Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2019 14:00:11 +0000 From: Brayon Hopper Subject: My Christmas Joy Please consider giving a donation to Nifty, to help keep this free service going. **** Christmas Joy "Merry Christmas!" Dean yelled as he walked in through the door. A large bag of gifts trailed in his wake as he walked across my small one-bedroom apartment and stood in front of the Christmas tree. I closed the door and followed him the few feet to the tree. He was dressed in dark jeans, which hugged his gorgeous backside, and a simple t-shirt that equally hugged his powerful chest. I could smell his cologne from where I stood. He always used too much. He smiled over his shoulder at me, as he kneeled down and started to unload the gifts and place them under and on the tree. "Lovely tree you did this year. It's much better than the small, fake, dancing and singing one you used last year." "I love my dancing tree! Reminds me of Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy." The main room of my apartment isn't big; it's barely big enough for two La-Z-Boy chairs, an entertainment center, and a small café table and two chairs for a dining area. But I had managed to shove a 6ft.6in. Douglas Fir into the corner and trimmed it in festive holiday fashion. The smell of its natural Pine Scent filled the apartment. I went white with the lights, mainly because I couldn't find any colored strands at the corner store. The tinsel sparkled with the light the LED bulbs gave off. My mother's ornaments trimmed the tree, with the special one, a small pottery piece of two mice sleeping in a walnut shell, hung at eye level. Dean finished unloading the gifts, stood up and faced me. His perfect brown eyes and chestnut brown hair glowed as he smiled at me. "That's a lot of presents. Are we expecting others besides us?" I asked, as I walked over to my boyfriend, gave him a big bear hug, and a long passionate kiss. "No one, but for us and the people we invited," Dean said and kissed me again. "Afterwards, yes there will be more. Or, did you forget dinner with your parents?" "No, I didn't forget, as much as I tried to." It had been over three years since I went to Christmas dinner with the family. We were to meet at my Grandparents for a late dinner, and exchange presents. "Is that what the extra gifts are for?" "Yes. Because I knew you wouldn't get anyone anything." I tried to pout and quickly turned my back to Dean, so he wouldn't see me grin. "Alright... but I did get them Christmas cards and a pre-paid gift card as well. Not the cheap ones either." "Oh, Alex... What am I going to do with you?" Next thing I knew, I was in his lap in one of the recliners, being held against my will, and in the middle of a tickle fight. After some playful and vain attempts to get away, accompanied by laughter, I resolved myself and just sat there. I couldn't help but snuggle into Dean's arms. "Why can't we stay in?" I asked. "Because. Your Mother misses you, from what Jace said, your Grandmother laid down the law to the Homophobes." Dean quickly kissed me before he added, "She misses you, too." "I miss them as well." It was a soft response, and I was on the verge of tears. It had been a long and painful three years with no contact with my family. But I made something of myself in those three years and have a wonderful boyfriend. "There's something I want you to open. I know you usually wait till later, but I want you to have it before we go." Dean slid out from under me and had me sit still while he fetched a present from the tree. It was a medium size box, a perfect cube, with a lid. Both parts were individually wrapped and tied together with a ribbon. He handed it to me and stepped back to watch. I undid the knot of ribbon, as he avidly watched me. My hands were on each side of the lid as I slid it off. "I hope you like it. It is totally unique, one of a kind, just like you." Dean said, as the lid finally gave way. Inside the box, I spied a Teddy Bear, from Build-a-Bear. I couldn't help but laugh out loud as I took the bear out of the box. It was a fluffy one, made of light brown fur, with green eyes, and black-rimmed glasses. It wore a Christmas Sweater, decorated with Reindeer and a Santa Bear. I loved it. "You want me to take a Teddy Bear with me, to my Grandmother's?" I asked, a bit skeptical. "No. I want you to take what Teddy is guarding." He pointed at the box, and sure enough, there was another box in there. This time, the box was small and made of black felt. My heart stopped, and a lump formed in my throat. I took the smaller box out and opened it to reveal a man's gold ring. It was adorned with blue sapphires and crystal-clear diamonds across the top. It was an expensive piece. I sat in shocked silence, mouth hanging open, and looked up to Dean. "Alex. You are my everything. I love you and want you by my side for the rest of our lives together. Will you marry me?" Dean asked with a quiver in his voice. In my shock, I hadn't noticed he had moved to be kneeling in front of me. He took the ring from the box and slid it on my finger. I stared at the ring and back at him. It felt like time had stopped, and I sat there for hours before I responded. It had actually only been thirty seconds, when I answered, "Yes!" I exclaimed. "Yes, I will marry you." I reached out, and latched onto him, and pulled Dean into a passionate kiss. Tears flowed freely down our faces, and laughter filled my apartment, as the joy-filled us. This would be a Christmas to remember, and one my Mother and Grandmother, would both be equally shocked over. Chapter 2: Dinner at Grandmother's House We pulled up to my grandparent's house just after 6:30 pm. Dean and I sat in the car, with him holding my hand as I looked at the front door from the road. So many happy memories brought tears to my eyes, along with the pain of the last three years. The house was an old one along the Hillsborough River, sitting on a huge corner lot that may well have been an acre of land. Unheard of in the City, but it was built in the early 1920s and was marked as a historical landmark. There were two buildings, the main house, and a detached garage that had a three-bedroom apartment atop it. Landscaping was pristine, as my Grandmother always wanted it kept. The banyan tree in the backyard grew taller than the house. I spent many years climbing that tree and remembered the sleepovers with the cousins in the garage apartment. It all flooded out in the form of tears. "It's ok, hun," Dean said, as he gave my hand a squeeze. "When you're ready, we'll go up." "Thanks, babe," I said, and leaned in to kiss my fiancé. He let go of my hand and grabbed a napkin he kept in the center counsel and wiped the tears from my face. I don't know why he chose me, he's so much better than I. With the tears under control and no red puffy eyes, we stepped out of the car. Dean grabbed the bag of gifts, and we walked to the front door. "I don't know why I'm so damn nervous," I said. My heart was racing. "Relax, Alex. You're here because your grandmother wants you to be. If anyone says anything, well fuck them! That's their issue, not yours." Dean put his arm around me and held me close. I pressed the doorbell when we got to door. It was only a couple minutes before we were escorted inside by my cousin Jace, who announced that Dean and I had arrived. We made our way through the house which had been decorated in festive fashion. Each room was dressed in a different Christmas theme, which was my Grandmother's handiwork. She always did that for the holidays. Smells of the dinner cooking in the kitchen filled the air, along with other scents from candles, evoking visions of the Holidays. The Christmas tree was in the den, a Douglas fir, decorated in white lights. A smile crossed my face as I saw the tree, and how similar it looked to mine at my apartment. Dean dropped the bag of presents off in the den, while I was assaulted with hugs, and kisses from my Mother, Grandmother, and several of the cousins. To my surprise, my notoriously homophobic Uncle shook my hand and clapped me on the shoulder. Dean didn't get away unassaulted either. After I introduced him to my Grandmother, she enveloped him in a hug which said, 'welcome to the family,' and planted a huge kiss on his cheek. Dinner came and went, with small talk and questions. My Uncle took me aside and apologized for his behavior towards me. I accepted his apology. Eventually, we all settled down in the den, and presents were given out. We're a big family, so most of the time we would draw names for gifts. No one knew I was coming, so I wasn't expecting anything for me. To my surprise, there were six gifts for me. Three from my Grandmother, who got me one each year I was gone, and one from Jace, my Mother, and my formerly homophobic uncle. I was surprised. The gifts Dean bought, and the cards with the gift cards in them that I bought, were handed out to everyone, even the people that made my life Hell. We had brought them stuff as well. "Hey, Alex," my cousin Jace called, "What's that on your hand?" My heart started pounding as I looked around, all eyes turned to me. A lump grew in my throat, and I looked around at those gathered. Dean poked me in the ribs to get me to move and say something. "It's my engagement ring," I said in a nervous and small voice. I extended my hand to show Jace a thick gold band with clear diamonds and blue sapphires inlaid along the top. "Ooh yes. That is one nice ring!" Jace exclaimed in approval. "Come here, let me see it," my Grandmother said. I stood up and felt Dean pat me on the shoulder, as I moved across the room to her. I held my hand out and noticed it was trembling. My Grandmother took my hand and looked the ring over and nodded approvingly. "So, have you set a date yet?" "No, we haven't." "Good," she said in a voice that didn't give a hint to why it was good. "Um... why?" I asked. My nerves were making me think my dinner would make an appearance soon. "Well... I'm paying for it, so I'm going to need time to make the arrangements for you," she said in a tone that was both final, and full of love. "I'm happy for you Alex. Dean get over here and get him before he faints. We'll work on details later. Your Mother and I will make sure you two are properly wed. Consider it another Christmas gift." Dean moved over and put his arm around me smiling and helped me to the couch. The family broke out in praise, as everyone came over and wished us well, and wanted to see the ring. For three years, I felt these people hated me. There were words said that I never thought would be able to be forgiven, on all sides. I was truly shocked by this Christmas' turn of events. They say miracles do happen, and I was fortunate to have seen one with my own eyes. The End