He’d gone and got himself into a mess with Jacob. A big mess. A giant humongous rip-your-heart-out one. He was in love with his big stubborn, gorgeous Daddy, and in another few days, two weeks at the absolute maximum if he was lucky, Jacob would be gone and Lucas would never see him again.
He didn’t know how he was going to survive. Jacob knew all his secrets, hadn’t laughed or made fun of him, but helped him work things out. There were even three packages on the kitchen floor unopened, and Lucas was pretty sure they were for him. The deliveries had all been badly delayed with the holiday rush, but they were here, and Lucas was so tempted to peek.
He eyed the three boxes of trimmings he’d pulled in out of the garage as well. Daddy had said he couldn’t reach anything without a stool, and he might get hurt, so he had to wait until Daddy could help. But he hadn’t suggested decorating all week, and today was Lucas’s last chance.
Lucas was screwed all round and had no idea what to do. Part of him wanted to say to hell with it and do what he liked, and part of him wanted to run away. Not that he had anywhere to go. He’d found out from their old neighbor when the toys from Ben’s playroom had been collected that Terry had the house up for sale. Apparently, he was in trouble financially and would be lucky if the house covered all his debts. He didn’t know how Mrs. Jamison knew everything, including the house was being sold fully furnished, but she had been delighted to see Lucas and eagerly told him all the news.
And he’d been selfishly glad. It might be the season of goodwill, but Terry was finally getting what was coming to him, and Lucas couldn’t wish it on a more deserving person. Jacob had chuckled when he told him and said he hoped he never upset Lucas.
He’s going to though.
Lucas looked again at the boxes of holiday decorations. In his head he dreamed of Jacob and Lucas doing it together. Then they would have the yummy dinner he had in the Crock-Pot, and then they would finish off with spiked hot chocolate and movies.
Or even better, Lucas could try on what he was sure was in one of the boxes. But what was the point? Jacob wouldn’t have called the Realtor unless his decision had been made, but then the message didn’t say how long ago the appointment had been arranged. It was usual for people to confirm nearer the time. It could easily mean Jacob had made the appointment a few weeks ago but had delayed it so they could get the house ready.
Lucas chewed the inside of his cheek and stopped crying. Maybe he had another chance? Maybe this was in fact his last chance? Maybe he should say to hell with everything and have the best Christmas Eve of his life?
Lucas pulled on his lip in indecision, then decided he would make the house sparkle before Daddy came home. He could drag in one of the kitchen chairs. Vertically challenged, he’d been managing a very long time, and if Daddy wasn’t here, then it was Daddy’s own fault. Determined, he carried all the boxes into the living room and unpacked everything.
The tree was beautiful itself. It was green with white-tipped frosting on the ends of the branches made to look like snow and had lights already attached which worked perfectly. Lucas went up and down the kitchen chair like a little monkey and worked furiously to get everything ready. He found a small lantern set with tea lights that he arranged above the fireplace, and when he’d finished, he checked the time and saw it was already past two o’clock and he was surprised Daddy had been gone that long. He wasn’t complaining though because it had given him the time he needed. The third box looked like it had been dropped at some point because there were some broken ornaments in there, so he’d taken it back to the garage. He stood looking at the tree, wishing he had something for the top, a star, or…a fairy. Immediately knowing exactly what he could put up there, Lucas raced upstairs and grabbed it from where it was buried in with his socks. Then he stopped and walked into the bathroom. He was dusty and could really do with a shower.
Grinning, Lucas took a very fast shower, being very thorough in certain special places to make sure he was clean for when Jacob got home, then opened the drawer with some of his new clothes in and fingered the pair of purple panties. Lucas smiled as he pulled them on. Presents went under the Christmas tree, and Jacob wasn’t going to need to unwrap this one.
Lucas glanced at the time on his phone and smiled at the text from Jacob saying he would be home by three at the latest. Lucas sent him a reply and added a little heart emoji.
He walked downstairs, imagining the look on Jacob’s face when he saw Lucas dressed in nothing but purple silk, and climbed on the kitchen chair one last time so he could reach out to fasten the fairy on top of the tree.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Lucas jumped at Jacob’s bellow, and his foot slipped. For a breathless second, Lucas seemed to hang from the back of the chair, but then it tipped and Lucas slid, knowing he was going to fall, and knowing there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop it happening.
Jacob took a shaky breath as he exited the therapist’s office. It had been hard again, but he knew it was helping. He had fifteen minutes before he met Andy Lawson, who he knew he would owe all sorts of favors to for dragging the poor guy out at this time on Christmas Eve when his office party was in full swing, but when Jacob had told him what he wanted, Andy had made a quick phone call to the selling agent, and the deal was done.
Twenty minutes later because traffic was a beast, Jacob climbed out of his car and remembered the only other time he’d done this journey just around four weeks ago. At least Terry’s house wasn’t full of loud music and drunks this time, but it looked sad and uncared for, and Jacob was glad Lucas wasn’t here to see it. He turned as a black SUV pulled up, and smiled and shook hands with Andy when he had gotten out of the car. “I really appreciate you doing this.”
Andy grinned. “Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how pleased Stephanie is with me? I told her I would be straight home after this, and she’s arranging our own Christmas party just for the two of us.” Andy waggled his eyebrows, and Jacob chuckled. Andy had confessed they had been bickering for a month. Stress with work, unhappiness over not getting pregnant, and Andy was getting worried they were even going to stay together. He’d told her he was abandoning the Christmas party and doing a favor for an old friend, and she’d told him that instead of going to her mother’s that evening, which had been another argument, she was going to stay home and wait for him.
Andy put his code into the Realtor’s lockbox to retrieve the door key and unlocked it. He waved at Jacob. “Take your time. I have some phone calls to make. I want to find out if there’s anyone still delivering flowers today,” he added sheepishly, which gave Jacob another idea.
He jogged upstairs and went straight to the bedroom Lucas had taken him to before, but it was empty save for a cheap dresser and an old bed. All the other rooms were the same, so disappointed he came back downstairs. He’d been hoping for some paintings or photographs, but there wasn’t anything personal.
Jacob caught sight of a small table tucked behind the stairs and wondered if that was the one Lucas had mentioned. He scanned the other rooms quickly. Technically they were furnished, he guessed, but if he was buying the house, he’d want everything cleared out. The couch even still smelled vaguely of beer.
“I just want the hall table,” Jacob confirmed. Andy nodded and got on the phone to the sales agent. Five minutes later after parting with a ridiculous amount of money for a small table, Jacob shook hands with Andy after they had loaded it into his trunk and wished him a good evening. Andy had done the same and grinned.