by AKM Miles
“It’s a secret now, okay? Don’t tell your dad.”
Okay, but what am I going to get him?” Michael asked, looking sad and a little worried. “I don’t have a gift for him.”
“We’ll keep shopping and see if we find the perfect thing for him.” As they exited the store, Derek called in their order for supper, pausing to ask Michael about his dad’s favorite dessert. He left instructions for the food to be delivered in two hours, leaving plenty of time for shopping.
As they passed a gift shop, Derek saw it—the perfect gift for Michael to give his dad. He stopped and pointed into the store window.
“Look, Michael. See that pretty shell? Did you know that if you hold a shell up to your ear you can hear the ocean?”
“Nuh-uh,” Michael said.
“Uh-huh.” Derek ushered Michael inside. On a back wall they found several conch shells on a shelf just out of Michael’s reach.
Michael pointed to a large one. “That one’s pretty. Can I hold it? I’ll be careful.”
“Sure.” Derek handed it to Michael and helped him hold it up to his little ear. His brows went up and his eyes widened as he heard the roaring inside the shell.
“I hear it, Derek, I hear it. It is the ocean. It’s going whoosh, whoosh just like the waves do. Daddy would love this. Can I get it?” He paused, holding the prized shell to his chest. “How much does it cost?”
Derek managed to keep his face straight as he checked the price. “Don’t worry, we can afford it. Are you sure this is the one you want?” Seeing Michael’s death clutch on the shell, Derek already knew the answer. Michael nodded emphatically, his hair flopping back and forth.
“Shall we have them wrap it for you so your dad won’t see it until Christmas morning?” A horrible thought followed his question: what if Max didn’t invite him to be there on Christmas morning?
“Derek, I’m sad,” Michael said, quietly as they headed for the register.
“Honey, what are you sad about? You know you’re safe now, right?” As they stood in line, Derek made sure he had a hand on Michael at all times.
“We don’t have a tree in our house. We don’t have a place to put the presents.”
Oh, good Lord. Michael was right. There were so many trees all over the store, but none in the penthouse.
“Hon, why didn’t you tell your dad you wanted a tree?” Or maybe he had, Derek thought, but Max had nixed the idea.
“Daddy’s so busy all the time. I thought he just didn’t want to do it.”
Derek made a quick decision. He hoped Max wouldn’t mind, but after today, he figured anything Michael wanted would be granted.
“Come with me. We’re going on a whirlwind shopping spree,” Derek said.
“Where?”
“To get a tree, a small one we can put on a table in the living room. We can all decorate it tonight after supper.”
Michael’s little brow puckered in a frown. “But what with? We don’t have the sparkly things to put on it.”
“Well, we’ll figure something out.”
They found a shop with a sale on ornaments. Derek found packages of beads in pretty iridescent colors and grabbed four of them. Michael found some sparkly stars and angels. Soon their arms were full and they headed for the checkout counter, only to double back when Derek realized they’d forgotten lights.
After dropping their packages off in the penthouse they headed down to the second floor storage room. Two Christmas trees stood propped in the corner.
“Will one of those do?” Derek asked Michael. They found boxes of ornaments and had fun choosing the ones that would look best on their tree. Back upstairs, they moved a low coffee table over in front of the big window and covered it with a red tablecloth that Derek found in a drawer. They had just opened the boxes of decorations when they heard the front door open.
“Daddy!” Michael ran to Max, who caught him up and held him close. Derek watched as Michael’s legs went around Max’s waist and his arms curved up around his neck.
“We shopped, Daddy, look!” Michael pointed to the tree.
Derek held his breath as Max took in the tree on the table and the boxes around it. His brows went up as his gaze shifted to Derek.
“I hope it’s all right. I thought we could decorate it together tonight… to celebrate.” Derek hated that he sounded so insecure, but he had made some big decisions on his own. Now he waited to learn if Max would agree with those decisions.
“It’s a wonderful idea. I feel bad that I didn’t think of it.” Max winked at Derek over Michael’s head.
“Michael said you were too busy,” Derek explained. “Speaking of busy, I’ve got to run out on a quick errand. Someone has been holding something for me to pick up. I need to get it so they can go home. I called earlier and they’re waiting for me. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Where do you have to go, Derek? We have to decorate the tree,” Michael said, sounding like a tired and disappointed little boy.
“Don’t you worry. I’ll be back in time to help you make that the best tree ever.”
“Okay, Derek. I know you have to work sometimes, like Dad does.”
“That’s right, but this is more along the lines of fun,” Derek said, smiling at Max over Michael’s head. “Maybe you and your dad could pick out the music to play while we decorate. I definitely want ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’.”
“Silly, that’s like saying you’re coming to town,” Michael said, giggling.
Derek hurried and, true to his word, was back quickly. He came in and Michael ran to greet him. He picked the boy up and swung him around.
“You’re back, Derek,” Michael said, stating the obvious. “Me and Daddy are real hungry. Are you hungry?”
“Starving!” Derek said, putting his cold face in Michael’s neck and munching on tender skin, making him shriek in laughter.
Just then the deliveryman called from downstairs, and Derek went to pick up the food. Meanwhile Max and Michael set the table in the little dining room off the kitchen. It didn’t escape Derek’s attention that not one word had been said about Tawna. Derek certainly wasn’t going to bring it up. He figured that Max was protecting his son from any negativity tonight, and Derek applauded the idea.
What followed was a wonderful night. They ate supper and laughed. Derek served dessert and they moaned at the delicious brownies with ice cream that Michael had requested. They moved into the living room. Derek turned on Christmas music and they decorated their tree. Max and Derek took turns lifting Michael to place things near the top.
When they put Michael to sleep that night, he was a happy, secure little boy. As much as Derek loved Michael and enjoyed their time together, he was thrilled now to have Max to himself.
He finished clearing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen, then headed back to the living room, lit now only by the tree lights. Max caught him as soon as he entered the room.
“You did a wonderful job with Michael tonight,” he whispered, nuzzling his nose into Derek’s neck. “Thank you. The tree was a great idea.”
“It was Michael’s idea,” Derek said. “And I remembered there were a couple of extra trees in storage. Tell me quickly what happened with Tawna, and then I have a question about Christmas.”
“Forget about her. What about Christmas?” Max walked with Derek to the tree, taking one last look before turning off the lights. From there, he led Derek to his bedroom and locked the door. He set the monitor on the bedside table, turned down the bed, and opened his arms.
Derek walked into them, feeling like he was coming home. He sighed deeply as Max’s arms enfolded him.
“Christmas?” Max reminded him softly, his lips moving over Derek’s forehead and up into his hair.
Derek gathered his courage and opened his heart. “I’d love to spend it with you and Michael. But the question is, do you want me here as much as I want to be here?”
“Derek, I want you here all the time. I’d ask you to move
in, but it’s not just me I have to think about. I have to consider how it would affect Michael, and if you’re even ready for that level of commitment.” Max put a finger on Derek’s lips before he could speak. “We’ll talk about this after Christmas. I want you to spend Christmas Eve with us so that we can both be here when Michael opens his gifts. I want to share that with you.”
“That would make me very happy.” Derek blinked back tears at the prospect of his dreams coming true. There was no doubt in his mind that he was falling in love with Max, and he was beginning to believe Max felt the same way.
“Before I kiss you and take you to bed with me,” Max said, “I’ll fill you in on Tawna.”
§ § §
Max had called his lawyer, Carl Mason, and the man was at the station when Max got there. They met with the officers, and along with the lawyers hired by Tawna’s parents, they watched while she broke down during questioning.
Through thick glass Max watched her big tears roll down her cheeks while she explained how she’d fallen in love with him, and been led to think there might be a chance for them as a couple. The officer asked specifically what type of behavior had given her that idea. From his understanding, Max Martin was gay and therefore not interested in women at all.
“Lots of men have told me I’m beautiful, and I thought I could change his mind. You know, make him want me? I even offered to babysit his brat.”
Max wanted to crash through the window and grab her by the neck. His lawyer’s hand on his arm barely calmed him. His pulse points throbbed.
“About his child, Michael. Why did you offer to watch the boy if you didn’t care for him?” the officer asked.
“Du-uh,” Tawna said, tilting her head like she thought the officer was particularly slow. “Nothing’s more important to Max than that little brat. I knew that if I could get in with him, I’d get closer to Max.”
“So, what happened? You lost the job a week ago, right?” The officer studied her closely as he angled for information. “If my information is correct, you shouldn’t even have been in the building.”
“I still had my keys, but he’d changed the locks. Can you believe that? He didn’t trust me!” It was clear Tawna didn’t understand why.
As Max watched her, he couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen right through her before. Business was no excuse for not being more aware of what was going on so close to his son. He continued to feel like a failure in the parent department.
“There was some mention of you not treating the boy with, shall we say, the kindness and caring of a babysitter. I gather this was a recent addition to your job requirements. You offered to take over for his usual sitter, is that right? You asked for the job as caretaker of young Michael?”
Max liked this officer, who was asking the right questions every time and repeating some in an attempt to trip her up. Max barely managed to stay quiet as he watched the proceedings. He understood that not everyone in his position would be allowed to observe this part of the process. Evidently it had to do with the nearness of the holiday and the lawyers’ desire to clear their dockets. Max didn’t care what the reason was, he was glad to get the opportunity to see how he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. He’d put his son at risk by being too ready to accept an easy fix to a problem, instead of more fully investigating the person he allowed to watch his son.
Derek came to mind; along with the fact that Max hadn’t known him long either. As a matter of fact, he knew very little about Derek, but he still felt safe leaving his son with the man. Was he being stupid again, this time because he was being led by his dick instead of his brain? He wanted Derek in his life. His office and his personal life were already running more smoothly with Derek directing things.
Max took a moment and seriously asked himself if he was making another mistake. Was he allowing his feelings for Derek to color his decision-making skills? He had evidence in front of him that he was capable of making monumental mistakes when pressed for time and in a bind. Was he doing the same with Derek, a man he’d known only a short time?
His heart pounded as he stood. Carl questioned him with a look. He nodded to the man, letting him know that he was fine.
What was he doing? He’d trusted Derek more in two days than he did Carl, when the lawyer standing by his side had worked for him for years. Derek had recognized what Max had missed and taken action to rectify a bad situation. Michael already loved Derek and was acting as a matchmaker for them. Max had learned his lesson in this, for sure. From now on he would be more careful, but every instinct told him he hadn’t gone wrong in trusting Derek… with his son and, he was coming to think, with his heart.
Max tuned back in to the conversation behind the glass. Focus, Max, focus!
Tawna had really turned on the waterworks now and was swearing remorse and a renewed understanding of the severity of her actions. What had he missed in the last few minutes? He watched carefully to see if she was playing them.
Amazingly enough she was making sense. What the hell?
“I know I was wrong. I should never have allowed my feelings to overpower my sense of right and wrong. I had no business offering to watch Michael just to get close to Max, uh, Mr. Martin. I’m not good with kids and I didn’t know what to do with him. I wish I could do it all over again, but I know that’s not possible. I messed up really badly, and I wish I could take it back. Mr. Martin was always nice to me and I let it mean more than it really did. I just want to tell him I’m sorry and go home with my parents. I’ll agree to whatever I’m told to do. I pray that I don’t have to go to jail. I know that my parents and the lawyer are asking for counseling and community service. I promise that if you all will agree to something like that, it’ll make a difference in my life.”
“Ma’am, it is not up to us to make that kind of decision. Mr. Martin is understandably furious at your actions and is ready to press charges. There are several that could be put into motion. Besides the mental cruelty, the taping of the child’s mouth and then leaving him alone, hidden, constitutes wanton endangerment. As Mr. Martin stated, if the boy had been scared enough, gotten sick, and thrown up, you could have caused him harm or even death. That isn’t something we can just sweep under the rug.”
“Oh, my God! I never thought of anything like that. I’m a terrible person, I am.” Tawna’s tears overflowed as she seemed to realize the serious implications of her actions.
“Why did you do it, Tawna?” asked the officer.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was mad that he brought that guy in to take my place. Just fired me and put him in my place. I was trying to get back at both of them. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I know I can’t be forgiven for what I did. I wish I could tell Mr. Martin how sorry I am. I’m a mess. I just want to go home with my parents. I’m not ready to be on my own.” Tawna burst into loud sobs, and Max, even as mad as he was, believed her.
“Ms. Fisher, it’s not my place to say what will happen. It will be up to the lawyers.”
With that, Max turned away from the window. “What now?” he asked Carl.
His lawyer shrugged. “As the officer said, this can’t be swept under the rug. There’s no way we can get a DA to look at this tonight, or maybe even before the holiday. It’s going to be a while before it’s settled and a lot depends on you. Since this was technically a kidnapping, there will have to be a meeting with the DA to decide on what charges will be set and how she’ll be sentenced. What do you want done, Max?” The lawyer pushed the door open. They moved down the hall and into a conference room.
Max sat and thought a minute. “Michael said he didn’t want her to miss Christmas.” He shook his head, thinking of his little boy’s big heart. He knew that his own wasn’t quite as forgiving.
“I’ve calmed down,” he said. “I’m not quite as rabid as I was to begin with. I want her punished, but I don’t care whether she goes to jail or not. I do want her to have the counseling and the community service you mentioned. I don’t want her to be abl
e to step foot in Martin’s again. I’m fine with her leaving with her parents and serving the sentence in whatever damn town they’re from. Can you ensure that she’ll disappear from my life while still having to pay for what she did? Just make this all go away so I can tell Michael she’s okay, but we don’t have to worry about her ever again.” Suddenly, all Max wanted was to be home with Michael and Derek.
He and Carl discussed the remaining details and then the lawyer stood and closed his briefcase. “I’ll take care of this for you, Max. I’ll earn my Christmas bonus this year.”
“You certainly will. Going easy on Tawna will make Michael happy, and I’ll convince Derek that the Christmas spirit got hold of me. Thank you, Carl.”
§ § §
“Wow. Michael will like that, Max. I don’t know if I could have been as forgiving as you. Of course, I didn’t see her break down or hear any of her excuses. You’re quite a man.” Derek put one hand on Max’s cheek, smoothing it, and then pushing his fingers further to grasp Max’s head and bring it down to his.
“I need you,” he said. Derek tilted his head and met Max’s mouth, opening to welcome Max’s tongue and meeting it with his, exulting in the joy that kissing Max brought him. He put his arms up to Max’s shoulders and held on as Max swept through his mouth with a passionate thoroughness that had Derek shaking with need.
As they kissed, Max’s strong fingers combed through Derek’s hair in the way he loved, letting the fine strands run between them. When his lips were released much later, Derek murmured, “I like the way that feels. As a matter of fact, I just like your hands on me.”
“Oh, yeah? I know the feeling. I like your hands on me, too, and I love putting mine on you.” Max swept Derek up and carried him to the bed.
“That’s one way to get what you want,” Derek teased.
“You mind?” Max paused.
“Not at all. Maybe I should. I guess being carried around isn’t the most masculine thing, but I like being in your strong arms. Lift me up higher,” Derek commanded, and when Max complied Derek swung one leg down and around so he could circle Max’s waist.