A Scripta

Michael opened the door from the deck to the dining room to find the family still milling about, this time to get seats at the table. Kevin said, "I'm sorry about the counter. I'll pay to fix it."

"Don't worry about it," said Jason. "We wanted to redo the kitchen anyway."

Thomas took a seat at the corner of the table, avoiding looking at Kevin. Lynne, Brian's wife, moved aside to make room for Michael and Kevin to squeeze in - Michael sat at her right and Kevin sat next to him, with Peter on Kevin's right.

Jason got up, a glass of wine in his hand. "A toast," he said, and everyone raised their wine glasses. "To family. To togetherness."

"Cheers!" everyone chorused, and Michael and Kevin clinked their glasses together. Food was passed around, ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole...things Michael had remembered from his youth, things he thought he'd never see or have again. He looked at Kevin and so badly wanted to kiss him right there. Instead, he reached over and squeezed his hand. Kevin smiled at him, squeezed Michael's hand back.

"Want any more?" asked Lori, before reaching for his plate.

"No more," he said with a groan. "I'm stuffed."

"There's still dessert."

"Are you kidding?"

She laughed, and Kevin chuckled. "After presents," he said.

They helped clean up. Thomas still kept a long distance away from them, and Michael, out of respect, didn't want to push the issue either. It seemed neither did Kevin, as he gave the man a wide berth by taking up a position behind the bar while the rest of the family piled into the living room.

Jason came into the room dressed as Santa, and the kids went wild. He made his voice go deeper, and asked if they were good little boys and girl. Of course they were, so he gave them presents from his huge knapsack. Michael couldn't help but smile at the scene, and remember his own grandfather doing the same thing. He found himself leaning onto Kevin, his head resting on his shoulders. Jason called out Kevin's name, and he disengaged himself to go get a box.

"And Michael."

Sherry hadn't lied, saying there was something under the tree for him. Michael came around the bar, watching Kevin open his gift, a digital watch. Michael went to Jason and took the box. "You shouldn't have."

"Santa always rewards good boys and girls," he said with a smile and adjusting the beard. Michael smiled and headed back to the bar with his package.

He opened it, and stared at it. Kevin looked over at him, and grinned. "An iPod shuffle."

"Oh, wow..." He looked up at Jason, who was still passing out gifts. Michael leaned against the bar, overcome with emotion. Jason called Kevin again, but he looked at his lover, concerned. Michael waved him away, and regained his control. Then, he thought of something. He squeezed his way out of the room and headed to the bathroom. He went inside, locked the door, and conjured a circle...


Kevin saw Michael in the doorway. He knew he had stepped out, but wasn't sure where he was. He smiled at Michael and mouthed, "You okay?"

Michael nodded. Then suddenly one of the kids yelled, "Snow!"

Everyone's attention turned to the window. They all crowded around the bay window, and falling down gently onto a white layer on the ground, was snow. Kevin looked out the window, then at Michael. "Did you...?"

He smiled.

The three kids ran past Michael and out to the deck. The snow was only wet and cold, while the air itself was the same temperature as it had been before. With bare hands, kids made loose snowballs and pelted them at each other. Parents got cameras out and took pictures.

Jason came to the door and looked outside. "I can't believe it."

"It's only this house," said Peter, and looked at Kevin.

Kevin shook his head. "Wasn't me," but smiled up at Michael.

"It'll be gone in an hour," Michael said. "Enjoy it while it lasts."

Jason looked at Michael. "How did you do that?"

"Just a little something I picked up. Go on, go outside."

Some of the adults stepped outside, gingerly around the layer of snow on the ground. Kevin slipped his arm around Michael's waist. "You just couldn't wait until the mountains."

The End.