Egg the Halls

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Egg the Halls Page 6

by Jessica Payseur


  Katie was going to want to hear about this in the morning.

  Martha Bobo, owner of Bobo’s Bison, and Buddy had been seeing each other for months now. Their relationship was legendary in Mount Angus for being what a lot of people had taken to calling “true love.” Martha had given Buddy a bison to replace his deceased mascot cow, and Buddy had given Martha the opportunity to create a special beer with him. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the Twelfth Day of Mount Angus, when they would announce what they had created and make it available for purchase just in time for Christmas.

  Kiko watched them giggle their way to the book selection and tried to look otherwise occupied at his computer. He already knew what they were here for and he hoped he wouldn’t have to hear about what other foods they had tried naked.

  “So glad to see you stocked more of those cookbooks, Kiko,” said Martha as she and Buddy brought one of Sander Koch’s cookbooks to the counter. Kiko rang them up without looking at the picture of his ex on the back of the book. He used to stock strictly egg-related books, but the requests for Sander’s work had been so forceful that he’d eventually given in and kept a few copies on hand.

  “I know how much you two love trying out the recipes,” said Kiko. Martha paid, shooting Buddy a loaded look. The brewmeister appeared somewhat embarrassed.

  “Not trying out anything tonight,” he said. “Going over to Pasta La Vista for the Third Day of Mount Angus.”

  “But we intend to be snowed in all weekend so we needed another batch of sauce recipes,” said Martha. Kiko met her wink with the best smile he could muster.

  “You’re the drummers drumming, I heard,” said Kiko, wanting to change the subject. “Are you going to be displaying Cat’s art, too?”

  “Well, yeah,” said Buddy. “Only too happy to promote her stuff. Hope this new place goes out of business.”

  Kiko imagined that had Buddy had a bottle, he would have drank to that. He raised an eyebrow, curious.

  “We don’t hear anything good about the place,” said Martha. Buddy scowled.

  “The guy serves cheap beer.”

  Kiko nodded, understanding. Buddy seemed to have a personal problem with anyone who did not enjoy his brews, especially anyone who would willingly choose something basic to drink. He decided not to mention that Dom was over there right now, drinking the cheap beer and trying to sketch a person.

  “I’m sure Cat’s appreciative. Having her artists’ work at the brewery is bound to get her more business than usual.”

  “It was Buddy Angus’ decision, too,” said Buddy, dead serious. Kiko nodded again in understanding. The brewmeister was still having a hard time letting go of his beloved cow. “Buddy’s ghost’s been hanging around recently. Indicated we could take down the memory wall for the art.”

  Kiko flicked his gaze over to Martha, but she gave every indication she truly believed Buddy, so he didn’t question it.

  “Good of Buddy Angus, too,” said Kiko. He resisted making a “spirit of the season” joke; he didn’t think it would go over well. “Have you gotten your art yet? I’m still waiting on mine.”

  “Oh, I’m not worried yet,” said Buddy. “You and Dom coming to the beer unveiling on Sunday?”

  “We’ll have samples and cookies,” said Martha.

  “I suppose I can’t say no if I’m being personally invited,” said Kiko, smiling. He was glad they were no longer discussing the ghost of a cow. “We might be bringing a couple other people, too. My sister’s going to be in town then.”

  “Bring everyone,” said Buddy. “We have a real treat in store. This could very well be my best bit of experimentation yet.” He paused to shoot a soppy look at Martha. “And all thanks to you, Martha.”

  “Let’s get going,” she said, grabbing the cookbook. “We have a long weekend ahead and I want to start it out with an alfredo and one of your Muddy Angus beers. I love those almost as much as I love you.”

  As soon as they left Kiko pulled out his phone to text Dom.

  Martha and Buddy just left. I need to go home and shower.

  See you there, responded Dom almost immediately. I need one, too.

  * * * *

  Chapter 7

  Even though he’d promised Kiko he’d focus on cleaning up the house, Dom decided he was allowed to take a break for Saturday lunchtime. He even stopped by Pasta La Vista to pick up a pizza and a stamp on the card Kiko had picked up for him, thinking he deserved it.

  Kiko said his sister would be here sometime today and Dom was annoyed that he actually cared what she’d think of him. He hadn’t really felt this way before, this need to impress the family of his partner, and it scared him. He wanted the distraction and comfort of pizza, and he wanted Kiko to give him little tips. He pulled into a half-full Yolks on You parking lot, grabbed the pizza box, and got out.

  “What are you doing?” asked Kiko’s voice, nearly behind him, as he passed the tallest tree. Dom turned.

  “Pizza for lunch.”

  Kiko didn’t look pleased with that.

  “Take it to the basement. I don’t want my customers smelling that.”

  This hadn’t occurred to Dom. He shrugged and made his way to the basement, hoping he wasn’t pissing Kiko off too much. The light was already on and he descended down the steps to find Chad poking around stacks of boxes. The blank look on his face left when he caught a whiff of the food.

  “You, like, brought me a whole pizza?” asked Chad, turning and beaming. Dom held back a sigh. He supposed he could spare a couple of pieces.

  “It’s vegetable,” he said, but Chad didn’t seem to care. “And it’s not all for you.”

  Chad grabbed a piece out of the box with dusty hands and took a huge bite.

  “You’re the best boyfriend the boss has ever had, for real.”

  “Thanks,” said Dom, setting the pizza down on a stack of boxes and having a piece himself. He was on his second when he heard footsteps on the stairs and Kiko appeared. He crossed to them and eyed the pizza.

  “Have a piece, boss,” said Chad, on his third now. “While it’s hot and all. So, where’s the dead body?”

  “Excuse me?” asked Kiko, still examining the pizza as if he was considering not eating any at all. When Dom grabbed the box and shoved it his way, though, he picked up the smallest piece and took a bite.

  “Like, my mom was saying how you’re investigating this mystery egging for Cat down in Catsville,” said Chad, watching the last two pieces of pizza as if he was trying to figure out if he could have a fourth. “I just don’t wanna miss out on the next dead body, right?”

  “It’s vandalism, not murder, Chad,” said Kiko.

  Chad shrugged. “Okay. But I wanna see the next body.”

  “Well, shit,” said Dom. “You think Ben knew what I was doing there last night?”

  “He probably does now if he didn’t then,” said Kiko. “It’s fine; we’ll just question him openly. Drop by the art place. It’s Angus Arts’ stamp day today.”

  “You need an assistant, yeah?” asked Chad. Dom saw Kiko visibly stiffen, and held back a laugh as he immediately changed the subject.

  “How did your mother take your transfer, Chad?” asked Kiko, then crunched into the crust. Chad scowled.

  “She’s all weird about it. Keeps saying things like it’s my dad’s fault, and really wants to know where my girlfriend is. She’s like, all suspicious I’m into something shady I think.”

  “Your mother needs to back off,” said Dom. He offered the pizza box to Kiko again but he shook his head. When Dom grabbed a third piece Chad took the last. Kiko flicked crumbs off his fingers.

  “She’ll have to accept what you’re telling her at some point,” he said. “It’s probably hard for her to watch you leave. You’re her only kid.”

  “She totally asked if they’d let me transfer back,” said Chad. “I mean, can’t she be upset on her own time? I have to pick classes now and she’s pestering me every time I look at them. It’s, like, litera
lly holding me back from my future.”

  “Why did you transfer?” asked Dom. Kiko had mentioned it, but he had his suspicions about Chad and his intentions. Dom knew he had a crush on a nurse at the hospital in Madison and decided his suspicions were confirmed when Chad looked even more awkward than usual and squirmed. But there was no pizza left to eat, nothing left for him to do, so he shrugged.

  “I like it over there,” he said. “I was, like, up there a few times hanging out with Roy this semester. Madison’s got a lot, and the boss even said there’s more classes for me. I can really figure out what to do with my life.”

  Dom couldn’t keep himself from laughing, even when Kiko shot him a frown.

  “Is that what you told your mom? No wonder she doesn’t believe you.”

  “It’s all true,” said Chad, almost angrily.

  “Yeah, but it’s not everything, is it?” asked Dom. He knew too well how that went, lying to others, to yourself even. And he’d seen Chad’s expression before when Roy sent him a text. “You’re leaving something out. That’s why you sound dishonest. You have to learn how to lie better.”

  “Dom,” said Kiko, but Chad was looking worriedly from Kiko to Dom and back now.

  “Okay, if I tell you something, you gotta promise not to tell my mom,” he said, the words tumbling out. Kiko shot Dom another frown, but Dom ignored him.

  “Sure,” he said, and heard Kiko sigh.

  “Go on, Chad.”

  “I like Roy,” he said. “Like, like like him. You know?”

  Dom grinned.

  * * * *

  “I can’t tell my mom,” said Chad before Kiko could respond. This wasn’t a surprising confession, but he was irritated with Dom for looking so smug about it. He wanted to lecture Dom, but couldn’t while Chad was standing right there, and right now Chad looked like he needed some encouragement. He was very pale, almost twitchy with nerves.

  “You can trust us not to tell,” said Kiko. He did not out people. Chad gave an awkward nod.

  “But my mom will literally kill me if I’m gay. She has plans and shit for me…”

  “Gay’s fucking awesome, Chad,” said Dom, looking proud now. Chad’s eyes went wide with panic. Kiko held up his hands.

  “Hold on now,” he said. “Chad, you’re not gay just for liking a man—”

  Dom interrupted him with a laugh and Kiko seriously considered punching him.

  “That’s the definition,” said Dom.

  “If you like women,” began Kiko, and Chad breathed out loudly.

  “Well, yeah, but I’m only interested in Roy right now and…” he trailed off. “So I’m like, bi or something?”

  “You get to decide,” said Kiko, giving Dom a look.

  Dom shrugged like he didn’t much care. “Does he know you like him?” asked Dom, much more intent on the juicy details than Chad’s parental woes. Chad gave a little awkward grin.

  “We made out a couple times,” he said. “But what am I supposed to tell my mom? She wants me to bring a girlfriend home for Christmas, and she’s going to start thinking I’m hardcore into drugs or something…”

  Kiko was not prepared to handle something like this. He wanted to go back upstairs into Yolks on You, back to work, and have it be that Dom had never come in here with a pizza to stir up trouble. Although thinking of it made him realize they’d all been down here at least fifteen minutes now and poor Katie was probably overwhelmed upstairs.

  “Your mom really needs to chill,” said Dom, but Kiko realized Chad was looking at him. Expecting advice. And he wasn’t ready to give any.

  “I’ll think about it, Chad,” he said. “You shouldn’t come out unless you’re ready.”

  “But—”

  “But Katie’s been upstairs on her own while we’ve been down here chatting and eating pizza,” he said, and Chad fell silent. “I’m sure she could use the help. Did you find those holiday chicken coasters?”

  “No,” said Chad. Dom snorted and Kiko turned on him.

  “And weren’t you supposed to be cleaning the house?”

  “Lunch break,” said Dom, shrugging.

  “And you had to come all the way into town for it and disrupt my store?”

  “Didn’t think you’d mind,” said Dom, snagging the empty pizza box.

  “Gaby’s going to be here soon,” said Kiko, wanting to move closer and kiss Dom, but Chad was still poking about, looking for the coasters. “I’m sure she’ll drop by here first but she’s probably going to want to unpack.”

  Dom blinked, something suddenly striking him.

  “You’re not going to be there when we meet?”

  “Not unless she decides to stay out here all day,” said Kiko. He allowed himself to give Dom’s hand a squeeze. “You’ll be fine if she shows up. She wants to meet you.” He paused. “Did your brother ever say when he was arriving?”

  “No,” said Dom. He pulled his hand away. “He called a couple times but didn’t leave any messages.”

  And Dom clearly hadn’t answered. Kiko just nodded.

  “Thanks for all the cleaning. I really appreciate it.”

  “Sure,” said Dom, and turned to the stairs. Kiko followed him up, watching his ass as he went. The sudden burst of desire made him wish he and Dom had tried a little harder to make time for more sex than they had. Kiko always had a harder time indulging himself when he knew guests were around and he envisioned the next few weeks being frustrating in that regard. Just before Dom turned the handle on the door Kiko reached out and grabbed a cheek, squeezed.

  “Are you really going to keep me from cleaning?” asked Dom, but when Kiko looked up at him he was shooting a smile over his shoulder.

  “You’re cruel,” said Kiko, releasing him. “Go on, then.”

  Katie seemed relieved to have him back again. She’d had to postpone a Mother Goose reading for a moderately sized group of antsy children in order to ring up customers, many of whom were buying lunch to eat in peace while their kids listened to a story. Kiko helped her at the register and then brought out the food as she moved over to Mother’s cage and picked out a book.

  Chad finally appeared with the holiday chicken coasters right when Katie was finishing up her last book, leaving Kiko relieved he hadn’t had to go track the teen down. Just when Kiko was feeling guilty for not putting at least some thought to Chad’s problem, his sister entered with her kids.

  Gabriela beamed when she saw him and Kiko made his way over to greet her, hugging her around her puffy winter coat. Her cheeks looked flushed from the cold, but she hugged him back warmly.

  “Hey, Uncle Kiko, can I have this?”

  Kiko broke away to see his nephew, Nathan, tugging at a sparkling ornament on the tree. Both the five-year-old and his two-year-old sister, Rachel, were taken with the shining tree. They were bigger than Kiko remembered, but then, he hadn’t seen them in nearly a year now. But they had the same shining eyes, the same excited smiles set in chubby faces several shades darker than Kiko’s or Gaby’s. Kiko could barely believe he was seeing Rachel standing so easily.

  “Sorry, Nate,” said Gaby, breaking free from Kiko’s embrace and removing the ornament from her son’s grasp. “We’ll decorate our tree later. Don’t you want to see the goose?”

  Nathan’s eyes lit up, and even Rachel looked excited though Kiko doubted she had any memory of Mother. Gaby took Rachel’s hand.

  “And I need one of your famous eggnogs,” she said, smiling wickedly at Kiko. He smiled back.

  * * * *

  “The fuck?” said Dom aloud as he pulled into the driveway. He would have seen the car from the road if he’d been paying more attention, maybe he would have even kept on driving, gone back to Yolks on You until he had the courage to return. But he’d been entertaining himself replaying Chad’s expression over in his mind and had turned into the driveway before truly noticing the car.

  He recognized it. It was his brother’s. He would have backed out right then and gone back to Yolks on You
anyway except Devin was just turning around the side of the house, face pinched up against the cold, trying to pick his way through piles of snow. He looked up and saw Dom but didn’t wave.

  “Fuck,” said Dom again, as though that helped or changed anything. He was caught between feeling nervous and feeling pissed and decided he’d rather be pissed. He got out of the car and slammed the door, glaring at Devin.

  Dom felt for a moment like he was in some kind of warped Wisconsin winter wild west. There he stood, two cars’ lengths away from his brother, both of them rigid and staring at each other. A gust of wind blew glittery snow particles between them, and the cold silence pressed down. Dom decided he wanted the first shot.

  “You could have told me you were coming,” he said.

  “I tried calling,” said Devin. He looked different, a little heavier in figure, a little thinner in hair. He was solidly in his mid-thirties now, even at only a few years older than Dom, and Dom already had opinions on who had aged better.

  “You could have left a message.”

  “You could have answered,” said Devin.

  Dom ground his teeth. “I was busy,” he said, stalking down the driveway and brushing past his brother. Devin was here to stay, it seemed; Dom dug out his keys and moved to the door. As much as he’d like to leave Devin out in the cold, he didn’t think Kiko would approve of him standing outside for hours arguing and leaving the chores undone. Maybe Devin would decide to get a room in town once he realized the sheets weren’t on his bed.

  “Were you really?” asked Devin, stalking after him. He didn’t bother to get anything from his car, but Dom didn’t want to get his hopes up that he’d be leaving. “It’s amazing how you were always too busy for family.”

  Dom forced himself to ignore his brother. Although it wasn’t snowing the sky was overcast enough that he decided to flick on the light. As his brother peered around the clean, modern-looking kitchen Dom moved to open the door to the basement.

 

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