“Amelia, dear, I told you no fairy wings today,” an older woman said as she descended the grand staircase. She was dressed in a classy red dress with a shawl around her shoulders.
“But, Gama, fairies can’t just take their wings off willy-nilly.”
“She’s right, Mom,” Gabriel said and kissed the woman’s cheek.
“Alright, but when we sit down for dinner, you take them off, hear? You can put them back on after,” she said to the girl. “Agreed?”
“Yes, Gama,” she huffed and pushed out her bottom lip.
“Mom, this is Jake,” Gabriel said, urging me forward.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you.” She pulled me into a gentle hug. I got a big dose of perfume, the scent digging up a fuzzy memory of my Aunt Gracie. I held onto her a second longer than I’d intended.
“T-Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Northcotte.”
“Please, call me Martha,” she said and patted Gabriel’s cheek. “You look great. You’ve been eating, I see.”
He rolled his eyes. “Why are mothers obsessed with fattening up their sons?”
“Perhaps you can tell me why gay men are so obsessed with perfect bodies,” she bit back, her green eyes twinkling.
“One of the great mysteries of the world. Where is Dad?”
“Oh, he is in the garage digging out the extra chairs for the dining table.” She turned to me. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a full house. Can I get you some eggnog, dear?”
“Okay… Yes, thank you,” I mumbled.
When we were alone, Gabriel smiled at me and guided me into the lavish living room where I took a seat on the couch. “I’m going to get Pixel set up, okay?”
I watched as he retrieved the cat in his traveler and climbed the staircase. Alone, I looked around the spectacular room. Every window was framed with lacy curtains and a stone fireplace crackled softly, the mantle lined with photographs in beautiful frames. The presents around the tree spilled out onto the floor, the crown topped with a gilded star. It reminded me of Christmas with my aunt. Our tree had been small and skinny and the presents under its branches were exactly two. One to me from her and one to her from me. She’d always made sure I’d known I was loved.
My curiosity got the best of me, and I approached the collection of photographs. I spotted Gabriel, his youthful face creased with a big smile as he held up a degree. There was another snapshot of him hugging a man in a buzz cut and fatigues who I assumed was his older brother. A family photo took space in the center. They all looked so happy that it was strange to me.
“Slowly, dear,” Martha said as she guided Amelia who was holding a cup of eggnog back into the living room.
I accepted the glass from the girl. “Thank you.”
She smiled shyly at me. As I sat back down, she asked, “Do you like fairies?”
“Very much,” I said and bit my lip. “Mrs.—Martha, would it be okay if I gave her my present now?”
“Oh, please, Gama?”
“That would be fine,” she said. “We usually open a gift on Christmas Eve, but we wanted to wait for you this year.”
“It’s that one,” I said to Amelia, pointing at the thin package wrapped in pink paper with glittery fairies printed on it.
She retrieved it and I helped her tear through the stubborn ribbon. She made a sound of astonishment and gaped at the homemade coloring book. I’d used a sturdy stock card instead of printer paper and inked in extra details on the fairies. I’d drawn all kinds of flowers, jewels, and fancy clothing. Gabriel had purchased a box of sixty-four crayons to go with it.
“Gama, look!”
“Oh my goodness, did you draw all these, Jake?”
I shrugged, wishing Gabriel were here to answer questions for me.
“Wow…” Amelia said as she flipped through the pages. “Gama, Gama, I like this one!”
“It seems Jake is a bit of an artist. Did you thank him for the gift?”
