Chapter Ten

 

After Halloween, Troy's life returned to normal as far as work was concerned, with the shop going back to being open its usual days and hours. The first couple of days, the temps helped to sort the piles of used costumes before they were sent out to the cleaners. With that done, everyone pitched in to get all the accessories back where they belonged and generally straighten things up. Then the temps were let go, each of them promising to keep in touch—which rarely happened, Troy knew from past experience.

"Three guesses what's next on the agenda," Troy said to Bel and Jake, Tuesday of the week before Thanksgiving.

"You're treating us to a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner?" Bel replied innocently.

"You wish. We get out the turkeys and pilgrims, unpack the Santas and elves, then start decorating the front window and the showroom for Christmas."

Jake whirled a finger in the air, muttering, "Oh, joy. Why can't the holidays be spread throughout the year?"

"They are," Bel pointed out. "It's just that—"

"Yeah, yeah," Jake interrupted. "I'll modify that. Why are four of them, where people want costumes, crammed together in only three months?"

"To keep you out of trouble," she replied with a grin.

"Me?" They continued bantering as they headed to the basement to bring up the seasonal costumes that were stored down there.

While they were doing that, Troy waited on a couple who were going on a cruise and needed costumes for a shipboard party. Then he collected two sets of male and female Victorian outfits that would go on the mannequins in the window, which were still dressed in Halloween costumes.

By the end of the day, two racks in the front of the showroom were filled with Santas—the two turkey costumes hanging at the end of one of them—and the mannquins had been stripped then redressed as two Victorian couples and Father Christmas.

It was almost closing time and Troy was outside, checking how the window looked, when he heard a horn honk. He turned to see who it was then smiled when Mike pulled into a vacant space in front of the shop then came over to join him.

"What are you doing here?" Troy asked.

"I was in the neighborhood and thought we could grab something to eat." Mike gestured at the window. "Christmas, already?"

"I know. It's not even Thanksgiving, yet. In this business, though, we have to remind people they need to get in early if they want a Santa for a party or whatever. We only have so many."

"Do you have a Black Friday sale, too?" Mike asked as they went inside.

"God, no. Actually, we close from Thanksgiving until the following Tuesday. It gives us a mini-vacation after the hellish long hours of Halloween."

"Great, because—" Mike paused when Bel and Jake came into the front office, obviously ready to leave for the day. "I'll tell you at dinner."

That had Troy wondering, but he refrained from asking.

Bel was a bit less circumspect. "No secrets allowed," she said, grinning at Mike. "We're all family here."

"That must make me the stepbrother," Mike teased, "since I'm new to the family."

"That works. So…?" She looked at him, one eyebrow arched.

"Bel, stop being so nosy," Jake said, putting his hands on her shoulders to steer her toward the front door. "Good to see you again, Mike. Don't let Miss Busybody keep you from stopping by more often."

Mike laughed. "I won't."

As soon as they were gone, Troy told Mike that he had to do the books for the day. "Not that it'll take long. We had a grand total of three rentals."

"Then I'll explore. I didn't really get a chance the last time I was here."

Mike did, until Troy was finished. As they left the shop, Mike pointed to a restaurant at the end of the block. "Is that one all right with you?"

"You bet. I grab lunch there sometimes. The food is good and the place is casual."

It also wasn't too busy—unsurprising since it was a Tuesday. They found a table and had ordered beer and their meals before Mike broached the reason why he'd come to the shop in the first place.

"How do you feel about family gatherings?" he asked.

"It's been a while since I've actually been to one," Troy admitted. "There's only me, my sister and my folks. We live our own lives and keep in contact by email and the occasional phone call, but that's about it. Why?"

"Mine are the same way, but…" Mike paused as the waitress arrived with their drinks. He took a sip of his beer then said. "Mom's decided she wants all of us home for Thanksgiving this year, to celebrate the birth of her first grandchild."

"That would be, umm, your sister, your brother and his family, and—am I missing anyone?"

"You've got a good memory. Nope." Taking a deep breath, Mike said, "Since you'll have the whole Thanksgiving weekend off, would you like to come with me? When I came up with the idea, I figured, if you were willing, we could fly out for the day then you'd come back—but now…" He looked hopefully at Troy.

"You've got the weekend off, too?"

"Yep. I have some time coming, so that's no real problem, since we're into our slower season."

"How will they feel about you bringing me home with you?" Troy asked.

"They know I'm gay," Mike replied. "That's never been a secret and they accept it."

"Do they know about me, specifically?"

Mike grinned. "If I said they know all the details except whether you wear boxers or briefs, would you be pissed?"

Troy laughed. "Nope, because it means I'm important enough to you that you've told them. I have no problem with that idea."

"Do your folks know about me?" Mike asked.

"They know you exist. I haven't gone into specifics the way you have. Mom's response when I told her was, "As long as he's not like that creep Elliot."

"She met him?"

"Just once, when she and Dad came out to visit, a couple of years after Elliot and I started living together. She was not impressed, and even less so, later, when I ranted to her about his playing around. She threatened to send Dad out to have a few words with him."

"Oh, boy."

"Yeah. I put an end to that idea real quick."

"I bet. So, would you like to come with me to meet my family?"

After a moment's thought, Troy nodded. "I'd love to."

 

*****

 

Troy and Mike flew out very early Thanksgiving morning, arriving an hour later at the airport near the small town where Mike's folks lived. They rented a car to drive the last twenty miles to what Mike called the old homestead.

Troy wasn't certain it was a homestead, but it definitely was a big house, set on what Mike had told him was an acre of land. Being winter, the trees surrounding it were barren, giving Troy a good view of the dark cream siding and the weathered gray porch railings. Three cars were parked in the wide driveway. Mike came to a stop behind the last one, they got out, grabbed their bags, then Mike led the way to the front porch.

As soon as they stepped onto it, the front door flew open. A gray-haired woman took one look at Mike before wrapping him in a tight embrace. "You made it. How was the flight? Did you have any problems on the roads? This danged snow…" She swept her arm around to encompass the snow-covered yard. "You must be Troy," she said seconds later, hugging him. "I'm Grace. Come on in. You'll freeze your butts off out here."

As soon as they were inside, she told them to take off their jackets and hang them in the entryway closet. When they had, she ushered them into a large living room. The four people who had been sitting on the sofa and chairs immediately got to their feet. The older man introduced himself to Troy as Frank, Mike's father.

"I'm John," the younger man said. "This is my wife Alice, and Robbie." His gaze went proudly to the baby in Alice's arms."

"I'm Laurie, Mike's sister," Laurie said, coming over to hug Troy. When he looked surprised, she laughed. "The Parish females are big on hugging, so get used to it."

"Frank, please show Mike and Troy to their room," Grace said. "I'm sure they'll want to wash up and change clothes before we eat."

"Yes, dear," Frank replied with an indulgent smile. "She orders and we obey," he added at he took them up to the second floor. "I don't know why she just didn't tell you that you'd be in your old room, Mike."

Mike grinned. "She wanted you out of her hair?"

The room was large enough to hold a queen-sized bed, and a dark maple dresser, with a small closet beside it. The walls were brick, painted white. The door and window frames were also dark maple.

"The bathroom's down the hall," Frank said to Troy, pointing to it. "I'll leave you be, now. Despite what Mike said, I'm sure Grace has plenty for me to do to get ready for dinner." He winked, then left.

"I'll admit that I'm surprised," Troy said, putting his bag on the dresser.

"About?" Mike asked.

"The fact that we're sharing a bedroom."

Mike snorted. "Not that there was much choice. There's only four. Besides, as I've already told you, they have no problem with me being gay, so it was sort of a given that we would."

They unpacked, changed into slacks and button-down shirts since it was going to be a holiday meal, then went back downstairs.

"Come and meet your nephew, Mike," Alice said, patting the sofa.

When he sat, she handed Robbie to him. Troy bit back a laugh at the nonplussed expression on Mike's face as he tried to figure out how to hold Robbie. After Alice showed him, Mike looked down at the baby, obviously smitten. "He's got enough hair," he said, gently stroking it.

"If he takes after me and Dad, he'll start losing it by the time he's thirty," John replied, brushing a hand over his receding hairline. "How you escaped our fate…" He gave Mike a dour look.

"Mom's genes," Mike told him. "Grandpa Wills still has a full head of hair and he's…what? Eighty-eight?"

"Eighty-nine and counting," Laurie replied. Turning to Troy, she said, "You seem to have lucked out in the hair category, too. Mike says you're forty, right?"

"Getting there. I turned thirty-nine the beginning of September."

"You didn't tell me that," Mike said, looking a bit put out.

"We barely knew each other. Besides which, I do my best not to celebrate my birthday these days."

"Next year, you will," Mike replied firmly. "I'm throwing you a big fortieth birthday party with all the trimmings."

Troy smiled in reply as his heart beat a bit faster at the idea Mike was already planning that far ahead.

After that, the conversation settled into Troy answering questions about what it was like to own a costume shop. Then he learned more about Mike's family, like the fact John and Alice had met at Comic-Con, which of course led to a discussion about the costumes people had worn. At that point, Grace came in to announce that dinner was ready.

When it was over, Mike gave Troy a tour of the property. It held an old barn that now served as Frank's workshop for his woodworking and a sizable garden—at the moment barren because it was winter. Then Mike took him into town. It was small—a main street with the usual businesses, several churches, and the requisite grade and high schools.

They returned in time to eat a supper consisting of leftovers from the huge Thanksgiving dinner. Afterward, the family settled down to watch a football game—"because what's Thanksgiving without football?" Frank said.

Eventually, everyone headed upstairs to bed.

"I don't think I've had this much fun in forever," Troy said as he and Mike undressed. "I love your family."

"They love you, too," Mike replied, hugging him. "And you have two more days to get to know them better—and vice versa."

Troy grinned. "At which point, they'll start to wonder what the hell you see in me."

"Not even. They'll find out you're as fantastic as I think you are. So there."

"You're not so bad, yourself," Troy replied softly. "There's only one problem right now." He gestured toward the bed. "All we can do is sleep."

Mike cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"If we do anything else, they're going to know."

"This is an old house with thick walls. Believe me, my parents were hardly celibate just because there were three kids in the other rooms. We had no idea they were going at it, even when we were old enough to know they had to be."

Troy smiled ruefully. "Same with me, growing up, though it was just me and my sister. Still…"

Instead of replying, Mike kissed him while tumbling him onto the bed. The only interruption after that was when he had to get condoms and lube from his bag. When they finished, they were both quite happily sated as they fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.

 

*****

 

The weekend ended Sunday morning as Mike's siblings left—at the crack of dawn it seemed—to return home. There were many hugs, and "keep in touch" comments from everyone before they drove away. Since their flight didn't leave until two fifteen, Mike and Troy were able to have an early lunch—or late breakfast—with Mike's parents.

As they ate, Grace did most of the talking while her husband seemed intent on studying Troy, which made him very uncomfortable.

Finally, Frank said, "It's obvious the two of you care a great deal for each other. So, I'm going to go all parental on you, Troy. If you do anything to hurt him, you'll have me to answer to. Understood?"

"Yes, sir. Believe me, I don't intend to. We've only known each other for about three months, but I'm already at least half in love with him. The last thing I'd do is hurt him in any way."

"The same holds true for me," Mike said, taking Troy's hand. "Before you tell us it's too soon to know, we are adults. We've both been through breakups, so we know how that goes. This time, I, for one, know I've found the right man and I intend to hang on to him until…well, as long as we're both alive, if I have my way."

Frank nodded. "You feel the same way, Troy?"

Troy squeezed Mike's hand, looking directly at Mr Parish as he replied, "I do."

"Good. Now that that's settled, are the two of you planning on living together?"

"Dad," Mike blustered, glancing at Troy.

"We haven't talked about it," Troy replied. "But…maybe? We'd have to decide which house and all that, but, yeah, I suspect we will, in time."

"By Christmas? That way we can come out to visit, to celebrate the holiday," Grace said, finally joining the conversation. She looked seriously at them. "That gives you a month to choose which house and get everything consolidated."

"Actually, that part's a no-brainer, as far as I'm concerned," Mike said. "I've only been in mine for a few months. Troy's owned his for much longer and it's bigger." He grinned at Troy. "And, we won't have to do any more painting."

That, of course, led to him having to explain to his parents why he'd said that, then laughter when Troy said, "Don't count on it. I was thinking of redoing the bedrooms."

They finished eating on that note, then Mike and Troy went upstairs to pack.

"They sort of forced us into a corner with the talk of our living together," Mike said. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. Personally, I think it's a good idea."

"You're certain?"

Troy nodded. "Very certain, if you're all right with it."

"You have to ask?" Mike replied, kissing him.

Troy smiled when they broke apart. "I guess not."

 

*****

 

Three weeks later, just in time for Christmas, Mike had moved into Troy's house, or, as Troy insisted on calling it, "Our house, emphasis on our."

After a brief debate, they decided to throw a small Christmas party for their friends and Mike's parents. Troy's parents were invited, too, but declined because they were going on a grand tour of Europe, his father's Christmas gift to his mother.

"Someday, you'll actually get to meet them," Troy said, after learning that.

"Hmm. Easter's coming up then the Fourth, if we want it to happen on a holiday. Otherwise, as long as we know in advance, it could be anytime as far as I'm concerned. For now, though, we have to go shopping. I was thinking, ham and turkey, yams, and of course, a tree."

"Of course," Troy replied. "Between us, we have enough decorations for two trees, but I don't know where we'd put the second one."

"Which is why we're only getting one," Mike said, shaking his head.

They did shop, buying enough food to feed a starving nation, according to Troy. They also found the largest tree they could that would fit into the living room and still leave room for the furniture—and the invited guests.

The party was a great success. Mike's parents said they loved the house. "Especially all the colors," Grace told them, before suggesting to Frank that they do some repainting when they got home.

That earned her an eye roll and an, "If you really want to, but we're hiring someone to do it," from her husband.

With the holiday season over, Mike and Troy's life settled down.

"Finally, we have time for ourselves," Mike said over dinner, a week after New Year's.

"With no commuting," Troy agreed. He took Mike's hands. "Are you happy?"

"You have no idea. Who knew, when we first met and I was so afraid of Aurel I barely talked to you, that we'd end up like this."

"Neither one of us, I'm sure. But we did, and I wouldn't change a thing."

"Neither would I." Mike freed his hands, but only so he could get up to come around the table and kiss Troy. "Life is good, and once we've finished dinner and walked Aurel, it's going to get even better." He winked, nodding toward the stairs.

"One track mind," Troy muttered. "Not that I'm complaining. So…"

Life did get better—not just that evening but, they both agreed, from then on.

 

The End