Chapter Fourteen

Cliff

He got the transfer almost immediately. Boom. Easy peasy and, while he told me he missed everyone on our floor, he was pleased to learn Riley ran his department in a similar fashion to me. Casual but a tight ship, with no micromanaging. Lots of faith in the intelligence and work ethic of those under him. And their holiday plans were even bigger than ours, with someone bringing in a treat every day and caroling breaking out at the oddest times. My favorite activity, and one I planned to implement next year, was a service-oriented experience where they picked a worthwhile cause and set out to support it. This holiday season, Riley and his crew were going to a local food kitchen one Saturday as well as assembling kits of necessary items and distributing them along with homemade snacks and holiday goodies that some people might miss out on.

Forrest suggested our team might volunteer at the local shelter where he'd adopted Nick. Even though he was part of Riley's department, he would participate with us, too.

My little's heart was so big, the whole world could not encompass it.

My little had shared how blue he'd been about moving to the city so close to the holidays and leaving all his friends behind. He had plans at the club there as well as with friends who were not littles. As a member of Collared he'd taken part in everything they offered for littles or for the entire club, but he was so excited with the "extra" number of holiday activities at Chained.

Forrest loved everything about the period from Thanksgiving through New Years, really starting earlier than that with Halloween. I'd never met such an enthusiast, but it was impossible to be around him and not get right into the spirit. Not that I'd ever hated it or anything, but I'd never experienced the full depth of joy before. I wasn't sure if that was because of him showing me the holidays in a new light or just because being with him made me so dang happy. Every time I went over to pick him up, carols ringing out from my Forrest-enhanced playlist, my heart spilled over. I'd begun bringing little toys and treats just because they made him smile.

For example the surprise I had planned for this evening. I'd been passing a pet shop on the way to pick up our dinner when I spotted their holiday display in the window and drifted inside to see if I could find a little something for my little's roommate. The second I entered, I was in a holiday pet-topia. I was drawn to a display heaped with small empty baskets and surrounded by filled bins of cat toys. The sign read: Fill a basket from the bins for only $20 and make your cat purr . I picked up a basket by the handle and surveyed the amazing number of choices, stunned and frozen in place.

"It's a lot, right?" A college-age sales clerk came to stand next to me. "It's a great deal and a sure way into a kitty's heart."

"Yeah." I chewed on my lip, still looking over everything. "How late are you open tonight?"

"A couple more hours. Did you want to bring your cat to choose?"

"Do you allow that?"

He shrugged. "People bring their well-behaved pets in all the time…mostly the well-behaved ones."

I could imagine the damage a badly behaved one could do and wasn't sure if a certain kitty had been in the picture long enough to risk such an outing. He was really new in his home. But I'd leave that up to Forrest. "Actually, it's my boyfriend's cat." Boyfriend…one aspect of our relationship, but it was the first time I'd said it out loud. "I think I'll pick him up and bring him back and if he wants to bring Nick, that's up to him."

"Nick, like St. Nick? Cool."

"We'll be back before you close," I promised, pretty sure I'd have no problem making that happen.

I called ahead to tell Forrest we were going on a mystery outing that I would reveal when I arrived. I couldn't think of a way to suggest he could bring Nick along and decided not to mention it. My little loved surprises, so we'd go ahead with that element. When I pulled up, he was waiting on the curb, bouncing on the balls of his feet, and I shook my head as he hopped into the car. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"I can't stand it." He leaned over for a kiss then flopped back in the seat. "Are we going caroling?"

"Nope."

"Ice skating at the city rink?" It was an outdoor space that became a winter wonderland every holiday season and I made a mental note to use that for a date night, if he liked it.

"Is that on your wish list?"

"Oh yes."

"Well, not tonight, but whatever other day you'd like, okay? I'm warning you, though, I'm not graceful on skates."

"I'll help you, Daddy." He tapped his cheek, deep in thought, then threw his arms out. "I can't guess."

"Want a hint?"

His head bobbed in my peripheral vision. "Yes, please, Daddy."

"Reach in the back seat." I had paid ahead for the toys, and so the sales kid let me bring the empty basket with me, marking the receipt with the fact that I had not already filled it in case I didn't make it back that night or someone else helped me.

"Okay." He fished around behind him and came up with the basket. "It's not Easter, so we aren't going on an egg hunt. Is there some kind of scavenger hunt for jingle bells or candy canes?"

He continued to throw out guesses as I drove, some of which were pretty outrageous like digging for ornaments and picking mistletoe, but when we arrived and I parked the car in front of the store, he pressed his face to the glass, transfixed. "Best pet shop ever!"

"And you haven't even been inside." I came around to open his door and took his hand. "Bring the basket." As if he wouldn't. The cold air made clouds of our breath as we crossed the sidewalk where the shop kid opened the door for us.

"Welcome," he said. "I see you didn't bring Nick."

Forrest threw me a confused glance.

"I was here earlier, and I learned pets are allowed to visit, but I couldn't see how to make that happen and still make it a surprise for you. We can bring him another time if you like."

He hesitated and shook his head. "Nick hasn't been outside since I brought him home. I was thinking that maybe in the spring, when it's warmer, I could take him out on a leash or maybe in a stroller? But for now, he's in a new home and it's cold. He's probably best inside."

"We could bring him to my house, too," I suggested. "In his carrier, with a blanket, so he's all cozy."

"Deal," he said. "Now, what's with this basket?"

I was very relieved to have made the right decision about Nick and settled back to watch the kid show Forrest the basket display. His excitement knew no bounds as he considered each ball and catnip stuffie and all the rest as if they were the most important decisions he'd made all day. Maybe they were. He was so considerate of others, pets and people alike. When we were finally back in the car with the sales kid placing a closed sign in the window, he cuddled his basket full of sparkly and jingly toys in his lap. "You're going to have to keep it at your house until Christmas," he mused. "Nick will find it if it's at mine."

"All right." I started to press the engine button then stopped. "Forrest, would you like to go to the work party with me?"

"We're okay now that I've moved departments?" We hadn't been 100 percent because I was still at a supervisory level, even if not over him. "I can tell everyone you're my…my what?"

"Boyfriend?" I really loved that word today.

"Yes, I think that's right." He winked at me and giggled. "Can you imagine that stuffy Andy in my new department if I announced you were my daddy?"

"Think he'd faint?"

"Might be worth doing it just to see that…but no. I would love to go with you, Daddy. Thank you for asking me. I love you so much."

I inhaled sharply. "And I love you." We kissed until the lights went out in the pet shop and the sales kid left, locking the door behind him. We had a lot to celebrate. Love.