Home Is Where the Christmas Trees Are (3 page)

The door opened before he reached it and Ed stood there, a warming sight in his jeans and sweater, his dark hair tumbled over his forehead, his glasses catching the colors of the lights on the railing. “Hello there. Come on in.”

Dex shook the rain off his hoodie as best he could and wiped his feet on the welcome mat, then walked in to Ed’s home. A fire burned in the hearth, over which hung colorful Christmas stockings. The tree in the corner glinted red, blue, green, and white, with ornaments twisting softly from the branches and a small heap of presents underneath. “What? No Christmas music?” Dex joked, noting the soft jazz playing in the background.

“Oh, I have lots of that if you want to hear some.” Ed held out his hand. “Let me take your coat.” He draped it over a chair and said, “How about a cup of tea? Then we can think about getting the tree to your place. Is mint tea okay?”

“Sure.” Dex gazed around as he waited on Ed’s comfortable couch, noting the guitar and saxophone against one wall and the bookcases that ran floor to ceiling. Green plants, too, and some interesting paintings. It was like a mini-Mrs. Alcott’s. He never wanted to leave.

“I’m glad I called.” Ed set the cups of tea on the coffee table, then joined him on the couch.

“Uh, me too. But why exactly?”

“I get to trim another tree! I love decorating for the holidays.” Ed’s brown eyes sparkled behind his glasses.

“That’s good,” Dex said laughingly. “Because I’m not much of a holiday person. My mom and sister were the ones for that.”

“And where is your mom these days?”

“She died about five years ago.” Dex paused and sipped the tea, allowing himself to be warmed by its minty comfort. Sometimes it was hard to believe he was the only one left from his family of four.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I… I know that Rowan’s mom passed last year. She…. Jan was your sister?”

“Yes. There’s just me now. Well, me and Rowan. Dad died a year after Mom.”

Ed regarded him over his teacup as he took a sip, his eyes somber. “That must be hard.”

Dex caught himself about to shrug and stopped. “Yes. It is.” Ed’s kind eyes impelled him to continue. “It’s…. I miss my sister and my folks. And I don’t know what I’m doing, raising a teenage girl. Sometimes I think it’d be better if she went to live with her father, but she doesn’t want that. But at least he has a wife and kids, and Rowan’s close to his mom. They all live in DC. I’d miss her, but she’d have a real family to belong to.”

“And what makes you think you’re not a real family? You and Rowan?”

“I’m Rowan’s gay uncle who doesn’t even know how to decorate for Christmas. Or any holiday. I cook, which is better than nothing, but… I mean, I look around here and you have a real home. Jan’s place is okay, but it’s not like it’s mine, you know?”

“But it’s Rowan’s home from before, right?”

“Yeah. But I have no idea if I’m giving her what she needs. And I don’t know how to make the place we’re living into… like,
our
home.”

“You could, though. If you have the desire. You certainly have the love… for Rowan. And she seems to be doing fine. I can tell if the kids I teach are neglected—and I don’t mean physically but emotionally. She’s a typical twelve-year-old and so she’s moody at times, but she’s loved and she knows it.”

Tears came unexpectedly to Dex’s eyes and he turned away. God, he was turning into a major mushball. “Well, anyway, how about we take the damn tree over and get it set up?”

“Sounds good. I’ve got the stand and a box of ornaments over here. Oh, and a bunch of Christmas CDs. You can’t trim a tree without Christmas music. I’ll follow you over in my car. Let’s go.”

“I
LOVE
it. What do you think?” Ed stood next to Dex, contemplating the tree in Dex’s condo, fully trimmed with Alcott family ornaments and lights. It listed a bit to one side, but it was a bona fide Christmas tree.

Dex detected a nice scent coming from Ed as he stood close to him. He had to restrain himself from leaning in and taking a big sniff. “It’s good.”

“Oh wait.” Ed reached into the box and pulled out a smaller cardboard container. “We need the star.” He removed a gold star-shaped object. It looked like two spray-painted flat stars affixed to a green tube. There were chunky shapes stuck to the star surfaces.

“Dude. Is that a toilet paper roll?”

“Um-hm. This is my star I made in preschool. How d’you like the macaroni decorations?”

“It’s… I can’t imagine why your mother doesn’t claim this for her tree.” Dex’s lips tugged into a smile, imagining Mrs. Alcott “
oo
ing” and “
ah
ing” over Eddie’s star.

“She has another one even more hideous that she loves even more.” Ed walked to the tree and reached up to place the star’s tube on the highest vertical branch. “There ya go.” He turned to Dex and made a flourish with his arm. “Ta da!”

“It’s… ah, it’s amazing.” Dex had almost said “adorable,” even though he’d never used that word out loud. But in all seriousness, the tree was adorable and so was Ed Alcott.

Ed Alcott, who was staring at Dex like he couldn’t tear his eyes off him. “You… you’re very attractive,” he said and blushed.

“Thank you.” Dex took Ed’s hand and tangled their fingers, then leaned forward and pressed his lips to Ed’s sweet mouth. He pulled away, enjoying the slightly dazed look on Ed’s handsome face. “Let’s turn out the lights except for the Christmas tree. I used to love that when I was a kid.”

The windows looked out onto darkness, and Dex remembered it was winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. But inside, with Ed and Christmas carols on the stereo and the glow of the lights, everything was warm. Dex felt cozier than he had in a long time. Maybe ever.

He and Ed sat on the couch and watched the lights. Dex wondered why he wasn’t moving faster—as in, jumping Ed’s bones. With his pick-ups and fuck buddies in Portland, it had been right to business after establishing who was doing whom. But with Ed, he felt like talking.

“Tell me about being a music teacher.”

Ed shifted and sighed. “Well, it keeps me busy.”

“Middle school, though. Isn’t that the hardest age to teach?”

“Actually, I like that age group. They’re still figuring out who they are. They’re so gawky.”

“And that’s a good thing?”

Ed nodded. “I like it. They’re not all slick and hostile like they sometimes get in high school. It’s fun to watch them grapple with stuff. Not just music.”

Dex stared at the tree. “I wouldn’t call Rowan gawky, but she’s not happy.”

“She has a good reason. You both do.”

Ed’s quiet words about did him in. He leapt to his feet, leaving a confused Ed looking up at him from the couch. Enough of cozy Christmas scenes. He needed to move. “Let’s go out and do something! You like jazz, right? Let’s go to the Jazz Nook.”

“I do like jazz. But I can’t. I have a thing at my mom’s tonight. Bunch of family. Maybe another time?” Ed rose.

“Oh.” The crushing disappointment Dex felt seemed way out of proportion to the facts. “Okay. Um, thanks again for helping me with the tree.”

“I told you, it’s one of my favorite things to do. You going anywhere for the holidays?”

Dex walked Ed to the door. “I’ll be around. I’m working the next few days, off on Christmas Eve and Christmas.”

They paused in front of the door. “How rude of me. I haven’t even asked you what you do for work.”

“That’s okay. I’m a physical therapist.”

“Oh? Mom just worked with one from Home Health. She loved him.”

Dex could feel his cheeks warm. It seemed stupid not to say something, but he was bound by health information laws. “Uh-huh. Good.”

“Sorry I need to go.” Ed stepped closer. “I really do hope to see you again.” To Dex’s surprise, Ed put his arms around his neck and kissed him.

Dex closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of Ed’s lips, tasting him, inhaling his scent of cinnamon and something earthy. “I’d like to see you too,” he said when Ed released him.

“I’ll be in touch. Enjoy your tree.” Ed’s brown eyes sparkled behind his glasses, making Dex think of Christmas elves.

Then the door shut and Dex was alone.

T
HE
NEXT
day, Dex woke up with a headache. He groaned his way out of bed and kicked a laundry basket that had the temerity to be in his way.
Foul mood, meet Dex.
Memories of yesterday and Ed’s kind face kept going through his mind. He’d blown it. There they’d been, on the couch, the perfect setting for hot sex, and what had he done? Jumped up like a madman and suggested going out. No wonder Ed had bailed. And then Dex had spent the evening not going out for some jazz, but staying in, getting drunk on IPAs and wolfing down half a pizza.
Idiot.

He stood under the shower for an extra long time, letting the pounding water wash away his negativity. As his rational mind took over, he realized getting involved with Rowan’s music teacher when she was so fragile was probably not great. And then he berated himself for not even thinking about Rowan’s feelings until now. But maybe that was why he’d jumped away from the sex train that had been roaring toward him and Ed yesterday.

Well, shit.
Having to be an adult sucked sometimes.

On the way to work, Dex’s phone buzzed, and he felt a surge of happiness when he saw it was from Ed. He dutifully did not try to read it while driving—hello, adult!—but as soon as he pulled in to the parking garage and found a spot, he snatched up his phone.

Why didn’t you tell me you were mom’s PT?

Busted. He texted back:
Against healthcare regulations. And how are you today?

Great. I have orders from mom tho. You’re coming for Xmas. Sorry.

Dex didn’t even have time to wipe the grin from his face when another text came through.

Unless you have other plans. Mom would say cancel them. Sorry.

Dex laughed. He could see Mrs. Alcott saying that.
Don’t be sorry. I love your mom. Tell her I’m happy to come.

Are you two going to gang up on me? Forget I asked that.

Maybe. I gotta go to work. When can I see you again?

Is tonight too soon?

Love it. I want to make you dinner. Call you later.

As Dex grabbed his work laptop, planning the dinner he was going to make for Ed, he suddenly remembered his earlier resolution about not getting involved with Rowan’s music teacher. Dang it! He needed to talk to Rowan. But maybe he’d consult Gaga first because she was a wise lady.

I
N
THE
late afternoon, Dex set the spaghetti sauce—his specialty, using fresh herbs and tomatoes—to simmer and went to retrieve his personal laptop from the living room. Ed would be over in an hour, and Dex stopped to take in the tree. Its colored lights shone against the dark branches, Ed’s dorky star at the top. He cheered up every time he saw it. Mrs. Alcott was right: having a tree brightened everything.

He needed the zap of courage it gave him for the conversation he was about to have with Rowan and Gwen. When he’d called Gwen to discuss the Ed situation, she hadn’t thought Rowan would have a problem with it and said they all needed to talk, because she and Rowan had something to discuss with him too.

Setting the laptop up on the dining room table, Dex dialed in the Skype number and waited for the connection, tapping his foot. Whenever he got nervous, he felt like jumping out of his skin, which was probably why he worked out so much.
Shut up and concentrate
, he told his wandering mind.

The screen flickered on, and there were Rowan and Gwendolyn, with the walls of Gwen’s elegant townhouse behind them.

“Hey, Noodle! How’s my girl?”

“Hi, Uncle Dex. Are you really going out with Mr. A.?” She had a wide smile on her face, much to Dex’s relief.

“Um, only if it’s okay with you.”

“Okay? It’s awesome!”

Gwen chuckled and stroked Rowan’s hair. “Well, there’s your answer to whether she’ll have a problem with it.”

Rowan gave an emphatic nod. “No, really! You two… I mean, it’s fate. You looked at each other across a crowded band room and… pow.”

Dex couldn’t get over Rowan’s animation. She was like a whole new person. “It sounds like we’re in a movie. Or fanfic.”

“You know about fanfic?” She put her hands over her face. “Ohmigod.”

“What’s fanfic?” Gwen asked with a small frown.

“Nothing, Gaga.” Rowan uncovered her face and scowled at the screen. “Stop laughing, Uncle Dex.”

“Sorry.” Dex tried to control his giggles.

“So when are you seeing him? Isn’t he the best? I love him!”

“Tonight for dinner. And look!” Dex picked up the laptop and pointed it to the Christmas tree. “He helped me trim a tree.”

“That’s so cool. I’m glad, because now you won’t be lonely when—
” Rowan cut herself off and glanced at Gwen.

“When?” Dex’s stomach sank at the expressions on their faces. “When what?”

Gwen took over. “Rowan and I have had many talks since she got here. She’s not been happy, which is of course understandable. She brought up this idea to me, else I’d never have suggested it.”

“What idea?” Dex asked, although he knew. He fucking knew.

Rowan bit her lip, then said in a small voice, “I want to stay here with Gaga.”

“Stay.” Dex looked around at the condo. Jan’s home with Rowan. The place he’d never managed to make into a home for him and her.

“The idea is to have Rowan live with me here. I know of an excellent private school with an emphasis on the arts that I think would be perfect for her. She could come visit you as much as she wants, on all the breaks, and during the summer.”

“Don’t think it’s because of you, Uncle Dex,” Rowan put in anxiously. “I love you so much. Th-Thank you for moving back to Eugene and changing your whole life around to take care of me.”