Page 70 of Every Hidden Truth

19

V.I.P. Party

Christmas afternoon, Dad andI parked in Ben’s driveway beside his silver Impala. I carried the bouquet of flowers as Dad retrieved a bottle of wine and the stack of presents I’d brought for Ben from the backseat of his SUV.

“Never arrive empty-handed,” he’d told me as he gave me the flowers to hold for the drive.

Leading Dad through the garage, I let myself into the house after a hesitant knock. Christmas music filtered through the air, and both Dad and I groaned at the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen.

“Silas, welcome, dear!” Aunt June fluttered into the room, a glass of red wine already in her hand, and my neck warmed when she enveloped me in one of her motherly hugs. “We’re so happy you’re both joining us. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.” I handed her the flowers, and she tittered, patting my cheek fondly. “Thanks for inviting us. Um, this is my dad, Charlie. Dad, this is Ben’s aunt, June.”

I stepped to the side as they exchanged introductions, and my dad flushed as Aunt June unceremoniously tugged him into a welcoming hug. She thanked him for the wine as Uncle Henry appeared. He and my dad shook hands as Aunt June introduced them.

The adults shuffled out of the kitchen as Uncle Henry offered my dad a beer, and Ben clambered up the basement stairs a moment later. His hair was wet from a shower, and he wore a horribly ugly sweater with a light-up Christmas tree on it.

“That’s a hate crime against baby Jesus. And my eyes,” I said, making him laugh as he swooped in for an unexpectedly passionate kiss. I reciprocated with zeal, arching into his body as his tongue invaded my mouth.

When we parted half a minute later, we panted for air, cheeks flushed.

“Well, hi.” I gathered my bearings, drunk on his spearmint lips, and he pecked my mouth again.

“Hi. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.”

Christmas dinner was an absolute feast, and by the time I collapsed on the couch after, my stomach had swelled into the most impressive muffin top. Groaning, I rested my feet in Ben’s lap, and he proceeded to rub my socked toes.

“What shall we name my food baby?” I asked conversationally.

Ben grimaced. “I thought we already established I hadn’t knocked you up?”

Cackling, I lifted my shirt to present the exaggerated bulge from my overindulging at the table. “If this isn’t a food baby, I don’t know what is. Help me name my food baby.”

He rolled his eyes impatiently. “I don’t care what you name your baby, Silas, just don’t expect me to pay child support.”

“I didn’t ask for this,” I said dramatically. “You think I wanted to quit my job in the coal mine to raise your illegitimate child?”

Of course, Dad chose that exact moment to walk into the living room, and Ben and I burst into laughter as Dad grimaced. I sat up and scooted closer to Ben so Dad could sit beside me on the couch.

Aunt June walked to the Christmas tree and carried a small stack of gifts to the couch. Depositing them in my lap, she repeated the action for Ben. Dad grabbed the presents I’d brought for Ben and handed them to me. I gave them to Ben before eyeing my pile of gifts.

Ben shifted uncomfortably as three sets of eyes watched us, the only ones with presents, but I had no such qualms. I ripped open the wrapping paper, feeling like a little kid again, and Ben swiftly followed suit.

A gift certificate for the movie theater, a pair of Christmas reindeer socks, and penguin slippers were the first presents revealed, and I thanked Aunt June with a smile. Ben’s presents were similar, though his gift card was for a restaurant and his slippers were snowmen, not penguins. Our socks matched.

“Wait, is this for real?” Ben asked as he unfolded several pieces of paper from an envelope, and Aunt June beamed, nodding. “Wow, this is great. Thank you!”

He gave his aunt and uncle each a hug, then returned to his seat and showed me the gift—a plane ticket to California at the end of February.

“Your friends chipped in too, so be sure to thank them,” Aunt June said, and Ben nodded.

“I will, I will.” Ben shook his head, his lips stretching in a huge grin. “I haven’t been back since moving out here. This is awesome.”

The next wrapped item was from Ben, and I furrowed my brow in confusion when I found a calendar inside. “A calendar?”

“I designed it for you. Check inside.”

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