by Rob Loveless
Two silhouettes appeared within an upper level window of the townhouse; it appeared as though they were dressing. Sophie and Cal observed from the car as a window lit up on the ground floor, followed by the porch light. The front door opened as Andrew and a man—who appeared to be in his early thirties, with pasty skin and a buzz cut—stepped outside for a final embrace. Without thinking, Cal stormed out of the car as he witnessed the two men kissing and approached them with Sophie at his heels. Cal did not have the faintest clue what he would do or say, but prowled over as adrenaline pulsed through his veins.
“Oh hey, Andrew,” he shouted in a fake cheery voice. “What are the odds of bumping into you here?”
“Cal?” Andrew sputtered.
“Who the fuck are you?” the stranger questioned.
“Hey, Mr. Right Now. I’m Cal,” he greeted. His heart thumped in anticipation of confronting Andrew, a mix of anger and dread causing the discomfort. Nevertheless, Cal continued his showdown, refusing to allow anyone to walk over him or Claire. “Did you use up all your libido on this fuckboy? Or are you up for another round?”
“Did you follow me here?” Andrew asked in disbelief.
“Yep,” Cal said with a smile. “Did this guy get a taste of me? You know, since we fucked last night.”
“Oh shit. Are you his boyfriend?” the man inquired, unease evident in his voice.
“No, I’m his ex,” he replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “He’s dating my sister now.”
“What!” he exclaimed in shock as his once-pasty face flushed. “But, you said you were single—”
“Oh, did he?”
“Shut up, Craig,” Andrew hissed.
“Don’t say that. I want to hear what Craig has to say,” Cal stated with a malicious smile. “Go ahead, Craig.”
“I swear he said he was single, and he was just looking for fun; no strings attached,” the man chattered in a flustered manner, clearly unprepared for the situation he had been drawn into. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. You didn’t know. Besides, this is what Andrew does.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Andrew spat as he stepped off the porch. Cal’s legs shook, and his stomach churned as his ex approached, staring him in the eye with resentment. While he may have felt inferior to Andrew in the past, he refused to bow down in silence and watch his former lover escape the consequences of his crimes.
“It means you do what you want to and don’t care about who you string along and who you hurt,” Cal retorted in a raised voice that was surprisingly strong despite his gentle nature, trembling body, and worn-out heart. It was as though Andrew’s emotional weight had evaporated, cleansing the depression, guilt, and heartache that had accumulated since his ex first sleazed his way into Cal’s stable life.
“Oh my God, are you still talking about what happened when we were in undergrad?”
“I’m talking about what’s happening right now!” he countered. “What I care about is that things haven’t changed. It’s been three and a half fucking years, and you haven’t changed except now you’re fucking over my sister.”
“You don’t understand—”
“No, I don’t!” Cal interjected. “I don’t understand and honestly, I don’t care anymore. You’re not worth wasting the energy of trying to figure you out. You’ve played your games with me already, but don’t you dare go sleeping around while you’re with my sister.”
Andrew took a deep breath as he glared at Cal.
“And while you’re at it, get tested you washed-up slut,” he chided.
“Fuck you, Cal!” Andrew swore before he marched away toward his car.
“I’m gonna tell her,” he threatened.
Andrew whipped around.
“What?”
“I’m gonna tell her,” Cal repeated.
“Please, don’t.”
“Why shouldn’t I? How is this fair to her?”
“It’s not,” Andrew admitted.
“Exactly, so I’m telling Claire.”
“No. Let me tell her…please,” Andrew requested.
“How do I know you’re actually going to? I mean, you don’t have the best track record with telling the truth.”
“I will. Believe me.”
“When?” Cal demanded.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I need to know, or else I’m telling Claire tonight.”
“Okay, okay. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and then all of your family is coming Christmas Day. Give me until the day after to tell her,” Andrew reasoned.
“Fine. But I mean it; if you don’t tell her, I will,” Cal warned. Andrew nodded his head in understanding before the two men walked away in opposite directions, leaving Sophie and Craig in stunned silence. The two stood awkwardly on the porch for a moment longer as they avoided making eye contact.
“Um, happy holidays,” Sophie said to Craig with a slight wave before she hurried after Cal to the car. Craig remained on the porch in the frigid evening air, as he continued to process the altercation that had just occurred.
*
As a result of recent events, the usual cheer and joy associated with the Christmas holiday was absent that year for Cal. Instead, anger and resentment clutched his spirit as he willed the holidays to end. Come December twenty-sixth, Cal would be in the comfort of his own apartment, and he hoped Andrew would be out of the Adamses’ lives for good.
Meanwhile, Sophie had opted to stay at the family’s home for Christmas Eve and Day—per the family matriarch’s insistence—since her own parents were already on their cruise. The two friends kept to themselves, as they made sure to avoid Andrew after their confrontation. Pleasantries at the family’s traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner were exaggerated between the three, to avert suspicion from the rest of the Adams clan—who still remained unaware of the history between Cal and Andrew.
The Christmas Day celebrations with the immediate family were limited since Mrs. Adams had various preparations to complete before their relatives were scheduled to arrive early that afternoon. Therefore, the family exchanged gifts before Mrs. Adams returned to tidying up the dining room and setting the table with ornate china. She assigned several tasks to Cal and Sophie as well, while Claire and Andrew retreated to their bedroom. Finally, the doorbell rang just after two o’clock, signaling their guests’ arrival.
“Here we go,” Cal muttered to Sophie before he opened the front door to greet the family. His maternal grandmother entered first with his younger cousin, Troy, followed by his mother’s sister and brother and their spouses. Within moments, the house was abuzz with chatter and cheer as the relatives embraced one another.
“Hi, Grandma Pearl,” Cal greeted as he received a tight hug from her.
“Oh, Cal, you look great. And, Miss Sophie, it’s so good to see you,” Pearl remarked. “Are you two finally together?”
“Um,” Sophie began.
“No,” Cal interjected. “I’ve told you before, Sophie has a boyfriend.”
“Are you two engaged?” his grandmother pried.
“Um, no. Not yet,” Sophie replied with a muffled bitterness, while Claire and Andrew made their way downstairs to welcome the family.
“Well, nothing is final until there’s a ring on your finger,” Pearl continued before she lowered her voice and winked. “And even then, it comes right off.”
Sophie bit her lip to conceal a giggle as she blushed.
“Okay, Grandma, have you met Claire’s boyfriend?” Cal inquired as he steered his grandmother toward Claire’s direction, hoping that the announcement of a significant other would captivate Pearl’s attention to veer her off the current discussion.
“Why did your grandmother ask if we were together?” Sophie whispered to Cal once Pearl was out of earshot.
“She doesn’t know,” he said.
“You never told her?” she asked.
“No. It turns out she’s kind of conservative, so it’s better that she d
oesn’t know. Besides, she’s not going to live forever.”
“Cal, that’s terrible!”
“What? Don’t get me wrong, I love her…but it’s the truth. It’s easier this way,” he reasoned. “I’ve actually never talked with the extended family about it, so I don’t know if anyone other than my parents and Claire knows. But at this rate, I’m going to die alone anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Oh, Claire, this is your boyfriend?” his grandmother’s voice sounded above the chatter. “Is he a Mexican? He looks Mexican.”
“Um, the politically correct term is Hispanic,” Cal’s Aunt Evelyn chimed.
“Oh, it’s the same thing,” Pearl dismissed.
“Ma, you can’t say that ’cause it’s not the same thing,” Evelyn scolded. “That’s borderline racist.”
“I’m not racist,” she countered. “I love the gays.”
“That’s not the same thing…at all,” Evelyn’s husband, Chaz, mumbled to himself as he held back a chuckle.
“See what I mean? Conservative and not at all politically correct,” Cal murmured to Sophie. “It’s easier if she doesn’t know.”
“Anyway, so are you or are you not a Mexican?” Pearl continued.
“No, I’m mostly Greek,” Andrew informed her.
“Oh good!” she replied.
“Hey, Andrew, I’m Tom,” Cal’s other uncle introduced. “Let me apologize in advance for having to deal with us crazy bastards. You’re a brave man.”
“Ha ha, I’m happy to be here,” Andrew laughed. “I’m glad to finally meet Claire’s family.”
“Well, get through dinner and then tell me if you still mean that,” Tom joked.
“Oh, hello, hello, hello,” Mrs. Adams greeted with glee as she entered the cluttered foyer. “Come in, everyone. We’ve got drinks in the family room.”
“Finally, the one good thing about the holidays,” Cal murmured to Sophie. “I know how I’ll be getting through today.”
The clan made their collective way into the family room, where they continued to mingle over drinks and appetizers. The majority of the discussion leaned toward Claire and Andrew, as the family gently meddled to learn more about their relationship. Mrs. Adams—who popped in and out of the toasty kitchen to check on dinner—made the obligatory rounds as hostess to socialize with her relatives and freshen their drinks. After about an hour or so, she announced it was time for gifts and the family gathered around for their classic Secret Santa exchange.
Just after four o’clock, Mrs. Adams declared dinner was ready and instructed everyone to bring their drinks into the dining room. The family seated themselves at the decorated table as platters of succulently braised ham, seasoned vegetables, and fluffy mashed potatoes were served along with other side dishes. Plates were loaded with delicious food, glasses were filled with various liquors and mixers, and conversations stifled as everyone chowed down on the feast that Mrs. Adams had slaved over.
Despite all that had occurred over the past few days, Cal was beginning to enjoy himself. Although he had been glum and frustrated earlier that day, it was difficult not to enjoy oneself on Christmas—especially when in the company of family, which Cal certainly reveled in. As dinner came to an end, he assisted his mother in clearing the table and soaking the used dishes in the sink. Once they were finished, Mrs. Adams put on a pot of coffee, and Cal poured himself another gin and tonic—his fourth—before he settled himself at the table next to Sophie. The family continued to converse and laugh merrily as they allowed their food to digest in anticipation of dessert.
“Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Adams; it was great!” Sophie complimented.
“You’re welcome, sweetie. I’m glad we got to spend Christmas with you. It’s been a while since we last saw you,” she remarked.
“Hey, Andrew, you still mean what you said earlier?” Tom teased from across the table.
“Ha ha, I do,” Andrew reaffirmed. “Mrs. Adams, thank you for having me this week.”
“Of course! It was our pleasure,” Mrs. Adams said.
“I hope we didn’t scare you away,” Mr. Adams laughed.
“Not at all,” he replied before taking Claire’s hand in his own. “I can’t thank you enough for welcoming me in. My family is pretty small, so I’ve never had a Christmas like this before.”
“Well hopefully this is only the first of many holidays together,” Mrs. Adams said as she raised her glass to salute Andrew.
“Well, I think that’s definitely a possibility. And I think this is the right time for this,” Andrew smiled as he stood up from his seat, still holding Claire’s hand. “Claire, these past seven months have been incredible, and like nothing I’ve ever experienced; I’ve never felt so in love before. Since the first time I met you, I felt such a connection with you.
“I have to admit, I was a bit nervous when you first invited me to meet your family. I know how much they mean to you, so I wanted to make sure I made a good impression. And your family is so amazing, and they’ve really made me feel like I’m part of the family.
“So, like your mom said, hopefully this is the first of many more holidays to come. Claire Adams,” Andrew continued while he gazed deep into her sparkling eyes. He reached into his pocket and fished out a small box before he stooped down onto one knee. “Will you do me the honor of spending the rest of our lives together? Will you marry me?”
“Oh my God,” Mrs. Adams gasped as she wiped her teary eyes. “Todd, did you know about this?”
“I did,” her husband revealed as he beamed on his daughter.
“Andrew, I…I…yes. Yes!” Claire sputtered, and Andrew slipped a modest diamond ring onto her finger before the two kissed.
The dining room was overcome with joy as the family congratulated the newly engaged couple with applause and hugs. Mrs. Adams cried lightly from happiness, while Sophie tried to put on a convincing smile. Meanwhile, Cal chugged the remainder of his drink and then slammed the empty glass on the table.
“I’m sorry, but what?” Cal stated. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
The room fell silent as the entire family eyed Cal from across the table. Sophie squeezed his arm in an attempt to stifle his outburst.
“Cal, no. Not here—” she began.
“No, I’ve been quiet long enough,” he stated.
“All right, Cal, what the hell is wrong with you?” Claire inquired harshly as she threw her napkin on the table. “Clearly, you don’t like Andrew, which you’ve made evident over the past week. All I wanted was for you to get to know him, but I guess that’s too much for you. So what’s the deal? Don’t you want me to be happy?”
“Of course I do, Claire. But you’re not going to be happy with that—believe me.”
“You are so out of line!” she countered. “You don’t even know him!”
“Oh, I know him plenty well,” he retorted, feeling a bit buzzed from both the alcohol and the chaos that was unfolding.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Claire demanded.
“Cal, quit it,” Andrew said. “Not now.”
“You had your chance,” he said. “But instead you want to put on this little charade with that proposal and pretend everything is okay.”
“What’s going on?” his sister wondered, in a tone of agitation and confusion. “Did you two know each other before I brought you home?”
“Yeah, in the biblical sense,” Cal quipped.
“From church?” Pearl inquired above the clan’s shocked gasps.
“I’ve got a question for you, Claire,” Cal said as he stood up from his seat. “Does Andrew still make that weird face when he finishes?”
“Calvin James!” his mother squealed aghast as she clutched her chest, and several other family members reacted with appalled expressions.
“All right, son, sit down,” Mr. Adams instructed. “I think you’ve had enough to drink. Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“I’m fine, Dad, and yeah I do,” Cal said in his d
efense. “And I’m saying what I’m saying to save my sister from being fucked over by Andrew like I was!”
The table fell silent as inquisitive eyes fell upon both Cal and Andrew.
“Shit,” Mr. Adams sighed as he recalled his conversation with Cal from earlier that week. “Him?”
“I don’t get it,” Pearl stated.
“Um…uh…ah…” Mrs. Adams fumbled, as she attempted to find the words to tell her mother.
“Um…Cal and Andrew…apparently they…” Evelyn began.
“They’re gay, Ma. They’re gay,” Tom informed her simply before taking a large swig of his beer.
“Homosexuals! For the love of Christ!” Pearl clamored. “Martha, did you know about Cal?”
“Oh come on, Ma. You couldn’t tell?” Tom questioned.
“Gee, thanks Uncle Tom,” Cal said.
“We love you Cal, but you were never dating anyone. You never brought anyone around, so it was kind of obvious,” he explained.
“Where are you going?” Evelyn inquired as Pearl got up from the table.
“Grabbing my purse,” she answered.
“Ma, don’t leave. Please,” Mrs. Adams called in a shaky voice.
“I’m not. I’m just grabbing my rosary beads and holy water,” Pearl said.
“Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph,” Mrs. Adams groaned and buried her weary face in her hands.
“Andrew, what is he talking about?” Claire interrogated with tears in her eyes.
“Babe—”
“He’s lying, right?” she questioned.
“Todd, say something,” Mrs. Adams hissed at her husband, seeking some form of comfort or support in dealing with the situation unfolding at the dining room table.
“Cal,” his father sighed, at a complete loss for words. “Cal, Cal, Cal…”
“Dad, I’m sorry, but—”
“Oh, you’re sorry?” Claire spat from across the table. “Clearly, you’re not that sorry since you felt the need to make up some lie that my fiancé is gay.”