M.K. Lee's Blog: Telling Tales, page 41
December 23, 2020
A Christmas Surprise – 23
“Remind me; what are we taking to your parent’s?” Alex pauses from making his list, and turns to Jack for guidance.
“Our gifts. That beer my dad likes. That Cava you got my Mom drunk on at that barbecue—”
“I did not intend to get her drunk,” Alex protests, but it’s laced with laughter.
Jack smiles at the memory, snuggles back down into the blanket Alex’s insisting he keeps wrapped up in, and tries to think what else they need.
“I said we’d pick up some cold cuts, but I thought we cou...
Winter Tales – Wool
“Are you sure this is the best thing to get your mother for Christmas?” Max asks, picking up a heavy ball of wine-coloured wool looking thoroughly unsure of himself.
Matthias plucks it from his fingers to add to his basket and nudges for him to keep moving. “You know my mum’s forever knitting.”
“Still. Isn’t this the gift that says hey, make me something?”
“She loves making people stuff. And besides,” Matthias adds, picking up the stitch counters he recognises that he knows she likes as...
December 22, 2020
A Christmas Surprise – 22
A day later, and Jack is on the mend, though is thankful he’s allowed to work from home instead of being expected to brave the wintry weather howling outside. In fact, his boss must be feeling festive: telling him he’ll see him after the holidays. This leaves Jack several days clear, where all he has to think about is Christmas, and Alex, and a proposal he hopes he’s not been muttering his planned words about out loud whilst sick.
Alex is attentive as always, tucking him up into the opposite ...
Winter Tales – Bleak
There is no other way to describe it. The view from their hotel room is bleak. Everything is under a blanket of snow that ascends up to join the sky. It’s almost as though every colour has been drained from the world.
Apart from in this room, Matthias thinks, stepping back from behind the deep red curtains and pulling it across. Max is sprawled out on the bed on the verge of sleep, his bright green Christmas pyjamas against the gold of their bed sheets in stark contrast to that whiteness outs...
December 21, 2020
A Christmas Surprise – 21
“Nope,” Alex declares, tucking blankets in around Jack, “not happening. You’re staying in bed, taking all the flu remedies I can give you. You are not being sick for Christmas.”
Jack groans in protest, though it hurts too much to move. So he relents, closing his eyes, feeling Alex’s lips against his forehead, and sinks into his pillow.
He wakes, hours later, to Alex laid beside him, moving when he sees Jack’s eyes open, reaching out to squeeze his hand.
“How’re you feeling?” he asks, fr...
Winter Tales – Cake
“Can you get drunk off Christmas cake?”
Max gives Matthias a look for speaking with his mouth full and shakes his head, delicately picking up his own slice to sniff. “Nowhere near enough alcohol in this.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Max insists, closing his eyes and savouring all the tastes bursting on his tongue. It might not be alcoholic but this is one good Christmas cake, impressed with his own efforts even if he does say so himself.
“What about that pudding?”
Max looks where ...
December 20, 2020
A Christmas Surprise – 20
Alex being away for what will be almost two days after meetings, flights, and a Christmas dinner his boss has planned, turns out to be helpful for Jack. It gives him time to wrap the two extra gifts bought when out with his brother Ollie helping him choose his own Christmas presents, and means he can rehearse, out loud, the things he means to say to Alex on Christmas morning.
Jack sneezes, groaning for how soaked he and Ollie had got on the way back from shopping, knocks back another dose...
Winter Tales – Laughter
Max catches Matthias’ eye as laughter rings out around the restaurant, the staff Christmas party in full swing. This is the third year Max has hosted it in his own restaurant displaying his ‘closed for a private party‘ sign on the door with glee.
Matthias thinks he sees the occasional regular customer pressing their face against the window to see what is happening but is glad Max is unaware of it, wanting him to enjoy the night. He’s worked so hard to make this place the success that it is, ...
December 19, 2020
A Christmas Surprise – 19
“This close to Christmas?” Jack protests, sighing as Alex packs a bag.
“I know,” he agrees, and offering a placating kiss, “but it’s only overnight.”
“I know we’re lucky, with you working from home so much, and always being around. Makes me forget you still get called to the office sometimes.”
“And my office does happen to be almost a thousand miles away,” Alex adds, sighing and showing just how much he doesn’t want to leave.
“I hope they’re giving you a Christmas bonus. Gifts at lea...
Winter Tales – Socks
“Socks. Has to be socks. What else could it be?” Max asks as he squeezes the parcels just dropped off from his Uncle Todd.
“Looks like the right kind of size for socks,” Matthias agrees, adding another present from the bag to the pile.
“I bet they’re those thick hand-knitted things he gets when he’s in Finland.”
“I hope so. They were great last year. Hey, what do you think this one is?” Matthias asks as he shakes another package and the two of them listen to it rattle.
“Urgh. That w...
