by B. G. Thomas
Harry had fallen asleep before they left.
But now, home.
They sat on the couch, the movie It Happened One Christmas, with Marlo Thomas, on the TV. Charlie liked it better than It’s a Wonderful Life, with Jimmy Stewart, the original that inspired it. And Tory liked the original better. They both thought it was amusing that it wasn’t the other way around.
“The newer one was on the first time when I was just a kid,” Charlie explained, “and for some reason, I didn’t see the Jimmy Stewart one until a few years ago.”
“Really?” Tory said. “I grew up on it.”
The truth was, neither one was paying much attention to their movie anyway. They had other things in mind. And as the movie went on, their clothes came off. Halfway through, they decided the movie could wait and went back upstairs.
If the loving was good the first time, it was even better the second. The next morning was even better.
As the weeks and months passed, it got better still.
They were pretty different, the two of them. But one thing they agreed on was that neither wanted anything but monogamy. They didn’t care what The Male Couple said.
Charlie didn’t hear his Aunt Charlotte’s voice in his head as much anymore. Not like he had for those hard, cold years, although he thought maybe that was her piping in every now and again. No. Now it was just a wonderful sense of knowing what she probably would say. That part of her that would always live there in his memories. In his heart.
Right there with Tory, the man who held him and kept him warm at night. Who called him “handsome man.”
And when Tory’s lease ran out and the owner wanted to raise his rent—by a lot? Well, Charlie had a basement. Much bigger than the one Tory had in the place he rented. He asked Tory if maybe it was time for him to move in.
Tory thought it was a good idea.
And with a house already paid for, why, it was so much easier to keep a roof over his head.
Something else pretty wonderful happened as well.
When Kill-Joy divvied up he and Charlie’s possessions (with little to no input from Charlie except for a dining room table), one thing he had remarkably left was a painting by a local artist named Kit Jefferies. Or at least he used to be local. Now he was a big-time artist living in New York. But he’d come to town now and again to visit and through a series of “coincidences” (it helped having a boss who was a renowned booking agent, even if she didn’t represent any artists), Charlie managed to show him some of Tory’s work.
Kit had loved it.
Better yet, his husband, Nick St. George, owner of one of the hottest galleries in the Big Apple, loved his work as well. And Tory was soon to have his own show.
Sometimes Christmas wishes did come true.
When they got married a year to the day on which they met, who could perform the ceremony?
Why, Gay of course. Who else? Somewhere in her remarkable life, she’d been ordained. Legally.
And as for Aunt Charlotte, she helped him write his vows.
Maybe she was still there after all….
They only invited their closest friends.
There were eight.
No doubt about it, sometimes more often than not, Christmas wishes really, truly did come true.
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS!
AS USUAL, my readers helped with this book! On my Facebook Page, I love to ask for advice and suggestions while writing my newest tale. It can be anything from “What kind of music are college kids listening to these days?” to asking for names for holiday craft shows. I get countless answers, tons of great recommendations, and it’s nice to include those in my stories. So I want to take a moment to let them know I appreciate all that they do! Please forgive me if I forgot to mention you!
And now, in no particular order….
Linnea, bestie and inspiration in so many ways for this story!
Cooper McKenzie for Brooks.
Richard D. Ramsey, Jude Dunn, and Marvin Proctor, Jr., for helping me with the correct musical notes!
Countless people helping with all the onomatopoeia, including but certainly not limited to Kennedy F. Scott, Scout Crow, Heather Leonard, Rachael Kane, and Erynn Rowan Laurie.
Ariel Tachna for the French. Again. Of course!
Chris Gladish for Bells, Bows, and Beyond. “Prices so low, you’ll think we’re Holicrazy!”
Jodi Slaughter for Holiday Treasures.
Erin TookiTooki, Pearce Hansen, Billy Dee Allen, and Tippy for architectural help. Erin! You also named Bright Blessings Bazaar!
Chris Padgett, for Asheville, NC.
Jason Riley Saint for cigar chomping.
Erin and Blair for appearing in my story.
Special thanks to….
Andi Byassee, who always makes sure I am at my best. I love you!
Tricia Kristufek for being you!
C.L. Miles, Lex Valentine, and Kelly Miller for betaing and a comforting continuity check.
Shannon C. Shell, sweet friend and longtime supporter, for helping me out at the last minute.
And Jason Bradley and Andrea Z. for the final polishing that makes my work shine!
Katio O, for valuable very last-minute catches!
Elin Gregory for the final proofing.
And I must not, and will not, forget my wonderful husbands.
Noah Willoughby for research and the continuity check.
“R” for encouragement and infinite patience.
What would I do without you?
B.G. THOMAS lives in Kansas City with his two husbands—which yes, is different, but amazingly rewarding and wonderfully romantic. They have two sweet rescue dogs named Oliver (who the breed name Dorkie applies perfectly) and Frodo (who is just learning to be a dog). He is missing his soul dog Sarah Jane very much, but she will live on forever in several of his books and in his heart. He is also blessed to have a lovely daughter and they love to hang out.
B.G. loves to read romance, comedy, fantasy, thrillers, mystery, science fiction, and even horror—as far as he is concerned, as long as the stories are character driven and entertaining, it doesn’t matter the genre. He has gone to literature conventions his entire adult life, where he’s been lucky enough to meet many of his favorite writers. He has made up stories since he was a child; it’s where he finds his joy.
In the nineties, he wrote for gay adult magazines but stopped because the editors wanted all sex without plot, and edited his setups right out. “The sex is never as important as the characters,” he says. “Who cares what they are doing if we don’t care about them?” Excited about the growing male/male romance market—where setup and cute meets is where it’s at—he began writing again. He submitted a novella and was thrilled when it was accepted in four days. Since then the romantic tales have poured out of him. “It’s like I’m somehow making up for a lifetime’s worth of story-telling!”
“Leap, and the net will appear” is his personal philosophy and his message. “It is never too late,” he testifies. “Pursue your dreams. They will come true!”
You can read about whatever he’s working on right now or whatever he’s rambling on about at his website/blog at: bthomaswriter.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bgthomaswriter
Twitter: twitter.com/BGThomasBooks
He is always happy to hear from his readers!
By B.G. Thomas
All Alone in a Sea of Romance
All Snug
The Beary Best Holiday Party Ever
Bianca’s Plan
Blue
The Boy Who Came In From the Cold • Anything Could Happen
Christmas Cole
Christmas Wish
Derek
Desert Crossing • A Different Perspective
Do You Trust Me?
Grumble Monkey and the Department Store Elf
Hound Dog and Bean
How Could Love Be Wrong?
It Had to Be You
Just
Guys
With Noah Willoughby: Mele Kilikimaka
A More Perfect Union
New Lease
Orange
The Real Thing
Red
A Secret Valentine
Setting for Eight, Dinner for Two
Sometimes the Best Presents Can’t Be Wrapped
Soul of the Mummy
DREAMSPUN DESIRES
GETTING HIS MAN
#48 – Getting His Man
SMALL-TOWN DREAMS
#66 – The Nerd and the Prince
GOTHIKA
Bones
Spirit
Contact
SEASONS OF LOVE
Spring Affair
Summer Lover
Autumn Changes
Winter Heart
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Setting for Eight, Dinner for Two
© 2019 B.G. Thomas
Cover Art
© 2019 L.C. Chase
http://www.lcchase.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64405-786-5
Digital eBook published December 2019
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America