Snow Follies Read online

  Both hesitated at the door, not quite ready to say good night. Cameron was just about to ask Eric if he wanted to come back to his house, when a small voice said, “Uncle Eric? Sean is scared. He says there’s a monster outside.”

  “Okay, buddy, I’ll be right there. Go on up with Sean.”

  “He’s such a baby sometimes. I told him there are no monsters.”

  Cameron squatted down to speak to Ian. “You shouldn’t call Sean a baby. Different things scare different people. I’m sure you are scared of something.”

  “I don’t like to go up into Jake’s tree house. The ladder is wobbly.”

  “See? I know that Sean loves to go up there. So no more baby talk, okay?”

  When Cameron stood up, Ian looked at both of them and said, “You’re under the missytoe. You have to kiss.”

  They looked at each other and then at Ian. They leaned forward and pecked each other lightly on the lips. Ian clapped and then tugged on Eric’s hand, saying that Sean was waiting for them. Cameron said good night and opened the door, gave Eric one last longing glance, and left. Eric sighed and locked the door. He took Ian’s hand and they headed upstairs to banish the monsters for Sean.

  * * *

  “Mommy, do you think that Mr. Cameron wants to be Uncle Eric’s boyfriend?”

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “They kissed last night under the missytoe.”

  Eric came into the kitchen right as Ian was finishing his sentence. The light blush that took over his face was very becoming.

  “Really?” She looked over at Eric and saw his blush. She definitely needed more information. “Why were you down here?”

  “Sean was scared of the monsters, but Uncle Eric made them go away.”

  “He did? That’s great. Sean? Did Uncle Eric help?”

  “Yes, Mommy. The monsters are scared of Uncle Eric.”

  “Does that mean the monsters are gone for good?”

  “Hope so, Mommy.”

  “So, now that the monsters are vanquished, let’s hear more about kissing under the mistletoe.”

  Eric interrupted at this point. “Let’s not hear about that.”

  Shannon just laughed and let it go. She would get the details tonight at the Pinecone Drop.

  They spent the rest of the day making a New Year’s banner for the boys because they were staying home with a babysitter. Shannon and the boys received a phone call from Randy. They only spoke for about fifteen minutes, but they were so happy to hear from him. Shannon went to her room after the phone call to be alone, and Eric distracted the boys with a game on the Wii. Shannon came back about an hour later, eyes puffy but in control of her emotions. Eric just hugged her and did not say a thing. She was grateful for that. She missed her husband and worrying about him was starting to take its toll. She was eternally grateful that Eric was here and that he was staying with them until he found a house. She secretly hoped it took a long time.

  The doorbell rang at eight-thirty and the boys ran to the door shouting, “I’ll get it!” They stopped at the door and asked who it was. “Kathy,” came the answer. The boys looked to their mom, she nodded, and they opened the door. Kathy, her husband Jack, and their daughter Isabella came in. They all exchanged hellos and went into the kitchen. The girl who was going to babysit for them lived three houses down, and Jack went to walk her down. While he was gone, Eric’s phone rang. It was Cameron. He had been called into work and would have to meet them downtown.

  “Hannah’s here,” Shannon said as Jack and Hannah came in the door.

  The boys loved Hannah and always looked forward to her coming over. Shannon knew it was because she played games with them, let them stay up late, and eat all the junk food they wanted. She figured it was only occasionally so it was not going to hurt anything. “Hannah! Hannah!” They boys ran to her and threw their arms around her. She hugged them back and said hi to Shannon and Kathy. She went to the baby carrier and picked up Isabella. “Wow, look at her. She is getting so big!” She tickled the baby’s stomach and made a silly face. Both the baby and the boys laughed. The adults chuckled as well.

  “Okay, boys, come give me a kiss.” Sean and Ian ran to their mom and kissed her goodbye. “Now, you boys mind Hannah. You can stay up until midnight, but then I need you to go to bed. Hannah, help yourself to what is in the kitchen. I’m having pizza delivered in about an hour. It’s all paid for. Night, Sean. Night, Ian.”

  “Night, Mommy,” they both said at the same time.

  The adults all got into Eric’s truck and they headed downtown. They were lucky and found a parking space reasonably close to the town square. They had a live band playing, and all the bars were open and serving. They stayed at the square because they figured it would be the easiest place for Cameron to find them. It was around ten o’clock when Eric’s phone finally rang. “Eric?”

  “Yeah. Are you going to be able to make it?”

  “Actually, I’m over at Altitudes. I have a table. Have everyone come over here.”

  “That’s great. It’s so crowded here we can’t sit down. We’ll walk over. We’ll be there in about ten minutes or so.”

  “Okay, see you then.”

  The five of them sat and enjoyed appetizers, champagne, and a good time for the next two hours. Cameron and Kathy only had a sip each of the bubbly as they were driving, but the laughter still flowed. Shannon looked over at Eric and Cameron and noticed that they were holding hands. She smiled.

  Then she asked about the kiss beneath the mistletoe.

  All heads swung in their direction. Cameron laughed and said, “What? It was a little peck. There were innocent eyes watching.”

  “So can we assume it would have been more?”

  “Shannon! Knock it off!” Eric was clearly embarrassed by his sister’s prodding.

  “Maybe tonight at midnight I can make it more than a peck,” Cameron said. He was not at all embarrassed that he wanted to kiss Eric.

  At a quarter to twelve, they walked back to the town square. The Pinecone Drop was at the Hotel Weatherford and was actually the second one of the night. They first dropped a pinecone at ten so that families with small children could go. The one at midnight was the big event, though.

  “10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Happy New Year!” Auld Lang Syne began to play, Cameron had Eric in his arms, and he was kissing the daylights out of him. Jack and Kathy were much more circumspect and kissed and then hugged Shannon. Jack took both the ladies in his arms, and they all began to dance. The crowd was singing. Eric and Cameron were still kissing. Finally, Shannon tapped on their arms and told them to get a room.

  “Good idea.” Cameron grabbed Eric’s arm and pulled him away.

  “Leave us the keys!”

  Eric tossed the keys to Shannon and told her not to wait up.

  Cameron and Eric rushed to the Jeep and raced off to Cameron’s house. As they arrived Eric got out and grabbed Cameron as he exited the Jeep. He could not wait even another minute. While they were in front of Cameron’s kissing, snow began to gently fall. Neither noticed. Cameron finally broke the kiss and led Eric to the front door. Once inside, the clothes began to come off. Cameron was walking backward with Eric attached to him at the lips. They stumbled their way through the house and up the stairs until they reached Cameron’s bedroom. Crossing the threshold, the men looked at each other and then took off their shoes and socks. Eric sat down on the bed to remove his pants, and Cameron stopped him. He looked into Eric’s eyes and laid him on the bed. They lay together, kissing each other. Hands were exploring. The frantic pace slowed, and the touches became tender, gentle, and loving.

  “Before we go any further, I want you to know that I think you are someone special,” Cameron whispered. “I think you are the person I’ve been looking for. I know it’s only been a week since we met, but I know.”

  “I feel the same way. I’m falling in love with you.”

  Cameron took Eric’s face in his hands, stroked
his cheeks, and kissed him. Eric responded and things began to heat up once more. Their gazes locked and then eyes slowly closed as they kissed once more.

  The rest of the evening was spent making love. They came together as if they were meant to be. Eric held onto Cameron all night, even in sleep. The snow gently fell all night.

  The next morning, Eric got out of bed to look out the window. The sun was out, and the landscape was covered in a fresh blanket of snow. It sparkled beautifully. Cameron’s arms came around him from behind, and he kissed Eric on his shoulder. “Penny for your thoughts?”

  “I was just thinking that I am so looking forward to this year. I was nervous to move here and start over, but I’m not nervous anymore. I can’t wait to start my new year, with you.”

  Got Mistletoe Madness?

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

  About the Author

  Chelle Dugan is the mother of two children and lives in the Southwest. She has been an avid reader her whole life but had never written her own stories until she fell in love with Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain. Her first stories were brought to life with help from her long-distance friend Terry and her daughter, as well as Chelle’s love for little mountain towns and snow.

  Copyright

  Snow Follies ©Copyright Chelle Dugan, 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 Art by Paul Richmond http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com

  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: 978-1-61581-327-8