A New Dream [Dreams: 1] (15 page)

“When he’ll know what?” David’s voice startled them both and they turned their heads guiltily toward the door. David held a tray with three hot cups.

“Nothing,
papa chéri!
” She had such an angelic face when she said it, James wondered how many times she had gotten away with things. But what she told her dad next surprised him even more. “I was just warning him that I’m a pain in the ass and that he should look after yours so I don’t come after his.” Her face was so serious as she pronounced the last words that James couldn’t do anything but laugh. She tried to keep her stone cold face but soon everyone was giggling, James holding his ribs to prevent the pain from spreading too much.

The ruckus brought the nurse back and she kicked David and Jenny out of the room. She gave him another shot for the pain and the world faded. His last thought was for his hot coffee. He never had the time to drink it.

E
pilogue –
N
ew
D
reams

A
few months later

The cold weather of December was chilling James and David to their bones. Cuddled against each other, bundled up in their furry parkas, they had braved the elements and the snow storm to choose their Christmas tree. In a few hours, the whole family would be reunited for their first Christmas together in Boston.

Jules and Jenny should arrive within the hour. Laura, James’ sister, had landed the day before and had gone off, buying some last-minute presents. David already had all his presents ready, hidden in the closet in their bedroom. When James had been allowed to go home after the stabbing, they had decided to formally establish their home in David’s apartment. James’ had stayed vacant until Chris found himself homeless after his landlord had decided to take his apartment back for himself. Naturally, David and James had offered him to come and live in the top flat for a modest sum.

Chris had had a hard time accepting their help but he had finally consented to move in, sometime in September. Since then, they had spent a lot of time together. They had come to consider Chris like a little brother. He was invited to their Christmas party. When David had learned that Chris was alone for the holidays, he had practically forced him to agree to spend it with them. No one should be alone at Christmas, according to David.

Their only friend missing the party would be Bo. He was still struggling with his family in New Orleans. He had called them earlier today to wish them a merry Christmas but he wouldn’t be able to come home before mid January, more or less. He hoped the problem would be solved by then.

After an hour waiting in the chilly wind, watching the snow swirling around them, they ended up with the most impressive tree James had ever had. It was the biggest, the most smelly and dense of the lot. Their mission accomplished, they came home, dragging it behind them, David laughing and James grumbling. That ought to teach him to accept all his man’s whims! Fortunately, they weren’t too far from home.

Back at home, it had been the decoration race! David had wanted to buy every bauble he could find in town to decorate the tree properly. Old style beauties in blown glass rivaled with wooden hand-carved baubles. No garland or tinsels in their tree, only an extreme profusion of baubles of all colors, sizes and materials. James thought that it was certainly exaggerated but so what? Anything to make his lover happy…

The afternoon couldn’t end quickly enough for James. He had prepared a special surprise for his man and, with Jenny’s help, he hoped he would be able to implement his plan. Since the day he had known what to give David, he’d had the patience of a flea. He would jump each time David entered their bedroom. He feared to be caught and David would ruin the surprise. With the tree dressed up in its finest attire, it was time for them to do the same. James was impatient to peel David out off the gorgeous Tom Ford suit he was wearing now. Hundreds of ideas ran through his overheated brain, sending totally inappropriate thoughts for a family dinner. He hastily stocked these thoughts for later…

The intercom rang, the sound resonating in the room, and David jumped. He couldn’t wait to see his kids again. They had come over during the summer. Jenny had come over alone for a couple of days when James got stabbed but she returned later in August for a few weeks, together with her brother. This time, their plane had been delayed because of the disastrous weather conditions and James and David had stayed at home to finish preparing the apartment, waiting for the twins to finally arrive.

David opened the door, eager to hold his kids in his arms. James heard them laugh and talk in the staircase. He smiled when he saw his lover’s face light up like the Christmas tree as he grabbed his daughter and lifted her up for a huge hug. He remembered his distress when he and David first met. How could he have thought for a second that David was like James' own father? He had never abandoned his children. He had gone to make an old dream come true, to find himself, as he knew his kids felt good about themselves. David was
nothing
like his genitor. That was what had made him decide to do what he was about to do.

While David hugged Jen, James greeted Jules. They fell into each other’s arms in a bear hug. They were both as enthusiastic. Last summer, James had come to admire the discreet young man. His moderation was a great balance for his sister’s temperament and they were both nice kids. James had loved to show them his city through all his favorite places. Jules had been captivated by the USS Constitution, where Harvard had been Jenny’s favorite place. During the summer, the campus was pretty deserted and they had been able to have a good look at the buildings constructed in 1636. The visit of the Museum of Natural History had been the apex of her time here, for she had a passion for History. James was so happy to see them again. When he released Jules, the little fireball jumped in his arms and he barely caught her. She giggled.

“Hey, easy girlie! He’s an old vet after all!” David laughed.

“Ha-ah, hilarious sweetheart!” James deadpanned. “I’m still capable of lifting up a fairy of 70 lb and 4 ft.”

“Hey!” She hit him in the right arm, outraged. He stroked his left arm, faking pain.

“Oh, is there a mosquito in the room? I think I’ve been bit.”

“Oh my God, you’re too funny. Have you been studying in a clown school while I was gone? You got lost in the corridors, right? Remember what I said about your ass…”

“Tsk-tsk! Enough young lady! Stop talking about his…” Her dad hesitated.

“Oh come on, Daddy! You can say it out loud. It won’t bite you… oh wait! Maybe you’re the one biting him on his….”

“Jen!” David interrupted her, scandalized. She entered the room, nose up in the air, a smug smile on her lips.

“TMI, Jenny chérie, TMI.” Her brother murmured with a smirk, hands in his pockets. He followed her inside and the older men brought the luggage in.

“I hope you don’t talk that way to the kids you’re working with, sweets. Maybe we should try washing your mouth with soap to clean it up…” James wondered thoughtfully, his forefinger tapping against his lips, as he faked considering it seriously.

“Ewww, James!!” Jenny laughed and stopped dead when she saw the huge tree. “Wow, it’s huge! I bet you chose it, James, as well as all the balls, to compensate the future loss of yours.” Before her dad could intervene, she held a hand in the air. “I know, I know, it’s not called balls here but baubles but it was funnier that way. Besides, I’m sure
Papa
chose them. We have brought one from France, if it’s okay.” She walked toward her bag and rummaged through it. She finally got a little box out. It was a blown glass bulb, open on one side. There was a figurine of Tinker bell sitting on a duvet of white feathers. She wore her usual green dress and a winter white coat. White fluffy bobbles stood on top of her tiny green shoes.

“We bought it with mom in Disneyland. We thought that it was a good way to take her with us for Christmas. I hope it’s okay…” Her voice trailed off and she worried her bottom lip. James wasn’t used to see her so unsure of herself and David hurried to comfort her.

“It’s a brilliant idea,
ma poupette
. Come with me, we’ll hang it together.”

They were all contemplating the little bauble swinging in the tree when Laura emerged in the flat. She stopped abruptly as she put down her shopping bags.

“Oh, sorry! I used the key. I thought you wouldn’t be home yet.”

“No worries, little bug. Let me introduce you to David’s kids. Jules and Jenny, this is my baby sister, Laura.”

Laura walked over and hugged Jenny, her long blonde hair covered in snow. When she hugged Jules as well, he blushed like crazy. James knew where he had inherited this tendency and Laura winked at her brother, probably thinking the same. He couldn’t resent the young man. His sister looked like she was 16 with her small features and her lanky look. She was gorgeous in an elfin kind of way. She was a petite blonde with long hair dangling down to her waist. She had freckles on her nose and her sparkly blue eyes were shining in the glow of the room.

The afternoon flew by quickly with a lot of noise, girly giggling mixed with low male voices. Everyone seemed to get along nicely. Jen and Laura were particularly talkative, despite their age gap. Jules was staring at James’ sister, unable to tear his eyes from her as he sipped cup after cup of coffee.
Maybe a little old for you, baby boy!
But who knew where love could lead someone?

Chris joined them at six p.m., at the same time as the caterer they had hired for Christmas Eve. David and James had agreed they wanted to enjoy their family time and wouldn’t spend all day cooking when they could have it done by someone else. Besides, it was a good way to not spoil the meal.

When everyone was busy helping to set the table, James stole Jen discreetly. She smiled when she felt his grip on her arm and she followed him into the bedroom. They plotted together, as she undressed him quickly and got him dressed again, smiling so wide she almost unhinged her jaw. He grabbed the package under the bed and she shot one last look at him, checking him out. He felt nervous and absolutely not ready for what was to come.

“You’re anxious, you don’t know if it’s the right thing to do and you think you’re gonna throw up? Nothing wrong with that. You can do it!” This girl would never stop stunning him. She had a way of knowing what to say to cheer him up or make him laugh even in the strangest, most awkward, moments. She patted his belly, since she couldn’t reach his head and opened the door.

When he came back into the living room, everyone had a glass in hand and seemed ready to open their presents. Waiting was killing James. David darted his eyes back and forth between James and Jenny. His daughter had a mischievous smile on her face and
that
was never a good sign. David wondered what was going on.

They had decided to follow the habits the French family had settled into years ago and offer presents on Christmas Eve instead of the morning after. Anyway, if James had to wait any longer, he wouldn’t be able to stay still for the remainder of the night. With
ohs
and
ahs
, everyone unwrapped their gifts and soon discarded paper covered a large part of the floor. When James’ turn came, he looked like he had swallowed a Christmas bauble. Of stainless steel. Or heavier. He shuddered.

Very slowly, James locked his eyes on David’s and began to unbutton his shirt, one button at a time without moving the sides apart. He reached behind him to take the little box he had sequestered all this time out from his back pocket. He put one knee on the floor and David gasped, lifting both hands to cover his mouth. Only then did James show his undershirt. He opened the little box and waited.

James spotted the moment David read the words “MARRY ME?” that Jenny had written with a black marker on his undershirt. Tears ran freely down his beautiful pale skin in the silent room. Jules and Jen were holding hands and Laura was standing next to Chris who was looking at them with suspiciously bright eyes. David’s “O
ui
” was clear enough for everybody in the room to hear.

James slid a ring on David’s finger and his lover did the same for him. James got up and they kissed breathlessly. Wolf whistles, cheers and applause resonated in the apartment and David blushed before pulling away from the kiss. James rubbed a finger over his cheeks to erase the happy tears. David mimicked his gesture before cupping his lover’s face in his hands.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe it! I know it’s a big deal for you. Won’t you regret it? I mean, I’m sure I want to marry you but… I’m conscious that it’s a huge step for you.
Je t’aime, mon amour,
if only you knew how much I love you!” He sighed and nuzzled him.

“I know it’s hard for you too, all of you.” James said, including Jules and Jen with a nod. “You’ve welcomed me into your family and I’ll never thank you enough for that. I’m happy to be a part of this family now.”

Jules and Jen came forward for a group hug. Soon, Laura joined them, sniffing her joy in a tissue.

“I’m so happy for all of you.” She cried.

Only Chris was still outside their group and David motioned him to come over.

“Come on, it’s a family hug and you’re family.” David broke the circle of their tangled members and offered Chris a place among them. A flick of emotion David couldn’t read crossed Chris’ face who hesitated before finally joining them. They hugged tight during several minutes. When the heavy moment passed, they sat around the table and began to eat.

The menu was perfect, enhanced by very appropriate music. Jen had brought their traditional French Christmas songs on a flash drive and Laura had done the same with American ones. After dinner, they pushed the sofa against a wall and began to dance on much more modern songs, both French and American, and that summed them up pretty well. They were a mix of both cultures and they loved it.

“Fortunately, the neighbors are nice!” Chris laughed, his back leaning against the wall next to the sofa. The cathedral lights illuminated his head like a halo.

“Sure, with all the noise we’re making, I’m happy that there is no one to disturb!” answered David. He eyed his friend intently. Chris didn’t look as good as usual. “What’s wrong, man? You seem troubled tonight.”