Page 77 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

Jamie loves Nathan being naked. Graciously helping him out of his clothes the moment they get in for the night.

Mabel has claimed the sofa as her new bed. Climbing in with Jamie for cuddles each morning, after Nathan abandons his warm spot to go off to work. She gets to sleep in and walk with Jamie at more reasonable times of the day.

Nathan might be a bit jealous at their bonding, but he tries not to show it. He’s terrible at hiding the truth.

Today is Thanksgiving. Nathan is working the morning at the clinic and then there’s a big Friendsgiving dinner at Truffle.

Dennis and Robbie love to host their collective of misfits. Going all out again, like they did for Halloween.

Jamie agreed to arrive early and help set it up. It’s always a full house of the local queers, they’re allies and a handful of strangers with no family gatherings to attend. Those new orphans always get an invite for the next year and become members of the guest list. It’s grown considerably since the first.

Dennis gets back into the kitchen with the feuding lovers, like their days in Atlanta when Gregory was the sous chef and Hugo was just a line cook. They serve up one big family style feast, buffet style. Robbie takes charge in front of the house, so the staff can relax a bit more. That’s his roots and where he shines. Charming the room.

He walked Mabel around the block. Gave her a bunch of treats and grabbed a ride share back to his place for clothes. The blue haired girl seems to be the only option in the city. He invited her to dinner, but she has plans with family.

Carrying the freshly ironed pink dress shirt with mint green specs, designer jeans from that first date and a horizontal striped sweater in jewel tones of cranberry, green, gold and navy. Nathan had insisted, looked beautiful on him, in spite of the expansive pattern he’d usually avoid. Jamie strolled up the sidewalk from his place to the restaurant as snowflakes spit sporadically from the blue gray sky.

“Perfect timing!” Robbie cheers. One arm full of plates and the other upside-down wine glasses dangling between fingers. “Can you grab tablecloths from the office?” His beaming toothy smile stretches ear to ear.

“Of course!” Jamie passes through the kitchen doors, hanging his dinner attire on the row of coat hooks and gathering a pile of white linens off the desk.

“Hey Jamie. Happy Friendsgiving!” Dennis wipes his hands on his chef's coat and hurries in to bear hug Jamie and the pile of linens on his way back to the dining room.

“You too papa bear.” He kisses a scruffy bearded cheek.

Dennis’ grizzly arms squeeze.

Jamie may feel a rib pop. It’s fine he has more than enough.

He sets the pile on the bar, flipping a table cover open and floating it over a set of tables pulled together for everyone to sit around.

Robbie has created a hollow rectangle with tables butted edge to edge and a folding table from the basement in the open center. Covered In its own festive print satin runner, holding a still life of vases housing twigs, draped in twinkling lights and votive candles yet to be lit. “Is Nathan coming?”

“Yes. He’s working for a few more hours, then he’ll run to his place, shower and join us.” Jamie grins.

“How much longer do you have him?”

“About a week.” Jamie’s lips purse and eyebrows cave.

“And then what?” Robbie lays plates in front of each chair.

Jamie follows with silverware settings. “We haven’t really talked about it.” He straightens a fork. “I think we’re both avoiding the subject right up to the last minute.”

Robbie pouts. “It’s just a six-month contract right?”

“North Carolina is.” I saw a couple offers past that, on his lap top screen the other day. One was in Idaho and the other in Texas.” He shoves an extra set of silverware in his jeans pocket. “Enough of that though. We’re going to have an amazing day today.”

“Sorry sweetie.” He leans in for a hug.

Jamie obliges. “Molly is going to try and stop in before she heads up to Brunswick to be with her family. One of her boyfriends is going with her, I guess.”

Robbie shakes his head, giggling. “I love that kid.”

Jamie swipes his hand across a tablecloth, flattening a wrinkle.

The front door swings open.

“Speak of the Devil.” Robbie jogs over and wraps around Molly.

---