A Christmas Memory 2

by Max Vos

  “You look at the ones who are the most righteous acting, and more than likely, they’re the ones that have the most checkered pasts. Take it from an old woman who’s been around.” Maggie took off her apron. “Wait till I see her again.”

  “Hold up now, Ma. We got Carl Andersen checking it out.”

  “That’s fine, let him look.” Maggie sat down next to Adam at the new island in the recently remodeled kitchen. “I would put money on it that she’s done exactly what Thad has accused her of.”

  “We need to let Carl do his job, Maggie,” J.J. commented.

  “Oh, I’m all for that. However, Grace Griffin needs to be taken down a peg or two, and I know just how to do it. You leave it to me.”

  “Ma… what are you going to do? Don’t you go getting in trouble, or worse, make more trouble for Thad.”

  “Adam, hush up. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Why am I a little bit nervous?” Adam eyed his mother suspiciously.

  Maggie patted his big hand with hers, smiling. “Trust me, dear. I’ll take care of it.”

  * * * * *

  “Welcome back, Jon. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving?” Susan Scott greeted him as J.J. sat down at the teachers’ table in the cafeteria.

  “It was great. Ate too much as usual, but it was very nice.” J.J. opened up his brown paper bag, retrieving his lunch. “Turkey sandwiches, of course,” he said chuckling.

  “Yeah, with cranberry sauce,” Adam said, announcing his arrival at the table. “Hi, Susan.”

  “Afternoon, Coach.”

  Libby Blankenship sat down, or more like dropped down in a chair.

  “Libby, what’s wrong?”

  “Grace Griffin just told me she is retiring and leaving as soon as tomorrow.” Libby looked as if she was in shock.

  “Do what?” J.J. asked, in disbelief. “What brought that on?”

  “She wouldn’t talk about it,” Libby said, looking at him. “That isn’t like her. She loves teaching.”

  J.J. and Adam glanced at each other. Adam stood up. “Excuse me, please.” J.J. looked at him questioningly. “I’ll be back.”

  J.J. watched as the beefy football coach hurried from the cafeteria.

  * * * * *

  Adam rushed to the principal’s office where he saw Carl eating lunch at his desk with the door open. “Carl, you got a minute?

  “Yes, Coach. Why don’t you close the door behind you?”

  Adam entered the office and sat in one of the chairs in front of Carl’s desk.

  “Carl—”

  “Coach, I know what you’re about to say and I’m going to save you the time.” Carl Andersen sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I have no idea what is going on. I hadn’t even had a chance to speak to Grace before she came in her first thing this morning and said that she was retiring immediately. As of tomorrow, actually.”

  “Uh, you didn’t say anything to her about Thad’s grades?”

  “Nope. Not a word.”

  “Then why?”

  “I have no clue. I asked her the same thing, and she said it was for personal reasons. All she would say.”

  “I’ll be damned.” Adam sat there a moment. “Well, thanks for your time, Carl. Didn’t mean to interrupt your lunch.”

  “Not a problem, Coach. Have a good rest of the day.”

  “You, too, Carl.”

  Adam walked slowly back to the cafeteria. “I’ll be damned,” he murmured to himself. He looked at his watch and moved faster. He only had fifteen minutes left before he had to be in his classroom. Just enough time to finish up lunch, if he hurried.

  * * * * *

  J.J. followed Thad into the back door of Maggie’s new home. “Mom,” he called out.

  “Oh, hello, J.J. What a pleasant surprise,” Maggie answered before kissing his cheek. “Thad, there’s a sandwich for you on the counter.”

  “Thank you,” he said and kissed her cheek. “I’m starving.”

  Maggie laughed. “I know, dear, I know.”

  J.J. studied her for a moment. “Aren’t you afraid he’s going to spoil his dinner?”

  “Honey, don’t you remember what it was like when you were a teenager? Weren’t you always hungry at that age?”

  He looked away. “Mom, I was hungry my entire childhood.”

  “Oh, J.J. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” Maggie took his hand. “Come, sit down for a few. I’ve got some cookies. Your favorite, oatmeal raisin with a hint of ginger.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” J.J. sat down as Maggie opened up an old fashioned cookie jar.

  “J.J., I don’t mean to pry, but you’ve never spoken of your childhood or your parents. I only know the few things that you’ve mentioned. Would you tell me, please?”

  “Not much to tell, really.” J.J. took a small bite of the cookie, not really tasting it. “My father ran out on my mother and me. I was only four.” J.J. sighed. “Guess he was sick of her boozing and pill popping. After a few years, I could relate.”

  “Aww, J.J. I’m sorry. Everyone deserves to have a decent childhood, to be loved.”

  “Well, that didn’t happen for me. That's why I’m so scared about this baby. I don’t want to screw it up, like my folks did.”

  “Pfft, that’s never going to happen. You have too much love in you.”

  “Mom… did you… like, do or say something to Grace?”

  “No, I didn’t.” Maggie got up and walked to a cabinet. “Would you like some milk to go with your cookies?”

  “Yes, please. So you didn’t say anything to Grace?”

  “No, J.J., I promise, I didn’t say anything to Grace Griffin.”

  From the way that Maggie was carrying herself, he knew something was up. “Okay. I believe you. But I also believe you said something to someone about Grace, am I wrong?”

  Maggie froze. “I may have mentioned a thing or two to someone, yes.”

  “All right, Mom. Let’s have it. Tell me what you’ve done. I’m sure you know what’s happened.”

  “What’s happened?” Maggie turned around, her face blank but her eyes looked downright gleeful.

  “Grace Griffin suddenly decided to retire. As in immediately. Won’t be coming back.”

  “Well, about time that old battle axe retired. Quite frankly, just the thought of her in a classroom gives me the willies, knowin’ what I know.”

  “Mom… what did you do? Did you blackmail that woman?”

  “Oh, J.J., blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer to think of it as reminiscing about days gone by.” Maggie actually giggled after pouring the milk.

  “I’ll be damned. I didn’t think you had it in you, Mom.”

  Maggie set the glass down in front of J.J. “No one, and I do mean no one, comes after one of my kids and gets away with it. I’m serious about that, J.J. If anyone were to come after my family, you and Thad included in that, they will have to deal with me. Grace just learned that lesson—again.”

  “What do you mean, again?” J.J. took a sip of his milk and waited. He knew this was going to be good.

  Maggie craned her neck, looking down the hall. “Now what I’m about to tell you, I’ve never told another soul, so you have to promise to never tell anyone, and that goes for Adam, too.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I promise.” J.J. crossed his heart.

  Maggie sat back down next to him. “Many years ago, Luke was still in diapers and I was just pregnant with Matt. Anyway, Grace, who was married I might add, was drunk as a skunk at a party that me and my husband, Frank, were attending. It was a big Fourth of July party, and Grace was just an embarrassment. I felt so sorry for her husband. He was a good man. Anyway, she decided that my husband looked better than hers and was doing everything she could to get him to go into the bushes with her.

  “You’re kidding me? Grace Griffin?”

  “One and the same.” Maggie shook her head, her lips pursed. “She tried everything, believe you me. At one point she had lost her panties and was flashing Frank. W
ell, I’d finally had enough. Frank had bought this movie camera, saying it would be good to film the kids growing up. So the next time she started in on him, I just happened to film it. All of it.”

  “Oh, you didn’t?” J.J. started to giggle. “Grace Griffin? Flashing?”

  “Yep. I still have the little bit of film, too.”

  “And you let it slip that you had it?” J.J. asked, outright laughing now.

  “Grace knew I had it, years ago. I told her then that if she ever made another move on my husband or anyone else’s, that little clip would accidently end up at the drive-in, when we had a drive-in, that is.”

  “Oh, Mom.” J.J. tried to speak but couldn’t for laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” Thad came into the kitchen, an empty plate and glass in his hand.

  “I was just telling J.J. some of the things we used to get into back in the dark ages, honey. Nothing you’d be interested in, I’m sure.”

  “Um, okay.” Thad looked at them like they’d each grown a third eye. “I’m going back to my homework. You guys are acting weird.”

  That only made J.J. laugh that much harder.

  “Hush up, now.” Maggie said between bursts of laughter. “Now… remember, you promised.”

  “Mom, you need to tell Adam. He would so love this story.”

  “Oh no, I won’t either. I had planned on taking that one with me to my grave, but you did ask.”

  “So you got Grace Griffin to retire on that little clip of film?”

  “Well… yes and no.”

  “Oh my heavens, what else?”

  “No. That, my dear, is something between me and God. Let me just say that she won’t be bothering Thad or any other child from here on in.”

  “Oh, come on—”

  “Nope. And that’s the end of that. I won’t discuss it. What’s done is done.”

  “Now you go on, now. You need to go feed that monster of a husband of yours. You know, he’s going to come home from practice starving.”

  “You have a point.” J.J. walked over to his mother-in-law and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Maggie Sutton. Thank you for letting me join your family.”

  Maggie hugged him tightly. “The pleasure is truly all mine, Jonathan Jones. I love you just like you were my own.” She pushed him back and turned him by the shoulders. “Now, go on. Get.”

  * * * * *

  “Something smells good in here,” Adam said, announcing he was home. “Hey, babe.” He kissed J.J. who was stirring gravy on the stove.

  “Hey. How was practice?”

  “I think we’re going to go a lot further in the playoffs this year. Might even have a chance at winning, if we can avoid any injuries.”

  “Wow, that would be great, hun.” J.J. turned and kissed Adam back. “Hungry?”

  “Is the Pope Catholic?”

  “You have time for a shower if you want.”

  “Perfect. I’ll be right back.” Adam kissed him quickly again before exiting the kitchen.

  When he got back, J.J. was putting dinner on the breakfast bar where they normally ate. He turned on the small TV, knowing Adam liked to watch the evening news.

  “Thanks, babe. Don’t you dare tell Ma, but I think you make the best meatloaf I’ve ever had.”

  “Thank, hun. I won’t say anything.”

  “Oh, look, there’s that chick that does the food around town thing. Turn it up.”

  This is Kimberleigh Lahaun reporting from Julie’s Country Cajun Café, where we will be doing a little sampling. First, we'll talk to the owner, Julie Bouchame.

  Julie, what are you going to give us to sample today?

  Kimberleigh, today’s special is meatloaf with a choice of five different veggies.

  Sounds wonderful.

  Adam took a bit of his own meatloaf at the same time Kimberleigh Lahaun took hers.

  Mmm-mmm, Julie, that is some of the best meatloaf I’ve ever had! I highly recommend this, folks. Okay, what else?

  Well, Kimberleigh, this is our house special, baked oysters. We sell these by the half-dozen or dozen. Comes with a basket of French bread to sop up all that yummy goodness.

  Smells delightful, Julie. Let me taste.

  Adam took another bit of his meatloaf, dipped in the mashed potatoes and gravy. J.J. watched, a smirk on his face.

  Oh my. Julie, this is spectacular. I can see why this is a house special.

  “Bet that meatloaf isn’t any better than yours, babe,” Adam said, his mouth full.

  “Don’t talk with your mouth full. You wanna be mopping the floor again tonight?”

  Adam glared at J.J.

  This is Kimberleigh Lahaun, your About Town, food review for the week.

  “Babe, she’d like it a lot better if it were wrapped in bacon like yours,” Adam said, his mouth full.

  J.J. shook his head as he continued eating.

  * * * * *

  “You comfortable, babe?” Adam asked as they lay in front of the fire, gazing at the Christmas tree.

  J.J. sighed contentedly. “Oh yes. The tree is even more beautiful than last year, I think.”

  “I think you’re right. Want some more punch?”

  “It’s not punch. It's wassail.” J.J. laughed. “You know that old carol—A Wassailing We Will Go? Well, this is wassail.”

  “Whatever it is, it sure hits the spot.”

  “Mmm…,” was J.J.’s only response.

  “Happy, baby?” Adam asked, whispering into J.J.’s ear.

  “Yes. Happier than I’ve ever been, hun.” J.J. sat up and turned to Adam. “You know, before last year, I dreaded anyone asking me what was my favorite Christmas, or what was my favorite Christmas memory, because I didn’t have any. I’m still amazed that in just this short amount of time, I have a lot of wonderful memories. Not just Christmas, either.” J.J. kissed Adam’s lips gently. “You did all that.”

  “J.J., you’ve made me the happiest man on earth.”

  Adam leaned down and kissed his lover, his friend, his husband tenderly. The kiss soon turned more passionate. Slowly he pushed open his robe, thumbing one of J.J.’s nipples.

  “Damn, I love you, Dr. Jones.” He started kissing J.J.’s neck, moving down until he caught a nipple between his teeth, eliciting a sharp intake of breath, from his lover. He only lingered a few moments before licking and kissing his way down. A very hard and drooling cock poked him underneath the chin. As tempted as he was, he skirted around the throbbing slab of meat, down to J.J.’s nut sack, lavishing each oval orb with his tongue. He sucked one and then the other before moving underneath, giving special attention to this sensitive area.

  “Oh…yeah…Adam…,” J.J. panted, his head tossing back and forth. His legs spread and lifted automatically.

  Adam took full advantage, lifting J.J.’s legs high before centering his attention on his hole.

  “Oh god!” J.J. espoused, loudly. “God, yes!”

  J.J. grasped at the rug edges they were lying on, his hips bucking up to meet Adam’s hungry mouth.

  He took pity on his poor husband, since he was blathering about, making no real sense. Adam kissed J.J. deeply. He placed J.J.’s legs over his own shoulders, almost bending him in half.

  J.J. broke away from the kiss, breathing heavily. He looked deep into Adam’s eyes and said in a hoarse whisper, “Make love to me. Please?”

  Adam smiled as he nodded. Reaching behind the fireplace tool, in a secret hiding place, he found a small bottle of lube. They kept a bottle of lube in almost every room of the house now.

  He popped it open and slathered his almost purple colored cock. With a quick swipe around J.J.’s hole, he lined up and pushed slightly. J.J.’s head went back, his eyes closed as he reached for Adam’s hips, pulling him ever so slightly forward, allowing the crown of his thick dick penetrate him.

  “Ahhh….yes…,” J.J. hissed. “So…good…”

  Adam started kissing and sucking on J.J.’s neck as he slid into the man beneath him. He watched t
he emotions cross J.J.’s face as he sank his cock deeper and deeper until he was balls deep, his thick pubic bush rubbing under J.J.’s balls.

  “Oh, yeah…,” J.J. sighed, his voice thick with desire.

  “You like that, baby?” Adam whispered, licking J.J.’s neck.

  “Yes…”

  Adam pulled back almost entirely out before again sinking his cock into the warmth of J.J.’s hot ass. Again, he paused before repeating the action. He did this over and over, driving J.J. closer and closer to orgasm, ignoring the pleas for him to speed up.

  He watched carefully, knowing when J.J. was getting close: he wanted to time it perfectly. When he saw the tale-tale signs, he pulled all the way out and then hammered his thick dick into his lover.

  “Oh hell!” J.J. screamed, his dick erupting. Cum spewed up and out of his throbbing cock.

  Adam power fucked him then, pushing J.J.’s orgasm. Every time he slammed into him, another arc of cum would fly, coating J.J.’s heaving chest. He watched as long as he could before the ass clinching his cock pushed him over the cliff into his own blinding orgasm. He could hear his own voice bellow but it was if it were someone else’s, far, far away.

  When he was able to open his eyes, he saw the love of his life smiling up from him, his torso striped with cum.

  “Welcome back,” J.J. said, just a hint of a chuckle in the back of his voice.

  “Damn, babe…that was good.”

  “Oh yeah it was,” J.J. commented, the chuckle that he’d been holding back, finally making its way out.

  Adam’s cell phone started chirping. “Wonder who the hell that is this late?”

  “Answer it and find out.”

  Adam reached over J.J.’s head, bending him in half, causing him to grunt. “Hello?” Adam looked at J.J., his dick still buried deep inside him. “Now? Yes—Yes— We’re on our way.”

  He disconnected the call. “Andrea’s in labor!”

  “Holy shit,” J.J. tried to move but couldn’t. Adam had him bent in half, his still semi-erect dick still plugging his ass. “Get off me, we gotta get cleaned up!” J.J. was frantically pushing against Adam.