Page 20 of A Beginner's Guide to Christmas Miracles
Nach had been daydreaming about a lifetime with Beck—baking together, decorating, going to craft fairs, volunteering at the center, making love (lots of making love)—and somehow he must have dozed off amidst all the happy thoughts.
He woke suddenly to a door slamming, and he felt Beck stir on top of him.
“Hmm?” his sexy elf murmured, but before Nach could ease him back to sleep, he heard more banging from the kitchen.
Apparently Beck did too.
Beck sleepily groaned and sat up, sliding off Nach and rubbing his eyes. “Is Alan home?” he asked.
“He must be,” Nach agreed, and they both flinched when they heard another bang accompanied by a curse.
Beck looked at Nach, eyes wide. “He isn’t usually so grumpy. Something must have happened.”
They both pulled on clothes rather quickly, which was a shame, because Nach would have gladly stared at Beck’s naked body for quite a bit longer. Really, whoever thought the naked body was sinful was just silly; it was a work of divine art. Nach didn’t ever think he’d seen such a perfect example as Beck, however, but maybe he was a little partial. His sexy elf was so full of love and joy, and it made him shine both inside and out.
They dressed in record speed, with only a few longing glances at each other, and Nach followed Beck out to the kitchen area.
Alan was sitting at the kitchen island with a plate of cookies, his head in his hand. His posture looked utterly defeated. Nach couldn’t imagine a family dinner making someone so despondent, and he wondered if he needed to switch out Alan’s family for a nicer one.
No, that would definitely qualify as a miracle. He supposed they’d just have to comfort Alan in the human way.
“Hey, Alan, what’s going on?” Beck asked.
Beck gasped when Alan raised his face, because the man had obviously been crying. His eyes were red, and they filled with tears again at Beck’s question. Beck rushed in to hug him, and Nach followed, placing his hand on Alan’s shoulder.
“What’s happened? Is everyone ok?” Beck cried out, still hugging his roommate tightly.
Alan shook his head no, and then a fresh cascade of tears came. Nach could only stare helplessly, gently squeezing Alan’s shoulder and trying to give him some calm as Beck rocked him back and forth, still hugging him.
Alan eventually gathered himself together, wiping his eyes and blowing his nose with tissues that Beck helpfully brought over.
“It’s Ma,” Alan finally said. “They found something on her last scan, and she didn’t want to tell us until she had more news. She really thought it was nothing, and she didn’t want to worry us. Well, it isn’t nothing. It’s bad. It spread, and the prognosis isn’t good. She said she’s going to fight and do everything she needs to. They ran some more tests on Friday to see the best course of treatment, but Beck… the prognosis isn’t good.”
Upon repeating those words, fresh tears came, and then Beck was crying too, even as he murmured words of comfort to Alan. Nach enfolded them both within his arms, trying to infuse some peace into them.
Alan finally pulled away, murmuring about taking a moment, and he went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Beck turned to Nach and buried his head in Nach’s chest. “Not Mama B. She’s the best mom ever, and she’s so young! She’s got so much left to give! God, she’s the reason Alan is such a great guy. She’d do anything for anyone. I’ve been to family holidays and dinners, and all through college she sent both Alan and I care packages. She and my mom have even gone out to lunch, and they talk on the phone. I just can’t… I can’t even imagine…” he trailed off, crying softly.
“Shh, it’ll be ok, Beck. It will. I promise,” Nach murmured.
Well, there was nothing else for it. This woulddefinitelycount as a miracle. There was no doubt about that. Life saving events always came to the attention of upper management, but what could Nach do? Yes, death was only a step into another realm, but Alan and Beck wouldn’t see Mama B until they themselves journeyed into the afterlife, and Nach had seen the effects of grief on families. Even if she could overcome whatever she had, it didn’t sound like it would be easy on her or those who loved her.
He couldn’t stand to see his Beck so sad. He knew this kind of miracle would cause endless problems, and he wondered what management would do to him. With a pang he realized that it might mean he couldn’t see his sexy elf again, and his whole being ached at the thought. But maybe he was alone in his infatuation, and Beck might just move on if Nach had to leave. His breath hitched at that thought, but the pain he felt coming from Beck was worse.
And if his elfwouldmiss him? If he asked Nach to stay? Well, Nach would find a way. He’d heard rumors of fallen angels—all very hush hush, but Nach would do anything for Beck. He would give up his wings, give up the right to enter heaven; he’d even give up his immortality if that’s what it took. His chest ached with Beck’s pain, and he needed to make things better for his elf.
So he wiggled his nose, and it was done.
Of course, Beck was still crying softly against his shirt and Alan was still enclosed in the bathroom.
Ah, what was one more miracle or two at this point. He was already in for it. No reason not to have some lab results come back early, and have a doctor happen to look at them at… Nach looked at the clock—ten o’clock at night. No reason for the doctor not to call Mama B and give her the news. No reason to not have that all happen about ten minutes ago (although that was slightly trickier to accomplish).
Alan’s phone rang on the kitchen counter. “Alan!” Nach called. “Your phone! I think you better get it!”
Alan came out of the bathroom, red-eyed and sniffling, and looked at his phone. He pressed the answer button as soon as he saw who it was.
“Everything ok?... Wait, what? Slow down… What do you mean the doctor called? I was just there twenty minutes ago, and it’s after ten o’clock… He said what?... But that can’t be… Are you sure?... He’s sure?... I can’t believe it. Yeah, ok… Yeah, I’ll come back over.” Alan paused then, and apparently it wasn’t his mother on the phone but rather his sister, because he said, “Sis, are you absolutely sure?” She must have answered, and then he hung up the phone.
