by Helena Stone
Fuckerdy, fuck, fuck, fuck. Me and my big mouth.
He’d completely forgotten about the party his mother had planned for the following day. He glanced at her, the words to tell her that he’d rather not play then burning on his tongue. He swallowed them. She wouldn’t force him to do it if he pleaded with her, but she would be disappointed. He did expel a harsh sigh, though, because he realized providing live music would probably be expected from him during any future get-together.
They arrived at the church, and his mother let go of Mitch’s arm, thankfully without asking him if he wouldn’t reconsider coming to mass with her.
“On you go. Wish Cian a happy Christmas from me.”
Mitch watched as she entered the church, before turning and making his way to the forest for his date with Cian.
“Hook, line, and sinker.” Cian roared with laughter. “She got you there.”
“You can laugh all you like,” Mitch muttered. “Seeing how you know all the songs I can play, guess who’s going to help me sing them?”
Cian studied their surroundings before pressing his lips to Mitch’s cheek. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you suffer on your own.”
Mitch glanced around him too, grateful when all he saw was trees and bushes. They were deep in the forest, and as expected, the place was all but deserted. They’d run into a few people walking their dogs, but the last of those had come and gone a few minutes earlier, and Mitch was fairly sure they had the place to themselves.
“Let’s sit down there for a moment.” Mitch pointed at a tree trunk on the ground. “I’ve got something I want to give you.” His heartbeat sped up, and nerves squeezed his stomach as he led the way. What had seemed like a great idea a month earlier, suddenly didn’t feel like a sure bet at all.
What if he hates it?
“Funny that,” Cian said once they were settled. “I’ve got something for you too.” Something in Cian’s voice made Mitch study him. He wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or more worried when he noticed Cian was nervous too.
He reached into his pocket and fingered the small gift he’d put there before leaving the house with his mother. He’d been so sure when he told Ro what he wanted her to make for Cian. Now that the moment of truth had arrived, his certainty was nowhere to be found.
He’s going to hate it.
Since he’d already announced a present and didn’t have anything else he could give Cian, Mitch extracted the compact parcel and held it out. “Happy Christmas.”
Cian stared at the offering without reaching for it, a frown forming on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Mitch wasn’t sure how Cian could have an issue with the gift before even opening it, but obviously, something wasn’t right.
Cian said nothing as he pulled something from his pocket, his fist squeezed around whatever it was. Then he turned his hand and opened it, revealing…
Mitch’s gaze shifted from his hand to Cian’s and back again, nervous laughter bubbling up deep inside him. The two packages were the exact same size. What was more, they both had a tiny sticker on it featuring Ro’s logo.
Two heartbeats later, both of them were laughing. “Great minds, hey?” Cian hiccuped after a while. “Shall we swap?”
They exchanged their gifts and, as if by agreement, opened them at the same time. Mitch had planned on closely watching Cian’s reaction when he opened his box, but the idea fled his mind the moment he saw what was in his.
“Oh,” he said softly. “Wow.”
Inside the box was a silver bracelet. The individual links resembled musical notes, and in the middle of the chain was a tiny, rainbow-colored ukulele.
“You can say that again,” Cian muttered.
Mitch, at last, managed to shift his attention to Cian, who was giving him a wide-eyed stare.
“I knew we were mostly on the same wavelength, but this is something else,” Cian said. “I love it.” He lifted the bracelet Mitch had given him from the box and dangled it in front of his eyes. His chain was made of two woven silver strands that joined at a green rugby ball. “Put it on for me?”
Mitch placed his box on the trunk next to him before taking the bracelet and securing it around Cian’s wrist.
“Now you.” Cian reached for Mitch’s band without waiting for him to agree and made quick work of fastening it.
“Look at us,” Cian said.
“How did Ro manage to keep this a secret?” Mitch asked. “The devious little….” He wasn’t really upset. In fact, he would have hated it if the surprise had been spoiled for either of them. But his relief that Cian obviously loved his gift, combined with his delight that Cian had gotten him something equally significant made him giddy.
Cian snickered. “Can you imagine how much fun she had making these for us? I can see her getting a good laugh out of making almost identical presents without either of us knowing about it.”
“And I’ll never hear the end of it,” Mitch added, knowing full well that he wouldn’t mind at all when Ro reminded him that he and Cian had been on the exact same wavelength. He would even take the teasing with a smile. Then something occurred to him. “Who came up with the bracelet idea. You or Ro?”
“I did. What about you?”
“Me too.” Mitch marveled at the wonder of it all. “Is it amazing or weird that we had the same idea?” Since neither of them had worn jewelry before the bracelets, it was nothing short of astounding that they’d both decided on that as their gift.
Cian poked an elbow into Mitch’s ribs. “Amazing of course.”
Mitch pushed back and laughed out loud when Cian allowed himself to tumble backward off the trunk before following him, making sure to land on top of his boyfriend.
When he looked into Cian’s eyes, his laughter died away. He lost himself in the depths of Cian’s gaze, feeling too filled with emotion, warmth, and a sense of belonging to speak. It was as if putting the bands around their wrists had brought them closer together, as if a new link had been added to the chain that formed their relationship and tied them together.
And he had no idea how to say any of that.
“Get off me, you big eejit. I don’t love you enough to freeze my arse off.”
Mitch froze. They’d never used the L word. To have it thrown at him in such a casual manner was both disturbing and the best thing that had ever happened to him.
“Go on.” Cian’s voice was softer, and he didn’t meet Mitch’s gaze, as if his words had taken Cian by surprise too.
He opened his mouth to respond, although he’d no idea what to say when he heard voices.
“Be quiet, you fool. You can’t be sure there’s nobody else here.” Mitch thought the voice sounded familiar as he rushed to get up.
By the time two men walked into the clearing, Cian was on his feet too and busy brushing dead leaves off his arse.
“Mitch?”
“Cormac?” Mitch smiled when they spoke at the same time. “You also decided that nature beats church?” He glanced at the man standing next to Cormac and didn’t recognize him.
“Yes. We…eh…”
Mitch took pity on him. “It’s a nice day for it. I’m sorry. We have to head back.” He walked past Cormac and his companion to the edge of the clearing, Cian by his side. Before pushing through the brush, he turned around. “We’re having a bit of a party in the house tomorrow if you feel like coming. Early evening.” He looked at the man next to Cormac again. “You can bring your friend if you want.”
“Thank you.” Cormac looked at him with his eyes spread wide. “I’ll think about it.”
“You do that.”
Mitch knew that Cian had questions and was grateful he waited until they’d walked a few minutes before asking them.
“Do you think Cormac and whoever the other guy is, are...?”
Mitch shrugged. “I’ve no idea, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Think about where we found him yesterday and then think about where you found me a year ago and who was instrumental in tha
t encounter.”
Cian grinned. “I’ve no idea if that’s right, but I like the idea. And if it’s true, I hope he picked as well for them as he did for us.” He grabbed Mitch’s upper arm and turned him until they were face-to-face before kissing him, deep and hard and not nearly long enough.
Cian sighed when he stepped back and checked his phone.
“I need to go home.”
For a moment, Mitch silently raged against the unfairness of it all. They’d just had the most magical exchange of gifts, and now they had to part ways again. Then he talked himself down. It was only for twenty-four hours after all. And in a few days, they’d be back in Dublin…together.
He fingered his bracelet as they walked along the path toward the exit. It wouldn’t kill them to give their families what they wanted, not when they had all of the future stretching out ahead of them.
As they walked through the gate, he brushed his hand against Cian’s, vowing that one day he’d be brave enough to just grab and hold it.
Chapter Six
Cian followed his parents and sisters up the garden path to Mitch’s front door, trying to decide how he felt about visiting his boyfriend with the rest of his family in tow. He knew his parents had met Mitch’s mother once or twice, but that wasn’t the same as all of them socializing together. While he loved that their parents had obviously accepted that he and Mitch were serious about each other, he couldn’t help worrying about how their two families would mesh together…or not.
His concerns slipped his mind when Mitch opened the front door, smiling widely.
“Great timing. You’re the first to arrive. Come in.” Mitch stepped back, and Cian’s family filed in, one by one, with Cian coming last. He smiled at Mitch as he passed him, unsure what to do. In the past, they’d always exchanged a kiss when Cian visited, but they’d never had an audience.
Mitch returned his smile then glanced at the rest of the family who were hanging up their coats. Then he turned back to Cian with a determined set to his jaw before leaning forward and pressing his lips against Cian’s.
The kiss was unexpected and over before Cian could reciprocate. Mitch never failed to take him by surprise. Despite his usual shyness, he’d obviously decided that the time for playing it safe was over, at least around relatives. Cian had no problem with that at all. Under different circumstances, seeing them kiss wouldn’t have surprised Cian’s relatives, but with them visiting Castleforest together so rarely and both of them concentrating on their own family when they did, it just hadn’t happened before.
“Yuk, kissing is so gross.”
“Pauline, behave.” Cian’s father reacted before Cian could. Which was just as well because it took him a minute before he remembered that she had the same reaction whenever characters in a TV show kissed. For some reason, the girl could handle endless amounts of violence on screen but no intimacies on TV or in real life. His father had always said he didn't judge Cian's sexuality, but this reaction proved, once and for all, that it hadn't just been words. Cian hadn’t known he needed the confirmation, but his delighted relief indicated he had harbored a few doubts.
They entered the living room, which had gone through a few changes. Chairs had been added to the usual furniture, and the large dining table featured a pile of small plates and a selection of bottles and glasses.
"There you are." Mitch's mother stood. "Happy Christmas. Please sit down." She indicated the various couches and chairs. "The lads will get you a drink." She threw a pointed stare in his and Mitch's direction.
"Of course," Mitch said. "What would you like, Mr. Leavy? Mrs. Leavy?"
"Fergus will do." Cian’s dad squinted at the table. "I'll have a bottle of stout, please."
"And you can call me Regina," Cian's mum added, much to his delight. "I'll have a brandy and red lemonade."
"Can we get you something, Mrs. McCann?" Cian looked at Mitch's mother.
"For crying out loud," she said, clearly in mock despair, causing a ripple of shared laughter to fill the room. "I'm Ann. And yes, I'd love a gin and tonic."
A few minutes later, they were all sitting and sipping their drinks while surreptitiously studying each other.
"Did you have a good Christmas?" Ann asked after a few minutes of somewhat uncomfortable silence.
"The usual," Cian's mother answered. "Present madness in the morning and a good dinner in the afternoon. It's rather predictable, but I wouldn't change it for the world."
Ann laughed. "The madness has mostly subsided here, but I know what you mean. There's something very comforting about knowing what to expect."
Cian felt a bit out of place amid the mostly meaningless but very polite conversation. He wasn't sure what he'd expected, but he hoped they'd all get a bit more comfortable soon. He also wished he and Mitch weren't seated on opposite sides of the room, but after they'd served everybody their drinks, they’d somehow ended up that way.
Just when Cian felt the stilted conversation was going to do his head in, the doorbell rang, and Mitch got up. Cian wondered who the arrivals might be, although he had a suspicion Cormac might have decided to take Mitch up on his invitation.
The living room door opened, and Cian gaped. “Klaus?” Whatever he had expected, it wasn’t the arrival of their librarian, once again looking suspiciously like Father Christmas. As to who his companion might be…
Ann laughed. “Surprise!”
“You look just like Santa,” Pauline exclaimed, obviously excited.
Klaus grinned. “So I’ve been told. And who are you?”
“I’m Pauline,” she answered. “And she is Sarah.” She pointed at her sister. “And those are my mum and dad.”
“I think I’ll do the rounds.”
As Klaus made his way from one person to the next, shaking hands, Cian moved across the room to stand next to Mitch.
“Who’s that?” he whispered while nodding in the direction of the man who’d arrived with Klaus.
“That’s….”
“And these are the lads I told you about, Rudy. Mitch, Cian. This is my partner, Rudy Steiner.
Rudy? Really? Then again, maybe he should have expected that what with Klaus entering both his and Mitch’s lives over the Christmas period and his surname being Nichols.
“Pleased to meet you.” Mitch’s tone indicated he was somewhat taken aback too.
“Likewise, young Mitch.” Rudy smiled warmly. I’ve heard a lot about you and that man of yours, and it’s good to put faces to your names.
“We didn’t even know you existed,” Cian blurted, instantly feeling the heat rise to his cheeks.
Klaus and Rudy both laughed heartedly. “I’m sorry,” Klaus said once he’d stopped chuckling. “I didn’t know I had to share the details of my private life with you.”
Cian shuffled his feet, feeling like an inconsiderate fool.
“Don’t worry about it,” Klaus said in his usual calm and friendly voice. “I was joking. The only reason I didn’t mention him is that it never came up.”
“Tell me,” Mitch said. “Is it….”
“Mitch, where’re your manners?” Ann sounded mildly reproaching. “Give them a chance to sit down and get them a drink, will you.”
“Sure.” It was Mitch’s turn to blush, and Cian would have felt sorry for him if it hadn’t made Mitch look ridiculously adorable.
“What was your question, Mitch?” Klaus asked after he and Rudy were seated and holding a drink.
Mitch shrugged as if he no longer needed an answer. “It’s not important.” His reluctance made Cian curious.
“That doesn’t matter,” Klaus responded. “Ask anyway.” Obviously, he shared Cian’s curiosity.
“It’s just that it never occurred to me that we took the apartment from two people. I get that you needed to move when you got the job here, but…”
Klaus nodded as if Mitch had confirmed something he’d always suspected. “You’re worried that I forced a change on Rudy, just so I could rent my place to you
two?”
Mitch shrugged again.
Rudy chuckled. “I don’t think he’s forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do in the twenty-odd years we’ve been together. Don’t you worry, young man.”
The doorbell rang again, and if the speed with which Mitch got up and rushed to answer it was anything to go by, he was obviously relieved to leave that particular conversation behind him.
Cian studied the others while Mitch was gone. His sisters were huddled together on the couch and giggling while staring at something on Sarah’s new phone. His parents appeared to be deep in conversation with Mitch’s mother while Klaus and Rudy sipped from their drinks. To Cian’s mind, it was an unexpected but very nice gathering of people.
The door opened, and a clearly nervous Cormack entered, followed by the man he’d been with in the forest.
“Cormac and Oran. How wonderful to see you.” Klaus was on his feet as soon as they walked in. “Do you know everybody here?”
Cian smiled to himself. That was so typical of Klaus. He’d noticed Cormac’s discomfort and immediately set about making him feel better.
“No. Just Mitch and Cian,” Cormac muttered before adding, “And you of course.”
As Klaus took care of introducing the new arrivals to the rest of the guests, Cian learned Oran had been one of the crew working on the refurbishment of the old hall when he met Klaus and subsequently Cormac.
If he fails as a librarian, he can always set up as a matchmaker.
Klaus winked at Cian as if he knew exactly what he’d just thought.
“Now that everybody is here, I guess it’s time for food. Why don’t you and Cian get it from the kitchen, Mitch?”
Cian’s mouth watered when he saw the selection of serving plates. There were sandwiches, almost certainly containing turkey and ham, as well as a dish with egg mayonnaise, bowls filled with crisps and peanuts, and a large platter laden with vegetables and a dipping sauce in the middle. When Mitch opened the oven and extracted a tray full of warm snacks, Cian’s stomach grumbled despite the fact that he’d eaten a full lunch less than two hours earlier.