Irises in the Snow by Isabelle Adler

Author:Isabelle Adler [Adler, Isabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, contemporary, holiday, Christmas, second chances, childhood friends, family drama, anxiety, artist, small town
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2019-01-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

PACKING A HOUSE that had suddenly been left bereft of its long-time occupants proved no easy task. Elliot had already done most of the work picking up the things he wanted to take with him to California, leaving the bulk of the furnishings and donating the rest, but even so, there were a lot of personal belongings to sift through.

Justin had swung by his mom’s early in the morning, to help tidy up whatever mess was left from last night, while his dad fixed a light breakfast of coffee and toast. When he told his mother about his intention to spend the day at Elliot’s, she gave him a box of muffins and reminded him dinner would be waiting for the both of them, whenever they wanted.

It was so much like old times he had to fight tears all over again thinking about it. Old habits beckoned with their familiarity and simplicity, and it took a conscious effort to remember they didn’t hold real substance anymore.

The living room of the Turner house was filled with a lot more cardboard boxes than the last time he’d seen it, and the walls had been stripped of framed photos and artwork, leaving ghost-like patches on the wallpaper.

In fact, the whole interior appeared faded and slightly worn in the unforgiving daylight. Elliot, with his immaculate haircut and casually sophisticated attire, didn’t look like he belonged there anymore, even as he carried plastic bags full of old clothing down the stairs.

His face lit up when he saw Justin come in, and Justin smiled in return, tactfully ignoring the puffiness around his eyes. God knew if he ever had to do what Elliot was doing now, alone, he’d break down into a sobbing mess.

“You came.” Elliot put down the bags and went over to meet him.

“Of course.” Justin handed him the box of muffins and automatically leaned in to kiss him, catching himself in the last second.

Damn those old habits.

“Blueberry. My favorite,” Elliot said, glancing at the box. If he noticed Justin’s little fumble, he didn’t show it. “She remembered.”

“Remembering everybody’s favorite foods is one of her superpowers,” Justin said.

They worked through the morning, with Elliot sorting through the various items and Justin carefully wrapping and packing them in spare boxes. The Turners hadn’t been big on clutter, but there were plenty of sentimental things to go into those boxes—Elliot mother’s jewelry, his father’s stamp collection, photo albums of their wedding and of Elliot’s baby pictures.

Elliot’s eyes had gone misty more than once during the process, but he held himself together with the same calm stoicism Justin had found so comforting whenever he’d needed a shoulder to cry on during their tumultuous school years. They made good progress, and, when most of the stuff was safely packed, they decided to take a break for a coffee refuel.

“So what happens now?” Justin asked.

As the sofa and armchairs were currently occupied by the overflow, they sat on the rug in front of the fireplace. It was electric,

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