15. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Jobe

Christmas Eve

“Merry Christmas Eve!” Beck sang as he entered the condo. “Holy moly, this place is huge!”

Beck shared the same sentiment as I did the first time I came over to Daddy’s place.

“It is but it’s super comfy,” I hugged my bestie. “Come see the tree.”

“Merry Christmas Eve, Daddy Stanley!”

“Merry Christmas Eve, little one.” Daddy hugged him and ruffled the Santa hat Beck wore. He hugged Daddy as we passed him by and left our Daddies to chat. Beck’s enthusiastic excitement was infectious. You couldn’t help but be happy around him.

I adored how Daddy talked to Beck and Beck’s face lit up when he did. Such a sweet boy who the Daddies readily accepted. Obviously something Beck lacked in his life and I was glad he was able to be his true self now.

“Whoa,” Beck stopped when he spotted the tree. “That’s the biggest tree I’ve ever seen. Look at all the prezzies under it!”

“Yes. Daddy has fourteen-foot ceilings which allowed for a taller tree. Had to borrow a taller ladder from building maintenance to get the star on top. Took us forever to decorate it.” More than worth it in the end.

The living room with the wall of windows behind the tree was a scene straight out of a holiday movie. If only it snowed in Vegas then our living room would be Christmas card-worthy with it falling in the background.

“You have a stocking for me?” Beck’s eyes widened as he saw the four stockings hanging above the blazing fireplace in between the pine garland. There was one for each of us Daddy had custom made.

“Of course we do, silly.”

“I’ve never had a stocking I didn’t buy for myself.” Gently, his fingers traced the embroidered letters of his name on the crushed red velvet stocking. Both his and mine were red while the Daddies’ were hunter green.

Each time Beck opened his mouth it gave me another glimpse into his past. Sadly, as much as I wished I could, I couldn’t take away the pain. What I could promise was that I would do my best to see to it he endured no more.

“Sweet boy,” Daddy Crispin called to Beck, “why don’t you place the prezzies we bought under the tree?”

“Yes, Daddy.” Beck tilted up on his tip toes and kissed Crispin’s cheek before he grabbed the bags. He placed each elegantly wrapped package under the tree with precision. Each time he glimpsed one with his name on it he did this adorable shimmy, but didn’t say a word.

Crispin watched him, eyes full of awe. How quickly he’d fallen for my friend. This Christmas couldn’t be more perfect for us.

“All done!” Beck announced as he hopped up and handed Crispin the empty bags.

“Very well done, sweet boy.”

“Let me show you to your room, Crispin. There’s another guest room if Beck would like his own?” Daddy asked them. I wasn’t sure which Beck would choose, but I waited with baited breath for his reply.

“No thank you, Daddy Stanley. I want to snuggle with Daddy Crispin.”

Whoosh, out it went on an exhale. In my mind I’d pictured Beck sneaking across the hall to Crispin’s room after we all went to bed if he’d chosen his own. Might as well start the night already in there with him.

While they got settled in, Daddy and I set up the smorgasbord of food he’d ordered for dinner along the long eat-in island in the center of the kitchen.

“You ordered enough food to feed the entire building.” A full traditional holiday feast of turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh cranberry sauce, and rolls was present and accounted for. There were also a section of various other foods such as chicken nuggets, fries, and a couple of vegetables. Plenty to choose from. No doubt there would be yummy leftovers for tomorrow. I had a feeling the nuggets and fries would be going home with a certain little.

“I wanted little Beck to feel welcome and not be forced to be an adult. This is a special Christmas for him.”

“It honestly sounds like it’s his first.” Not that I had many in the traditional sense, but my nanny always remembered me.

We’d kept a few more presents for Beck hidden in the bedroom closet to sneak under the tree tonight when we filled the stockings. I had a hell of a time shopping for Daddy but in the end came up with a surprise I was damn proud of. Hopefully, it went over well… Maybe I should reconsider doing it in front of our friends and wait until we were alone.

“Dinner smells fantastic,” Crispin announced as he and Beck came around the corner. “I’m starved.”

“Me, too. I was too excited to eat this morning.” Beck eyed the edible line-up. “You got me nuggies, Daddy Stanley.”

“I did and fries, too, with lots of dippy sauces. Would you like to go first?”

“Yes, please and thank you.” Beck moved to the front, grabbed a plate and loaded up.

“Such a polite boy, I hope Santa treats you well.” Daddy glanced over at Crispin and winked.

“I’m sure he will,” Crispin chuckled. “May need a rental truck to get it all home, though.”

Beck just sang to himself and wiggled around the kitchen, not paying us any mind. He knew every silly holiday tune as it played through the surround sound.

“I didn’t know there were any fireplaces in Vegas.” Beck dipped his nugget into one of the many dipping sauces he had on his plate, including gravy.

Daddy, Crispin, and I joined him at the table. “There are a handful. Can’t use them too often and the new ones are required to be gas,” Daddy replied. “How are the dippy sauces?”

“Nummy!” He licked, I had no clue what, off his nugget then popped it in his mouth. Who knew food could be fun?

“Excellent. Crispin, Beck, Jobe and I are elated you could join us for the holidays.” Daddy picked up his glass of wine and Crispin and I did the same. “To great friends we are proud to call family!”

“Hear! Hear!” We clicked our glasses together, Beck’s juice box included, then dove into our meals.

When was the last time I had a traditional holiday meal at the actual time of the holiday? Hmm, how about never. At least not that I recalled.

“Dinner was fantastic. Thank you, Stanley and Jobe.” Crispin stood and gathered the empty plates.

I flipped my hair back and feigned exhaustion. “I worked my fingers to the bone over that hot stove all day, Crispin.”

“Ha-ha, very funny,” Daddy laughed. “I love my boy to death, but cooking is not a gift he possesses.”

“He once burned macaroni and cheese from a box,” Beck tattled.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Tattle tale. I’m calling Santa.”

“Liar, liar, pants on fire,” Beck sing-sung while dipping away.

“There are pumpkin and apple pies with vanilla ice cream for dessert later,” Daddy shared as we collectively cleaned the kitchen.

The Judy Garland version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” came on, my favorite rendition of the song.

“May I have this dance, my love?” Daddy held his hand out to me.

“I’d love nothing more than to dance the night away with you, Sir.”

Daddy spun me around and right into his arms while our feet fell into timely movements as we swayed to and fro. Beside us Crispin and Beck danced. Daddy and I were near the same height, give or take an inch or two. But Crispin towered over Beck not only in height but stature. My guess was he never missed gym day but what a sweet papa bear he made.

“Oh, I have a present we each need to open tonight.” I grabbed theirs from under the tree and handed them out. Mine was already in the bedroom.

“Ha-ha, matching pajamas,” Daddy laughed.

“Yes, for us to wear tomorrow morning.”

“Yay! I love them. Thank you, Jobe.” Beck hugged me as he held the red and green plaid PJs up to himself. I happened to find one for him in his favorite one-piece footed style.

“How about pie and cocoa?” Daddy announced. And that was how we ended the night. Full stomachs, cocoa and toasty warm in front of the fireplace.

No Christmas Eve would ever outdo this one.