The Sweet Tooth

by Margot Larson

  “We did a great job.”

  CHAPTER 33

  Dark clouds obscured the couple’s view of the moon and stars as rain threatened to fall making them wish they had taken a cab home. They had wanted a romantic stroll through the park but bypassed it in order to get inside before the light drizzle that had started to fall turned into a torrent. Luckily the shower held off until the two closed the flat door behind them. Mathieu fit the leftover cake into the fridge while Solomon laid his gift on the dining table to be hung the next day. When Mathieu turned after closing the fridge door Solomon was there pulling the Irishman into his arms. There was no hurried rush to intimacy, no frenzied discarding of clothes. They took their time undressing each other while soft lips and hands placed in just the right spots made the other yearn for more. They made love listening to the sound of the rain gently tapping on the roof and windows.

  ***

  “Thank you for a wonderful birthday, Baby,” Solomon turned his head to give the Irishman spooning him a kiss.

  Mathieu returned the kiss, “You’re welcome.”

  That morning they were having a sleepy, Saturday lie-in, cozy and warm under the covers. The cold rain still beat out a rhythm against the house but they didn’t care if it rained all day. So far they had only moved to use the toilet and get cups of tea and plates of toast, Mathieu wanted cake but Solomon wouldn’t bring him any because Solomon thought it was too early for sweets. There was no need for television or radio to fill any silences they were not uncomfortable with it. They talked about the party, Solomon read to Mathieu, they kissed, Mathieu taught Solomon all the Irish Gaelic he could remember, they kissed a little more, they talked about what they wanted their wedding to be like but didn’t go as far as to set a date, Solomon told Mathieu about some sights they should see on their honeymoon in New Zealand, Mathieu told Solomon that he wanted to get something nice for Solomon’s mom for keeping the secret about the pictures and they kissed some more.

  The clock read two when the couple agreed that it was time to get something to eat. They climbed out of bed and headed to the kitchen where they made salads with tomato, cucumber, carrot and freshly made croutons. After lunch Mathieu put in a cd and the couple slow danced in the living room. Mathieu felt like the day was exactly what he needed to break out of the funk he’d been in over his mother. As long as he had Solomon in his arms he didn’t need her. Solomon felt something shift in his partner’s demeanor as they dance across the floor. First Mathieu tensed and became stiff in his movements but soon the Irishman rested his head on his partner’s shoulder and unclasped their hands so he could encircle the blonde in his arms.

  “I love you,” the artist whispered into Solomon’s ear sending shivers down Solomon’s back.

  “I love you too, Baby.”

  This time the kisses were more fevered; touches more insistent. Clothes were pulled up and pushed off as the two men did a different kind of dance back into the bedroom.

  ***

  “Could you stop that?” Mathieu asked sleepily from his position as the little spoon.

  “I’m not doing anything,” Solomon was just as sleepy.

  The artist ‘tsks’, “Not you. Listen.”

  Solomon lifted his head and listened. There was a ringing. It was soft but it was clearly there, “It’s just my mobile.” He dropped his head back to the pillow.

  “It’s been ringing on and off for the past ten minutes. Somebody must really need to speak to you.”

  “They'll get tired soon and leave a message.”

  “Maybe you should answer it next time it rings.”

  The blonde really, really didn’t want to get out of bed. He was usually uncomfortable as the big spoon because his partner was taller but he had found the perfect position. He knew he would never find the spot again if he moved even an inch. But the soft ringing started again.

  Solomon moved when Mathieu started to whine, “Solomon, it’s happening again. Just go get it.”

  “Alright, alright, I’m going. Baby,” the last word was said without its usual fondness but Mathieu didn’t take it the wrong way. He just stuck his tongue out at Solomon’s back. Solomon found his boxers and pulled them on before racing out the door to answer the phone that had started ringing again.

  The Irishman laid in bed listening to the sound of his fiancé’s voice. He couldn’t quite make out what Solomon was saying and he thought Solomon was talking softly on purpose just to frustrate him. Solomon accent came closer to the door until Solomon popped his head in and mouthed ‘it’s Adrian’ while pointing at the phone. The blonde head was gone before Mathieu had a chance to say anything in return.

  Mathieu was about to get out of bed when his own mobile rang. The brunette scooped the phone up from the nightstand and glanced down. The name on the screen stole his breath away; mum. His thumb hovered over the accept icon as his grip on the phone tightened He was torn between swiping and chucking the phone across the room so it shattered against the far wall. In an instant he decided that he’s faced a lot of things that past year and it was not the time to start running away. Mathieu swiped the green icon, “Hello?”

  Her voice was shaky and soft, “Mathieu, honey? I’m so, so sorry I didn’t call you back before now. So much has happened. Mathieu, sweetheart, are you there?”

  “Yes,” his voice barely hid his anger and frustration. The endearments she was using cut him like a knife and he thought that if she called him ‘love’ he’d lose it.

  The next thing he was aware of hearing was, “I’m going to come to London. Will you see me when I’m there?”

  “You’re….you’re coming…here? Why now, after all this time?”

  “Things have happened here, sweetheart. I don’t want to say over the phone. You don’t have to see me. I’ll understand if you don’t but I’ll be there for a few weeks.”

  “Why? What else are you going to do here? You never come here.”

  “Mathieu, I’d rather not say over the phone but I have been to London before. I have friends in London but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen them there. They come here once a year and we have a little reunion.”

  “When? When were you in London?” He’s almost shouting at her. He needs answers and he wants them now.

  “I haven’t been for a long time. The last time was long ago….”

  The artist cut her off, “I was with you, wasn’t I?” Mathieu looked up when out of the corner of his eye he saw Solomon enter the room and stop by the side of the bed.

  “Yes, honey. You were with me. You won’t remember. You were very young. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Mathieu can’t believe what he’s hearing. Elise was right. Something had happened in London, he’s sure of it now. “What happened when we were here? It was something bad, wasn’t it?”

  “Listen to me Mathieu,” now she sounded more like a mother scolding her recalcitrant child, “I will not discuss this over the phone. I will be in London on the 15th if you want to see me. I’ll ring you when I settle in. Alright?”

  He had no choice but to agree if he wanted to have the answers he needed, “Alright.”

  Then she was gone again. The call didn’t go any way near how he thought it would go when or if she ever called him back. The artist looked up to see his partner staring down at him, confusion and concern showing in his crystal blue eyes. Mathieu scooted over so Solomon could sit on the bed next to him, “It was her. She’s coming to London. Elise was right.”

  Solomon didn’t have to ask who “her” was. He took his partner’s hand, “You were in London when you were young?”

  “Yes, but she wouldn’t say what happened.”

  “When is she coming?”

  “She’ll be here on the 15th. She said she has friends here. I didn’t know. Why didn’t she ever say?” silent tears began to fall from the Irishman’s golden-brown eyes.

  Solomon thumbed his lover's tears away, “I don’t know, Love, but we’ll find out.”


  ***

  It was dark but no longer raining and the couple was snuggled together on the sofa watching TV when Mathieu remembered that Adrian called, “Solomon?”

  “Yes, Love.”

  “What did Adrian have to say?”

  “Oh. He said ‘happy birthday’ and that he was having a great time in Scotland and he should be home for Christmas.”

  “That’s all? He couldn’t leave that in a message? He’s not going home to Wales for Christmas? Why didn’t he text me back?” Mathieu could understand Solomon not going home but Wales was so close. He knew he’d see his family every time he could if he had any to see and they wanted to see him in return.

  Solomon threaded his fingers through Mathieu’s curls, “He said he wanted to wish me happy birthday in person and not in a message. He was just being his usual, annoying self. He said he didn’t get a text from you but he definitely would’ve answered it if he did. He did sound surprised when I mentioned the party. I guess he’s not going to spend Christmas with his family. He usually doesn’t. We usually go to Anders’ parents place for dinner.”

  “Anders said they went away. He was telling me last night. They’re in Spain or the South of France. I couldn’t really hear him. James and William were trying to bring him into their debate between Guinness versus warm ale.”

  “Is that what all the nonsense was over? I had wondered what all the fuss was. Do you know when they’re coming back?”

  “I don’t think he said before he went to the bar for two glasses of Guinness and two warm ales so they could have a taste test. We can ask him at brunch tomorrow.”

  Several thoughts ran through Solomon’s mind. This would be his first Christmas dinner in a long time without Anders’ parents. It made him feel lonely and sad even though he had his fiancé in his arms. He never realized how much he relied on their holiday hospitality to lessen his holiday homesickness. The blonde wanted to honeymoon in New Zealand but now, without this small comfort, he needed it; needed to go home; more than ever. On top of that, Mathieu’s trouble with his mother made him miss his mother even more. He hadn’t been home in so long he needed to go soon.

  “Solomon?”

  “Yes, Love.”

  “You're far away.”

  “Just thinking about not spending Christmas at Anders’. I didn’t realize how much it meant to me until you said it may not happen this year.”

  “I’m sorry Solomon. What do you think about having something here? We could have a traditional, English, Christmas dinner; goose, stuffing, gravy, roast potatoes and vegetables and plum pudding for dessert. We could invite Anders and Elise and Adrian, if he’ll come.”

  “That sounds great, Love but we’ll ask Anders tomorrow anyway. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  ***

  They were back at Montparnasse Café on Thackery Street for brunch the next day. The waitress brought coffee for three to the table under the window and asked if they were ready to order. Mathieu decided to go for the cheddar cheese soufflé again (since he didn’t actually get to taste it last time he was there). Anders ordered his usual ‘four season salad’ and Solomon ordered the smoked chicken and blue cheese Panini. Solomon thanked the chef for hosting his birthday party and teasingly asked where his gift was. Anders didn’t miss a beat as he answered, “still at the store”. Anders confirmed that his parents would be away for the Christmas holiday but says they could still use their house for dinner if they wanted.

  “Who will do the cooking?” Mathieu asked. He didn’t think it was fair to ask Anders to cook for everyone. “Solomon and I were thinking of having something at our place. We were going to ask you and Elise to come and Adrian too.”

  “That’s very nice of you but my parent’s place is bigger why don’t we have it there. You guys can spend the night in one of the guest rooms. You and I can do the cooking, if you don’t mind helping me out.”

  Mathieu looked to Solomon for guidance and Solomon nodded, “Thank you, we’d love to join you.”

  “Solomon?” something else had occurred to the Irishman.

  “Yes, Love.”

  “Why did only your male coworkers come to your party?”

  Anders burst out laughing, “Solomon’s female coworkers don’t like him. They think he's a tease.”

  “What?” Mathieu stared at his lover in wide eyed amazement.

  Solomon blushed as he explains, “When I first started working there the girls used to flirt with me. I made the mistake of flirting back and going for drinks with a few of them. I didn’t take any of it seriously. But when I wouldn’t go any further they labeled me. I heard a rumor that one of them said I did something with her and when I went out with the others and nothing happened they made up stories and said that I did. They didn’t believe me when I told them I wasn’t interested in women and when they finally did believe me they were furious because they said I led them on. Some of them went to Ian and asked if they were justified in filing sexual harassment lawsuits against me and were even madder when Ian told them that he had heard the lies they had spread about me sleeping with them and that I had more of a right to file a lawsuit against them.”

  “Wow. That’s crazy. Those women are crazy. And they still hold it against you?”

  “Oh, yeah. They got even madder when they found out I had a boyfriend and that we were engaged while all of them are still single.”

  “But it’s been years.”

  “I know. They can really hold a grudge.”

  All three men burst out laughing.

  ***

  Wednesday, December 13th: Elise was proud of Mathieu for handling the telephone call from his mother as well as he did. She knew it couldn’t have been easy for him to hear that he was so close to an answer but had to let it go. She wouldn’t be able to see him again professionally until after the New Year’s holiday so she told him to be strong but call her right away if he needed anything and she meant anything.

  Mathieu’s mother didn’t call him on Friday the 15th or Saturday the 16th. But that Saturday the Christmas, street fair had returned and Mathieu wanted to go. Solomon didn’t think it was a good idea since it was the place Mathieu had his first attack but Mathieu wouldn’t take no for an answer; if Solomon wouldn’t go with him he would go by himself. Of course, Solomon couldn’t let the stubborn Irishman go by himself. Solomon needed to go just in case something did happen plus he really did want to see the fair. The couple ventured out early thinking to avoid most of the crowd that was sure to show up. When they got there some of the shops were just starting to open and they agreed that it would be okay to separate for a while to do a little shopping for each other’s gifts. They started on opposite sides and ends of the street so they couldn’t spy on each other.

  Mathieu spotted the shop that he had had his attack in front of and approached it cautiously. He didn’t recall that it was a bookshop before and he hadn’t been back since. There were tables on the sidewalk with stacks of used books and the musty smell of the interior wafted out the open door but didn’t draw him inside. The Irishman didn’t see anything remarkable about the shop; it was like any other used book shop he’d ever seen. Mathieu closed his eyes to picture the past; the crowd; the band; where he stood; what he saw; how he felt; but nothing he saw in his mind was of any help. He didn’t think he’d ever been there before his attack and he had no memory of visiting the place with his mother. The artist spent a few moments browsing through the books on the tables but went away with nothing.

  Meanwhile, Solomon was having a grand time at the other end of the block picking up odds and ends for Mathieu. He had spotted some starfish ornaments (which he’d give to Mathieu when they get home after they bought their tree), a book about the history of Bristol, a book about the ghosts of London and a beautiful Celtic knot pendant on a silver chain.

  By the time they passed each other, not quite in the middle of the street, Solomon had his hands full of shopping bags but Mathieu wasn’t carrying anything. The
artist felt embarrassed by his lack of purchases and told himself to concentrate harder on looking for things Solomon would like. Mathieu did well at the rest of the shops on his side of the street picking up a scarf/hat set in blue that would bring out Solomon’s eyes, a pair of cufflinks with the letter D engraved in the silver, a black chef’s apron with multi-colored hearts on it and a set of lighthouse ornaments (which he’d give to Solomon when they got home after they bought their tree).

  They met up again when they were done and just as the crowds had gathered around the stalls in numbers. Mathieu was a little uncomfortable but they were done shopping anyway and decide to drop off their packages before heading out to find a tree. Solomon had argued for an artificial tree but Mathieu won out when his king of hearts beat Solomon’s nine of clubs. Solomon would’ve relented anyway because it was his partner’s first real Christmas since the attacks started and he wanted it to be special.

  The couple bundled up against the growing cold and made their way up the street to a place Solomon had seen on his way home from work. The fresh-cut trees leaned against wooden stands and were arranged according to height. Mathieu was immediately in love with the small, scraggly trees but Solomon said that if they were going to get a real tree they should get a good one. The Irishman pouted as Solomon browsed his way toward the tallest ones but when he noticed how the prices climbed as the trees got taller he pivoted on his heel and walked back. They settled for one that was not too tall or too short, too round or to thin; there was a section that was a little less dense but Solomon said they could hide that bit against the wall. Along with the tree they also bought a box of fairy lights and a stand that Solomon thought was big enough to hold a full sized Norway spruce.

  It was easier than they thought to maneuver the tree up the stairs because Solomon just took it and carried it up over his shoulder. Mathieu laughed as he said Solomon would look like a lumberjack if he only wore a plaid shirt. Solomon didn’t think it was funny. Mathieu thought it was hysterical and continued to laugh as Solomon tried to get the thing in the stand by himself. They had already decided to move the console table next to the front door out of the way and put the tree there; the table would find a temporary home in the bedroom beside the dresser. Solomon huffed in frustration and Mathieu finally settled down enough to help. The Irishman held the tree while Solomon tightened the screws around the stand to hold it in place. After three tries they finally agreed that it was as straight as it was going to get.