“It’s gorgeous,” Law said. The one thing that all his friends knew about him was his love of baking. Law wasn’t much of a cook on a normal day. But baking was something that Law did for fun. In fact, he’d already started to load his employees down with freshly made cakes, cookies, and desserts for the holidays. It was how Law filled the long, lonely nights. Worked out the stress from owning a protective security company. Thought out his plans and ideas.
“I knew you would love this.” Jude ran one hand across the island in the middle of the room.
Law had to force himself not to smack his friend for getting his fingerprints across the clean surface. Instead, Law focused on the little details around the kitchen. The kitchen was any chef or baker’s dream. Already Law could feel the itch under his skin to pull out some flour and lose himself preparing something for the boys.
“Tree first,” Jude said. “And color lights. Then you can see what ingredients Nicky has in stock.”
He had promised to help decorate, even though it about killed him to leave the gorgeous kitchen. Law nodded as Jude headed for a door across the room. Jude unlocked the door then pulled it open. Law stepped behind Jude into the three-car garage. There he found the vehicle that he’d had towed with a repaired tire to Liam’s house.
Warmth filled him, seeing that Nicky had been able to drive his car home safely.
“Only one car?” he asked Jude.
Jude shrugged. “Nicky’s not really a big car guy. He once told me that he could only drive one at a time so why own more than one? Then he asked me what if the other cars got jealous if he didn’t drive them.”
Chuckling, Law had to smile. What a sweet and little outlook on things.
“I know, it’s adorable,” Jude said. He pointed to shelving along the wall of garage. “That is not adorable.”
“Fuck!” Law spat as he took in the size of the green plastic container withChristmas Treeprinted in black Sharpie. That was a big fucking tree. This was going to suck.
* * * * *
Nicky
“I can’t believe we did it.” He hugged Liam tight.
“You love Christmas,” Liam said as he rocked Nicky back and forth. “You were sad and I want my bestie to always be happy.”
Drawing back, Nicky beamed at Liam. The entire downstairs of his house was decorated. It had taken all damn day but that just left Nicky to put some personal touches upstairs later. He looked over to the three new Santas that had been added to his village. The village now took over the mantle and three tables in the main living room.
“You didn’t have to do all this.” Not that Nicky really minded the fact that Liam had bought even more decorations. So many decorations. And more Santas. He loved the Santas so much.
“You love getting new stuff every year,” Liam pointed out. “I know you didn’t have time to shop.”
He nodded. Nicky always bought new holiday décor so that he was able to change the theme every year. Except for his very special village that had a big meaning for him.
The donations that he made of his barely used decorations were also appreciated by the families that received them. Nicky had been worried that he would let people down this year if he had to reuse some of last year’s and that hurt Nicky’s heart. Now he didn’t have to worry about that. Jude and Law had alreadyput five boxes in the garage for Nicky to have picked up that week. It would be late but surely some family would appreciate the decorations.
“You said you wanted to do the North Pole this year, so that’s what I picked. I got everything you needed,” Liam said proudly.
Nicky tackled his bestie. He just couldn’t help it! Time had been running out and Nicky was so happy. And his North Pole theme was awesome! The best ever!
They bounced off the couch cushion and onto the carpet, making them both laugh.
“I take it that I did good?” Liam asked.
“You did the bestest a bestie could ever do!” Nicky was enthusiastic in his reply.
“And Daddy and Uncle Law did all the heavy lifting and tall stuff,” Liam said.
That was probably what Nicky was most thankful for. There was no way he could have done all this on his own.
“I can’t believe that you actually hired a company to do the outside,” Liam commented.
It had been a hard decision. Nicky always did the lights and inflatables outside because his neighbors weren’t as fun as him. When people drove by his house, they just expected it to be a winter wonderland of color! The kids especially loved it.
“I was thinking of skipping the outside this year,” Nicky confessed quietly. It normally took him weeks to do on his own. It wasn’t something that Nicky wanted to get in the habit of doing, but just this once he’d hired a company. Of course he’dhad to pay about three times the normal fee since it was such late notice and he wanted it done that day.
