“Huh?”
“Joe and Larry are noisy.Joe is a screamer.”Harm covered his ears, and Derek couldn’t help laughing.
“Okay.So next time I can be less quiet.”Harm took Derek’s hand, and they left the room.Larry had already set the table and put the breakfast casserole on hot pads.There was fresh fruit and juice on the table.
“Did you two sleep all right?”Larry asked.
Joe rolled his eyes.“We don’t need to pretend.These two are not quiet.”
Larry patted Joe’s hand.“Neither are you.Remember that.”
Harm put his hands over his ears.He didn’t need to hear that sort of thing.Growing up, he had heard enough of their bedroom antics.
“Now, enough of that.”Larry dished up praline french toast and passed the fruit around.He knew this was one of Harm’s favorite dishes, so he always made it for him when he visited.
“This is really wonderful.”Derek ate slowly and seemed to shift in his chair to get comfortable.Harm bit his lower lip, wondering if he had maybe hurt Derek.
“Stop,” Derek said softly, patting his hand.
“What is he stopping?”Larry asked.
Derek put down his fork.“Harm was asking himself a question, and I was telling him to stop.He does that all the time.Everything is just fine, and he can stop worrying.Okay?”He added the last part just to Harm.“Nothing to worry about.”
Still, Harm couldn’t help wondering until Derek hit him with one of his stern stares.Then he figured Derek knew what he wanted.
Derek leaned closer, his lips right next to Harm’s ear.“I’m fine.Just well and truly fucked, and it’s a great feeling.So you should feel nothing but pride.Okay?”Derek kissed his cheek and then went back to eating.
Joe and Larry did that silent communication thing they did, but Harm didn’t care.The only person he was truly interested in was Derek.
“What are the plans for today?”Derek asked.
“We didn’t make a lot of specific plans,” Joe said.“We could go to visit a few places, but mostly we spend Christmas here at the house.”
Larry cleared his throat.“I think you forgot that we committed to helping at the community center tonight.They have a meal for people who are finding it hard this time of year, and we offered to help serve.The center has also been collecting toys and other things that the families need.”
“We can help,” Harm signed and Derek nodded.
“Yes, we can help too if you need it.”Harm loved how Derek just dove right in.“What sort of help do they need?”
“Well….”Joe smirked.“We were hoping that Harm could play Santa.He would fit the suit.”
Harm shook his head and turned to Derek, signing as best he could.“How can I be Santa without being able to talk?”
“You be Santa, and I’ll do the talking.Okay?It will be good for people to see that anyone can do anything.Besides, I think you’d make a really hot Santa.”Derek’s eyes widened.“Though you are hot in anything.”
Larry cleared his throat.“Yeah, we already heard how hot he was this morning.”
Derek shrugged.“Yeah, I think we can make that happen.Does Santa give out the presents and things?”
“Yes.We have collected everything and wrapped it all.People and businesses sponsored families, and we got something for everyone who will be there.We even have extra gifts in case there are families who show up.That happens every year, and the community center is all about being inclusive.”
Harm figured that want and need came in all shapes and forms, regardless of background or sexual identification.He nodded before pointing to his watch.
“We need to leave here at about three so we can make sure everything is set up, and dinner is served starting at five.Santa makes an appearance at six, and then we have carols and games for an hour.”
“Sounds like fun,” Derek said and dug into the rest of his breakfast.“I still have a few things that I need to get.”
Larry handed Harm the keys.“Then go ahead and take the car.Just be back in time for us to get ready and go.”
