Christmas Wish for Me: A Morning Madison Male/Male Single Dad Romance

by Ian Finn

  “Hi, I’m Ryan. Ryan Kelly,” I say, as I move to shake hands with both of them.

  “Flynn,” he says, and the other introduces himself as Brent.

  “Nice to meet you. Can I help you find anything in particular today, or do you want to look around first?” I ask, wanting to be helpful, but also not wanting to seem like too bothersome or high pressure of a salesperson.

  I don’t think a musical instrument is something you want to hard sell to a person. Buying a new instrument is a tactile experience, and the fit has to feel synergetic, as each instrument is as unique as the person who is making the purchase.

  I’d much rather have a happy customer who feels good about their purchase, rather than think solely in terms of as many sales as possible. Happy customers are more likely to come back. Plus, I just like making people happy – especially around Christmastime.

  “Actually, you can help me,” Brent says. “I’m looking for an instrument for my husband Will. A surprise Christmas present,” he smiles.

  His face lights up when he mentions his husband’s name, and I can’t help but feel a little pang in my heart as a result. I remember there was a time when I was once that in love, and as much as I hate to admit it, I’m just slightly envious of him.

  Not that I’m so eager to start a brand-new relationship again, especially with my three past failed relationships.

  It’s just too hard on me when they end, and sometimes I think I’d be better off staying single. Even though my breakup with my ex, Lewis, occurred six months ago, it’s been tough both getting over him, and being a single father to our adopted son.

  Lewis had what I would call an early mid-life crisis, and decided he no longer wanted to be a father, or be in a committed relationship. So, at age thirty-four, and with a seven year old son we had both adopted, he basically left me holding the bag.

  I won’t deny that Eli isn’t the easiest child to take care of. Between his ADD and, not too often, temper tantrums, he can be quite a handful. But Lewis and I are the only parents he’s ever known, and I’m not about to abandon him like a stray puppy – especially after that’s exactly what Lewis did.

  Even though this guy Brent triggered something in me, I remind myself that that’s no reason to act unprofessional or discourteous to him, though. I have a store to run, and they both seem like really nice guys.

  So, I nod, and appear interested when I tell him, “Okay. Tell me a little bit about your husband.”

  His face becomes animated again, when he begins to talk.

  “My husband hosts a show called Morning Madison.”

  He pauses, as if he wants me to acknowledge if I’ve heard of the show.

  But all I’m thinking is, Damn! Will Davis is this guy’s husband? Some guys have all the luck.

  I reply, “Oh, yes, okay right. I’ve seen him… Will, right?”

  Brent nods, and continues, “Out of all our friends, Will has probably the least musical experience when it comes to playing an instrument. He sings well, but he isn’t used to play an instrument. I think it would be good for his image if he learned how to play one, since the show focuses so much on music. I think it would be a good PR move for him. He’s hinted to me that he’d like to learn to play one, but the problem is that he’s never been too definite about what he would like to play.”

  I stop to think about what I should show him. Since I know nothing about his husband, I may as well start with the most obvious of instruments. I take down an acoustic guitar from the shelf.

  When I approach Brent and Flynn, they snicker a bit, and I wonder if the choice was too obvious, and too pedestrian for them.

  But Flynn says in a joking manner, “Sorry, we’re both musicians… and play the guitar.”

  I realize they weren’t being intentionally rude to me, so I smile to them, and politely ask, “Shall I put it back, and get something else?”

  That’s when Brent holds out his hand for me to pass the guitar to him. He looks it over carefully, strums a few chords, then hands it to Flynn. Brent looks at Flynn as if he wants to know his thoughts, and Flynn shakes his head. Then he quickly hands it back to me.

  Now curious that they’re musicians, I just have to ask, “So, have either of you performed on Morning Madison?

  They look at each other once again with a grin, and Brent answers, “I actually got my start on the show. Although my premiere performance didn’t go exactly as I’d planned.”

  Then Flynn laughs, “Yeah, you might not want to broadcast that fact to the world, Brent.”

  They both chuckle some more. Then Brent then hands the guitar back to me.

  “No. I don’t think Will is the guitar type. How about something…” He looks up in the air, as if thinking. “How about something in the brass, or woodwind family?”

  But he changes his mind suddenly when he apparently gets an idea.

  “Let’s see that violin up there,” he says, pointing.

  When I pull it down, the two begin to whisper and commiserate over Brent’s choice. Brent takes a seat on a loveseat I set up and he seems to be mulling over in his mind which instrument would be best.

  “So, where are you from, Ryan? I’ve never seen you around town before,” Brent asks as he hands the instrument back to me. “And I thought I knew all the local musicians.”

  I put the instrument back in its place, before rejoining the men.

  “I’m originally from Madison, but I just moved back after a bad breakup.”

  I wonder if I should have left out that last part about the breakup, but it is what happened, so why should I pretend otherwise?

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” they both say, then look over to Eli, who’s now busy playing a video game on his iPad.

  “And is he your biological son?” Flynn asks.

  I wonder if they’re fishing to find out if I’m gay or straight, and if my breakup was with a man or a woman.

  I answer, “No, my husband… sorry, my ex-husband, and I adopted him when he was an infant. We divorced, and I ended up with Eli. I needed a fresh start from Chicago, and my ex, so that’s why I moved back here.”

  Flynn then gives me a nice compliment.

  “You did such a great job on this place,” he says, looking around, and admiring the store. Then he adds, “Madison really needed a new music store. I’m glad you opened this one.”

  I thank them, and Flynn reaches into his pocket and pulls out a business card.

  “Here, I’d like to invite you to come to my bar sometime,” he adds.

  I take the card out of his hand and look at the name. Mickey’s Bar and Lounge.

  When I see the address, I have a pretty good idea of the location. I think about what a nice gesture that was of Flynn, and I’m feeling really happy that they came into the store today.

  Then I have an idea.

  “I’ll be right back, guys,” I say, as I walk to the back of the store and pull down a flute from the top shelf.

  I don’t know exactly why I picked this particular instrument, but it just kind of popped in my head.

  “Do you think Will would like something like this?” I ask, handing it to Brent. They both look at each other, and then take turns handling the instrument. Brent is ready to put it to his mouth, but first he asks, “Is it okay if I try it out?”

  “Oh of course,” I say. “What do you think? Does that have Will’s name written on it?” I ask.

  Then I hear Brent ask Flynn in a soft voice, “What do you think?”

  Flynn is the next to try it out, and he sounds impressive.

  “Wow, have you played before?” I ask, as he hits all the right notes.

  He pauses momentarily, and nods before giving a half smile. “Just a little.”

  Out of everything they’ve looked at so far, I get the sense that I’m getting closer to what Brent has in mind for his husband. I hear my phone ring and decide to leave the two men alone while I go answer it. From across the store, I watch them as they make their decision about whe
ther to go with the flute.

  I’m definitely going to take Flynn up on his invitation to go to his bar. It will be good for me to get out and socialize, and it will help take my mind off my ex.

  Also, I think it might not be a bad idea to get to know Brent as well, since his husband hosts Morning Madison. As a new business owner in the community, it could be very beneficial to make a connection like that. Maybe I can end up doing some advertising for my store during the Morning Madison music segments.

  “What do you think?” I ask, as I make my way back to them.

  Brent doesn’t hesitate when he says, “I’ll take it. I really think this is the one. Thanks so much for suggesting it.”

  And Flynn makes the comment, “I think it’s the right one, too. Heck, maybe I can even give him lessons.”

  After the purchase, we chat with small talk for a few minutes longer and as they’re leaving, Flynn turns to me, saying, “Don’t forget to come to Mickey’s! The first drink is on the house.”

  I follow them to the exit and say to Flynn, “Thanks, I definitely will.”

  Then I add, to the both of them, “It was really nice meeting you guys, and I hope Will loves his Christmas gift.”

  After Brent and Flynn leave the shop, I feel uplifted. Despite everything that has happened to me in the past year, I really have a lot to look forward to, and things seem to be going as I’d planned.

  Moving back to Madison has given me a new outlook on life, and in time the harsh memories of my divorce will fade away. Thanks to Brent and Flynn, I realize now that as long as I have a community and group of friends in Madison, my life will only continue to improve.

  Now that the store is quiet, and I’m sitting at the counter, I call back the caterer. When the call goes to voicemail, I decide to open up my laptop. I get the idea to go on YouTube and see if I can find any clips of Brent or Flynn performing on Morning Madison. Since I don’t know Brent’s last name, I just type in Brent and Morning Madison.

  Up on the screen pops several clips of Morning Madison, and that’s when I see it.

  Brent Young 07/28/2017 Morning Madison. I click on the video and Eli comes to sit next to me, and we watch it together.

  He’s really good, I think.

  “What do you think, Eli?” I ask, and he nods his head.

  And what a voice on him! No wonder he landed Will Davis as a husband. This guy is the total package –– good looks, and musical talent combined.

  After watching a few performances of Brent, I begin viewing other singers on the show. Then I see something that causes me to pause the screen. It’s near the end of one of the videos, and it’s of Will talking to someone he introduces as his producer.

  Now somewhat startled, I murmur under my breath,“That’s Zach Lewis!”

  I met Zach Taylor right after high school, and we briefly dated that summer, but ended our fling when I left Madison to attend Stanford University. We’d discussed him joining me in California, but due to financial constraints, and the fact that he was attending the University of Madison that fall, we parted ways.

  He’s still as handsome as ever, I think, while staring at the screen. He’s hardly changed at all in the last fifteen years, aside from looking more muscular and buff. Damn! It’s been so long, I wonder if he’s forgotten about me.

  A thought passes through my mind that maybe we could reconnect. But then I think about my three failed relationships, and how conflicted I am on the idea of love and relationships. Do I even have time for a new relationship, since I have a brand-new store to run and a child to take care of?

  I don’t want to go through another bad breakup. I always have such high hopes in the beginning of a new relationship, then when they fail, I don’t want to even think about getting into another one.

  But I never forgot about Zach. I had often wondered over the years whether, if we had stayed together, would we have worked out?

  Oh well, Madison is a small town, and I’m sure we’ll run into each other eventually.

  I close my laptop and get on the phone once again to see if I can get a hold of the caterer. Then I check my top pocket and pull out the card that Flynn handed to me.

  Before the caterer picks up on the other end of the call, I stare at the card and think to myself, Yep, checking out Mickey’s Bar is definitely going to the top of my “to do” list.

  I’m not sure whether I should go chasing after my high school boyfriend. But I am sure I want to make more friends in Madison, and Flynn and Will seem like a good start.

  Chapter Three

  Zach

  “Do you want to do the Gay Men’s Chorus again for this year’s special?” Will asks me, while seated and getting his makeup applied before the taping of today’s show.

  Even though I heard him, my mind is zoned out and in another place. I can’t stop thinking about having to lead this choir later today at St. Patrick’s. What if none of the kids can sing? Or what if they’re so unruly, I won’t be able to control them? This could turn out to be a big disaster!

  Just then, Elijah and Alexander show up. They’re the owners of the network, King Tucker Broadcaster.

  Now obviously frustrated at my inattentiveness, Will says, “Oh, thank God you guys are here. I can’t get anything out of this one today,” as he motions with his head to me.

  They both look at me, then back at each other, before sitting down.

  “What’s up, Will?” Elijah says, as if he’s not really sure what he just walked in to.

  Will tries to move his head to face Elijah and Alexander, but the makeup person gets pissed, and has to use force to straighten his head.

  Will sounds a little perturbed now, and raises his voice when he says, “I need some ideas for our Christmas special this year. We’ve already done the Gay Men’s Chorus two years in a row; isn’t that going to get a little tedious if we do the same thing for a third time?”

  Silence follows. Then Elijah makes a crack, “Is there such as thing as a Gay Women’s Chorus?”

  But Will is clearly not amused and rolls his eyes.

  “Come on! Help me out here, guys,” he says. Then he directs his next outburst at me. “And what is wrong with you today, Zach? It’s like you’re in another world.”

  Will is always cranky right before a show, and I’m so used to it by now that I probably do ignore him too much. But I’m all out of fresh ideas for the Christmas show, so I don’t know what he wants me to say. Alex and Elijah certainly haven’t helped matters since they showed up, either.

  I know that if I keep on remaining quiet though, I’m just going to continue to get harassed by Will, so I decide to let them in on my upcoming debacle.

  With a subdued tone in my voice, I tell them, “I got hoodwinked by Father Joseph to lead a boys’ choir at St. Patrick’s.”

  Alex and Elijah look at each other, seemingly confused.

  “Father who?” Alex asks.

  Even Will is at a loss for words, but not for too long.

  “Come again?” he says.

  Neither of them has known me to be a religious man. This is because I’m not a particularly religious man, or at least I’m not a regular church-goer. So it’s no wonder they’re so surprised to hear my announcement.

  I knew if I brought this up, I’d have to give the backstory. That’s the reason I held off in telling anybody this up until now –– out of sheer embarrassment. But I guess the cat is out of the bag now, thanks to my little outburst.

  “What are you talking about? How did that happen?” Will prods.

  The makeup person is finished, and puts the brushes down, when Will turns to face me.

  “I had an incident at the church last week,” I start, and eventually end up filling all of them in on the lurid details, including my anger at my ex.

  I thought that maybe I’d feel better after confessing this to someone, but in reality, I’m more embarrassed than ever.

  Then Elijah begins to giggle, and Alex follows. Will just looks confused.<
br />
  “You were the one who did that!” Will finally blurts out, as if just arriving at the sudden realization. “I read about that in the paper!”

  It isn’t long before all of them begin to laugh.

  “I’m glad I amused all of you,” I say, perturbed.

  But with each passing second, their laughter is contagious. Now that I picture the exact moment in my head, and what my face must have looked like when that glass came crashing down, I bust up laughing with the rest of them.

  Will looks at Elijah and Alex.

  “Man, no one better get in his way when he’s angry. Sheez, I’m lucky there aren’t any windows in this building,” Will says, looking up and turning his head from side to side.

  Elijah stops laughing long enough to say, “Oh, my God, Zach, that’s so gangsta of you. What the hell were you drinking that night?”

  I put my head down, and even I can’t remember what I was drinking that night.

  “Fuck if I know,” I say.

  Will gives me a look that I’ve never seen him give me before. He’s probably thinking I’ve gone off the deep end.

  I have to admit that I kind of did do just that. That’s what love will do to a person. It makes you become someone you don’t even recognize.

  “What did you do for an encore, piss in the holy water?” Alex clowns, and this causes everyone to laugh harder.

  It goes on for several more minutes, until it’s almost time for the show to begin. Will stands up, and as he passes me by, he gives me a disbelieving look, but his face then changes into one with a smile.

  I’m left sitting with Alex and Elijah, realizing that nothing was accomplished as far as the Christmas special goes. But I know both Alex and Elijah like to sing, so I have an idea.

  “Why don’t one of you take over this choir business for me?” I ask, knowing it’s probably a long shot that they’ll agree to it.

  I pretty much have my answer, when both of them laugh at my proposal. They shake their heads.

  “No, Zach,” Elijah says. Then he adds, “You should be happy for this opportunity. I’m surprised you’re so against it.”