An Open Window by Rick R. Reed

Author:Rick R. Reed [Reed, Rick R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64080-350-3
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2017-12-07T05:00:00+00:00

HENRY DIDN’T know what to make of this character, this Jim. A normal person, a sane one, would have thrown him out on his ass, Christmas or no Christmas, or worse, held a weapon on him with one hand while, with the other, he phoned the cops.

And here he was giving him presents. Ah shit! The kindness of it caused tears to spring to Henry’s eyes. He wanted to simply cover his face with his hands and bawl.

Back in his other life, when he went to church, he recalled a sermon his priest had given at St. Ann’s in the east end of town. “Be open,” Father Safara had said. “Open to receive the gifts life sends your way. Don’t question them and don’t think you don’t deserve them. The Good Lord wouldn’t have seen fit to give them to you if He didn’t want you to have them.”

Henry didn’t have much faith these days, but he could sure use some warm clothes.

He watched as crazy Jim stooped again to gather up the gifts.

“Come on,” he said, softly, and headed into the living room.

Henry supposed he should follow. He hovered near the doorway as Jim set the gifts back down on an end table. He plugged in the little tree and it lit up with tiny multicolored lights.

Jim looked up at him. “Don’t just stand there. Come on in and have a seat.”

Henry stepped farther into the room and perched awkwardly on the edge of the sofa, afraid he’d soil it, knowing just how bad he smelled.

If Jim sensed anything, he was giving no sign of it. He was smiling.

“We need some music.” Jim moved to a boom box on top of a bookcase opposite the couch and pressed down the Play button. Soft, instrumental music began—an orchestra playing “Silent Night.”

Henry was afraid he was going to blubber.

Jim sat down on the opposite end of the couch and grinned. He gestured toward the heap of gifts. “Go ahead. Don’t be shy. Rip ’em open.”

Henry reached out a tentative hand, doubt lingering. Was this some kind of setup to detain him? Were the police on their way? “Are you sure?”

“C’mon, Henry. I was looking forward to giving these to my boyfriend—” Jim caught himself and Henry watched as a line of scarlet traveled up from his neck to his face.

Henry got it. He had to laugh. “It’s okay, dude, if you have a boyfriend.” Actually, it was more than okay and gave the feeling of this strange morning more of a sense of something that was meant to be. Henry winked, just to put poor, flustered Jim at ease. “I’m a big old ’mo myself. No lie.”

“Really?

“Yes, honey! Don’t you know that these rags were once gold lamé and chiffon?”

It surprised Henry when Jim cracked up with him—they laughed harder than Henry thought his little fey comment warranted. But it felt good to laugh. Henry couldn’t honestly recall the last time he’d done so.

After the laughter died down and the music had changed to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” Jim urged, “Go on.

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