A
LEX
woke first, went down to the kitchen, put coffee on, and pulled out plates. He turned the oven on to let it warm up before putting in a very large, stuffed turkey. The smell of the brewing coffee woke Clay up, and he got out of bed. He stretched, brushed his teeth, combed his hair, and went downstairs wearing a T-shirt and pajama bottoms.
“Good morning!” Clay said, as he entered the kitchen.
“Good morning to you. You could have stayed in bed for at least another hour, ya know? I’m up because I have to get the turkey on and make sure I haven’t forgotten anything. Need to set the table and all that. Want some coffee?”
“Sure do. Look, I really don’t mind helping you with this dinner today. I wish you’d let me. Otherwise, I’m gonna be sitting around doing nothing until you can take a break.”
“If you’re sure, you can help, but really, I never ask guests to do anything other than have a good time.”
“That’s settled, then. Hmm, coffee smells great. I wanted to tell you before the day gets rolling what a great time I had last night. It was the first Christmas Eve I’ve ever spent alone with a man who was my friend. The whole night was terrific.”
“I’m happy to hear that. I hope today is also good for you. My friends are a bit crazy, but you’ll like them.”
As Clay and Alex sat down at the breakfast bar, Clay said, “So, tell me something about the guys who are coming today.”
“Sure. First of all, they’re all cops, which by definition makes them a little crazy. I had a crush on one of them a few years ago, and we had a torrid affair for about six months. In the end, it didn’t work because we were both trying to be the alpha male in the relationship. The other guys are straight, former co-workers, single, two divorced. Being a cop is hard on a marriage, and many end in court.”
“Do the other guys know you’re gay?”
“Yeah, I came out to them about five years ago. At first, they gave me a lot of shit about it, but then they remembered that we’d been friends for a long time, and I was the same guy I’d always been, just gay. They’ve even met a few of my boyfriends along the way. The boyfriends were usually around only long enough to meet them once or twice. I care about those friends, not just Adam, my ex.”
“So, I can be myself then?”
“Of course! I wouldn’t ask you to pretend to be something you’re not, regardless of who was coming,” Alex answered seriously.
“I’ve had a lifetime of practice at pretending, so I’m not used to just being who I am.”
“Why is that? Why did you pretend to be something you’re not? I can’t imagine living like that.”
“Well, I told you a little about it. My parents would have been crushed if they knew, though they wouldn’t have loved me less. They just really wanted grandchildren from me, and my mother was counting on that until the day she died. Also, friends of my parents fell into two categories: stuck-up assholes that would’ve freaked out if they knew, and people who were in church five times a week. They all would have been trying to save my soul and all that. I wasn’t prepared to deal with either group.
“At work, it wasn’t really an issue. I didn’t need to tell my co-workers at the library simply because it wasn’t pertinent to anything. While others talked about their boyfriends and girlfriends and wives and husbands, I just kept quiet. What was I gonna do? Tell them about my escapades in New York City bookstores?”
“Still, it must have been tough to live that way. Like you said, while others were talking about their other halves, you remained silent. Since there was no one, you couldn’t even have a picture on your desk of someone that you loved or loved you. We’ve made a lot of progress in the gay community, but there are still many men and women like you who are searching for a way out of the closet,” Alex said.
“And you, who should have been in the closet totally, lived your life fairly freely as a gay man—even to the point that other cops knew about you. It seems to me our lives should have been switched.”
“Clay, there’s no reason whatsoever for you to remain hidden in the closet. You’ll soon be fifty, and I’ll be right behind you, and it’s now or never, buddy. Don’t you long for a boyfriend or husband?”
“Of course I do! But opportunity and timing never allowed for it. You’re right in saying there isn’t a reason now that I couldn’t pursue a man. I’m getting to that point in life where I’m about ready to take that step, if I can just find someone who likes what he sees in me.”
“Who knows, maybe you’ve already met that man and just haven’t realized it,” Alex said as he got up and put the turkey in the pre-heated oven. “You can set the table if you like so we don’t have to do it later. Use the china in the china closet and set places for six people.”
As the day wore on, Alex and Clay continued to talk about living life as a gay person and dissecting both the benefits and pitfalls. Both men agreed that neither had chosen to be gay but felt they were born gay. The hours passed, and it was almost noon. The turkey had been checked and basted, and it was time to get ready for company.
“Why don’t we take our showers and get dressed for dinner?” Alex suggested. “I expect the guys in about ninety minutes, and everything is on schedule food-wise.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll head up now,” Clay said.
Before going up to his bathroom to shower, Alex looked out the front window and saw that it was once again snowing lightly. It made for a beautiful sight, and he bent down and turned on the Christmas tree before he ran up to his bedroom. He stripped off his clothes and hopped into the shower, shaving while he was in there.
Once dried off, he dressed, checked himself in the mirror, and liked what he saw. As he left his bedroom, Clay came out of the guest room, and both men looked each other up and down, pleased at how nice the other looked.
“Damn, Clay, you look good enough to eat!”
“Yeah? Well, you look like you just stepped outta some magazine like
GQ
or something.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Alex said and smiled as he went down the steps with Clay right behind him.
Clay found himself studying the way Alex’s ass shifted from side to side with each step and smiled. He wondered if he had the courage to find out what making love with Alex was like.
“It’s snowing!” Clay shouted out as he noticed the snow for the first time.
“Yeah, how ’bout that? It sure makes the Christmas spirit come alive, don’t it?”
“Everything has a covering of white now. It’s so beautiful! Will this cause any trouble for your friends?”
“Nah, my boys are used to driving in two feet of snow, let alone, what? A half inch?” Alex responded.
“That’s what it looks like. Anything else I can do for now?”
“Yep. Check to make sure the bar setup has everything we need: glasses and the other stuff. I’m going to baste the turkey and start cooking the potatoes. They should be here in about an hour now. By the way, it’s after noon. If you wanna glass of wine or a drink, make yourself at home.”
“Okay, thanks. Can I fix you anything?”
“Yeah, pour me a glass of that chilled white wine please. The Riesling, not the Chardonnay.”
After looking over the bar setup and finding that nothing was missing, Clay poured two glasses of wine and brought them into the kitchen.
“Here ya go. I’ll just sit here for now and watch you cook,” Clay said as he ogled Alex’s ass some more.
Once the potatoes were in, Alex joined Clay at the breakfast bar.
“Here’s to a great Christmas and to new friends,” Alex said in a toast.
They touched glasses, took a sip, and set them down.
“What are you staring at?” Clay asked.
“You. You look really nice today, and I’m excited that you’re gonna get to meet my friends from DC. This is one dinner I’m really looking forward to!”
“Yeah, I imagine it would be nice to have old friends in for dinner… friends you have a history with and not just someone new like me. You’re a lucky man.”
“Hey, you’re just as important to me as my old friends. A friend is a friend. You need to stop putting yourself down and realize you have a lot to offer. You being single just doesn’t make sense.”
“You’re single, aren’t you?
“Yeah, I am, but I’ve had many affairs in the past. I just haven’t started playing the field again, but I will.”
The doorbell rang, and Alex jumped up. “They’re early!” he said as he ran to the front door.
Clay waited for a minute so it didn’t look like the missus came out to greet them at the same time as the man of the house.
Alex saw his friends through the window and yanked open the door as soon as he got to it.
“Hey, you old bastards! Come on in. Am I glad to see you boys!” Alex yelled.
His welcome was met by a chorus of “Merry Christmas!”
They all hugged, and Clay made his entrance when he thought it was appropriate. “Hello all. Merry Christmas,” he said.
“Boys, let me introduce you to a new friend I’ve made down here. He owns the local bookstore, and since it’s the only one in town, it pays to know him! Okay, first, this is Adam, the one I told you about, and this is Mike, Brian, and Don. Guys, this is Clayton. Be nice to him or I’ll bite!” Alex warned with a laugh.
“Nice to meet you all, and especially on Christmas. Alex has told me a lot about you,” Clay said.
“Yeah? Did he tell you he wanted to fuck me for years and never did fulfill that fantasy?” Don asked.
The other guys hooted and hollered, and Alex retorted, “In your wildest dreams, pumpkin!”
They all laughed again.
“Come on, guys, put your coats over there and help yourself to the bar. We’ll be eating in about an hour,” Alex said as he left for the kitchen. Since the guys were early, he decided to go ahead and move up the schedule.
“This is some house you got here, Alex. Very nice,” Adam said. “Maybe I should have stayed with you and let you be the boss!”
“Well, don’t you always take the bottom role anyway, Adam?” Brian asked.
“Only one way to find out, stud,” Adam replied, which was followed by more laughter.
Everyone made a drink and sat down in the living room.
“Did you guys have any problem with the roads at all?” Clay asked.
“What? This?” Mike asked pointing out the window. “We didn’t even hit snow until about an hour out from Rehoboth. This is nothing.”
Alex walked into the room with a drink and sat down on the sofa next to Clay.
“So tell us how you like retirement,” one of the guys said.
“Loving it, so far. I’ll admit, some days I get a little bored, but overall, I go to bed when I want to, get up when I want to, and have all the time in the world to read. With Clay and his bookstore, I have a never-ending supply of books and porn mags. What else could I want?”
They all laughed again as good smells from the kitchen began to waft out into the living room.
“Damn that smells good,” Mike said. “It’s making me hungry as hell!”
“We’ll eat in about an hour. You guys are early, remember?” Alex replied.
“Yes we are, and that’s because I saw the weather forecast for this area, and I didn’t know what to expect with the predicted snow, so we left an hour earlier than we had originally planned. Didn’t wanna be late for the ole captain’s Christmas dinner!” Mike answered.
“So, Clay, is our friend here treating you right?” Adam asked.
“Treating me right?” Clay said with a puzzled look on his face.
“Adam wants to know if I’m fucking you, and if you’re happy with my stud service,” Alex cut in.
Once again, the room was alive with laughter, all of which seemed to be at Clay’s expense who sat silently blushing.
“Now see what you did, Adam? The poor man is turning red over there, ya crude son of a bitch!” Don said.
“Oh no, it’s alright. Alex and I are just friends, not lovers.”
“Whoa! You’re slipping, Captain. In the old days, you’d have seduced this man, had your dirty way with him, and moved on to the next conquest. Age must be slowing you down,” Adam stated.
“Actually, I think you’re just jealous that the captain isn’t still zooming you!” Clay said without missing a beat.
The room erupted into mayhem as four grown men laughed uncontrollably. Alex looked at Clay in total shock.
“Where did that come from?” Alex asked.
“Just making an observation, that’s all,” Clay said with a sly smile.
Finally when the laughter and shouting died off, Adam replied, “It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.”
“Finally, someone called you on your shit. That’s what got you,” Mike said to renewed laughing.
The subject was changed, and Alex and Clayton went out to the kitchen. Clay began to put food into serving bowls as Alex pulled the turkey out and placed it on a platter.
“Tell the boys to come to the table, please. You sit at one end, and I’ll take the other.”
Clay went into the living room and announced that dinner was ready.
As they entered the dining room, Clay directed people to seats as Alex brought out the turkey. Now that all the food was on the table, drinks were replenished, and everyone sat down.
“I’d like to make a toast,” said Alex. “To my friends and former co-workers: I miss you every day and hope that this won’t be your only visit to my house. Remember, this is a great beach resort, and I hope you’ll be back many times,” he said and raised his glass.
Everyone professed that they’d be back for sure and promised that Alex would get sick of seeing them. Adam spoke next.
“Would anyone mind if I said grace? It was a tradition in my family on Christmas, and I’d like to continue it.”
“Please,” Alex replied.
“Lord, bless us and this food that our dear friend, Alex, has prepared, and may you always keep us close to you day and night. Protect us from those who would do us harm, and may we always be thankful for the good things you have given to us in this life. Amen.”
Everyone added an amen, and Alex began to carve the turkey as bowls of food were passed around. Once the turkey and gravy landed on everyone’s plate, the feast began. Conversation took place throughout dinner with Clay noticing how Alex interacted with his friends and couldn’t miss the way they so openly loved him. What a stark contrast to the way Clay had always lived, hardly ever having someone who could be called a friend, let alone a lover. For a moment, Clay felt depressed but forced himself to snap out of it. The taste of the delicious food and good company helped.