Chapter Two

Barrett

A new home and new job with the holidays coming up was not going to be the easiest transition. It was not a new company or anything, but a promotion I had been waiting for over two years, expecting it to be in my existing office. The supervisor who currently held that position had put in for retirement no fewer than three times and then changed her mind. Most firms would not have been so quick to allow her all those “take backs,” but ours was not only employee oriented but reluctant to let a valuable resource slip away. Virginia had been with the company since its founding, and she was excellent at her job.

Then, just as I was about to recognize the futility of my quest and redo my resume, an opening came in another city. Apparently, I was also a valuable resource because this particular position was created by splitting a department. HR confided that they would have been very happy to keep me locally but the logistics made it impossible.

My whole life was in that area where I’d been born and gone to elementary and high school. Even university. My friends, family…my club, Collared, where everyone knew my name, so to speak.

Collared offered a safe space for a variety of what many called kinks, but I just thought of as ways of being. Some members were into impact play or fire, shibari—Japanese rope bondage— or various types of relationships. In my case, that means spending time in the little room with the boys and girls and daddies and mommies.

Age play.

Many times, an evening at the club just meant going in to spend time with friends in one of the conversation areas. People I could be my true self with, no need to explain anything.

So, the move? It was a big deal. But then, as my father pointed out, I had no guarantees that any other offers I received would be nearby, and maybe it was time to spread my wings a little and try life in another area.

He’d pushed me to go to another college, one where I had an opportunity to explore somewhere different, but I had a full scholarship to the university less than a mile from home. After graduation, the best offer I received was my current organization. I hadn’t avoided that wing-spreading thing…not actively at least.

But, Dad was right, in this case. It wasn’t as if I was going to another continent, the company offered me a generous moving stipend and the services of a Realtor on each end. My previous home sold in two weeks, while I was already settled into the business hotel where they put me up, my belongings in a pod waiting for the escrow on my new home to close.

A home with a nice yard for Stanley, my black cockapoo, to play in. We’d lived in a condo before where I had a dog walker come by midday just so he didn’t have to wait so long to get out and stretch his legs. Super plus for the little dog.

And for me? Besides a promotion, more money, and a very lovely and comfortable home I was just getting settled into? Turned out my club, Collared, had a sister club, Chained, here. My membership transferred with no trouble, no need for all the background checks I’d already been through to be repeated.

Win. Win.

Whenever I visited home, I could still stop in to Collared to see my friends. Unfortunately, my plans to stay at Dad’s fell through when he sent me pictures of the cruise he and Stepmama were going on over Christmas. Travel agent friends had gotten “a screaming deal” group rate and coaxed them into joining the trip. I couldn’t be mad. Dad worked hard his whole life and, while he had enough money for comfort in his retirement, a trip like this would have been out of their price range.

Plus, unlike my late mother, Stepmama Joy wasn’t a Christmas queen. Her name was not indicative of her personality She did her best, but compared to the wild ruckus of jubilation Mom had created, it was a little flat. Small tree, small turkey, small presents, small decorations… She made Dad very happy in general. Just didn’t see any reason to “invest half a year’s energy into a few days.”

He did seem disappointed that I wasn’t coming for Thanksgiving, though. If I’d realized we wouldn’t have Christmas, I would have found a way to make it happen. But I had plenty to do in my new home. Unpacking for one. The pod was leaving on Black Friday, the company’s payment for it up as of that point. If I kept it any longer, it would be on me.

Once everything was in the house, I could spend the long weekend putting everything away.

A nudge at my ankle reminded me that someone else had opinions. My doggo, Pearly, had the idea that having a yard did not mean one didn’t get to have long walks. I might not be having a big family holiday, and I would be spending the day hefting boxes out of the pod, but that did not mean a certain loyal pup should be deprived.

They bounced at the hook I’d already hung by the front door for their leash and sweater, ready to go.

“You know we don’t have to do this. You can use the electronic dog door and go in and out of the house at will.” Luckily we lived in an area where there were not coyotes or other predators, so I felt fine letting them do this. Had they? I wasn’t sure since the only time I’d seen them in the yard was when I went there.

“All right, buddy.” I clicked the leash to the hook on their collar and opened the door. We were having a lovely warm day, so no need for a sweater. “But as soon as we get back, I have to haul all those boxes into the house.” I should have done it sooner, but the minute I arrived at work, I’d been sucked right into learning the flow of the local office and my new position, coming home too tired at the end of every day to do more than take care of Pearly and myself.

Today was one of those Thanksgivings with a blue sky and a light breeze sending fallen leaves of all colors skittering down the street. I drew in a deep breath of autumn air. The houses along our street were decorated with hay bales and scarecrows and sheaves of wheat, ears of corn. If I was going to fit in, I’d need to get some holiday decorations for Christmas because I had a feeling that my neighbors would go all out. And who wanted to be the one house without lights and snowmen?

The thought of decorating lifted my spirits as Pearly and I headed past the pod. Tomorrow, I’d be able to get into the garage to park…provided I didn’t end up filling it with too many of the boxes.

“Hi, neighbor!” The cutie who lived in the house next to me smiled but didn’t wave, his hands filled with one of those bags that kept a casserole warm. “Happy Thanksgiving.”

A twinge of feeling like I was the only person spending the holiday alone darkened my mood just for a second. But I stuffed it down, the beautiful day and my neighbor’s cheer helping. “Happy Thanksgiving. What are you taking to your dinner party?” We only talked for a few seconds when our schedules had us coming and going at the same time, but he’d mentioned his work Friendsgiving.

“Grandma’s sweet potato casserole.” He wrinkled his nose adorable when he said it, making me wonder if it wasn’t his favorite. “You two heading for the park?”

“I think so. We’re going where the winds take us.” I chuckled, trying to keep my spirits up. “Free spirits, we are, huh, Pearly?”

They yapped in solidarity.

“I’d better get going. Have a great day.” He got in his car and drove away, while we ambled to the park. I was having sweet potatoes, too—they were in one of the compartments in my Thanksgiving frozen dinner. Moving had its good and bad components, I supposed. I’d feel better when I found the box holding all my silverware.