?”
“Okay. The trifecta of good things in life. See, you can have a hot place to live, a hot job, and a hot lover. But it’s really difficult to have all three at the same time.
The world or the fates just don’t seem to allow it.
” He knocked on the bedside table. “But right now, I have all of those, so I don’t need to ask for anything more. ”
“That’s an interesting philosophy,” Forrest mused, and he slowly sat up and climbed off the bed. He had spent much of the weekend with Lizzie and Conrad, but now it was time for him to go home… and in a way, back to real life.
“Join us for dinner tomorrow. Mom always makes enough to feed an army, and then you can stay overnight and have Christmas with us. Come over about five.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I am,” Conrad told him with a smile.
“I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.” He patted Forrest’s shoulder after climbing out of bed.
“It’s Christmas, and we should be with the people we care about.
So come, eat until you bust, and watch Lizzie rip through enough presents to choke a horse.
My mother always goes overboard, so it’s going to be a wrapping-paper paradise. ”
“If you’re sure,” Forrest said. This was almost too good to be true. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow night at about five?”
“Perfect,” Conrad said, and Forrest dressed and leaned over the bed to kiss him.
“I’ll see you then,” he said, peering out the window. “And you might want to get up and dressed, because I think your mom just drove into her drive, so she and Lizzie might be over sooner rather than later.” He left the house, used the back door to go to his car, and drove to his apartment.
The place felt empty and a little lonely, especially since he didn’t have much to do.
His work was all caught up, and he was off until right after the new year.
He took off his coat, hung it up, and sat in his chair in front of the television to watch a movie.
Forrest put his feet up and, after a while, closed his eyes.
The movie wasn’t holding his attention, but he continued watching because he needed something to pass the time until he went to bed.
Anything to make tomorrow at five come faster.
CHRISTMAS EVE dinner at Conrad’s was great fun.
They played games and nibbled all evening long, and once Lizzie was in bed, Conrad broke out a couple of bottles of wine.
They drank, put out Santa presents, and talked some more.
By the time Forrest climbed into bed with Conrad, he was more than a little tipsy.
He had intended to go home, but there was no way.
Conrad took him by the hand and led him to the bedroom, where he fell into bed.
The next thing he knew, he was being jostled awake by Lizzie bouncing on the bed. “Daddy, Santa has been here. You gotta come see. It was the real Santa. It was.” She jumped down, and Conrad rolled over.
“The real Santa?” Forrest asked.
“She asked for a dog, so Santa got her a stuffed one.” Conrad grinned and got out of bed. Forrest loved that show of delight and slipped out of bed as well. He dressed quickly, because he had no idea how long it would be before Lizzie returned.
“Gramma’s here,” Lizzie called, and Conrad groaned.
“Did you call her?”
“Yes,” Lizzie answered, and Forrest checked the time. It wasn’t even eight in the morning, and she was already up and excited as anything. Forrest managed to finish dressing and followed Conrad to the living room, where he turned on the tree.
“I need coffee,” Conrad groaned.
“I brought my own,” his mom said, lifting her travel mug.
Conrad headed to the kitchen. “I’ll be right back.”
“But Daddy,” Lizzie whined, and Conrad flashed her a look that stopped her right there. Grandma patted the sofa next to her, and Lizzie climbed up. Then, once Conrad returned with two mugs and handed Forrest one, he set Lizzie loose on her Santa gifts.
“So what was the Santa test?” Forrest asked.
Lizzie looked up from where she sat with her new doll. “I asked for a puppy.”
“And it looks like you got one,” Conrad said, pointing to the stuffed dog next to her. “So he must have been the real Santa.”
“Yes. But I wanted a real puppy.” Conrad was relieved until Mom got up and left the room.
“You mean like this one?” Mom said, carrying a small wriggling bundle of joy.
Lizzie squealed and ran to her gramma, who carefully handed her the poodle-mix puppy.
He was still small. “Santa left him at my house.” She grinned, and Forrest wondered if Conrad knew about this particular gift.
“He also left all this little guy’s stuff, including a bed, food, and everything. ”
Forrest leaned close. “Did you know?” Conrad shook his head as his mom patted his knee.
“Daddy, look,” Lizzie said, showing Conrad the puppy. He took him, and when the little one licked Conrad’s cheek, he melted like butter. “He’s so cute.”
“Yes, he is. I wonder where Santa got him.”
His mom cleared her throat. “I hear that Santa gets his puppies from the shelter outside of town to make sure they get good homes, and when Santa gives a puppy, it comes with pet insurance and neutering.”
Forrest grinned at her. “Way to go, Santa.” He loved the idea of Conrad and Lizzie with a puppy. They both had so much love to give. Conrad nodded and took the puppy outside.
“How old is he?” Forrest asked as Lizzie hurried off to introduce her new doll to the others.
“About ten weeks. He was part of a litter that the shelter got in. All the others were adopted, and he was the last one. I just couldn’t resist.” Not that Forrest could blame her.
When Conrad returned, he put a blanket on the sofa on the other side from where Forrest sat, and the little guy curled up right next to Conrad and went to sleep. The puppy may have been a present for Lizzie, but it was clear to him that the pup was already bonding with Conrad.
“Can I open more presents?” Lizzie asked.
Forrest was asked to hand out gifts, and he distributed them one at a time.
He was happy that Conrad liked his gift—a Lego building set of NASA’s new rocket system.
And Forrest was tickled that Conrad got him a blanket big enough for them to snuggle under, and another tall box that Conrad handed to him gently.
“Open it carefully,” he said, and Forrest deliberately removed the paper and opened the side of the swing-open box.
“It’s me,” he said with a grin and carefully lifted the Lego model out.
Conrad had dressed him in bright colors along with Lego pencils and crayons.
He had really managed to get a likeness, and Forrest couldn’t help grinning like an idiot.
He had never thought of himself as a Lego model.
But the care and the love that it had been made with blew him away.
“Look, I got Legos too,” Lizzie said, and Forrest pulled his gaze away from Conrad’s and used the distraction to wipe his eyes.
“You okay?” Conrad whispered as Mom handed Lizzie a gift from her.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He sniffed slightly and hugged Conrad. His life had changed so much since he’d met a frightened Conrad in the grocery store. That incident still made him smile sometimes. “I’m just happy.”
Conrad turned to him with a grin. “Me too.” Conrad kissed him, and the puppy decided he wanted some love.
He climbed onto Conrad’s lap and put his front paws on Conrad’s chest, stretching to lick his chin.
They both laughed, and Forrest held Conrad close, receiving a gentle caress across the cheek that drew him nearer.
What more could he possibly want? He was warm, happy, and loved… best day ever.