Christmas Presents

Part 3

Upstairs in the guestroom Brian held onto Justin while he did his level best not to cry. Usually when he did that, Brian would be come short tempered with him, calling him a princess or a twat. This time he just held on and let the emotions work their way out.

“He just gave up. He walked out and gave up.”

“No, he didn’t. He just realized that he couldn’t stop you and decided to cede a point.”

“But he gave up on me, don’t you see? He gave up on having a son.”

Brian tightened his arms, stroking Justin’s back. “Do you think Gus could ever do anything that would make me write him off?”

“Brian…”

“Do you?”

He sighed, somewhat dramatically. “No, of course not, but it’s not the same thing.”

“Yeah. It is. You father feels the same way about you that I feel about Gus—maybe even more because he lived with you growing up. He’s not giving up on anything.”

“Your father gave up on you.”

“My father was a shit who never wanted kids.”

“But he…”

“Justin, that’s enough. He’s done enough to fuck with your head today. Later today we’re taking your family out to dinner then we’re going to drive up to Vermont. We’ll check into our room, fuck a few times and then we’ll get married in a couple of days. After we get back home, you can call him and see him. He’ll probably be more accepting of it after it’s a done deal.”

He considered what Brian had just said. It sounded reasonable, except… “Brian, he hates you. If I were marrying Ethan or some one it would be different. He hates you.”

“That’s OK. You can see him without my being there.”

“But I want you there.”

“One step at a time.” He pulled slightly back so that he could look at Justin’s face. He seemed slightly calmer. “I’m proud of you.”

A doubtful smile. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Brian kissed him; Justin returned the kiss and ran his tongue over Brian’s lips.

“Now?”

“Later. I have to get the car.” Disappointed, he accepted the answer.

“Brian?”

“Yeah.”

“Am I too young for you?” The question was one that Brian was afraid of, hitting him too close to the heart of too many of his fears. He tried to deflect it.

“Do you think I’m too old for you?”

“Sometimes I do. Sometimes I think that you love me because I’m a young piece of arm candy.”

Shit. “What made you bring this up now?”

“Is it true?”

OK, he wanted the truth. Fine, might as well get it out. “That’s why I first picked you up. You know that. If that was all I wanted you for, you’d have been gone three years ago.”

Justin nodded. “I know. I just needed to hear you say it.”

“Fucking princess.”

“Brian? I was looking at the rings before I went down for breakfast. They’re really perfect. Thank you.”

“Good.” A quick smile, a head nod and Brian went to get the car.

*          *          *

The lunch—changed from a dinner after they realities of the drive were discussed—with the family as a thank you for welcoming Brian to the family and helping to arrange the surprise for Justin went well. Justin’s grandparents had a favorite French restaurant at which they had made early reservations. The food was as good as they expected. There were toasts and champagne, there were good wishes exchanged. The two men were kissed and hugged and finally sent on their way around two that afternoon.

The plan was that they would drive straight through to get to the Inn, but around eight they decided to stop, stretch their legs and get some dinner. An hour later they were back on the road, by about eleven they had pulled into the parking lot of the Inn.

The room they were shown to was charming, complete with fireplace and large canopied four-poster. Brian had chosen it knowing that it was the sort of thing that would please Justin. A middle-aged couple owned the Inn, refugees from the corporate world and New York City. They were fairly used to same sex couples staying with them and remarked to one another how exceptionally handsome the two men in suite seven were, how happy they seemed, how devoted.

They were both exhausted the night they checked it. Between the emotional upheaval from Justin’s father and the long drive, really all either of them wanted was sleep. As they were both starting to drift off Brian whispered, “Justin?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been thinking about something and I was wondering how you feel about it.”

“What?”

“The loft is mine. It kind of has my mark on it. I was thinking that we might want to sell it and find a place that would be both of ours.”

“Brian, are you serious? You’d sell the loft?”

“I think it would be better if we had something that really belonged to both of us.”

“I think that would be great, but are you sure that you want to? O mean, we could maybe just change the loft so that it’s more like both of us.”

“Maybe. That’s another possibility. I was going to buy the apartment below mine and make a duplex. It’s going on the market next week, but I have first refusal on it.”

Justin was excited by the idea; he rolled over onto his stomach, half on top of Brian. “We could do that?”

“Yeah, if you’d like, sure. I thought that I’d get a spiral staircase put in to connect the two. There would be room for a studio for you and maybe a room for Gus. Are you sure that you wouldn’t rather just find a new place?”

“The loft is part of you.”

“Justin, you’re part of me.”

“Again?”

“Like this.”

*          *          *

The next morning the two men were in the small dining room having breakfast when the owner approached.

“Mr. Kinney? There was a call for you. Reverend Korinda said that everything is in order and if you would just let him know what time you two would like to stop by, he’ll be happy to perform the ceremony.”

“Thank you. Just leave his number, if you would.”

Nodding, the man left.

“Today? Brian, are we getting married today?”

“Unless you have something else you’d rather do.”

Justin moved around to Brian’s chair, putting his arms around him and kissing him. “No, that’s alright. I think I can fit that in today.”

“It’s not a big formal thing, just us in the man’s home. Is that OK?”

“Like I give a shit? We’re getting married, that’s all that matters.”

“You afraid that you were going to be an old maid?”

“Fuck off. Maybe we could have another ceremony later with our friends—you know, like sort of like Lindsay and Mel had.”

“You mean with a cake and presents and all of that shit?”

“Fine. Forget I mentioned it.”

Brian reached across the table, taking his hand. “Look, this is more than I ever thought I’d do. This was hard enough for me. Don’t push your fucking luck, princess.”

The sunshine smile was back. “I know. I was just wondering how far I could push you.”

“Fucker.”

*          *          *

Brian made the call and the arrangements, such as they were, were made. They would go over to the minister’s home at five that afternoon, bringing the license and blood tests with them—and the rings.

“I’ve been wondering about that. How did you get a license without blood tests or my signature?”

“It was remarkably simple. When we were tested last month I asked the doctor to run whatever blood tests were needed for the license and then I got you to sign the application when you were signing the forms to renew your driver’s license. I just sort of slipped it in.”

“Is that why you were sticking your tongue down my throat? To distract me? You shit!”

“You’re entirely too trusting, Sunshine.”

*          *          *

A few hours later the two of them were driving the rental car to the further outskirts of the small town they were staying in. Brian had found the Inn close to Sugarbush ski area with the idea that the honeymoon would consist of the snowboarding that they had missed the first time around. The countryside was almost too perfect, the mountains snow covered, the pine trees grand, the landscape charming. It was even perfect weather after the snowstorms of the last couple of days. Amazing. Perfect and never to be forgotten.

Justin exclaimed over almost everything, every bend in the road, every quaint antique shop until Brian was ready to strangle him.

“If you want to buy a fucking quilt I’m going to turn this fucking car around. I don’t do fucking quilts.”

“But my mother will love this one. The colors are perfect for her and her birthday is next month.”

“Justin, I mean it. If this is going to turn you into some domestic twat goddess, I’m fucking calling it off.”

“I’m not a domestic twat goddess.”

“You’re scaring the shit out of me.”

“Get the quilt and I’ll make it up to you later.”

“I’m going to fuck you later with or without the quilt.”

“I know.”

“Fine, get the fucking thing.”

*          *          *

The minister met them at the front door of the small church. It was what you would expect for a small New England town. It was white, had a tall steeple and sat on a tree-shaded street in a quiet neighborhood. The interior was composed of richly colored woods and there were stained glass windows. There was a center aisle.

“Gentlemen, please come in, welcome. I’m Larry Korinda, the minister of the Community Church here.”

“Dr. Korinda, Brian Kinney. We’ve spoken on the phone several times. This is my partner, Justin Taylor.”

“Justin, welcome. Do you two have friends or family who will be joining us today?”

“No, just us. We’ll be celebrating with our friends when we get home.”

“That’s not a problem. My wife can act as a witness and so can my sister. You’ve brought the paperwork? Good. If you’ll just give me a minute to go over this we can get started.”

Ten minutes later they were standing in front of the alter, reciting the traditional vows. Justin had been surprised when Brian had told him that was what he wanted, commenting that they pretty much covered things.

“To love, honor and cherish…To have and to hold, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, in sickness and in health…. with all my worldly goods I thee endow…so long as we both shall live.”

The rings were exchanged, the fit on both of them exactly right. Justin grinned his smile, Brian looked as happy as the night Justin returned to him after the affair with Ethan had ended and they knew they wanted to be together.

Finally it was over, they were kissing and the minister was shaking their hands.

“I’ve married a lot of couples and I’ve gotten so that I have a pretty good intuition about how things are going to work out. You two will be alright.”

Brian was shaking his hand, accepting his congratulations. “It’s taken us awhile to get here and a year ago I would have said you were full of—that you were mistaken, but I think that you might be right.”

Mrs. Korinda went through a doorway, returning a moment later carrying a tray with wine and glasses. “If you would, May I offer you a toast and best wishes for your future?”

The toasts were drunk, the deed was done.

They were married.

As they got into the car to go back to the Inn Justin looked at Brian with a question.
”Bri?”

“Yeah?”

“Why did you want to get married in a church by a minister? I would have thought that you would have preferred to do the judge or Justice of the Peace thing.”

“I don’t know. I guess that old habits die hard. You, know. If you’re going to do it, you might as well really do it.”

“Bri?”

“Yeah?”

Justine smiled that smile if his. “So, we’re married, right? This is our honeymoon now, isn’t it?”

“Well, yeah—your point?”

“What do you fucking think?”

“You want to skip dinner?”

“You’re going to need your strength, you’d better eat.”

“Fuck you.”

“Yeah.”

*          *          *

“God, Brian—again.” He was on his back, Brian about him, in him around him. It was past midnight and they had begun making love as soon as they had gotten back to their room after dinner. They had started in the shower, moved to the floor in front of the fireplace and from there up to the bed. They had made love gently, slowly and tenderly and they had made love fast and hard. They were almost sated—for now.

Brian’s body spasmed one more time, he groaned loudly into Justin’s ear, clenching the smaller man to him, feeling his lover cum between then again.

Finally they simply collapsed together.

After a few minutes, after they had caught their breath and after they had come back to themselves Brian slowly withdrew from Justin, settling in beside him, his left arm resting across Justin’s stomach.

Justin took his left hand in his own, looking at the two rings next to one another. His hand paler, smaller, Brian’s darker, the veins more pronounced, stronger looking. The rings were the same.

“No matter how long we’re together, it won’t get better than this. It might be as good, but it can’t get better.” He pulled Brian’s hand up to his mouth, kissing it. “I love you and we’ll be together for a long time.”

Brian was looking at him, a slight smile on his face, his hand cupping Justin’s cheek.

“We will be together and I love you, too.” Justin stared at him, almost frozen. “What?”

“You never said that before, you never told me that you love me.”

“Bullshit. I said it all the time. This is just the first time I put it into words.”