Page 13 of A Daddy for Christmas 3: August
Auggie shrugged, but Thor could tell he was thinking about that.
“It’s awfully cold—I’ll grab us an Uber,” he suggested.
“Is it far?” Auggie asked. “I don’t mind walking and I’m wearing my warm jacket today.”
“It’s about a twenty-minute walk, but I want to get you home. Show you my place, my paintings. Try another kiss.”
Auggie’s cheeks heated, but he smiled, too, as he ducked his head.
They didn’t have long to wait for the Uber, and he held the door open for Auggie, then slipped in next to him.
“So you live near the campus?” Auggie asked.
“I do. Not in student alley. The other direction.”
“Oh, the ritzy part of town.”
“The old part, yes.” He had a great big old house with a big front yard and an even bigger backyard. Lots of trees. His studio was in what had originally been a conservatory, though he’d had to get all the windows changed to double paned ones so he could keep working there in the winter. “I’m really lucky to be able to make a good living off my paintings and I got ‘discovered’ at a young age.”
“How old were you when you sold your first painting?”
“Fourteen,” he admitted. “Right place at the right time.”
“Wow.” Auggie gave him a wide-eyed look.
“Like I said, I am very lucky and I know it.”
“I’m on the opposite spectrum of that, I think.” Auggie hunched a little again.
Thor hated that Auggie felt like that, that his experiences growing up had been less than stellar.
He touched Auggie’s arm gently. “You’ve made a good life for yourself despite your bad luck. That takes character and it makes you special.”
Auggie snorted. “I’m not special, Thor. Not like you. I’m just a guy trying to make a living. You’re a famous artist!”
“And I’ve had it easy all my life—being able to pursue my passions without impediments. You’ve had a much tougher road to hoe and have still made something of yourself.”
Auggie opened his mouth, and Thor put his finger across Auggie’s lips.
“I don’t want to hear a word from you denigrating yourself.”
Auggie’s eyes got huge, but before the moment could continue, the car pulled up at his place.
“We’re here,” he said softly. “Come on.”
He thanked the driver and got out, then held his hand out to Auggie.
The hand in his was warm, and Auggie held on tight, like he was worried he’d get left behind or lost if he didn’t. That was fine with Thor; it felt good holding Auggie’s hand.
They went along the pathway to the stairs up to the porch. He had a swing chair there, along with two cushioned metal chairs and a little table between them. In the warmer weather, it was a lovely place to sit and start the day. He unlocked the big front door and opened it up, ushering Auggie in.
“Welcome to my home.”
“It’s… wow. I mean, like a really good wow.”
Thor nodded happily. He loved his home. He’d bought it ten years ago and had slowly renovated it—mostly refurbishing the original details, making sure everything was updated and safe. “It was originally owned by a doctor and then passed down to his family. By the time I bought it, most of the family was out of town and they didn’t want to pay for the upkeep. I love it.”
“I can see how much you do.” Auggie took everything in the large hall in.
