A Full Plate by Kim Fielding

Author:Kim Fielding [Fielding, Kim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64080-495-1
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2018-04-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

AFTER an enormous dinner followed by full helpings of emotional turmoil, Tully wouldn’t have thought himself capable of eating anything else. Yet here he was, seated at the kitchen table with Sage and with nothing but a few crumbs remaining from a slice of pumpkin pie and a scoop of cranberry-pear cobbler.

Sage pointed his spoon at an untouched pie. “Mincemeat?”

“You have got to be kidding.”

“Can’t have Thanksgiving without mincemeat. I should have made apple too.”

“I am fairly certain that neither of us will starve without. What’s in mincemeat, anyway?” He eyed the pastry suspiciously.

“Fruit, citrus peel, brandy, and sirloin. Back when my uncle Roy used to hunt, I made the pie with venison.”

So some versions really did contain meat. Weird. “I’ll have some for breakfast.”

“It’s extra good with some cheddar.”

Tully could never be anything but charmed by the enthusiasm that flowed from Sage as he talked about food, so he reached over and captured Sage’s free hand. “It’s been kind of an odd Thanksgiving. And the best ever. I bet you guys had huge family shindigs.”

“We’d gather at my grandparents’ house. Dad and his parents would do all the cooking, but I got to help. Everybody came—aunts, uncles, cousins, and anybody in town who had nowhere else to go. Grandma and Grandpa kept two folding tables in the shed, and they’d bring them out for every Thanksgiving and Christmas. Grandma would cover them in butcher paper and give all the little kids crayons so they could decorate.”

Sage’s expression held some sorrow, but mostly warmth and happiness. As he described the scene, Tully could easily imagine delicious food smells wafting from the kitchen, the boisterous good cheer of children and adults. Carrie probably ruled over the kids’ tables, maybe directing the coloring projects, but Sage must have concentrated mostly on the cooking. Tully’s childhood Thanksgivings had been catered, served by hired staff on expensive china, and the guests wore bespoke suits and designer evening gowns. He envied Sage.

Eventually Tully stood and began clearing the table. With some difficulty, he found room in the fridge for the leftover desserts. Then, as Sage leaned against the counter nearby and watched, Tully washed the plates and silverware.

When he was done, Sage handed him a towel, and Tully dried his hands.

“You want to hear about Kayley?”

“I’d like that.”

Tully thought they’d go into the living room, but they returned to the kitchen table. He should have known that Sage would prefer to have an important conversation in the kitchen. But then Sage stood, walked to the counter, and began his story while using the espresso machine.

“So being gay was not real cool in Hair Shaker in the late nineties. And I figured… well, I guess I figured that if I dated girls, if I tried really hard to be straight, maybe I’d get used to it. Like how I hated scallops the first time I ate them, but after I tried them a few different ways, I got to where I could stand them.” He turned his head to grin over his shoulder.

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