Graham Ran Over A Reindeer (7 page)

Graham was quiet for a long while and Rudy homed in on his body language. The man’s heart had accelerated a fraction and his muscles tensed. Rudy was sure he could hear the wheels turning in Graham’s mind. He wanted to ask what Graham thought about the process.
Would you ever consider accepting my gift?
He wanted to ask desperately but he couldn’t find the courage to speak the words out loud.

“This water… It’s inside you? How does the recipient ingest it?”

Backing away, Rudy propped his head against his palm and looked into his lover’s eyes. There was genuine curiosity there but also uncertainty and maybe a little bit of fear. “The
light-well
must be punctured.”

Graham’s face twisted into a variety of expressions from fear and disbelief to interest and denial. He took a deep breath, worked his lips silently and slowly let it out. Rudy ran his fingers down the side of Graham’s cheek. He committed to memory everything about the man, afraid this might be their last intimate moment together. Rudy knew the question was poised on the tip of his lover’s lips.

“Would you ever offer your gift to someone?” Graham croaked.

“Not just someone, Graham. The man I intend to spend the rest of my life with,” he said in a roundabout manner. He didn’t want to push the issue onto Graham.

Graham didn’t inquire further about the sharing of the gift, but his body did loosen, his eyes fluttering closed. Broad palms guided Rudy back against his lover’s chest and he forced himself to relax. Soon he would inform Graham of his intentions to make him his life-mate, but for now he wanted to enjoy their time together.

Chapter Nine

“I’m not ready yet,” Graham shouted when he heard the door to his apartment open and close. He recognized Rudy’s footsteps, but he kept his attention on the mirror and the sculpture he was currently working on. “Five minutes, I promise.”

Rudy appeared behind him, looking handsome as usual, if not a little tense. When the guy had called in the morning, Graham had assumed he was checking in on their plans for the evening. But his voice had been clipped and his words stiff. Apparently, Rudy’s parents were back in town early and had invited—demanded?—Graham come over for dinner.

“You look amazing,” Rudy said, his lips working up. “But you are aware Grandfather and my parents already know what you look like. Hell, Mom used to clean your cuts all the time—”

Turning to regard his boyfriend, Graham tossed him a concerned look. “How can you be so caviler about me officially meeting your parents? This is… totally different. They know we are involved… Jesus.” He ran his fingers through his hair for the umpteenth time, unsatisfied with the final version. “I mean… they know
I know
. I have to make a good impression.”

Rudy sighed and wrapped his arms around Graham. Lying his chin on Graham’s shoulder, he smiled. “I’m a little nervous, too. But they know you and already approve. Everyone is worried about you keeping the secret as well as your knowledge of us getting out. They just want to know where we stand, I guess… if it is serious.”

Cocking a brow in the mirror, Graham asked, “What exactly do you mean by it getting out? I would never betray you like that.”

It was Rudy’s turn to look startled. He backed away and cleared his throat. When Graham turned to regard him, he said, “We have a tribunal, a council that looks in on us from time to time. They don’t like it when humans run around freely with the knowledge that we are a thing.”

“Shit. Way to take off the pressure, buddy,” Graham joked.

“Sorry. I don’t want you to worry about it, okay? Usually, they send someone to investigate your intentions, but Grandfather promised me he would take care of it. It’s not a huge deal.” Rudy said then plucked him on the lips. “And you look fine. Gorgeous, really.”

Graham closed his eyes for a moment and took a cleansing breath. He trusted Rudy and was sure the man wouldn’t downplay the importance of the issue. He’d been forthcoming last night about the
light-well
, and sharing his gift. Graham was still hung up about that, and he’d gotten the feeling Rudy had wanted to offer him his gift. He withheld his decision on the grounds that he needed more information about the shape-changers—
could I live as one?

“Everything will be okay,” he said again, and weaved his fingers in Graham’s hand. “Let’s take this one step at a time.”

Nodding, Graham followed and Rudy helped him into his coat. The drive to the Snowden house seemed longer than it was, Graham’s heart thumping in his ears and his stomach twisting. He wasn’t sure why he was so nervous. Rudy’s parents knew him well and he was familiar with them, too. He supposed he hadn’t expected to announce that he and Rudy were an item so soon.
Breathe,
he told himself.
Just get there, have dinner and chat like old times. You can do this.

As the house came into view, the doubt grew but Rudy passed him a bright smile and Graham knew he would get through this. Rudy cut the engine and Graham had to force himself out of the truck. Thankfully, Rudy was next to him in an instant, the man’s cheerful face guiding him. The sound their boots made on the porch was startling and the creak of the screen door grated on Graham’s ears.

“Mom? Dad? We’re here!” Rudy announced and bent down to undo the laces of his boots.

Following suit, Graham tugged on the strings then toed his boots off. A sound of glee caught his attention and he watched as Mrs. Snowden wrapped Rudy in a hug. She’d always looked young beyond her years and Graham figured it had something to do with her heritage. Her blond hair was pulled back into a single braid and her sky blue eyes twinkled… at least until they settled on Graham.

“Mrs. Snowden,” Graham managed. He couldn’t help thinking about her turning into an animal.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “When have you ever called me that?”

“Mom, don’t tease. He’s terrified enough,” Rudy huffed.

Clearing his throat, Graham fidgeted under her intense glare. “Mom Abby?”

“That is better,” she said, her expression scrutinizing. She did a once over on him and he couldn’t help shaking in his socks. Her hand connected with his sweater and she pulled him into a hug. “It’s been too long. I’m more upset with you for not keeping in contact with us than anything else.”

A whole lot of stress blew away and Graham managed to relax as he fell into the comfort she offered. He reminded himself that she was like a second mother, a kind and gentle woman in place of his own. How many times had she soothed him after his own mother had died?
So she turns into a caribou? Big deal.

Holding him at arm’s length, she said, “You have grown, boy.”

“Yeah, I guess I have. It is weird how time flies so quickly.” He offered her a clumsy smile still feeling like a prey animal under the sight of a predator. “And I’m sorry I didn’t keep in contact. I’ve been taking a lot of road jobs and the last one took me down to Washington.”

“Well, you’re here now,” she said as she patted his arm. “And my husband wants to see you.”

Graham looked to Rudy for support and the man smiled. When his mother disappeared into the kitchen, he said, “Told you. Nothing to stress over.”

“Then why did you hesitate to tell me our plans had been changed without our permission this morning?” he finally asked, getting right to the heart of the matter.

Rudy didn’t seem to know how to answer that, so he simply shrugged.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Graham followed Rudy into the kitchen. His nose lit up with the scent of food and spice, his stomach complaining for an entirely different reason. He spotted Rudy’s dad, Anik at the stove stirring something in a big pot. He stopped what he was doing and looked up, his slate eyes flashing. He looked every bit like a younger version of Doc Snowden and Graham couldn’t help but to wonder how old they really were. Tentatively, Graham slid a speculative glance toward Mom Abby. Rudy had said he had a human parent and the process of deduction demanded she was likely the one he was referring to. Graham had gone to her with adolescent problems before, so maybe he had an ally in this whole thing. He was sure she could offer him advice about receiving the gift.

Do I want that?
He had no idea.

Rudy’s father came forward, his eyes dark and shrewd as he examined every little detail about Graham.
Should have taken it easy on the hair,
he thought. He did his best to smile becomingly, but he was sure he failed. The man’s eyes darted to the side and his tight expression was replaced by a welcoming smile. Graham watched as the man embraced Doc Snowden, and it was like twins interacting.

“Graham, glad you could make it,” the elderly Snowden said. His hair was neatly pulled back into a ponytail and the weariness Graham had noted last time was gone. “Sorry to have derailed your plans. Much to talk about, you know.”

“Yeah,” Graham muttered, wishing he could avoid the whole thing. He needed time to absorb everything and come to terms with the existence of shape-changers… and whether or not he saw himself besides Rudy as one. “I guess I kind of shook the foundation.”

Mom Abby chuckled. “You mean, you brought the entire building down? I’d agree. But it’s nothing that can’t be worked out. Besides—” She tossed Rudy an angry glare. “From what Grandfather has told me, it was my darling, impulsive son that set everything in motion.”

Looking away sheepishly, Rudy’s cheeks colored. “It was an accident.”

“Grandson has been punished,” Doc Snowden spoke up. “Now we must focus on the aftermath.”

Rudy’s parents nodded, their expressions thoughtful. Rudy passed Graham a meek glance, then set about placing the dinnerware around the dining table. As the sound of plates hitting the wood and silverware sliding against clay filled the room, Graham mulled over the Doc’s words. He felt like an inconvenience… and it wasn’t very pleasant. Everyone helped in getting dinner ready, Mom Abby handing Graham a basket of rolls. When everything was ready, they took their seats and Graham tried to be as quiet and unnoticeable as possible.

Doc Snowden bowed his head and made a gesture above the food—it was something Graham had seen before and assumed it was some sort of Innu tradition. The man started speaking in a foreign language, his words rolling beautifully off his tongue.

“We give thanks to the being that died so we may survive,” the man explained in English. “Since you are now aware of the truth, I think it okay to speak in our natural tongue.”

“You have your own language? I mean…”

“Yup,” Rudy chimed in. “We aren’t supposed to speak it around anyone except our own, but you’ve heard a few… colorful words before.”

“Oh. I just thought you really hated pumpernickel bread,” he said, then realized how silly that sounded.

Bursting out in laughter, Rudy covered his mouth, and glanced at this family.

“Grandson is a bit of a potty mouth.
Purnichel
is a word to reference… excrement.”

“Shit,” Mom Abby said nonchalantly. “Please pass the rolls.”

A wave of amusement rolled across the table and Graham was glad for the relief. Plates were loaded with beef, mashed potatoes and vegetables—an altogether usual Snowden dinner. Graham thought hard, but he’d never known the Snowdens to eat caribou meat before despite raising a whole herd… would that be considered cannibalism? Shaking his head at his bizarre thoughts, he focused on the meal in front of him.

“Don’t be shy,” she said. “Now is the time to be curious.”

Graham started to shake his head, but figured it was pointless. “I was just thinking that you guys… eat meat. It seems odd now.”

Frowning, Rudy looked at him. “Why? Should we not?”

“You didn’t become vegan, Graham?” Dad Anik asked. “I know a lot of kids these days are doing it out of some new world order thing. Tell me you’re not in that crowd.”

Gaping, Graham tried to summon some excuse, but he drew a blank. His thoughts were a tangle, and the last thing he wanted to do was unintentionally insult the Snowdens out of ignorance.

“Ignore them. I completely see your point. When I first met Anik and found out what he was, everything was just a tornado of confusion. Caribou… plant eaters. Easy to connect, right? Well, it’s not as simple. And I know what you’re thinking. They raise caribou for a living so naturally you’d expect it on the menu five times out of seven. But one thing I’ve learned in this world… expect the unexpected.”

“You were human then?” Graham blurted, instantly regretting it.

“Used to be.” She shrugged and took a sip of water. Her gaze slid to Rudy. “Rudibar Jennings Snowden, have you not explained any of this to him?”

“Mom, I’m working on it. It takes time.”

“Rudibar?” Graham asked skeptically.

Rudy frowned at him. “You didn’t think my parents actually named me after one of Santa’s reindeer did you?”

Heat rushed to Graham’s cheeks and he cleared his throat. Everyone burst out in laughter, even Dad Anik smiled. The man spoke up. “Our son is named after the
Elementir
representation of grey stone. It’s a long and complicated explanation, one I’m sure Rudy will one day explain to you.”

“What Daughter means is we are like the wolf and the caribou. Predator and prey, two halves made into a whole. The Great Spirit gave us claws and fangs to protect family and the perseverance of caribou to lead the herd,” Doc Snowden said.

Nodding, Graham sampled the mashed potatoes as the man recounted a story about how the caribou and the wolf were closely linked. He tried to keep up, but his mind was zipping with thoughts and how little he knew about Rudy’s people—he was completely overwhelmed. Something brushed across his leg and Rudy threw him a reassuring smile. It was a benign touch, a gentle caress designed to let him know everything was okay. It actually worked, Graham’s body loosening as Doc Snowden went on with his tale.

When the man breaked for water, Graham inquired, “Who is this Great Spirit exactly? Is he like your God?”

The man frowned as if he didn’t understand the question.

Rudy cut in. “No, the Great Spirit is more like the universe, the plane on which a God would exist. The Great Spirit is both death and life, beginning and end… and all that. I guess, every now and then it likes to dabble in biology. But a lot of the shifter herds have a different viewpoint and story of how we came to be. It depends on who you ask.”

More questions invaded Graham’s mind—why would a being so powerful bother with lowly humans? Eying Rudy’s mother, he flirted with the idea of being blunt. After all, he needed to know as much as possible. “I have a question. You said you used to be human.”

“That’s a statement, Graham, but I know what you meant. Don’t be shy. You can ask us anything. But yes, seventy-two years ago I was nothing but a soldier’s girl working in the factories in California before Anik ran into me. My boyfriend had just been killed in action and he found me on the curb, making a mess of myself. We hit it off, but it would be six years before he told me the truth about what he was. Honestly, with his disappearing at odd hours of the night, I thought he was cheating on me. I never imagined what he was really doing.”