Page 60 of Leo
Leo cocked his head.“Oh?”
“She said she was craving a cornflake wreath cookie,” I said, nodding to the sticky, dark green treats with their cinnamon candy holly berries.“I’m ninety-nine percent certain she was sussing me out to see if there were any hard feelings about Willis Dempsey being a prick and all about theonly good queers are allowed repmess.”I handed him Edward’s new shirt and the sticker.“She ended up buying a tank top and half a dozen of these abominations,” I said, pointing to the sticky, super sweet Christmas cookies.“And,” I leaned across the counter and he took the hint, meeting me half way for a quick kiss, “she’s asked if I’d mind having some made up for the welcome baskets they’re giving new chamber members starting in the new year.”
He winced.“I kind of dread to see what she suggests I offer.Free embalming if you redeem the coupon within ten years maybe?”At my horrified expression, he winced.“Maybe I’ll offer magnets.”
Bethany called out, “Can I design them?”
I was about to gently suggest he turn her down, but Leo was quick.“Sure, so long as you make a design that stuffy, boring people will find respectable in addition to whatever set you’re already imagining.”
Bethany popped her head out of the kitchen and narrowed her eyes.“You catch on, Leo.Ambrose, I approve.He can stay.”
That startled a laugh out of me.“Thanks for your approval.It’s been the one thing keeping me from absolutely flinging myself at him.”
“Well,” Leo purred, leaning in close again, “if that was the only thing…”
The jangle of the front door interrupted us, and the afternoon was off to the races.Leo hung around a little longer, until Edward started getting too agitated by the stream of people coming and going.Christmas tourist season had begun, and business was getting brisk.By Thursday, we were expecting a hundred t-shirts, mugs, and stickers from the POD site we’d gone with.With any luck, we’d have a nice supply in by the time things really kicked off in a week or so when people started coming for the parades and various town goings-on for the holiday season.
“See you later?”Leo called from the door.“Still coming for dinner after you close?”
I nodded.“Later, babe.”
He paused in the doorway, standing aside to let a cute couple squeeze past.“Babe?”
“Too much?”I asked, feeling my face heat.
“Nah.Perfect.”
One half of the couple approached the counter a little shyly.“Um, you’re the guy from the YouTube videos, right?”
I glanced up to see Leo grinning as he ducked out, Edward chatting a mile a minute.“Yep!What can I get for you?”
EPILOGUE
LEO
One YearLater
Bethany crawled out from under the table in the Perpetual Peace room, brandishing one of Edward’s light up shoes.“Found it!”
“And I got the other one!”Ambrose called from the chapel room.“Now where’s the kid?”
A tiny giggle came from the direction of the showroom.“Edward,” I called.“No hiding in the showroom!”
There was a thump, then another giggle.
Bethany handed me his shoe and marched toward the showroom, readjusting her ponytail to get her hair out of her face.“You never said anything aboutunderthem,” she muttered as she passed.Ambrose joined me in the foyer as Bethany’s stage-whisperedgotchaand Edward’s peal of laughter flooded the quiet space.
“I’m glad they get along.”Ambrose sighed, leaning into me.“I was afraid she was going to just…” he held up one hand and brought his fingertips together.“Fold up like a flower or something, you know?The opposite of that whole blossoming bullshit they keep saying teenagers do.”
“Blossoming,” I muttered, making a face.“I still think we should burn those puberty books that community center group gave you.”
“Nah.I’m letting Bethany turn them into a multi-media art project.”Ambrose flashed me a grin before rising on his toes to press a quick kiss to my temple.“There’s apparently a lot of red paint involved.And glitter.”
“Oh, god…”
“Don’t worry.”He laughed.“She’s keeping it in her room, away from Edward.”
I shook my head—he loved Edward to bits, but he had no idea about that kid and glitter.As if summoned, Edward came barreling toward us, head down and arms pumping, stopped only by my swift crouch to capture him before he managed to take one or both of us out at the knees literally.
