They took a taxi from the station and all too soon they were pulling up in front of the house.
Deacon paid the driver, and they grabbed their bags from the boot.
The house was quiet when they entered, maybe a little too quiet.
Todd seemed even more nervous than him.
A thump from upstairs made them both jump.
Todd glanced into the living room, where a bare tree stood in the corner. “I bet they’re getting the decorations from the attic.”
“Todd!” Tammy squealed as she ran down the stairs and flew into his arms. “You’re here!”
Todd hugged his sister, his eyes on the upstairs landing, where his mother stood.
Todd’s mother walked down the stairs, the large box of decorations in her arms. “You’re just in time to help decorate the tree,” she said. “Hello, Deacon. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Deacon replied, feeling unsure of his welcome.
“Good, good. Why don’t the two of you take your things downstairs and then come help with the tree?”
Todd’s father nodded as he appeared at the other end of the hall with the stepladder. “Welcome home. There’s food in the kitchen if you’re hungry.”
Deacon watched Todd’s parents disappear into the living room. “That went better than I thought it would.”
They dumped their bags in the basement, where Deacon could see that nothing had changed. This was still Todd’s room, even if he hadn’t set foot in the house for the last year.
They found Todd’s grandfather reading the paper at the kitchen table. “Ah, there you are. I was starting to wonder if you’d cancel at the last minute.”
“Thought about it,” Todd admitted.
“You know I’d have tracked you down and dragged you here, if you had.”
“Yeah, I know. That was the deciding factor.”
They grabbed a couple of freshly baked biscuits from the tray on the counter and joined Todd’s grandfather at the table.
“Are they really okay with me being here?” Deacon asked quietly. “I don’t think I could stand a repeat of last year.”
Todd’s grandfather gave him a kind smile. “I don’t think it’ll come to that this time.”
Deacon hoped not.
Tammy popped her head round the door. “Are you lot coming to help or are you just going to sit around while the rest of us do all the work?”
There was no point in putting things off any longer, and they went through to the living room to help put up the decorations.
While the conversation was a little stilted at first, Todd’s grandfather and Tammy made sure that both Todd and Deacon were made to feel welcome.
“Who gets to put the star on the tree?” Tammy asked, waving the ornament in question between the men in the room.
“Gramps?” Todd asked.
Deacon held his breath, waiting for the objections to begin.
“Go ahead,” Todd’s father said, stepping back to let Deacon past. “Just be careful not to fall. We wouldn’t want you back in A&E again.”
Deacon smiled and nodded. He climbed up the steps and took the star from Tammy. As he placed it on top of the tree, he looked down at Todd. His boyfriend grinned up at him.
The doorbell rang, and from his position Deacon could see that his father had arrived.
“That’ll be your father,” Todd’s mother said. “I’ll go let him in.”
Deacon clambered back down and into Todd’s arms. “It’s going to be okay, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I think so. Our families might have their faults, but it looks like we’re stuck with them.”
Deacon thought that, all things considered, there were worse families to be a part of. They had their ups and downs, like all families, and while last Christmas had been a definite down, this year was already an improvement. With the rest of their lives ahead of them, and Todd at his side, they had plenty of time to make sure there were more good years than bad.
The End
More Seasonal Stories
For the free short spin-off story about Billy, please visit my website/blog by clicking here.
Sleigh Duty
Being called upon to pull Santa’s sleigh is an honour for any reindeer shifter, but for Dashiel the timing couldn’t be worse.
Stuart was looking forward to his Christmas Eve date with Dashiel, only to have him cancel at the last minute. He puts his disappointment aside and instead focuses on making his younger brother’s Christmas as wonderful as it can be, despite the loss of their parents the previous winter.
While flying over his home town, Dashiel spots a young boy on the streets, and he knows he has to help. When the young runaway turns out to be his date’s little brother, he brings him on board the sleigh, determined to see him safely home to Stuart.
Can a reindeer shifter pull Santa’s sleigh, reunite two brothers, and find love this Christmas?
Available from Amazon
December 2019
One Perfect Wish
Playing the part of another man’s husband to fulfil a wish is easy, but what happens at midnight when the magical day is over?
Scott Baxter is a workaholic with no time for love, until a djinn pulls him out of his life and deposits him into the bed of Cameron Kirk. Cut off from his life, Scott isn’t happy about the idea of being forced to help the djinn grant an unspecified wish, but he soon finds he has no real choice in the matter. The djinn, who has turned his life upside down, has powers that prevent Scott from leaving and ensure he does nothing to ruin Cameron’s day with his ‘husband’.
Reluctant at first, Scott finds that as the day progresses he starts to enjoy playing the role of Cameron’s husband. He connects with his unexpected lover in a way he never has with other men.
Scott searches for clues to help him track down Cameron after the day is over and he returns to his own life. He doesn’t want the day to end, but the wish is out of his control and when the magic is finished his time with Cameron may be over too.
Available from Pride Publishing, Amazon and many other stores.
About the Author
L.M. Brown is an English writer of gay romances.
She believes life exists on other planets.
She believes in fairy tales, magic, and dreams.
Most of all, she believes in love.
When L.M. Brown isn’t bribing her fur babies for control of the laptop, she can usually be found with her nose in a book.
She loves hearing from readers and can be contacted via her website at http://lmbrownauthor.wordpress.com or by email at lmbrownauthor@gmail.com
Website:
http://lmbrownauthor.wordpress.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/lm.brown.5
Email:
lmbrownauthor@gmail.com
Books by L.M. Brown
Available from Pride Publishing:
To See the Sky
To Change the Stars
My Boyfriend’s an Alien
One Perfect Wish
Falling into Darkness
HEAVENLY SINS
Between Heaven and Hell
Between Good & Evil
Between Life & Death
MERMEN & MAGIC
Forbidden Waters
Tempestuous Tides
Dangerous Waves
Hidden Depths
Treacherous Seas
Available from MLR Press:
French Kissing Vampires for Beginners
Self-Published:
Skin Deep
Holographic Havoc
Always Forgotten
Touch of a Ghost
Hey Baby
Sleigh Duty
MPREG STORIES
Loving Kit
Savin
g Jax
Finding Trix
GAY EVER AFTER FAIRY TALES
Let Down Your Hair
Potions & Prisons
Destiny & Dragons
Magic & Mirrors