NEWS! NEWS! NEWS! NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!

Today sees the release of a charity anthology to raise funds for the victims of the Orlando shootings.

30 authors (myself included) have donated stories to this LGBTQ+ anthology and, thanks to the generosity of eXtasy books, every penny of your purchase price will go to 

https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund

All details can be found in Molly Lolly's post here: 

bit.ly/297mAQ7

Please also take a moment if you can to visit the Facebook page for details of all the wonderful people who made this happen - the organisers, the artists and the writers, and leave them a congratulatory word. They

have pulled off a miracle in record time!

https://www.facebook.com/OverTheRainbow4Orlando/

At this time, the book is available to download only. More information to come regarding hardcopy when known.

Enjoy! This book was made with love and that is the one thing we should all agree on:

LOVE WINS.

Let the Rain Come Down - ch8

Disclaimer: All characters owned and created by Stephenie Meyer.

Huge thanks to the helpful folk who posted Goodwill price lists online. It made this shopping trip a realistic and enjoyable experience.

This chapter is unbeta’ed – any errors are mine and I apologise in advance.

~o.O.o~

Chapter 8

Edward’s POV

Esme drove us home once the last person had been served their meal. The weather was cold and dry for the first time in days, the air holding a very real threat of snow.

Walking around her car, I saw that there were still bagged items in the trunk. I guessed she had more Christmas presents to deliver; she never mentioned family, but spoke of friends often. Esme said nothing, intent only on helping us inside out of the bitter cold and into our marginally less cold room. Our home seemed bleak and unwelcoming after our little holiday, the air stale and chilled, but we ignored it as an inevitable return to reality. Our kettle and hot water bottles were laid aside ready for use that very night.

I turned to see Esme holding another bag that I hadn’t noticed before. Setting it down, she reached in and pulled out a heavy and familiar biscuit tin, holding it out to us before placing it on the counter. I remembered that we had had hot apple pie for dessert and not cake.  

She placed her hand on the lid of the tin.

“I wanted you to have the rest of this. It was made for you and never intended for the kitchen. Plus…” she reached into the bag again, pulling out a foil wrapped package that she placed next to the tin. “This should keep you going for the next couple of days. Just add your vegetables. Oh, and you need one last thing…” She placed a packet on the countertop. “This is beef bouillon to make into some meat gravy: you just add hot water and stir to enjoy a quick roast dinner at home.”

Looking at her in disbelief, Jasper stepped forward and unfastened the foil packet to reveal the rest of the roast beef, sliced and ready to eat. He gaped at me before opening the biscuit tin to reveal the delicious sponge cake inside. I thought he was going to cry.

“Esme! This is all just… too much!”

“Is there any point in telling you you shouldn’t have?” I raised my eyebrows at her, shaking my head with an appreciative smile.

“None whatsoever!” She giggled, looking proud of herself. “Well, thank you for so much for spending Christmas with me. It’s been wonderful to have such lovely company. So, what are your plans after the holidays?”

I looked at Jas.

“We’re hoping to go to Goodwill with our giftcard to see if we can get some new clothes. It’s pretty exciting - we get to go shopping together.” Just the thought had us wreathed in smiles.

She nodded in understanding.

“Well, I’m not working until the new year so if you need a lift to help you carry everything home you call me, okay? I’ll be happy to come – in fact I have a few things to donate myself so you’d be doing me a favour by giving me the push to go. I’ve been meaning to do it for a while.”

I looked to Jasper, who at that point would have gladly followed Esme anywhere she wanted to lead. My heart swelled with love for him.

“Well, if they’re open, maybe tomorrow? Or the day after. The sooner the better I think.”

She gave a firm nod.

“Tomorrow would be good for me and you might get lucky with the sales starting too.  I can come pick you up at nine? It gives you time to look around before it gets busy. The changing rooms are more likely to be free then too.”

“Okay – that sounds great. We’ll be ready. Thanks again, Esme.”

She pressed a kiss to my temple and, seeing his bashful smile, did the same to Jasper before letting herself out.

The first thing we did was unpack our kettle, fill it and plug it in. We both stood and watched it boil, marvelling at the speed. Jasper made us drinks before refilling it. We read the instructions on the bottles and filled them with hot, but not boiling, water, letting out the air before sealing them. The heat they gave out was a revelation and we found that they could be tucked into the back of our jeans beneath a sweater, or placed between our feet in bed to defrost frozen toes. Until the season turned they would be our constant companions every evening, refilled before bed each night to ensure maximum heat retention until we fell asleep.

Our supper that evening was fresh bread and cheese, firm, fresh apples and a slab of cake each. We knew the cake wouldn’t keep for very long and reasoned we might as well eat as much as we wanted and fully enjoy it.

After all, wasn’t a little indulgence what Christmas was all about?

~o.O.o~

The next morning I ensured that Jasper was well wrapped up for our outing. The gift card was tucked safe and secure into my coat’s inner pocket and I touched it often to make sure. I added a few extra dollars and some loose change to my pockets in case we needed to top it up a little.

“Are you ready?” Jasper looked at me and I could see his smile in the way his cheeks rounded beneath the scarf, his eyes bright with excitement and purpose. I nodded.

Right on time we heard Esme’s car and headed out for an adventure.

The short drive took us to the store we had seen on our bus journey. Esme drove past and a short ways down the street, pulling into a private parking area. We looked at her, our faces both asking the question.

She killed the engine, looking over at us.

“My friend lives in this building and she said I could use the space while she’s at work. Much better than the bus, don’t you agree?”

With enthusiastic nods, we climbed out of the warm car into the bracing December chill. I touched my pocket again for reassurance whilst I waited for her to open the trunk. Inside I saw two smallish boxes of clothing and shoes and I lifted one whilst Esme took the other, both of us brushing off Jasper’s protestations.  They were bulky, else I would have insisted on carrying both. No way was I having him hurt his chest again. With the trunk closed, we headed down the sidewalk to the huge building.

The inside was nothing like I expected. Rows upon rows of clothes racks and all manner of items. It was a mini mall of every shop we could want in one enormous space. We followed Esme to the drop off counter and prepared to wait in line, but she had other ideas.

“No, no; I’ll do this.” She set her box down on the floor and took mine from me, placing it on top. “You boys get shopping!”

Looking at each other with scarcely contained excitement, we headed towards the cornucopia of treasures that lay before us just waiting to be discovered. Turning back to smile at Esme, I noticed she was crouched next to a blond man, helping him to pick up some items that had spilled from the torn paper sack he held. He was clearly apologising to her, an embarrassed smile blooming on his face when their hands touched.

“Looks like Esme has made a friend.” I nudged Jasper. Even from where we stood I could see a flush to her cheek, her hand fluttering in unspoken gestures.

Jasper squinted for a moment. “I know him. He’s a doctor. Nice guy too. I see him when I go…you know.”

The insinuation wasn’t lost on me. He was Jasper’s doctor at the sexual health clinic. I watched them, trying to be covert, seeing the doctor smile at something Esme said, breaking into a laugh. It all looked very positive and I found myself hoping that this could be something.

~o.O.o~

“Jas! What size boot are you?” I held tight to my find until he answered.

He looked up, confused lines wrinkling his brow.

“Eight – eight and a half maybe. Not really sure. I just see what fits.”  He peered around the rail. “Why?”

“Because I found these. They’re almost new. You do realise your boots aren’t in much better shape than mine?”

He shrugged, a little defiant. “I love my boots. They’re me and they’re fine.”

“I know you love them, but please try these? They look the same and you can smell the leather. Think how warm your feet would be…?” I knew I was verging on wheedling, but he hadn’t even looked. He sighed and walked over to where I stood, clutching the boots to me for fear of losing them. The store was filling with people now and I was taking no chances.

He leaned in close to me, his voice low, frown lines evident behind the shaggy hair flopping over his brow.

“I can’t try boots on – I gave you the good socks this morning because we were looking for you, not me.”

Ah. That explained the reticence. Holey socks weren’t a good look in public and I understood where he was coming from, but no way was I letting him leave without at least trying these on.

“If you pull off your boot and lean against me for balance, no one will be able to see your feet. One at a time.” I set the boots down in front of him and saw his eyes brighten.

“You found me new cowboy boots? Ohh - those are beautiful!” With no further argument, he picked up a boot and placed the sole against his own foot for comparison. Satisfied, he braced himself against me and toed off one boot, keeping an eye out for anyone who may have cared to examine his sorry socks. Slipping his foot into the boot, he pulled it up and stamped on the tile.

“Other one?” I moved it over and he gripped my shoulder while he shed the other boot, wriggling into the new one, repeating the stamping like a horse at the farriers.

I watched him walk in a circle and caught him admiring his feet. I grinned.

“How do they feel?” I so hoped they were the right size because he was going to hate putting them back.

“They’re great! I can wriggle my toes and the heels don’t slip. This must’ve been what mine were like when they were new!” He all but scampered back to me and gave me a brief squeeze. “Can we afford these?”

I nodded, my smile a mile wide. “They’re five bucks and they’re yours.”

With regret he toed them off, but took them to where Esme stood, her head tilted and a warm, satisfied look on her face, handing them to her for safekeeping while we carried on digging. Carrying on my search, I tried on any boots that looked to be the right fit, not having much luck until I stumbled across a pair of sturdy black leather boots, thick soled to survive the rain and snow, with a fleecy inner. My feet and ankles were cocooned in warmth the moment my heels slid into position. Plenty of room, not too tight, and comfortable to walk in. The price tag said ten dollars which settled it. Now I had the only thing I wanted for myself, I set off to find Jasper and see if he’d had any luck with finding a coat. I tracked him down and watched bemused for a moment while he flailed, trapped in a too-big coat, trying to escape the confines of voluminous fabric. Helping him out of it, I rehung the heavy coat while he carried on looking. Walking along the racks I spied a more suitable winter jacket, well-padded for the sub-zero temperatures of a Chicago winter. Checking the label, it looked to be a better fit for his frame and had no visible signs of wear and tear. I walked back to him and he looked up, a smile breaking across his face.

“Hey – that looks good! Let me try…” He shrugged off his denim jacket, handing it to me to hold before sliding into the insulated all-weathers jacket.

The sleeves were a good length, long enough to hit the base of his thumbs and keep out the biting wind, and it finished below his hips. He fastened the zips and snaps, pulling up the collar around his face and burying his hands in the deep pockets. All I could see were sparkling eyes above the flattering blue shade of the fabric and a huge grin that matched my own when I nodded approval. Seeing Jasper so happy was the most addictive drug I could ever want; I wanted to say yes to him for the rest of my life. With the jacket and my boots safely stowed away with Esme, we headed to the clothing rails to find shirts and jeans. This took longer than anticipated, neither of us knowing sizes. After heading to the changing rooms with several garments apiece, we emerged with a couple of pairs of jeans each that were the right size and length, and a small pile of short and long sleeved shirts between us in a mix of plain colours and designs. I was keeping a mental tally of what we were spending, overwhelmed by the amount we had already accumulated with money still to spare.

On the way back from the changing rooms I swerved into a less occupied aisle, navigating my way around the solid roadblocks of people, and spotted a jacket sticking out of an overstuffed rail. It seemed perfect for Jasper, made of soft, well-worn but clean, brown leather that would look so perfect with his new boots. I shrugged it on to check the size and found it to be a good fit, our sizes almost the same apart from our height. I knew that it was frivolous spending, but a look at the low price tag told me to just do it. He would love it and we could share it, each needing a lighter jacket for the more clement weather. Keeping quiet, I dropped off my clothes with Esme and followed Jasper to the homewares section where he was examining pans, nodding to himself in satisfaction. He held a sturdy frying pan, a small saucepan and a new vegetable knife. I checked the prices and added them to the running total in my head.

The next item on our list was a toaster. We had talked about it, both considering it a good use of our money. It would give us hot food for breakfast every day and make the stale bread we couldn’t afford to waste more palatable. I had no idea of the cost of electrical goods and so was stunned to see a brand new no-frills toaster priced at $2.99. Jasper shook his head in amazement and carried it under his arm while we headed back to Esme. Passing a display of mugs for only 50 cents each, I stopped and chose one with a golden Labrador that had the look of Rosie on it. Now Esme would have her own mug when she came to visit, rather than the small, chipped cup. Happy with my find, I caught up with Jasper.

“I’m going to run back and look for towels, okay? We need more to give us longer to get them dry.”

He turned to me, his voice low.

“Do we have enough money? This has to be getting expensive.”

I understood his worry, but I was keeping score.

“We’re good, don’t worry. I brought a few extra bucks in case we saw something too good to pass up.”

Looking relieved, he carried on walking while I headed back to the homewares section, locating the section I needed easily. I flipped through the pile on the rack, choosing soft, lightly used bath towels that would wrap around us for warmth. Trying to be surreptitious, I sniffed them, satisfied they were fresh and laundered. Thanks to the low prices, I was able to buy the two I had selected. They were the last item on my list and I was beyond happy with what we had accomplished with our money.

Meandering back through the rails, I passed a display stand of cheap plastic jewellery and watches. My eye caught a basic wristwatch with a black plastic strap. I turned it over, checking it was clean and functional, before fastening it onto my wrist to check for fit. The glass was unbroken, the soft tick audible when I held it to my ear. This seemed a non-essential item when I could borrow Jasper’s, but we had no clocks at home and he had no idea of the time when I was gone. The small price tag dangling from the strap said $1. One dollar. I stared at the tag, expecting the one to morph into a seven before my eyes, but no – one dollar. Patting my pocket, I felt the reassuring weight of loose change, and I slipped the watch from my wrist with a beaming smile. I knew Jasper wouldn’t begrudge me this one indulgence.

My arms full, I found Esme waiting with Jasper, our items packed into a shopping cart. Seeing our purchases all together like that made my stomach flip – it seemed crazy that it would all soon belong to us. I caught Jasper’s eye and realised in that instant that he felt the same as me – overwhelmed. We headed to the checkout desk, unpacking the cart for each item to be scanned. From the corner of my eye I noticed Jasper’s face register confusion when he saw the leather jacket, wondering if it was a mistake. I packed everything into the large bags provided, not commenting on it, packing the towels last to cover the contents. The total came to a little over the $50 on our gift card - $53.60 to be precise – and I gladly paid the extra from the loose change in my pocket, thrilled with the amount of goods we were taking home.

The simple act of shopping like regular people – it was an indescribable feeling.

I turned to leave and saw Jasper reading a flyer. His face was determined when he turned back to the cashier and pointed to it, his voice low. The woman smiled and beckoned him around the desk to speak to him. I watched, having no idea what was going on, but trusting Jasper. Whatever he was asking was important – I could feel it. After a couple of minutes, she indicated to him to wait and called over another employee to cover the desk before leading Jasper towards the back of the store. A tall, muscular guy was moving furniture, but stopped when she called to him. I watched him listen to her and look at Jasper with a smile, holding out his hand. They were talking now, the man nodding and gesticulating. I moved away from the desk, not wanting to block customers, and my eye caught the flyer that had attracted Jasper’s attention.

Want to work for Goodwill?

Sales Associate Vacancy

15 hours per week

Apply online or ask in store for more information.

The flyer listed their website address and contact details and I looked over at Jasper, my mouth agape, pride bubbling up in my chest.

My brave, clever boy.

This was a shot at a real job where his talents would be recognised and appreciated. I knew better than to get my hopes up, but hope welled in my heart.

It was but a few moments later when a grinning Jasper walked back to me, his face glowing.

“I just met the manager. I told him that I don’t have any references or experience because I used to live on the streets, but I want to better myself and make something of my life. I must have said something right because he asked me to come back tomorrow for a proper talk!”

He bit his lip, his eyes glistening, and I wanted to hug him hard, right there in the store. I managed to hold myself in check, squeezing his hand, my eyes wide with excitement. Esme waited by the doors and we made our way to join her, Jasper eager to tell her his news.

The frigid air was a shock after the heat from the store and the sheer numbers of shoppers. We apologised to Esme for keeping her waiting and she brushed our words away, saying she expected us to be distracted when it was our first taste of proper shopping. When we reached the car I packed our bags into the trunk before we climbed in, grateful to be out of the aching cold. Jasper explained what had happened while she was waiting for us. I could see the admiration in her expression whilst he spoke.

I debated asking her about the doctor, but I thought better of it. After all, he was Jasper’s doctor and she might feel uncomfortable if she knew. I hoped she had gotten his name and number though because their obvious chemistry was a good sign. I vowed to wait until she mentioned it before I asked any questions. She was about to start the car when she reached for her purse.

“I almost forgot with Jasper’s news, but I found these in a basket of odd bits of clothing. I thought they might be useful for you boys.”

She handed us a small packet containing five pairs of brand new socks. We shook our heads.

How did she always know?

Jasper was thrilled.

“Thank you! I didn’t see any while we were shopping and we do need them.” He turned to me. “These will be great for you when you’re out with the dogs. So warm!”

His beautiful face beamed at me and I couldn’t help but do the same in return.

I snuggled up to him in the back seat for the short trip home, my head whirling with the day’s events. It was only just lunchtime and already we had had the day to surpass all others, with the exception of Christmas Day itself.

When we arrived back home I invited Esme in, but she declined.

“I have some errands to run, but you boys get inside. I’ll see you both very soon.”

Climbing out of the car, I collected our bags from the trunk and we both waved goodbye to Esme before ducking inside out of the ferocious cold. The clouds were heavy and dark and I had a feeling I knew what was coming. Once inside, we switched on the heater to take off the chill and filled our new kettle for coffee. While it burbled, we tipped out our bags onto the bed to go through our haul. Jasper gathered up the pans and sharp knife, setting them aside on the counter out of harm’s way before joining me where I waited, a big smile on my face.

“So, I got you something today. I hope you like it.” My teeth worried my lower lip despite the smile that threatened to hurt if it got any wider.

He looked at me, his expression comical.

“What did you do? You better have gotten everything you needed before you spent money on me…”  I cut him off, unable to contain myself.

“I saw this and it had to be yours. It matches your boots and it’s just so… you!” I held up the jacket, the scent of the leather tickling my nose.

His mouth dropped open and for a moment he neither moved nor spoke until he reached for it, disbelieving, his fingers caressing the butter-soft leather.

“Edward - this is beautiful!” His face, so full of wonder and gratitude, made my throat tighten. He shrugged it on and it did indeed fit him very well, moulding to him like it had always been his. “I saw it when we packed and thought it was yours. Today wasn’t about me…”

“Yes it was.” My voice sounded strangled, my throat thick with emotion. “It was about both of us, and new clothes, and Christmas, and… and…” My words tailed off, my face crumpling. Jasper almost fell onto the bed in his haste to wrap his arms around me, pulling me in close. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks, my arms finding his waist and just holding on, drowning in my feelings for him in that moment.

“Love, what is it? What’s going on in that head of yours? Talk to me.” He rocked me back and forth, the motion soothing and comforting.

“I just… I just… wanted to make sure you know that you’re everything to me. Everything I think about. I always want to make you happy.” My words were snuffly, my face hot and embarrassed at my unexpected emotional outburst.

He pulled me tighter, his hand cradling my head. His words were soft in the quiet room.

“It’s been a crazy couple of days, hasn’t it? Our first date, Christmas at Esme’s and all the wonderful things that day brought with it, and now all these new things thanks to your work buddies. It’s overwhelming for me too.” His knuckles slid down my cheek, his thumb caressing my skin. “You’re incredible, you know that? Everything you have you share with me. You never have to prove yourself to me. We’re a team, and…” his lips pressed to my hair. “You make me so very happy every single day.”

We stayed locked together for a while longer, Jasper stroking my hair. The only sounds in the room were my muffled breathing and Jasper’s steady, reassuring heartbeat.

“So shall we have a look at our new clothes? I think we’ve doubled our wardrobes – I’ve never had so much choice! I feel like a runway model!”

I coughed with laughter at that and sat up. His palms cupped my face, thumbs wiping away tear tracks before he kissed me, soft and tender. A moment of gazing into his soft eyes grounded me and I blinked before rubbing the heels of my hands across my face. Refocusing on the job in hand, I picked up a pile of shirts and we compared what we had bought. More of my shirts had longer sleeves for spending time out with the dogs, whereas Jas had bought a mix of short and long sleeves that we could layer up. Our jeans were the right length, a good fit, and barely worn. They would last a couple of seasons at least. I hung Jasper’s new winter coat on the back of the door with my own, the denim and leather jackets over the back of the chair. It was Jasper who picked up my new watch and handed it to me to put on.

I stammered, feeling the need to explain.

“I-I felt bad borrowing yours all the time. Look at the price tag.” I held it out to him and his eyebrows shot up.

“A dollar? Wow – that was a find! See? You are so good at this, keeping a tally of what we were spending. I would have gotten lost somewhere and had to put something back. That would’ve been embarrassing.” His wry grin made me chuckle. “I’m not used to having money to spend on anything after food and rent. Good job I have you.”

He was saying it to make me feel better, he had to be. He had always known how to maximise every cent he earned. My gorgeous boy was no slouch with money, but he had trusted me with today’s shopping and it made me feel proud to have done a good job. He was right – we were a team and a damned good one too. I showed him the mug for Esme and he loved it, setting it carefully on the shelf. Our toaster was given pride of place next to the kettle, ready for breakfast. We began removing price labels from our new clothes and folding them to fit into our empty dresser drawers, the towels set aside ready for use. Our new boots were lined up by the bed ready for morning. I turned to see Jasper with a new boot and an old one in his hands, looking at the new one with undisguised joy.

“I can’t believe you found me new boots. I love them, I really do. They’re barely worn – look at the soles!” He held the boot aloft to show me the few scuffs from what couldn’t have been more than one or two wearing’s. “I didn’t see how rough mine were getting. They’re comfy though and don’t leak yet. Now I have smart ones too!”

My smile threatened to break my face.

“No sense waiting for them to leak before looking for new ones. The perfect replacements wouldn’t have been around then. Those were meant for you, no doubt about it.”

He set both back down on the floor and picked up my new ones for inspection.

“These are good – warm! No more cold, wet feet for you, love. Hopefully they’ll be more comfortable too. Those old ones don’t have any cushioning in and when you spend all day on your feet it’s no wonder you ache so much.”

I couldn’t argue with him there. I felt every bump and pebble even with two pairs of socks. I flopped down next to him, anxious to ask my question.

“So tell me about the job - what did the guy say?”

His face lit up with enthusiasm.

“He said it would be fetching and carrying, helping out with customers and tidying the shop floor. Nothing too heavy. I’ll be honest and tell him about the pleurisy – I hope the fact that I can’t lift doesn’t go against me, but it’s better than the alternative. I don’t want to push myself too soon. He just wants to have a proper talk tomorrow to see if I fit the bill. No doubt they’ll have lots of applicants, but if I make a good impression then he might keep me in mind when something else opens up. Oh, that reminds me…” He fished out some folded, printed sheets from his pocket. “This is about the company and the benefits that workers get. I told him we didn’t have any computer access.”

He unfolded the pages and we read them together, our eyebrows in our hair by the time we had read the first page. Words like ‘employee discount’ and ‘prescription drug coverage’ were like neon signs to people with no money like us. Add to that the paid holiday and sick leave, and we were looking at each other in shock. Neither one of us had had a legitimate job before, the sort with a contract of employment and regular wage. I was casual at both my jobs, and Jasper would be classed as self employed by anyone trying to be polite. This was a chance at a proper job – a major step up the ladder of respectability.

And it would get him off the streets for good.

We both knew better than to get too excited, but his simple act of courage in just making the enquiry was everything. It showed his self-belief that he could do something else, and that he understood he was worth so much more. I knew I would be thinking of him the whole time I was working, hoping against hope that it went well. The organisation was all about helping people help themselves and that was exactly what we needed to move forward.

My thoughts were interrupted by the tinny tune of the phone. I dived for it.

“Hello?”

“Edward! It’s Tanya. We’re going to need you tomorrow. It’ll be all hands on deck with most of our regulars back and happy to see you!”

I beamed.

“No problem. Usual time?”

“Absolutely! I won’t be around so Alice will sort you out with your group when you arrive. Thanks, Edward. Speak to you soon!”

“Thanks, Tanya. Bye.”

I looked down at my new watch.

“Well, I’m not needed until my shift at the market tonight so how about we be decadent and make a hot lunch?”

Jasper stepped up behind me, sliding his arms around my waist.

“Loving that idea. So how about we have a roast? I happen to know we have some delicious beef and…” he rustled the plastic bag on the counter with an outstretched hand, “we have some lovely fresh veggies. So, my only question is, can I peel the potatoes and try out the new knife? Pretty please?”

Grinning, I leaned around and kissed him before stepping out of the cooking area, leaving the chef to weave his magic.

~o.O.o~

Let the Rain Come Down - ch7

This chapter is unashamedly schmaltzy and I make no apologies for it. If you can’t write fluff at Christmas, then when can you?

Merry Christmas from myself and the boys. Have a wonderful holiday and we’ll see you back here in the New Year for the next instalment.

Disclaimer: All characters owned and created by Stephenie Meyer.

This chapter is unbeta’ed – any errors are mine and I apologise in advance.

~o.O.o~

Chapter 7

Edward’s POV

Over the next couple of days I watched Jasper getting brighter in himself, but his chest was still not healed, and he at times struggled to breathe. With a handful of quarters in my pocket, I went to a payphone and rang the clinic to ask for their advice. The doctor I spoke to was the same lady as before, and I explained our situation to her. When she remembered who we were, she asked questions about what had happened to cause his chest to worsen. I told her the truth, that he had tried to return to work and made himself sick again. 

I heard her sigh.

“Didn’t I tell you both that he had to stay inside?”

“Yes, doctor, you did. He had almost finished the course and wanted to help with the money situation, thinking he was feeling better. If I had been home I would never have allowed him to leave the house. He knows he did a stupid thing. He is feeling a little better, but his chest is still noisy. Should I bring him back in to see you? I don’t want him to get worse – he’s finally feeling like himself again. His appetite is improving too.”

“Is he inflating that lung properly? Taking deep breaths?”

“Yes, he is. After being outside without adequate clothing, his chest rattled for a day or so and his cough came back. It scared me. I’ve kept him warm and inside ever since.”

“Can you come to the clinic? I’m willing to give him another course of meds to make sure his lungs fully heal. Could you be here later today? I’ll have them ready for you to collect.”

I looked at my old watch. “I need to check what time the bus runs, but I can be there in the next hour if that’s okay?”

“Very well, Mr Masen. Please give your details to the receptionist and she will come and find me.”

“Thank you, doctor. You’ve set my mind at ease. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

The buses ran more often than I realised, and after telling the guys at the market that I was going out for a short while, I checked my pockets for change and made my way to the stop to wait.

The doctor was good to her word, handing me another two week course of pills with firm instructions. Worried, I asked about our little trip to see the lights, promising I would make sure he had layers of warm clothes on, plus a scarf over his nose and mouth. She said it was okay, provided he was bundled up, but not to overdo it. I left feeling lighter and more positive than I had in a while.

Jasper wasn’t pleased initially that I had gone behind his back, until I explained I had rung for advice on whether it was okay for us to go out on our Christmas date. He forgave me when I showed him the meds, explaining what the doctor had said about a second course often being necessary if the infection had gotten a good hold. I got him started on them straight away, not wanting to waste any time.

~o.O.o~

The days sped by, Christmas approaching at a gallop. My work at the market had picked up more and more, and I was busy most of the time now. It was mentioned that some customers had even remarked on how helpful I was, which made me blush a little. I hoped that after the holidays people’s goodwill would remain, and they would still remember to tip me a few cents.

When Christmas week rolled around, Tanya called me for more shifts, her regular walkers having gone home for the holidays leaving her short-handed. Now I was walking several of the smaller dogs too, four at a time, their excitement and energy meaning I spent most of my time untangling their leashes. After the first walk with them I worked out who liked to be next to who in their ‘pack order’, and arranged them accordingly. I had no problems after that. I had to walk slower to compensate for their little legs which gave me a bit of a rest too for which I was grateful. Jupiter’s owner wasn’t working and so he wasn’t there to greet me. I missed him a great deal, having grown so close to him over our time together, and found myself looking over to his enclosure while I was settling the little ones back in.

Alice heard me return and came to see how it had gone. I kept her updated with any issues or anecdotes from our walks while I checked water bowls and hung up leashes on their hooks. Each got a little treat once I was done, the air filled with the happy sounds of crunching and slurping.

“Missing Jupe, eh?” She had caught my side glance.

My embarrassed laugh said it all.

“I really am. He’s such a great dog. These guys are fun too, but it’s not the same.” I rubbed their ears, unlocking doors to put them back into their pens. “A little bit of me wonders if he misses us too.”

Alice crouched next to me, watching Fritzy circle on his bed before collapsing down with a happy groan. “Honestly, I think he does. He loves attention and when he’s with someone who keeps him in line, he seems so much happier. He enjoys knowing who is in charge. When he’s left to his own devices without a firm hand in control, he gets confused and then trashes things. It’s not ideal.” She patted my shoulder. “He’ll be back after Christmas, don’t you worry. He’ll probably want long walks to get him back into his routine too, so that’s something to look forward to for you. If business keeps up like it is, you may end up with more shifts. I hope so because they all really like you.” We both watched the tired little dogs splayed on their beds, hearing loud snores coming from Buster’s pen, the little pug already spark out.

“Alice, is this place closed for Christmas Day? It’s just that I have plans for that day and I can’t make it.” It sounded so strange to my own ears to say that I was unavailable for work.

Her laugh tinkled around me. “No, that’s one day we are closed. All these guys will be home for Christmas where they belong. We open up again on the 27^th, so we might be needing you then if you’re free?”

I grinned and nodded. “Oh I’ll be free. Thanks Alice. I better see Tanya and then get to my next job.” Standing up, I hovered awkwardly.

“Merry Christmas, Alice. See you soon.” Without hesitation, she stood on her toes and pulled me into a hug that I returned more than happily.

“Merry Christmas, Edward. I’ll see you soon.”

My wages safely tucked into my pocket, I headed to the busy market.

~o.O.o~

With only a couple days to go until the big day, I headed off to the community kitchen for more essential supplies. This time I had a better idea of what to do, it was just a case of seeing what was on offer when I got there.

The shelves were well stocked with holiday staples, lots of ingredients to make Christmas dinner for those with families. I looked carefully, selecting items that were the most suitable to our situation. I also selected a large bag of basic rice and one of plain pasta to add variety to our meat dishes. One last look proved fruitful – two jars of a tomato based pasta sauce were added to my box along with some decent coffee. I added our basic toiletries and made my way to the counter where I unpacked the box into the plastic carrier bags I had brought with me, thus making it easier for me to carry this time around.

The walk home seemed longer than ever after an exhausting day, but I told myself that it would be worth it because I had earned enough money for us to buy some hot food on our walk that night. I would have time to rest up a little first, maybe have a slice of bread and peanut butter to boost my energy, and then I would be ready to go. I staggered in and set the bags down with a groan, bending and stretching my arms to get the blood flowing into my extremities. The room seemed warmer than usual, but I attributed that to the fact that it was absolutely freezing outside. It was then I noticed that the bath was half-full of steaming water.

“Welcome home, love. I thought you could use some pampering this time, so, if you’d like to climb in, I’ll take care of you for a change.” Jasper stood, sleeves rolled up, ready to go, and my face must have been a picture because he just grinned and nodded at the inviting water.

I shed my coat and boots, unbuckling my jeans and stepping out of them, folding them over the back of the chair. He turned away, allowing me a moment of privacy to finish undressing and climb into the blissful heat. I lay back, resting my head against the porcelain, and allowed Jasper to pour water over my chest, my eyes closed at the sensation. He took his time much as I had done for him, running his soapy hands up and over my chest, paying attention to my aching arms, massaging the overworked muscles up and around my shoulders. I all but wilted into his healing hands, letting them ease away the day. His fingers ran up my neck, thumbs working into the muscles under the base of my skull until I could no longer contain the moan of pleasure that escaped my lips.

“Does that feel good, love?” His voice was soft and low in my ear, turning my body to melted butter in his talented hands. “I’d wash your hair, but we’re going out later and I don’t want you catching a chill.”

I tilted back my head. “Why don’t you come in here with me? While it’s still hot.”

He didn’t need asking twice. Sitting in the warm water, wrapped around each other like ivy on an old oak tree, it began to feel a lot like Christmas.

~o.O.o~

Later that evening, wrapped up in layers against the cold, we walked around the neighbourhood, gazing at trees both inside and out that twinkled in the darkness. Homes were decorated with all manner of lights and designs, the world a triumph of colour and joy. I pointed out my favourites to Jasper, the glittering icicles strung along walls, gardens full of brightly lit snowmen, reindeer on the roofs. I noticed that the more animated I became, the more Jas watched me rather than the decorations, his fond smile obvious even beneath a scarf. In the darkness, I reached for his hand, and we walked five blocks to the pizzeria that served slices late into the evening, smelling the glorious aroma before we turned the corner to the restaurant. Pushing open the door, we were assailed by a wave of welcome heat and delicious scents that made my stomach growl. Checking the price board, I saw that basic slices were $3.99 each.

“What would you like?” I looked at Jasper who was reading the choices with wide eyes. I had just brought him to cheese heaven and now he was expected to choose just one. I grinned, realising his dilemma and enjoying it just the tiniest bit. He looked at me just to be sure and I nodded.

“I’d love pepperoni and sausage.” His tongue peeked out between his lips at the mere thought.

“That sounds awesome. I think I’ll have that too.” Checking the money in my pocket, I read the board again. “So the good news is, we can either have an extra topping each, or buy a third slice to share.”

He answered without hesitation. “Let’s share.”

I nodded, sucking my lip. The server came to the counter and I placed our orders, noting that there was a charge to eat-in. He looked around the almost empty room.

“The place is quiet tonight, so if you guys want to sit in and eat, I won’t charge you. I won’t say anything if you don’t.”

I brightened. “Thank you! We’ll do that.” I pointed to a table. “We’ll be over there.”

The server smiled and nodded, and we made our way to a table by the heater, shrugging off our coats to enjoy the toasty warmth in the cosy booth. Our food arrived shortly afterward and we ate slowly, enjoying every last bite. I could tell that Jasper was holding in a groan of appreciation at each cheesy mouthful. When he finished his slice, I offered him the extra piece to take a bite before taking one myself, making sure we both had our share. I split the crust in half and we finished it, sitting back feeling warm and full. I’d never eaten at a restaurant before and it felt wonderful to do something that others took for granted. For that one night we were just two people grabbing a bite to eat before perhaps heading off to a Christmas party, or out for drinks on the town.

Shrugging our coats back on, we shouted our thanks to our server who was in the back, and heard him wish us a good night. With smiles a mile wide, we stepped out into the icy air to catch our bus home.

Jasper snuggled up to me, his lips at my ear.

“Best first date ever.”

~o.O.o~

Waking up on Christmas Eve, I felt inexplicable happiness settle over me like a zephyr wind over pure white sands. Jasper still slept and I gazed at him, at the way his long lashes fluttered when he was dreaming, his hair mussed from the pillow, his face smooth and worry-free. Unable to get out of bed without waking him, I contented myself to lay there, hearing his quieter, regular breathing, unable to stop myself from stroking his hair back from his face. He murmured in his sleep, responding to the caress, making the slow journey toward waking. When his eyes flickered open, I watched them crinkle into a sleepy smile and moved in to hug him good morning.

I wasn’t going to waste a moment of the day. With it being Christmas Eve, the market was packed, people panic buying groceries they could hardly carry, meaning the vendors pointed them my way. Some folk were stressed and thoughtless, barely grunting thanks, but some were grateful, pressing dollar bills into my hand when I had loaded their bags into cars for them. The atmosphere was one of joyful frenzy, the vendors cutting prices to move stock they didn’t want to store after the holidays.

I loved every minute of it. Christmas was all around me and I intended to enjoy every moment.

When the market was closing and I was finishing up, more than a few dropped coins pocketed from the dirt, I heard my name and turned to see Mike calling me. Setting my broom down, I headed back to his food truck, seeing a small group of vendors standing with him including my friends Tony, Sam, Eric and Lauren.

“What’s up, guys?” I pushed a hand through my hair, nervous. Mike spoke, a smile on his face.

“Hope you don’t mind, but we had a little whip round for you to say thanks for all your hard work. Merry Christmas, Edward.”

He held out an envelope and, with a shaky hand, I took it, looking at them all in some confusion. Sliding open the unsealed flap, I pulled out a greetings card that had a snowy Christmas scene on the front, Santa and his reindeer flying in the sky. Inside it had signatures from all the vendors that I had befriended, plus a small plastic card that, on closer inspection, turned out to be a Goodwill gift card for $50. I swallowed hard, not able to find the words to thank them all for such selfless generosity.

“I-I…” I stared at the figure on the card. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you, all of you, so much from me and Jasper. This is unbelievable. You really didn’t have to do this.”

Tony spoke up, his gruff voice unusually quiet.

“We thought maybe you boys could use some warm clothes and some things for your house.” He shuffled his feet. “This way you get to buy what you need.”

I looked at him and nodded, an unspoken understanding between us. Mike was grinning.

I looked around at the familiar faces. “Thank you. You really have no idea how much we appreciate this. Merry Christmas to you too.”

The others dispersed, passing me with friendly claps to the shoulder. Mike hung back.

“Didn’t want to embarrass you in front of the others, but I can’t refreeze the leftover hot dog buns and they’ll be thrown out tonight. Are they of any use to you?”

My eyes widened.

“Sure! That would be awesome!” I followed him to the back of his truck and he handed me a pack of hot dog buns in a plastic bag. I took it, noting that the package was unopened. “Thanks, Mike. This is really decent of you.”

He waved away my thanks with a smile.

“You best get off home. See you after Christmas!” He waved and so did I, my smile a mile wide.

Stopping by Tony’s stand, I collected a healthy-sized bag of fruit and vegetables. According to Tony, they wouldn’t keep past Christmas and I was doing him a favour. On my last stop I procured a jar of honey for Jasper and, throwing caution to the wind after such a good week’s takings, I also bought a decent sized wedge of cheese along with a slice of cake for us to share – the good kind with cream and frosting. However, when Rachel handed it to me I noticed there were two good-sized pieces in the box. She told me that it was the last of it and I might as well take both for the same price.

I could hear the rain outside and knew I would be drenched by the time I got home. Setting down my bags, I pulled up my collar and almost squeaked with fright when someone came up behind me and pulled a hat onto my head, right down over my forehead and halfway down my ears. Looking round I saw Emily giggling, and I felt my head, realising it was her fluffy Santa hat that I now wore. I blushed, my cheeks almost the colour of the fabric. She handed me an old umbrella.

“You can borrow this – I keep it here for emergencies. Merry Christmas, Edward!” With a huge smile, she turned and carried on packing up her stock.

“Merry Christmas, Emily.”

I didn’t know if she heard me. I found the button and the umbrella flicked open. Picking up my bags, I made my way out into the wet, dark evening, heavy sleet stinging any exposed skin it could find, smiling despite the weather.

When I got home, hardly wet at all, Jasper and I discovered that all the food I carried was fresh, the pack of bread showing a use by date of a week in the future, the fruit and vegetables crisp and firm. 

My friends had made sure we had enough to eat for the holidays while the market was closed.

~o.O.o~

The sleet was skittering across the window, the wind whipping it around like rice thrown at a wedding. I heated some water and washed my hair, finishing up with a sponge bath to be fresh after my busy day. Jasper had already bathed while I was out, and I found him dressed in his favourite jeans and blue sweater, looking lovelier to me than any model in a store window.

My clothing options were limited, but Jasper had laid out my clean jeans and the festive sweater, reasoning that at least it was the time of year for it. So, scrubbed clean and dressed in our best, we waited like little boys told not to get dirty before dinner.

I told Jasper all about my day, and showed him the gift card from my friends at the market. He gaped.

“I can’t believe they did that!” He read the Christmas card before standing it on our shelf. “That’s my first ever Christmas card since living here. It almost looks out of place, doesn’t it?” The bright message sparkled from its spot, a tiny holiday beacon in the half-light. “We should make a list of what we need and go together after the holidays.” His eyes were fixed on the greetings card. I went to stand by him, my chin resting on his shoulder, arms around his thin waist.

“We will. They said they did it so we can buy warm clothes and whatever else we need. I’m thinking a kettle if they have one, and a frying pan, but mainly a thick coat for you. Yours isn’t enough in this weather.”

He looked down at my feet. “You need boots, too. We’ll worry about everything else once we have the essentials, plus we don’t know how much things cost. I haven’t been shopping in over two years.”

The only shopping I’d ever done was from the broken clothing bin.

“We’ll go and see what we can find. Maybe they will have lots of donations after Christmas when people get new items as gifts.”

The corner of his mouth curved up. “Let’s hope so, love.”

I had asked Esme to honk the horn if it was wet so that she didn’t need to come in and fetch us. Hearing the sound, we donned our coats and scarves, and headed out to her small silver sedan, greeting her with happy smiles.

She lived a good mile or so beyond the market, and I watched the unfamiliar neighbourhood pass by the window, more upmarket and well-kept than the area we lived in. Here whole housing blocks were decorated, signs in gardens announcing their house had won the ‘Best Holiday House’ award that year. Jasper nudged me.

“That would so be you, if we could decorate.”

I beamed. One day. One day we would live somewhere nicer, and I would make it beautiful for us.

Esme nosed the car into a driveway in front of a modest, but pretty white house in a cul-de-sac.

“Come on in, boys. I’m sure someone’s dying to see you.” She unclipped her seatbelt and opened the door, sleet blowing into the warm interior.

We did the same, climbing out into the wet, following Esme to the small front porch. From inside came loud barks and the sound of scrabbling claws on a wooden floor.

“Only me, Rosie!” The barking immediately turned to whining, a lashing tail visible the minute the door cracked open. Warmth and light escaped the room, welcoming us in. Esme nudged a dancing Rosie back so that we could both squeeze in and close the door. She turned the lock and make a fuss of her panting dog who was in ecstasy at having visitors to play with. I spoke to her and she whipped around to bump into my legs, circling with joy. I knelt and gave her a huge hug, hot breath blasting my face, whimpers of happiness filling my ears.

“Rosie? Say hi to Jasper!”

He bent down to her level and held out his hands. She all but bowled him over in her enthusiasm, her body wriggling with excitement. I laughed at the sight, Jasper giggling at her antics. She turned to me, then to Jasper, then back to me, not knowing where to go first. I heard Esme from the kitchen.

“Rosie! Go lie down and let the boys in for goodness sake!” Obediently, she scampered off, her claws tapping out a melody on the flooring.

We took off our boots, hung our damp coats on the hooks by the door and walked towards her voice and the smell of roasting meat that wafted from the hot kitchen. Esme was setting pans of vegetables on the hob to boil, checking the meat through the oven door. The small kitchen diner was painted a sunshine yellow; to me it reflected Esme’s warmth.

“I hope you like beef. I thought as we’re having turkey tomorrow, you might like something different.”

Jas and I hung back in the doorway, nodding and watching with envy. I was beginning to enjoy the cooking process, but I knew that Jasper would love a proper kitchen with a cooker and hob.

“Smells amazing.” It was hard not to be food oriented when the acquisition of one basic meal was your goal every single day. “Is there anything we can do?”

She turned, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Nothing – everything is on schedule. Shall we go sit down?” She led us down the hallway to her cosy lounge room. The first thing I noticed was the tree in the corner, brightly lit and sparkling with tinsel garlands and glittery ornaments. Jasper watched me for a moment, taking my hand.

“I know you wish we had one. We will one day, I promise.”

I nodded, transfixed for a long moment. Tearing my eyes away, I sat down on the squashy chocolate-brown sofa, imagining how wonderful it would be to sleep on something so comfortable. Looking around, I took in the rich cream walls and drapes, the room tasteful with feminine touches in the deep velvety-red cushions and rug, the vase of flowers on the side table. The room was warm and I was too hot in my thick sweater; I shrugged my arms free, pulling it off over my head, leaving me in my worn tee shirt. I smoothed it down, making sure I was tidy. After a moment I noticed Jasper did the same. It felt good to not be confined beneath so many layers for once. Rosie snuck up to us again and this time a paw was placed on my knee in a blatant bid for attention. Unable to refuse her anything, I leaned over and hugged her, rubbing her sides and neck until she collapsed against me to allow me better access. Jasper chuckled.

“Should I be jealous?”

In response, Rosie’s tail thumped and she leaned towards his voice, unashamedly begging for more.

“Oh, Rosie!” Esme laughter drifted over to us from the door. “You won’t have a minute’s peace – she’s shameless! Feel free to put the TV on – the remote’s on the table.”

Jas and I looked at each other, and he reached for it, examining the buttons before clicking ‘on’. Adjusting the volume down so we could all still talk, we found a movie and settled in to watch, laughing when the ghost of Christmas present, dressed as a fairy, started kicking the heck out of Scrooge to teach him a lesson. Without thinking, I leaned back into Jasper, his arms finding their way around me. We were warm, comfortable and happy to be alive.

When Esme walked back in we didn’t move; knowing that she accepted us for who we were was the best gift of all. I could hear the affection in her voice when she spoke, perching on the edge of her chair to watch a bit of the movie with us.

“Dinner’s almost ready.”

I turned to face her. “Would you like me to set the table?”

“No need, sweetheart, all done. Come through in a couple of minutes and we’ll eat.”

My stomach reminded me it was hungry. I had temporarily forgotten, what with being so warm and relaxed. Evidently Jasper felt the same way. When Esme headed back to the kitchen, he leaned in and kissed me.

“I never knew I could be this hungry. Let’s go and see if there’s anything at all we can do to help.”

I nodded, and we trotted through to the kitchen. The radio was playing carols very quietly in the background. The table was laid with a festive embroidered cloth, a cracker sat by each plate, a candle within a decorative wreath of holly sprigs flickering in the centre of the table. Esme had put the vegetables out for us to help ourselves, and was lifting the meat from the oven. My mouth watered. She transferred it onto a serving dish and closed the oven door.

“Now – I’m not very good at carving so I was hoping one of you could give me a hand?”

Jasper stepped in straight away and began to carve the beef into even slices, looking at Esme to see when to stop.

“Have as much as you’d like. There’s no portion control here! How many slices would you like, Edward?”

I dithered, not wanting to appear greedy. At the soup kitchen, we got two or three small slices of meat when it was a roast. However, Esme took the meat fork and placed a pile of meat onto each of our plates.

“There’s more if you want it, so don’t be shy about asking, okay?”

Mine and Jas’ faces registered bewilderment before bobbing our heads in silent agreement.

“Help yourselves to potatoes and side dishes – the beef gravy’s coming.”

We sat down and took some from each bowl. The roasted potatoes looked amazing and I couldn’t wait to try them. When our plates were loaded, we added the gravy and all sat down together to eat. The beef was divine, the potatoes crispy, the mash buttery. My world was reduced to the plate of food before me and I ate slowly, savouring and experiencing the meal to its fullest. Jasper was doing the same – I could tell by the way his eyes closed when he discovered a new flavour. About a quarter of the way through, I set down my cutlery, took a sip from my glass of water, and had to say something.

“Esme, this is incredible.” Jasper nodded in agreement, his mouth full.

“I’m glad you like it. I have to admit, it’s lovely to have a proper meal at home and company to enjoy it with.”

“I wish we could return the favour. One day we will, I promise you.” I met Jas’ warm eyes and knew he agreed.

Esme cocked her head, set down her knife, and reached across to rub my wrist.

“I know you will. I have no doubt about that.”

I ducked my head, catching Jas’ eye. He too set down his knife and fork, and picked up his water glass in a toast.

“Esme, we haven’t known each other for very long, but I want to thank you for looking out for Edward when I couldn’t, and for extending the hand of friendship to us. I know Edward has thanked you, but it’s important to me to say it too. Bless you for your kindness. When we have a proper home of our own, you will be the first person invited over, I promise you.”

“Hear hear!” We all lifted our glasses and clinked, and I leaned across to peck a kiss to his cheek, turning him from brave to bashful in a heartbeat.

When we had done and all plates were empty, we pulled crackers and read bad jokes to each other, giggling. Paper hats sat on our heads, small prize gifts before each of us. I thought the little sewing kit from my cracker could come in quite useful. Esme fetched a large biscuit tin and set it on the table, throwing a cheeky smile at Jasper that confused him until she removed the lid. Inside sat his favourite cake and his face was alight with happiness for a moment until it dropped.

“Love? What is it?”

His voice was a whisper. “I’m really full. I don’t think I can eat any.” He sounded so distraught that I wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him into me. Esme replaced the lid with a chuckle.

“Don’t worry, Jasper. I’m so happy you enjoyed your dinner – it’s a lovely compliment. Now, how about a coffee? I reckon after a movie or a board game you’ll have a bit of room for cake once your dinner’s gone down. In fact I know you will. I’ll cut us some later – we don’t want Rosie stealing it from the plates, and she would!”

Hearing her name, paws approached, stopping at the kitchen door.

“In a minute!” Esme called out to her and was answered with a wag.

I stood up. “Let me help you clean up. I can wash.” I looked around at the clean kitchen, confused, no signs of cooking evident.

“No need. Everything is in the dishwasher. I just need to switch it on once we’re done in here.”

“Oh… is there nothing I can do?” I felt bad for not pitching in in some way.

“You can make yourself comfortable and relax. That’s all you need to do tonight.”

I swallowed and nodded. “Okay – we can do that.”

She led the way from the kitchen and then paused, remembering something.

“You boys come with me and let me show you to your room.” She led the way to the end of the hallway, opening a door at the end. The small room was furnished in soft blue, a double bed covered with a duvet and a comforter in the centre. The room was toasty warm, a radiator on the wall beneath the window. “I hope you’ll be comfortable. And here…” she opened the next door along, “is the bathroom. I took the liberty of stocking it with a few things for you.” She pointed to a large washbag sat on the side. “You should have everything you need. The shower heats its own water, so there’s no danger of running out.” 

My eyes took in the shower cubicle, knowing I would have to try that out. To wash in a warm room was too great a temptation. We both gaped like children before stuttering our thank you’s which she brushed off in that sweet way of hers.

Back in the lounge room the tree sparkled in the dimmed light, the room full of chatter and laughter. We sat on the floor around a scrabble board trying our hardest to outwit each other. Neither of us had played before, but we took to it like pros. Despite wanting to win, Jasper helped me when I got stuck, the two of our heads together, scheming. Rosie lay at my side, her head on my knees. The game was eventually won by Jasper who got lucky with a triple word score on his last play. Even he admitted it was a fluke, but took great delight in his win regardless. I was proud for him.

When we packed the game away, Esme suggested a movie. We had no idea what to choose so she put on a favourite of hers called Miracle on 34^th Street and we settled in to watch. Halfway through, she disappeared into the kitchen and returned with coffee and big slices of Jasper’s favourite sponge cake. We discovered we were hungry enough now, and the cake disappeared quickly, both of us licking our fingers to not waste a scrap. Esme’s knowing smile could not be contained when she collected the plates. By the time the movie ended, Jasper and I were curled up together on the sofa, revelling in being warm and dry. There was a Christmas show on the TV with lots of singing, and I know I dozed off for a little while, my belly full and content. When I woke I could feel something warm draped over me, some kind of soft blanket, and gentle fingers in my hair. I heard talking, but kept my eyes closed, drifting, snuggled in Jasper’s arms.

“…he works so hard. Until you two met, he was working all day for us on nothing more than an apple and water. I still don’t know how he kept going, but he never complained. He just said he had to try harder. I’m so proud of him, of how much he’s achieved all on his own. I wouldn’t have made it without him. Did he tell you he rang the doctor and got me more meds? I was an idiot, but he made sure I would be okay, just like he always does.” I felt a kiss on my head. “He’s my Christmas miracle.”

To hear Jasper talking so openly was new. It meant he trusted Esme like I did, and felt able to tell her things about our life together that no one else knew. No matter what the future held for us, he had learned to accept friendship, and I knew how hard that was when your life was based on survival, when trust was impossible because on the street, no one’s motives were pure.

I stirred, and heard Jasper’s soft drawl.

“Hey. Look’s who’s back.” I opened my sleepy eyes and tilted my head. With a secret smile just for me, he pecked a kiss to my lips, making me blush. Esme didn’t seem at all perturbed, her expression so fond that I wished she too could have what we had.

~o.O.o~

Being so warm and snug meant it was hard to fend off the yawns that threatened to break our jaws. A little after ten we admitted defeat and said goodnight to Esme, each giving her a hug on our way to bed. In the bathroom I took a look in the bag Esme had left for us and found razors, deodorant, shower gel and shampoo, toothpaste and brushes. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, leaving the door ajar for Jas. When he was done, we closed the door to get undressed, realising that for once we didn’t need to wear layers, only our underwear. Before we climbed into bed we heard whining at the door and grinned, cracking it open to let Rosie in to say goodnight.

Slipping beneath a duvet was a new experience. I was used to feeling weight on me when I slept and I was glad to have the comforter. Soft, plump pillows cradled our heads, a clean laundry fragrance wafting around us. It was as it we were sleeping in a cloud. Another new experience for me was something I had dreamed of – the feel of Jasper’s warm, bare skin against mine, being enveloped in him when his arms pulled me close. The sensation was so intimate I couldn’t speak, wanting to drown in his eyes. My hands moved of their own accord, exploring the muscles of his back down to the swell of his ass, nudging his nose until I could capture his lips.

His hands mimicked mine, stroking my back, but avoiding going beyond it. My leg crooked around his, holding him close against me and I felt his body stir, my eyes widening in realisation. He felt me freeze and pulled away just enough to murmur against my lips.

“Love, its fine. You know I don’t expect anything from you, and especially not here, in someone else’s home. It’s just feeling you almost naked next to me is beyond anything I expected…it’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

The lump in my throat was making it impossible to speak. His lips slid to my jaw to nuzzle my neck and a wave of unexpected heat coursed through my body. I clung to him, my body responding to his, crying out for his touch. It was too much and we slowed it down, our lips lazily brushing over each other’s to calm our breathing, hands stilling, revelling in the heat of newly discovered intimacy. I slept that night with Jasper spooning me like he used to, holding me close and keeping me safe, whispering declarations of love in my ear.

When I woke I forgot where I was for a moment, looking over at Jasper who lay watching me, a lazy grin on his face.

“What time is it?”

“Early, around seven I think. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well.”  I knew what he meant.

My face flushed at the memory of the previous night, not regretting a moment. “I wish it could be like that every night.” My eyes lowered. I like sleeping skin to skin, it feels…”

“Right?”

I let out an embarrassed chuckle. “Exactly that. I’ve thought about it for some time now. Never thought I’d get to do it… at least not until the summertime. I always sleep well in your arms - I slept better without clothes in the way too.”

“I’ve missed holding you.” His forefinger skated along my jawline before he dipped his head to kiss me good morning. I sank into it, having no control around my boy.

“We should get up, maybe have a shower. Hot water!” His face was excited at the prospect. I nodded then, knowing we should get up, but wanting to stay with Jasper in this warm cocoon for as long as I could.

“One more kiss first?” My voice was sleep-rough and Jasper seemed to melt, only able to nod. Scooting over, he gently pinned me to the mattress, capturing my lips and kissing me long and deep, his tongue touching mine and sending shudders all the way to my toes. We finally parted, intoxicated and panting, huge smiles on our faces.

“Happy Christmas, love.”

“Happy Christmas, love, always.”

Dragging ourselves out of bed, we took a shower, one at a time, using every product Esme had provided. The towels were dry and warmed, and I dressed while Jas finished up in the bathroom. Our hair still a bit damp, we made our way to the kitchen to make coffee. I heard clicking behind us and saw Rosie was up and ready for some attention and breakfast.

“You’ll have to wait, Rosie Rose – I don’t know where your mistress keeps your dinner.” She stayed close while we made three cups of coffee, taking ours through to the lounge room to enjoy.

Esme appeared a few minutes later, looking relaxed and lovely.

“You’re up! Merry Christmas, boys!”

We grinned and returned the sentiment.

“Coffee’s in the kitchen, Esme, and Rosie wants breakfast. If you feed her, we can take her out for you.”

I heard her filling Rosie’s bowl and refreshing her water. She returned holding her coffee, placing it on the table to rummage under her Christmas tree. We watched, not paying too much attention after the lovely evening and sleep we had had, and so it was a shock to see her pull out three parcels, a big grin on her face.

“I know you don’t want charity, but its Christmas and I decided I had the right to buy you a present if I wanted to. And, being Christmas, you can’t say no!”

She looked really pleased with her reasoning and I shook my head.

“You’re too much, you know that?”

She cocked her head and handed us each a similarly shaped package, bearing labels that simply said ‘with love from Esme’. Looking at each other, we set down our coffee and slowly tore the paper to reveal hot water bottles in soft, warm covers. Something so simple that other folk no doubt took for granted, but without any heat in our room it was so very hard to get and stay warm. These were perfect. It meant she hadn’t failed to notice the temperature when she came over, but was too polite to say anything.

“Are they okay?” She was biting her lip. “It’s going to get so cold and I want you both to keep warm. Which leads me to this one which should come in handy.” She pushed over a larger box that had both our names on with the same sentiment as before. I picked it up and placed it between myself and Jas to open together. When the first strip of paper tore away, I gasped, stopping. Jasper did the same when he realised what she had done. The box showed a picture of the item inside, but we still opened it carefully, thinking it too good to be true. When the lid opened to reveal the contents, I felt happy tears run down my face.

That dear sweet lady had bought us a kettle to go with the bottles. Unable to speak, I pulled her into a tight hug that she returned every bit as fiercely, releasing me only to hug Jasper too. Trying to stop the tears in her eyes from falling, she sniffed hard.

“It’ll be faster and cheaper than using your hotplate all the time too when you want drinks.” She dabbed her eyes and Jas and I hugged each other tight. “Plus it allows you to spend your money on those boots you need instead. Merry Christmas, sweethearts. So – what would you like for breakfast?”

Once we had eaten slices of hot buttered toast and finished our coffee, Esme stood, seeing Rosie come trotting into the room looking for us.

“Right, so I believe you mentioned giving this girl her morning constitutional? It’s not raining this morning either which is good. She’ll enjoy a good run. I’ll start getting ready for the soup kitchen. By the time you get back, we’ll be ready to make a move. The early shift will already be getting a start on the turkeys.”

She fetched Rosie’s leash and I clipped it on, watching her skip with excitement. Bags ready in my pocket, Jasper and I headed for the door to fetch our coats, scarves and gloves, before stepping out, hand in hand.

The cold hit us, a slap in the face after the warmth we had enjoyed. For a while we just walked, Rosie sniffing at everything in her path.

“So this is Christmas. I always wondered what all the fuss was about.” Jasper’s tone was light, almost disbelieving, and I squeezed his hand.

“I wish there was something we could do for her. I tried so hard to think of something all yesterday, but I don’t have anything to offer her.”

“There must be something, some way we can thank her for the amazing food and the even more amazing bed. That was the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had.” I knew what he meant. Feeling properly rested was a wonderful feeling not to be underestimated.

“We’ll stay warmer if we wear hats to bed. We should add those to our shopping list. I heard you lose a lot of heat through the head.”

He nodded, watching Rosie look up at me while we walked.

“This is nice, I can see why you enjoy doing it. She’s a lovely dog, aren’t you, girl?” Rosie’s ears pricked, knowing she was being talked about. “She certainly likes you. Dogs can sense when someone is kind.”

I nudged him with my shoulder and we walked on, hearing squeals from within the houses, Santa having delivered to them all.

~o.O.o~

When we arrived back at Esme’s, she was loading her car with boxes for the kitchen. I spotted the biscuit tin with the cake and smiled – Jasper would hopefully get a second slice with his lunch that day. Offering to help, she let me bring out the box of gifts for the attendees, and also packed away our gifts into a corner of the trunk in a separate bag for when we went home afterwards. I noticed there were other items in with our things, but I guessed they were for her friends at the kitchen, rather than for the attendees. When the car was all packed and Rosie was inside with a chew toy to keep her entertained, we were ready for the off.

The drive to the kitchen was short – the roads were all but devoid of traffic. The kitchen wasn’t open for another few hours and so I thought we might as well pitch in and help the other volunteers. There was a real tree in the corner, covered with lights, its fragrance filling the space. Esme sent me over with a box of decorations, while Jasper was introduced to the other cooks and set the task of peeling pounds of potatoes. He took to it with gusto, impressing the other workers. Christmas music was playing from an old boom box by the window, and I heard the scraping of chairs and tables being set up for the masses. They were expecting a big turn out today, and so there were far more places needed. The volunteers were all in good spirits, singing and humming along to the music, and I thought to myself that if I was going to bring Jasper here for his first meal, I couldn’t have chosen a better day.

When I had finished with the tree, I hung garlands along the serving line to add some additional festive cheer to the day. The room was starting to fill with the scent of roasting turkey. I helped peel and chop alongside Jasper, the two of us making a good team. The knives we were using were certainly a lot sharper than ours, I noted.

Time flew by. I helped lay the tables with festive paper cloths, sprigs of holly in jars dotted along the centres. Three boxes were stood at the end of the food line, marked ‘girl’, ‘boy’ and ‘child’. These were then filled with the gifts provided by the volunteers. Esme’s were brought in from the car and placed into the ‘boy’ box.

When everything was ready, and we had cleared away peelings and dirty utensils, the food line was set up ready for serving. I carried the plates over to the start of the line, Jasper carrying the trays to their spot just inside the door where customers first came in. The turkeys were out of the oven and covered, ready to carve, the side dishes laid out ready to serve. Then there was nothing more we could do.

When the doors opened, a queue had already formed. The volunteers served Jasper and I from behind the line, thanking us for our help, and we took our food and drink to the nearest table and sat down to enjoy our first ever Christmas lunch. With the carols playing in the background, the lights twinkling on the beautiful tree, and gifts being handed out to each customer, there was an air of jollity that I had not witnessed before at the kitchen. Those with so little came together in the spirit of Christmas, to eat, be with their fellow man, and be thankful for what the day brought.

When it was time for our gifts, I saw Esme pick two from her donations and place them on our trays with a knowing smile.

Opening them, we each found we had been given a warm beanie hat – exactly what we had wanted.

It was enough to make you believe in Santa.

~o.O.o~