The Santa Mug Read online

  Max took the box and opened the lid. He pulled out a brightly painted Santa mug and held it up as he studied it carefully. “I wouldn’t have thought it was possible for Santa to wink salaciously,” he said.

  Darren laughed, hard. There was an edge to the sound that had little to do with simple joy. He took the mug back and cradled it in his hands as Max joined in. His laughter also had a slight edge, but after a moment he stopped.

  Darren looked at him curiously. “What is it?” he asked, still grinning.

  “There’s something inside,” Max said cautiously.

  Darren turned the mug and peered inside. A slip of paper was wedged in at the bottom. He tweezed the paper out between two fingers and set the mug down as he looked to Max for reassurance, who nodded.

  Darren unfolded the paper and scanned it, reading the words written in Marlon’s neat, precise script. His eyes watered and tears began coursing down his cheeks. He handed the paper to Max, who read it aloud:

  Darry, my sweet, beautiful boy. By the time you read this, I will be talking to my boss, telling him face-to-face, and without reservation, that I quit. You were right, Darry. No job is worth what we have together, you and I. Your love is worth more to me than anything in this world. You are the absolute center of my universe, and I love you, forever.

  I asked Maxie to bring this to you, rather than deliver it myself, because I am afraid. I’m afraid my walking away like that hurt you too much to forgive me. I should have dropped everything and taken you in my arms right then and never let you go, but I let my obligations get the best of me, which is stupid, because I realize now that you are the only obligation I want, or need. I hope that if you’re reading this, it’ll mean we can talk, at least. I miss you already, Darry. I miss your smile, and I miss your touch, and I miss the way you frown at me when I bring home something silly, like this mug.

  I promise when I get home, we’ll talk. Maybe talk about moving to someplace warm all year long. (I’m really hating the snow right now!) but especially we’ll talk about us. I want there to be an us, baby. I want it to be us, forever. I want us to grow old together, watching the stars come out and making love under the Christmas tree and having you grump at my stupid sense of humor. I even want us to be able to fight sometimes so we can make up afterward, but maybe not too much of that. As that moldy old song says, ‘I want you to want me.’ I hope you still do.

  I love you Darry, always.

  P.S. If Maxie is still there, give him a great big wet kiss on the lips for me, but don’t tell him what it’s for. I just know he’ll blush. Ha, ha.

  Take care, baby! I’ll be home soon.

  Darren picked up the grinning Santa mug and cradled it in his lap. Tears coursed down his cheeks and splashed the mug, giving its cheerful wink the appearance of regret. “He said he was turning around,” Darren whispered. “The connection was so bad, I could only make out a few words.” He looked beseechingly at Max. “At first, I thought he had decided not to go, but I played it over and over so often in my head I began to think he had something else in mind. Especially with that look on his face when he left.” Darren absently wiped the moisture from the mug’s face. “When you brought this and said it might be bad news, I wasn’t really surprised.”

  Max slid closer and folded his hands around Darren’s and the mug. “I’m glad it was good news after all.”

  “I hated myself that he died because he had turned around. If he had kept on going, he might still be alive today.”

  “You can’t know that, Darren. It was a bad storm.” He squeezed Darren’s hands for emphasis, pressing the round contours of the mug into Darren’s palms. “There’s only one thing that truly matters, Darren. He loved you, right to the end.” Max wrapped his arms around Darren’s shoulders, drawing him in. They sat that way, bathed in the light from the gleaming Christmas tree and warmed by each other’s company. After a time, Max scooped up the piece of paper and carefully refolded it. He stood and drew Darren to his feet. “Come on. We’ve got one more ornament to hang.” He led Darren to the Christmas tree and pried the mug from his hands. Max chose a branch near the center of the tree and slid it through the handle, pushing the cup in deep so it would have no chance of falling off. He handed the paper to Darren who tucked it carefully back into the mug. Max put an arm around Darren’s waist, and they stood together, looking at the mug, and the tree that showcased it.

  “It’ll be our first ornament together,” Max said. “A reminder of all three of us.”

  Darren, still struck by the revelations of Marlon’s note, spoke softly as he leaned his head on Max’s shoulder. “I should have believed in him,” Darren said. “I should have known that he still loved me.”

  “Yes, baby,” Max replied. “He loved you all the way to the end, and so will I.”

  Got Mistletoe Madness?

  The Dreamspinner Press 2009 Advent Calendar is available at http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com.

  About the Author

  Born during one of the worst fires in L.A. history, Patric Michael escaped to the foothills of the Cascade Range where the world is a lot more green, even in summer.

  His wide-ranging and varied career, from ship building to making special effects movie props, has given him enough material for a lifetime of stories.

  He constantly reinvents himself with each new thing he creates. Now, it is as a writer of what he loves to read, but only when he can convince the cat that his keyboard isn’t the only place in the house to sleep.

  Visit Patric’s web site at http://www.patricmichael.com and his blog at http://blogs.patricmichael.com.

  Copyright

  The Santa Mug ©Copyright Patric Michael, 2009

  Published by

  Dreamspinner Press

  4760 Preston Road

  Suite 244-149

  Frisco, TX 75034

  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design by Mara McKennen

  This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

  Released in the United States of America

  December 2009

  eBook Edition

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-61581-335-3