Page 8 of The Holiday Fail

“If you need anything here, Peter’s the one in charge,” Henry commented.

Peter scoffed. “He just wants to push off responsibility to play around with his new camera,” he said to me.

He sounded so exasperated, but I saw the way he leaned comfortably against his husband’s chest. I also didn’t miss the way his hand gently held the base of Henry’s shirt. How they were still this clingy after decades of being together was beyond me.

“Hey, you should have known not to get me the camera for my birthday if you wanted me to be productive,” Henry muttered.

Peter merely shook his head and gently patted his husband’s cheek before turning to me. “He says that, but Henry will work more hours than all of us combined if we let him,” Peter whispered to me like it was a secret. He disentangled from his husband’s arms and walked toward me. “We’re really glad to have you here, Andy. We thought we’d be in trouble this holiday season after our previous chef retired. Plus, we never imagined getting someone from the big city like you, and one with such high recommendations.”

“No, it’s my pleasure to be here. Really,” I said, hoping to convey that I was very excited about this contract without sounding too overeager.

“I’m happy to hear that,” Peter said with a grin. “And I’m sure Henry has already informed you, but the kitchen is yours to do as you see fit. The people in our family know jackshit about food, so you’ll be in charge of the daily menu.”

That sounded like fucking music to my ears. To have the freedom to create as I’d always wanted to. I was going to cook the best fucking food this town had ever had.

“We just made a grocery run, so you should have all the basics. You can make a list of what you need and I’ll have our son make a trip into town for it later,” Peter continued, then pulled something from his pocket and handed it to me. “And here’s your key. Levi said he’ll be around this afternoon to grab your things before heading into town. I’m sorry you can’t stay at the B&B, but we need every single room once the holiday rush starts. And I figured you’d be more comfortable living with someone your age than two old men.”

“Hey! Don’t speak about my husband like that!” Henry piped up, which only made Peter smile and shake his head again.

I couldn’t help smiling along. They really were cute together. Watching them made me think that perhaps not all relationships were doomed to be loveless.

“Don’t worry about me. I just feel bad imposing on your son’s space like that,” I replied.

Henry waved me off. “Levi loves having company. If you let him, he’ll probably talk your ear off when you meet him this afternoon.”

“He’s like his father in that way,” Peter added with a pointed look.

“Hey! You love hearing me talk!”

“Sure, honey,” Peter said, grabbing his husband’s hand before turning to me. “We’ll get out of your hair and let you get settled. We don’t usually have many patrons stay for lunch, but we have all the ingredients for what’s on the menu. We’ll get everything else you need this afternoon.”

And with that, they left hand-in-hand, leaving me alone inmykitchen.

This was the best day of my life.

Chapter Five

LEVI

“Are we ready to head back to the B&B for an afternoon nap?” I asked the group of grannies who’d signed up for a town tour with me.

I’d never been so happy when they agreed and shuffled back into my car. These ladies might be nearing eighty, but I couldn’t keep up, especially after the night I had.

I still felt like shit even after heading home for a shower hot enough to burn last night’s funky alcohol sweat from my skin. Even some food and painkillers hadn’t helped with my headache, though it didn’t hurt as much as this morning.

Thank goodness for small miracles.

On the drive back, the four of them chatted animatedly about all the cute things our little town had to offer.

First, I took them to the historic area right at the edge of town. It was said to be the place where our town’s founders first met and fell in love. A large statue of our signature doves kissing stood tall there, and it was a popular spot for tourists to take pictures.

The surrounding land was absolutely breathtaking,especially this time of the year when the leaves were starting to turn the beautiful yellows, reds, and everything in between. They had put my photography skills to the test as I snapped probably hundreds of pictures of the four of them.

After that, we walked around town for a few hours, visiting all the specialty stores and stalls set up on the main square. They shopped until my trunk was stuffed full of their purchases. I’d never seen Old Man Red so happy as these ladies practically cleared him out of his overpriced tourist trinkets.

It was a good thing they agreed to head back when they had, considering I wouldn’t have had any space left if they kept shopping. How they were going to take all their purchases with them when they checked out of the B&B was beyond me.

They were a fun bunch, chatting and laughing during our entire tour. The four of them had been longtime friends and decided to travel the states together now that they’d retired. Wintertown was their third stop so far, with their first being New York.

---