by Pandora Pine
Truman was setting the pizza down on the kitchen counter when Carson walked into the kitchen. “Do you know how to ice skate?”
“Yeah.” Truman handed Carson a plate and lifted the pizza box lid for him. “I haven’t skated in years though. Some of the guys I went to college with used to play hockey and I’d join in pickup games with them.”
“You know they have that public rink down at the Salem Commons? The big Christmas tree is there and they have fresh kettle corn and peppermint coffee or mulled cider.”
“Isn’t that where the kids can pose for pictures with Santa?” Truman loved that Carson wanted to take him ice skating.
Carson nodded and added two piping hot slices of mushroom pizza to Truman’s plate before serving himself.
That was another thing Truman loved about his new boyfriend. Carson was always putting his needs ahead of his own.
“So, um, you were saying back when we met that you had to fire some guy and it didn’t go well.”
Truman thought that was an odd question to ask over dinner, but with all of the amazing things going on in their lives, he didn’t mind talking about Mike Davenport. “Yeah, according to what we were told, fourth quarter sales were down and they wanted to let one of the assembly line guys go. So the floor manager told us who it was and Cassie and I met with him on December first, to let him know that would be his last day.”
“Shit.” Carson shook his head. “That sucks getting let go so close to Christmas.”
“Yeah, that’s what Mike said too.” Truman shivered.
“Mike who?”
“Mike Davenport was the employee we had to let go. He’d been with the company for like fifteen years. From what I’d heard through the grapevine, he’d had a drinking problem and his wife had kicked him out of their house and wouldn’t let him see their kids.”
“Wow, the hits just keep on coming.”
“Cassie was in the conference room with me when we let him go and he just lost his shit when we told him there wasn’t any severance pay. He grabbed me and shoved me against the closed conference room door and then threw me to the floor.”
“Jesus, Truman! Did he hurt you?” Carson was halfway out of his seat before he seemed to remember where they were and he sat down again.
Truman snorted. “Look at you! My knight in shining armor. My ass was sore for a few days from landing so hard on the conference room floor, but I was fine.”
“Did this Mike guy threaten you? Like threaten to come back and hurt you or get revenge or…” Carson trailed off.
Truman stood up and pulled his boyfriend into his arms. “No, nothing like that. He said something vague like I hadn’t heard the last of him, but I’d just fired him. He was pissed we weren’t giving him severance pay, but I explained that wasn’t my decision to make.”
Carson wrapped his arms around Truman and held on tight. Almost too tight.
“Sometimes I think all of this breaking news and twenty-four hour coverage is a bad thing.” Truman said softly. “We see too much of these angry assholes who do come back to their former places of employment with a gun or something. I mean come on, this is Massachusetts. How likely is it that something like that could happen here? Shit like that happens to other people. Gun violence destroys other families. Now, why don’t we go string those lights up on the tree?”
23
Carson
“Mike Davenport,” Carson said when Cole walked into the kitchen the next morning.
“Who’s that?” Cole asked around a yawn.
“I think he’s the man who’s going to murder Truman.”
“Holy shit! Are you serious?” Cole poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table across from Carson. “And speaking of holy shit, when was the last time you slept. You look awful.”
Carson shook his head. “Between the sex and the new visions and hearing about this asshole, I-”
“Hold on. What new visions?” Cole sat forward in his seat. “I’ve been so crazy-busy with finals coming up that I haven’t had much of a chance to catch up with you about Truman. I’m sorry that you’re having to do this on your own.”
“Mom always said how important your education was, Cole.” Carson shook his head.
“Truman’s more important than some score on a test. I can see it in your eyes, big brother. You’re in love with him.”
Carson nodded and took a shaky breath. It seemed like all he did lately was cry or fight back tears. “I remembered Mom telling me that the future was fluid so I thought maybe Truman’s fate wasn’t carved in stone. I touched the crystal ball again and had another vision.”
“Jesus Christ, did you watch him die again?” Cole reached out for his hand.
“This time I was the one who shot him.” A full-body shiver tore through him. If he closed his eyes, he could still smell the gunpowder.
Cole’s mouth dropped open, but no sound came out.
Carson snorted. “I think that’s the first time in your entire life you’ve been stunned speechless. I could feel rage in the man who shot him. Hell, rage isn’t a strong enough word for what I felt. This man’s anger was volcanic, like his whole body vibrated with it. What was worse than that was how he felt justified as he watched Truman bleed out. Sort of like he was thinking, ‘Got you back, motherfucker.’ I couldn’t hear his thoughts, but that was the vibe I got from him.”
“So you think he wanted to shoot Truman specifically?”
“If the shooter is Mike Davenport, then yes.” If Carson could only show the sketch he and Cole had made of the shooter, then Truman could confirm who the man with the gun in his vision was.
“Who is he?”
“He’s the guy Truman fired a few days before we met.”
“Wait, did he say when he fired this guy?”
“Yeah, it was the Friday before we met. So, December first.”
“Carson, that’s when you had your first vision.”
“What?” That couldn’t be right. Could it?
“Mrs. Salazar had to cancel her Tuesday appointment that week when her sister fell down the stairs and sprained her ankle, remember?”
“Right, so she came in on Friday instead.” Firing Mike Davenport had sent a ripple through Truman’s life like a strong wind makes waves in a small pond. “Truman said something about how a member of the factory staff had to be let go and it was this guy. He and one of his co-workers in the HR department did the firing and the guy went nuclear. He pushed Truman against a door and then threw him to the floor.”
“You hear all the time about how these fired employees come back for revenge. If Truman was the one who fired this guy…” Cole trailed off, looking like he didn’t want to finish his thought.
“I was thinking the same thing. After the vision ended, I asked Mom to show me something else.”
Cole narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean something else?”
“I’ve seen the man I love die three times. I just needed to see what the future could hold, so I asked to see it.” Carson closed his eyes. He could hear his children calling out for Truman. He could see their little faces.
“What did you see?”
Carson felt hot tears streak down his face. “Babies. I saw our babies. A boy and a girl. They were coloring at Truman’s kitchen table. The boy had Truman’s green eyes and the girl had my blue ones. They were calling Truman “Daddy.” Just as I reached out to touch them, the vision ended.”
“Shit,” Cole mumbled under his breath. “So that’s the dangling carrot.”
“All I have to do is keep Truman out of the line of fire.”
“Has he said anything yet about this Christmas party?”
“No, not a word. Maybe it isn’t a Christmas party. I mean people were dressed up, so it could have been a New Year’s Eve party.”
“And it’s not like you can ask him about it or he’s gonna want to know how you know about it. I mean shit, what if it’s a work-only party and you can’t even go?”
/> Carson nodded. “This whole thing is so fucking messed up.” Cole was right, what if the party was a work only function? It was getting dark now at 4:15pm so it could have been a cocktail hour right after work with no spouses or significant others invited.
“What are you going to do? You’re going to have to tell Truman the truth at some point.”
“I know.” Just not yet.
24
Truman
Truman was biting his lip so hard to keep from laughing that he was afraid of drawing blood. Poor Carson looked like Bambi trying to keep his balance on his ice skates.
He hadn’t been on skates in nearly eight years now, but it had all come back to him the minute he’d laced the boots back up. Carson had watched him take a spin around the ice with awe in his eyes.
Carson hadn’t lasted two seconds on the ice before he’d ended up on his ass. Truman helped him back up but after that, Carson had insisted he could get the hang of it without his boyfriend’s help. It wasn’t going well.
Carson’s arms pinwheeled through the air and he landed on his ass. Again. “Maybe now is a good time to grab some peppermint chai and a bag of kettle corn?” Truman offered his hand down.
Snorting, Carson took his hand. “My ass hasn’t been this sore since the first time we had sex.”
Truman burst out laughing. “Shh, there are little kids here.”
“It’s true. I’m gonna be limping after this, just like I was after that.” Carson was laughing so hard he had to lean on Truman for support.
Truman managed to get them both back to the bench outside the rink. “It was your idea to do this, remember? He knelt in front of Carson to loosen the laces on his skates.
“I thought it would be romantic to skate together like you see in the movies. We’d loop around the rink, holding hands and then maybe you’d twirl me into a dip.”
“Twirl you?” Truman was trying hard not to laugh again. He could see how serious Carson was being.
Carson wedged his feet back into his shoes. “Yeah, you know how dancers twirl and dip their partners?” He sighed dreamily.
“You’re so romantic. You know that?” Truman kissed him and grabbed both of their skates.
“Only with you. I was never like this with other boyfriends. It never crossed my mind to go skating or bring other guys flowers or plan dates at Italian restaurants.”
Truman was truly touched Carson would go to those lengths for him. He turned their ice skates back in to the attendant with a smile. “What is it about me that brought that side out in you?”
Carson linked arms with Truman. “I know it’s a cliché, but everything about you makes me want to be a better man. You deserve the world and all I want to do is give it to you. Since I can’t, I try to find little ways to show you how much you mean to me. Flowers, dinners, angels. Every time you smile, Truman, it fills my heart with joy.”
“I don’t think it sounds like a cliché at all. I guess that’s what being in love does to a person.” Truman kissed him. “All I do is think about you all day at work. I count the hours until I can get the hell out of the office and see you again.” Truman leaned forward to kiss him again but pulled back at the last possible second. “Oh! That reminds me.”
“Something reminded you not to kiss me?” Carson reached up on tip-toes to kiss him anyway.
“My company Christmas party is on December 22nd. For some reason it’s really late this year. We have it in the lobby of our office building. Anyway, I’m rambling.” Truman started to laugh. “You’re my boyfriend and I love you and I don’t know why I’m so damn nervous. Will you come to the party with me so I can show you off?”
Carson’s mouth hung open for a few seconds before he seemed to compose himself.
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to or if you already have other plans.”
“No! It’s not that,” Carson said. “You’re right, the office party is just really late in the holiday season. I’d love to be your arm candy!”
“Arm candy?”
“You tell me all the time how gorgeous I am. Wait until you see me all dressed up in a suit. Hell, even your straight co-workers are gonna want a piece of me.”
Truman snorted. “My straight co-workers?”
“We’ll be the talk of the entire party. I guarantee it!” Carson pulled Truman in for a hug.
Truman held on tighter when he realized Carson wasn’t letting go. There were odd times when Carson was a bit more snuggly than others. Not that Truman minded. “Hey, how about we go get our pictures taken with Santa?”
“Aren’t we a bit old for that?” Carson grinned up at him.
“No way! This is our first of many Christmases together and I want to do this up right! Besides, I haven’t written my letter to Santa yet and with it being so late in the season, he might not get it on time.”
“What do you want for Christmas, Truman? I mean you already got me.” Carson waggled his eyebrows.
“I can’t tell you what I want for Christmas. Then I won’t get it.” Truman rolled his eyes.
“Uh, I’m pretty sure telling me what you want for Christmas is sort of the point. Otherwise, how would I know what to get you? Its birthday wishes you’re not supposed to share with anyone else.”
“Whatever.” Truman rolled his eyes. “Hey we’re up with Santa.”
Both men knelt on either side of Santa Claus to have their picture taken. Truman could tell this was a real-life Santa’s helper. His beard and white hair were real as were his sparkling blue eyes.
“Hello there, little boy, what’s your name?” Santa pointed to Carson.
“I’m Carson and this is my incredibly gorgeous boyfriend, Truman.”
Truman held out his hand to shake with Santa. He was so excited to be here with Carson like this, making memories and starting their own Christmas traditions. He knew without a shadow of a doubt they’d be back to do this again next year.
“What do you want for Christmas, Carson?” Santa asked.
Carson set his hand over his heart. “A lifetime to love Truman.”
Santa smiled up at Carson before patting his arm. “I’m not sure I can fit that in my sleigh young man, but I’ll do my best.”
“How about you, Truman? What would you like for Christmas? The same thing?”
Truman shook his head. “Since Carson has our future covered, I want an X-box.”
25
Carson
After a quick trip to CVS for more condoms and a frame for their Santa picture, Carson had driven them back to Truman’s house.
“What do you want for Christmas?” Carson asked while Truman poured them each a glass of wine. “Or were you serious about an X-box?”
“I was just so blown away by what you said to Santa.” Truman handed him a glass of wine.
Carson had meant every word he’d said. He’d spent every spare minute he had in the last two weeks praying to God, Jesus, his mother and any spirit who would listen to him to spare Truman’s life. Why not ask Santa Claus for his help too?
“Once I saw your face, babe, nothing else on this earth mattered to me.” It was as close to the truth as Carson was willing to admit at the moment. “We both keep talking about how soon it is to feel this way about each other, but the minute I saw you, I knew I’d found my reason for being. My reason for living.”
“I love making memories with you.” Truman leaned over the kitchen counter to kiss Carson.
“And traditions,” Carson agreed. He sent up another silent plea that they would be back at the outdoor skating rink one year from tonight, eating kettle corn and ice skating, after they took a picture with Santa.
“I’m getting you a pair of ice skates for Christmas so that we’ll have time to practice for next year. So I can dip you.”
“Why don’t you dip me right now?” Carson set down his wine glass and stepped into the middle of the kitchen floor. “No reason we can’t practice that part of it.”
“You just want my han
ds on your body.”
“Can you blame me? I keep telling you how handsome you are. I figure at some point you’re gonna start believing me.” Carson winked at him.
“Come here, you.” Truman tugged Carson into his arms, waltzing him around the kitchen floor in their stockinged feet. “You know what else this is good practice for?”
“Yeah.” Carson chuckled against Truman’s broad chest. “Our wedding. I remember you saying you wanted us to dance together until sunrise.”
Truman tried to twirl Carson around, but he got stuck halfway and ended up on his ass in the middle of the kitchen floor.
Carson burst out laughing.
“It’s a good thing we tried this on solid ground. We would have ended up in the emergency room if we’d given this a go on the ice.” Truman joined Carson on the floor.
“That’s one tradition I don’t want to start.” Carson shivered. That joke hit too close to the mark.
“Amen to that.” Truman climbed over Carson, straddling his hips. “How about starting this tradition though?”Truman shoved his hands under Carson’s ugly Christmas sweater to tease his nipples.
“What tradition would that be?” As if he didn’t know.
“Kitchen floor sex.” Truman waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“I’m not sure about that. Convince me.”
“Convince you?” Truman’s green eyes darkened as he shoved Carson’s sweater over his head. He tossed it aside.
“Ohh, the tile is cold on my back.” Carson shivered for a different reason this time. “Gotta tell you, so far, kitchen sex isn’t turning me on.” He bit his lip so he wouldn’t start to laugh.
“Oh yeah?” Truman palmed Carson’s blue jean-clad erection. “What’s this then? You got a banana down here?”
“Why don’t you see for yourself?” Carson winked at Truman.
Truman went for the button and zipper of Carson’s jeans and fished his length out of his pants. “Convinced yet?”
Carson was totally convinced. Every time Truman touched him he was convinced he’d found his perfect match, but that didn’t mean he was just going to roll over and make it easy for the handsome bastard either. “Not quite.”