CHAPTER SIX
Lee
“So I hear your family’s in town,” Gabe said as Lee restocked the first aid kits they carried in each fire truck.
“Yep. They’ve effectively moved in,” Lee said, but he wasn’t far off.
Between the deliveries, decorations, cooking, and any number of other changes, Lee wasn’t sure if it was still his and Frank’s home or their parents’ house. It’d never crossed his mind that this was a possibility. Their quiet home for the holidays had been replaced and turned into a three-ring circus, and as his father’s display grew ever larger, so did the nightly crowds that gathered to watch the display, making his father search for more ways to wow the people of Brighton. Their mothers started serving hot chocolate and cookies to their nightly visitors. It’d turned into a nightly party, and Jacob couldn’t be prouder that his house was the gathering place.
Frank had decided to use the opportunity to do some good and set out a donation bin, with the proceeds going to the Haven Center. They’d already collected over two hundred dollars in cash donations and bags of donated nonperishable food.
“You don’t sound particularly happy about it,” Gabe remarked, that damn smirk of his wide and snide.
“They’ve hijacked our entire holiday plans.”
“Is it really so bad?”
“I woke up this morning to Barbara Streisand belting out Yuletide favorites as my mother was bandaging up my father’s hand for the third time after I tried to reason with him that we didn’t need to put lights around the rose bushes. He can’t be stopped.”
“From what I hear, the town’s loving the light display.”
“So is the electric company.”
Gabe laughed. “You’ve never been a Scrooge. Tell me the truth, what’s going on?”
Lee sucked in a deep breath. He knew Gabe was trying to help, but how did he explain how he felt without looking like a complete asshole?
“It’s stupid, really.”
“If it’s bugging you, it’s not stupid. I remember when I was fixated on helping Johnny recover from the injuries to his hands left by the fire. You sat my ass down and knocked some sense into me. You told me that I was being an overbearing asshole and that I had to back off and let Johnny find his feet.”
“And he did.”
“Yes, he did. Now start talking.”
“Okay. As crazy as this sounds, for once, I wanted to be the Christmas hero this year.”
“The hero? You’re a firefighter. You are a hero.”
“Yeah, I get that, but that’s in my work life. I want to be the same as a dad.”
“Jacob loves you.”
“I know. That’s why I think this feeling doesn’t make sense, but it’s there and it sucks.”
“Why don’t you explain it to me?”
“Growing up, my father was my hero. Never more than during the holidays when he’d go all out and decorate our house. People would travel to see it, and all my friends would tell me how much they wished their house looked like ours.”
“But I thought you hated all the blow-up madness?”
“I do now, but as a kid, it was magical. I thought this year would be my chance with Jacob.”
“I get it. You feel as though you’re being overshadowed by your father every year because you believe Jacob looks at him the same way you used to when you were a kid.”
“Facts are facts. Jacob is having a great time with his grandparents here, and our house has become spectacular. I can’t believe I’m forty-two and jealous of my father. How messed up is that?”
“Not so messed up as you think.”
“No?”
“Nope. When I was a trainee, everyone looked up to my dad, the fire chief. It felt like I’d never have the same respect people had for him. He was the hero in my life and everyone else’s. I was fighting an uphill battle with no way of ever catching up in the eyes of my teammates.”
“You do have the respect of everyone. No one ever questioned your abilities.”
“Exactly. That uphill battle was in my own head, not reality. You’re already the hero in your son’s life by being the dad you are. You’re competing with yourself.”
Lee felt the truth of what Gabe said wash over him. Was he competing with himself? Was it all in his head?
“No matter what you do, you will always be the hero in your son’s life. He loves you, and so does Frank. You can’t ask for more than that,” Gabe said as he slapped Lee’s back.
“No, I can’t.”
He already had what most men only dreamed of. What the hell was he worried about?
***
Frank
He could tell there was a difference in the way his husband was acting. Lee looked happier and more carefree than he had in days. The holiday festival was in full swing, and Brighton’s Main Street had been transformed into Santa’s winter wonderland, only with fake snow. They were in South Texas, after all.
Jacob ran ahead with Lucy and Joshua as the grandmothers helped the Mason Aunts set up the bakery table, and the grandfathers discussed the latest advances in LED lighting while surveying the various decorations. The grandparents had hit it off nicely for four people who hadn’t spent much time together before this.
The residents were out in full force, and booths were giving out hot cider, hot chocolate, cookies, and all sorts of treats. Christmas carols were being sung, and all the children eagerly awaited Santa’s arrival.
“Are you going to tell me what’s gotten into you?” Frank asked Lee as they walked down the sidewalk hand in hand.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re acting like you don’t have a care in the world.”
“I’m enjoying our first Brighton Holiday Festival as a family,” Lee said with a wink.
“Okay, you keep it to yourself, but I’ve gotta say I like this new attitude.”
“Let’s just say I’ve readjusted my thinking. How are you doing through all this chaos?”
“I’m actually beginning to like the constant movement and cozy feeling of having a full house.”
“Even though you’ve been kicked out of your kitchen?”
“Yeah, I could do with a break from cooking occasionally.”
“Words I never thought I’d hear coming from your mouth,” Lee joked, pulling Frank closer. “I say we roll with it, baby, and enjoy the time while we have it.”
“Besides, Jacob is having the best of both worlds. He’s got his grandparents and can do all the fun things at home.”
“Dad, Pop, hurry up,” Jacob hollered as he ran back to them. “They’re about to hand out presents.” The boy grabbed their hands, and pulled them forward.
“Okay, okay, we’re coming, kid.” Lee chuckled, and they followed their son up to the grass square, which was set up like Santa’s workshop with a large red velvet chair set in the middle for the big guy himself.
Children started cheering, and bells began jingling. Frank almost choked on his hot chocolate when he turned to check out who was playing Santa this year. Bear Mitchell, a local diner owner and a tough-as-nails biker, had his typically black beard painted white along with his bushy eyebrows. He was a giant man, but it looked like they’d added a bit of padding around his middle. The red velvet suit with white fluffy trim was in such contrast to the jeans- and leather-wearing biker that he’d never expected to see him playing the main man.
“Is that Bear?” Lee asked in what sounded like disbelief.
“Oh yeah.”
“That’s a look I never expected on him.”
“Me either,” Frank said, trying to hide his laughter.
Rick, his partner, and their nephew Joshua were wearing elf hats and were helping Bear hand out the gifts.
“Look, Joshua’s uncle is playing Santa Claus,” Jacob said in awe. “Hey, Dad, could you play Santa some year?”
Jacob looked up at Lee, waiting for an answer.
Without missing a beat, he answered. “If you want me to, son.”
“Yesss,” Jacob cheered before running up to get in line with the other children.
“I can’t wait to see you in that red suit.” Frank chuckled.
“I’ll give you your present when we get home,” Lee said suggestively.
“Well, I’ve been a really good boy this year.”
“Yes, you have.”