“You have to start first.”
Herb realized how right she was. “That is this Christmas. That’s our start. And thanks to you, we’ll begin a beautiful tradition.”
Sage had banana bread all over his face, and Herb pointed out, “Clean him up in case Basil comes over and sees he’s been eating sugar. You’ll hear a rant and kill my plans.”
“Yeah, so? I give my grandson what I want. Basil ate chocolate before he would touch pears or peaches. I had to add a little sugar just to get him to eat baby food. He’s so infuriating.”
Herb agreed. Basil had become the dictator daddy, and Herb understood why, he just didn’t know how to change his mind.
The planning was actually fun, he found. Mostly because he pictured it all in his mind, Basil’s face filled with happy surprise, them dancing, eating by candlelight, kissing and snuggling on the couch, looking at the tree lights. He could see it all, moment to moment, and he grew so excited, he nearly let the cat out of the bag when Basil saw him dreamily smiling one afternoon close to Christmas.
“I’m thinking…I mean, it’s Sage’s first Christmas. That’s really special, right?”
“Of course, and I agree. I meant to tell you. Mrs. Seagar, she crochets the sweetest blankets, and she is making one for Sage, using the yarn colors I picked.”
“It’s two days until Christmas. Is it going to be ready on time?”
Basil squirmed for once. That was usually Herb’s job. “I…paid extra for her to get it finished by Christmas Eve.”
Herb didn’t chide him in the least. “I’m so glad. Okay, baby, but that’s it. This kid has a lot of gifts here and at your mom's. There must be ten for him over there, and as many for each of the twins.”
Then he realized he had stuck his foot squarely in his mouth. “When were you at my parents’ house? We haven’t been there for Sunday dinner since last week, and they didn’t have their tree up yet.”
Herb smiled and said, “I can stop over there without the third degree, can’t I?”
Basil’s brow raised high as he said, “You’ve been acting strange lately. What’s going on?”
“I’m always a little weird. That’s one reason you fell madly in love with me, remember?”
Basil’s hand landed on his hip, and he glared. Herb had never realized how much Basil looked like his mother when he was angry. “Please don’t worry, Basil. I’m just…doing something that will…be good. Please?”
As he softened, he sighed, “Fine, but it’s creeping me out. Don’t you dare have an affair or plan to leave me. I will literally use you as fertilizer.”
He walked away, leaving Herb with his jaw dropped. He would laugh if he thought in any way that Basil was kidding. He knew inherently that he wasn’t. Not a bit.
Well, it was fine. He was so in love with and attracted to his husband that he’d never so much as think of other men. Their life is everything he wanted.
Christmas Eve came with the three of them opening one present Basil had gotten them. All three got red flannel pajamas,and soon, Basil was using a borrowed a camera from Lila to take a family picture wearing them he planned to frame and hang.
They played with their little boy, crawling around the floor behind him, tickling him, and giving him his belly raspberries, which always had him giggling wildly. Basil served them each some eggnog, and they ate some of the zucchini bread from Michelle, which was even better than the banana bread.
When they put the baby to bed, they went down to the tree and dropped off the Santa presents, which Basil insisted on doing, though Sage was too young to know who Santa was. And, not to mention, Sage screamed bloody murder when they took him to the town commons to get a picture with Sage on Santa’s lap.
They’d gotten him a new walker, two new teddy bears, and the blanket was delivered that afternoon. Basil was right; it was gorgeous.
Sage was super excited the next morning as he played in the wrapping paper and boxes, ignoring the gifts. “Reminds me of the cat we had. Loved the boxes,” Basil laughed. “Are you our little kitten?”
Sage rolled in the paper and laughed, crawling out a minute later.
Basil got him bathed and dressed while Herb got himself dressed, and he saw his hands were shaking. He was nervous and excited both about the night’s plans, but he had hours before that and he was about to go to a house filled with people and food, music, good cheer and family love.
He dressed in a sweater with a polo under it, knowing the sweater would overheat him by double digits. When he saw his handsome little boy, in a gray shirt and pants with a red vest andred bowtie, his heart sped in his chest. He’d never seen a cuter baby, ever.
Basil handed him off so he could dress, and Herb stood in front of the mirror in the bedroom, looking at the two of them. “See how cute you are?”
He could swear Sage was preening as he looked into the mirror, lifting his head and smiling.
“Conceited kid, but you should be. You’re too cute for your own good.”
