Christmas Party
A tipsy Beau was a beautiful guy. No matter the number of people at our party, or even the late hour, his attention was only on me. Right there in my face, I noticed the worry lines and semi-permanent frowns we had been living with for well over a month were now gone. Maybe due to us never leaving our spot, in the corner, with the window of the view of the lake against our side. Beau loved everything about the lake. He’d been fishing there several times over the last few months.
His mom had been working herself into the ground to put on the perfect holiday party. The entire home twinkled under thethousands—I might be exaggerating a little—of small lights in every piece of garland hung just about everywhere.
Helping with the decorating had become a way for me to put aside my stresses and help his mom work on the house. I’d always loved the season and taken it upon myself to decorate, if only just for me and Amelia.
“Did you try a tamale?” I asked Beau.
“I’ve tried everything at least twice. I’m just biding my time for a third round,” he said, sliding one of his hands underneath my shirt to skim to the back. The skin-on-skin contact was everything for me, him too.
“Incoming,” Amelia said behind my back. Beau started to look away to see what was coming, and I quickly cupped the back of his head, keeping him in my face.
“I want you to promise that you’ll be open-minded.”
Beau nodded, but I saw confusion in his gaze. My guy was nothing if not open-minded.
I nodded, then he nodded and turned to a fast-approaching Carter, walking side-by-side with Beau’s mom.
“You made it,” I started. Instead of shaking his hand, I leaned back against Beau, holding his arms that automatically circled around him.
“I did. We had some problems with the plane. I was afraid I wouldn’t get here in time,” Carter said, wrapping an arm around Linda to draw her closer to him. I felt the second Beau realized Carter was touching his mother in such an intimate way. His body tensed like steel and heat ran through him and into me.
“Beau, honey. Can we talk to you?” his mom asked. “Privately.” No matter how tightly I held on to him, he broke free. I suspected he sensed what was coming next.
“What’s going on?” Beau said, his tone harsh and strong. So much for my tipsy theory. “Just tell me.”
“Your mom and I have been dating, and we’ve fallen in love,” Carter explained. He also spoke confidently, but I saw the moment he swallowed his fear and stopped speaking. My guy must look like the thing from the black lagoon to have Carter halting his words.
“Beau, get that look off your face,” Linda said, confirming my theory. “I waited to tell you until I knew more about where we were headed, but we’ve decided to be a couple. We also decided to tell you together.”
“Well, I think that’s great news,” I said, maybe laying it on too thick, but I went with it, reaching out to hug Linda then shake Carter’s hand. “He’s always been protective of his mom. Watching out for her.”
“I’ve heard,” Carter said, extending a hand to Beau. Beau looked at him and then over to me.
“You knew about this already, I can tell,” he said, shifting that hard stare to me.
“Who me?” I asked in feigned confusion.
He didn’t buy it. “Yeah you. Don’t do it again.” he said. That mean stare shifted back to Carter. “Don’t fuck with my mother. Her life hasn’t been easy,” Beau said.
“It’s the last thing I want to do,” Carter said, lowering his hand. It was incredible to watch how humble he stayed to make this news easier on Beau. My father would have never acted that way. Finally, Beau extended his hand to shake Carter’s, who lifted his hand again.
“We waited to tell you until we knew what was happening between us,” his mom said again. “Let go of his hand, Beau.”
When Beau immediately released his grip, I realized I’d gained a secret weapon. In order to get him to comply, involve his mother. He shaped right up.
“Carter’s going to stay with us through Christmas. Then we’ll traveling for New Years. I’ll be back to help put everything away,” Linda said.
“Is it too soon to be calling you my sons?” Carter asked teasingly. Everyone but Beau thought it was funny.
“Come on, Beau,” I said to my guy. “I’ll get you a new drink to help swallow all this down.”
I ignored his bluster, drawing him to the bar with me. We still had days to go with Carter under the roof, but I called this a win for tonight.
Part 2
14: The Fit
