Page 55 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

Tommy could feel Bobby standing close, and he reached out for him. Bobby slipped his arm around Tommy’s waist and held him. Damn that woman. Tommy was near sniffling, for fuck’s sake. “Your mother watches Hallmark movies, doesn’t she?” he whispered.

Bobby laughed. “Every Christmas.”

It only took another hour to get the tree decorated. By the time they were finished, it stood in its bucket with a red sheet wrapped around the base, twinkling proudly. Carrie had placed Judy’s ornament near the top, right next to the angel. The twins had been told not to touch it so many times even Max sat down and kept his hands to himself. There were eight small presents under the tree, all from Judy. Tommy figured it was okay since he’d have a few to add as the days ticked off closer to Christmas.

The kids had busted out Judy’s supply of cookies and were sitting in the living room talking and laughing when the time came for Tommy to leave for work. He pulled on his jacket by the door and stood under Bobby’s mistletoe. They sneaked a long, tender kiss, and Tommy was warm from the inside out when it was time for him to go.

Judy called to him from her spot on the couch. “It’s cold out, Tommy. Don’t forget your hat!”

He was about to tell her he didn’t even own a hat when she lifted her hand and held a bright red Santa hat out to him. Normally he would’ve stuffed it in his pocket or maybe just left with her hand hanging in the air, but instead he went to her and shoved the thing down on his head.

She looked surprised, but pleased, as if she’d finally taught him a new trick. Tommy bent down and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for stopping by tonight, Judy.”

He could tell she was about to cry so he made a run for the door.

A week later, Cal and Cheryl showed up, and that was the end of Tommy’s holiday cheer.

Chapter Twelve

In the middle of January, the snow started falling one night and then didn’t stop. The entire world seemed to glitter and shine and even their beat-up old house looked prettier in a blanket of white. Bobby had put some Christmas lights on the windows more than a month ago, but Tommy had left them. Who cared that it was already the New Year and the holidays were over? Those stupid little twinkling lights made him smile, so he figured they could stay until they gave up and went out on their own.

The only thing Tommy hated about the snow was walking in it. By the time he got home from work most nights, he was chilled deep inside. He worried he might lose a toe in his boots, but it only made him walk faster.

One dark and frozen afternoon, Carrie wandered into the kitchen looking worried.

“What’s up, Carrie?” Mike asked. He was at the stove boiling water for hot chocolate.

Tommy glanced at her and waited for her answer.

“We haven’t seen Judy in three days,” she said as she slumped into a chair.

“I’m sure Bobby would’ve mentioned if there was anything wrong.” Tommy really was sure of that. Though it did seem odd to him that she would spend months elbowing in and then drop out of sight without a word. “She’s probably just busy.”

When the kitchen cleared out, Tommy picked up the phone and called Bobby. He was on patrol, but Tommy knew from experience he’d answer if he wasn’t actually arresting someone. And sometimes, even if he was.

“How’s your doughnut, copper?” Tommy asked when Bobby told him they had stopped for coffee.

Bobby laughed, but then said flatly, “You’re so funny, Tom. I’ve never heard that one.”

Tommy smiled into the phone. It had been a week since they had any kind of time alone together, and he missed being able to kiss and touch Bobby. That wasn’t why he’d called, though. “Listen, don’t read anything into this or anything, but what’s up with your mom?”

“What do you mean? What’d she do?”

“Nothing, but for her that’s kind of weird in itself. No one over here has heard from her in a couple days and she’s not answering the phone.”

After a long pause Tommy could hear Bobby sigh on the other end of the line.

“It’s just this time of year. She gets a little depressed.”

“Post-Christmas blues?” Tommy didn’t understand.

Bobby let out another soft breath that might have been a laugh if it hadn’t sounded so sad. “No, just…. My dad died a couple years ago and we’re coming up on the anniversary. Last year she sat around the house in her bathrobe and cried for about a week.” He paused again and then said, “It’s still hard on her, but she’ll pull herself out of it after she’s looked through all the old photos and gone through her wedding album a few hundred times. Then she’ll visit his grave and put flowers down for him, and she’ll be okay.”

“Jesus,” Tommy muttered, feeling the weight of someone else’s pain and not liking the sensation. “That sucks.”

“Yeah, it does.” Bobby didn’t add to that, but what else could he say? “Listen, I gotta go. We just got a call.”

Tommy’s stomach tightened at those words. He hated them. “All right. You be careful.”

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