Page 35 of Hoodoo House
“He seems like the perfect date,” Declan said with a wink.
They took the table by the window and waited for the waiter named Fergus.
After ten minutes of discussing the events of the day, they were interrupted by a “Good evening gentlemen. I understand we have a special occasion tonight.”
They looked up to see William, now dressed in a black suit and white shirt wearing a name tag that identified him as Fergus.
“William?” Declan said.
“It’s Fergus, sir,” he said, pointing to his name tag. “Management doesn’t like people to think they can’t afford to hire another staff member,” he whispered.
“Well then, Fergus,” Declan said. “Yes, my…husband and I are celebrating our honeymoon.”
“Well, congratulations. Management would be pleased to offer you a complimentary bottle of our finest sparkling wine.” Fergus, née William, leaned in close again. “I’ve just been told we can’t call it champagne anymore. Something about trademarks.”
“I understand,” Declan whispered back.
Fergus the waiter nodded and scampered off.
“Well,husband, it looks like we managed to save Sinclair some money on the wine,” Charlie said.
“It will make up for how much we’re going to spend on dinner,” Declan replied. “Have you looked at the menu?”
Fergus returned, crestfallen. “I regret to inform you that the hotel is out of the Okanagan’s finest sparkling wine. Can I offer you something else?”
After a quick look at the menu, they opted for a couple of glasses of an expensive pinot noir, followed by the filet mignon, medium rare, with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus.
Once they had finished their meal, they made their way back up to the room. After they’d reached the suite, Declan turned to Charlie and asked, “Up for an after-dinner drink?”
“I wouldn’t say no to more of the pinot.”
“My thought exactly. Be right back.”
It took Declan ten minutes to locate Fergus and procure a few more glasses of wine. When he returned, he found Charlie sitting on the floor in front of the bookcase.
“I’ve been doing some research since you’ve been gone,” Charlie said, holding up a copy ofThe Ragtag Crew.
“I’ve done you one better,” Declan said, holding up a DVD of the movie. “This’ll save us time.”
Declan and Charlie discovered that there was no DVD player hooked up to the television in the living room, but there was one in the bedroom. And the TV was larger there so, glasses of wine in hand, they climbed onto the king-sized bed to watch the celebrated adaptation of Marjorie Ellis’ vaunted novel.
* * * *
Declan woke up to a blue-screened TV. He must have fallen asleep during the movie. He couldn’t figure out how something that had won so many awards and accolades could be so boring. Even his arm had fallen asleep.
It was at that moment that he realized why his arm was tingling. Snuggled into him, head resting on his shoulder, hand on his chest, knee over his leg, was Charlie. Declan’s arm was wrapped around him. Charlie had fallen asleep practically on top of him and Declan had to admit, he loved it. Charlie’s head, with its unruly mop of blond hair was within easy kissing distance. He leaned his head closer to it and breathed in his scent.
What would Michael think about this?
He lay there for a few minutes before sliding his arm out from under Charlie’s head and letting it settle on the pillow. He moved Charlie’s hand off of his chest and ever-so-gently slid Charlie’s knee off of his leg. He removed himself from the bed, his bed, and stood, looking at the man he found himself married to, if only as a joke to get a free bottle of wine. He sighed. Why couldn’t things be different with Charlie?
Declan couldn’t resist. He bent down and gently kissed Charlie on the head, a mere caress of his hair with his lips, then turned off the TV and the bedside lamp and went out to the living room to sleep on the couch.
Chapter Fourteen
Henry walked into his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
When he had arrived four years ago, Mrs Cameron had shown him around the house and let him pick which bedroom he wanted for his own. There were plenty to choose from but he had chosen the last room at the end of the hall. It was the perfect size. Not too big. And it had a twin-sized bed like the one at his Gramma Rachael’s house, and a dresser just like the one he used to have there.
