Colin and Martin's Christmas Collection Box Set

by Drew Hunt

  Colin chuckled low in his throat.

  “Come here.” Martin pulled Colin’s head down for a tender kiss. Releasing their lips, he said, “No, definitely better than George Michael.”

  “Silly.”

  A third rattle of the door had them moving. As Colin handed Martin his clothes, he called out, “Won’t be long.”

  Martin sniffed, the room smelled of sex. But he was still on his post-coital high and didn’t care.

  “Here, better put this in the back of your underpants.” Colin gave Martin a wad of toilet paper.

  Martin sighed, his high starting to wear off as reality crowded back in.

  * * * *

  Colin pulled into the driveway of his childhood home. It always felt good to return. A pang of sadness hit him when he saw his dad come out of the kitchen door. Even though they lived about two hundred miles apart, Colin still got to see his mum and dad three or four times a year. That wouldn’t happen nearly as often once they’d emigrated.

  Colin’s dad approached the passenger’s door and opened it. “Hi, boys. Good journey?”

  “Not bad. The usual holdups coming into London, of course.”

  “Hi, Harry. Good to see you,” Martin said, reaching to his right to release his seatbelt.

  Harry leaned into the car and beat Martin to it.

  “Hi, Avril,” Martin added.

  Colin looked up; his mother wasn’t there to meet them. “Where’s mum?”

  “She’s uh, resting. You know what she’s like in the run up to Christmas. I try to tell her she needn’t do all she used to, but…” He shrugged. “She never listens.”

  Colin could hear a certain amount of forced jollity in his dad’s voice, and the man didn’t meet his eyes.

  “Yeah,” Martin said, no doubt picking up on the odd tone, too.

  His mum had taken the news that her only son would be going to live halfway around the world pretty hard.

  “How is she?” Martin asked.

  “She has good days and bad days.” He sighed. “Come on. Let’s go inside, it’s bleedin’ brass monkeys out here.”

  Colin smiled. His dad only ever swore when his mum wasn’t around.

  They both got out of the car to retrieve their suitcases.

  “I’ve got it,” Colin’s dad said, taking Martin’s suitcase from him.

  Colin bit his lip. This was Martin’s battle to fight; alas, it was one Martin and Harry had fought many times. Harry just wanted to help, while Martin needed his independence.

  Colin paused just inside the doorway to the kitchen. Everything was familiar, never changing. The same flowery curtains hung at the large window behind the sink, the same set of stainless steel saucepans were stacked next to the cooker. He took in a deep breath and inhaled the familiar and welcoming smell of his mother’s cooking. He’d miss all of this when they left. But he and Martin would have their own kitchen down under, just as they’d had in Yorkshire. Colin shook his head and, making sure Martin was settled, carried both their suitcases up the stairs to his old bedroom. They’d get to sleep in a real bed. Colin couldn’t wait. The airbed had been fine the first couple of nights, but nothing could beat a proper mattress and bed frame.

  “Colin,” a soft voice announced as he turned the corner on the landing.

  “Mum!” Colin dropped the cases, stepped toward his mother, and pulled her into a hug. “Everything all right?”

  She nodded against his chest. “I’m fine, love. You and Martin got here okay?”

  His mother felt, smelled, and looked familiar. Even though he was now in his early forties, the same sense of safeness washed over him whenever he was in close proximity to his mother.

  “The usual jams, but we made good time.”

  “That’s good. At least living in the country you won’t have that problem.”

  “Uh huh.” Releasing the hold, he said, “We made the right decision…for us.”

  She nodded. “Australia’s a wonderful opportunity for you, for both of you. You always did like the outdoors. Couldn’t keep you in the house during the school summer holidays.”

  Colin nodded and smiled. “I remember.”

  “Go on.” She stepped back. “Put your cases in your room. I’ll finish getting dinner ready. Thought we’d have something light because the family are showing up tomorrow and…”

  Colin groaned. He had a number of aunts and uncles, most of whom had children, and some even had grandchildren. The Rogers clan always seemed to descend on their house over Christmas. Normally his mother loved catering to the large numbers, but he’d sensed over the past few years the strain was getting too much. Looking at his mother more closely he saw a few extra lines, her hair—always full and wavy—seemed thinner and streaked with more grey than he remembered. Had his decision to emigrate caused this? Colin’s heart ached.

  “I love you, you know?”

  She smiled, and his old mum was back. “I know you do. You and Martin will make a wonderful life down under.”

  “Yeah.” Colin smiled. “It really is a magical place. You’ll have to come out and see us when we’re settled. Dad’ll love it, you will, too.”

  Her smile dimmed a little. “We’ll see.”

  Colin knew “we’ll see” meant that it was unlikely, so he’d have to work on his dad. Thinking of Harry reminded Colin that the suitcases needed moving so he could get back downstairs and rescue Martin from whatever his dad was up to.

  * * * *

  Martin knew he could hold his own in a kitchen, assuming he was familiar with its layout, but the things Avril produced in hers were out of this world.

  He and Colin had been in London for just a couple of days and already Martin and Avril had fallen into their usual habit. Martin would sit at the table in the breakfast nook chopping, grating, and mixing, while Avril moved about the kitchen doing the bulk of the cooking.

  As they worked, they talked. Harry had had a call out to tow a stranded motorist and Colin had gone with his dad for old time’s sake.

  “I’m so glad you’re more organised about Christmas presents than the first time you came,” Avril said, putting some peeled cooking apples in front of Martin. “Grate these, will you?”

  Martin bet Avril had a food processor that could do the job in seconds, but he enjoyed these times with his mother-in-law too much to point this out.

  Martin picked up an apple. “Maybe Christmas shopping on Regent’s Street just before Christmas was a bit ambitious.”

  “Just a bit.”

  “Thank goodness for the Internet. I can order all my presents, even have them wrapped, and have them delivered to my door.”

  “Or our door,” Avril chuckled.

  Martin joined in the laughter. It was almost impossible to keep his husband from searching in cupboards for presents just before Christmas. Martin knew there would be no way he’d be able to put Colin’s gifts in a suitcase without the man knowing about it. So Martin had arranged for all that year’s gifts to be sent directly to London. Although he’d wrapped one gift and put it where he knew Colin would find it.

  Avril picked up the bowl of grated apple. “Thanks. I’ll just add a bit of lemon juice and I’ll make up the pies later.”

  “I promise I’ll look after Colin,” Martin said. Privately he knew most of the looking after would be done by Colin to him.

  “I know.” Avril’s voice was quiet.

  Martin found and squeezed her hand.

  She squeezed back. “It’s such a long way.” After a sigh, she added, “But it’s a fantastic opportunity for the two of you.”

  Martin nodded. She’d said that a number of times, he wondered if she truly believed it. “And the weather’s better.”

  Avril sighed and didn’t let go of Martin’s hand. He sensed she had more to say, so put his other hand on top of hers.

  “If you’re ahead of schedule, why don’t you sit down for a minute?”

  There was another sigh, but Avril took the chair next to Martin, who
just waited.

  “I went for a routine mammogram last month. They…” She cleared her throat. “They found something.”

  “Oh, Avril.” Martin’s hands tightened over hers.

  “They did some tests. It’s malignant.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “But you can’t tell our Colin. Not now he’s about to leave.”

  “Avril.” Martin swallowed. This was hitting him hard and fast. He’d thought the older woman was just lamenting the move of her son, he’d had no idea there was something bigger. “I don’t know. He’s—”

  “No, Martin, you can’t.” She broke their hand hold and got to her feet. Martin could hear her begin to pace.

  “What will he think when he finds out?” Martin said, hating the thought of keeping something so important from Colin.

  “It’s only a small lump, less than a centimetre. It’s been caught early. Colin would only worry. He might refuse to emigrate, he might…”

  Martin got up and approached the older woman, who allowed herself to be led back to the table.

  “Please think very carefully about this. Don’t you think you should give Colin the choice about staying or going?”

  “He’s been looking forward to this for so long. I won’t be the cause of him having to change his plans.”

  “What treatment options did they offer you?” Martin thought it better to move the conversation into a different area.

  “My doctor got me an emergency referral to an oncologist, and he recommended a lumpectomy. Then chemotherapy.”

  Martin nodded, trying to shut down the medical secretary side of his brain. It was different when the person in front of you was a close relative.

  “They wanted to do it last week but I said no. I didn’t want to be poorly over Christmas, not with it being yours and Colin’s last Christmas here.”

  “Oh, Avril.”

  “I don’t want Colin to know.”

  Martin sighed. “What does Harry say? How’s he dealing with it?”

  Avril sniffed. “He’s been amazing. So supportive.”

  “Good. You say they caught the cancer early. Did they say how confident they were of beating it?”

  “You know doctors.”

  Martin smiled and nodded. He certainly did.

  “They’re optimistic I’ll make a full recovery.”

  Martin let out a breath. He’d already lost his own mother to ovarian cancer; he didn’t know how he’d cope losing his mother-in-law in similar circumstances.

  “It’s your decision of course, but if something was wrong with Colin, wouldn’t you want to know?”

  “Of course, he’s my son.”

  Martin left his response unspoken.

  “I’m having the operation early in the new year. The doctor said the delay shouldn’t cause any problems.”

  “Uh huh.” Martin didn’t know what to say. He knew Colin would be hurt, angry and upset when he found out, and this would be magnified when he realised Martin knew and hadn’t told him. “What about a compromise. Wait until after Christmas to tell Colin, that way he won’t worry over the holiday.” Martin wasn’t sure how he’d be able to cope with the worry. “Then he has the choice of what he—we should do.”

  Before Avril could reply, they heard Harry’s tow truck in the driveway. Avril excused herself to go to the bathroom, leaving Martin to face Colin and Harry alone. Martin plastered on a smile and hoped for the best.

  * * * *

  As usual, Colin woke early Christmas morning. He tried to lie still to give his lover some more rest; he’d seemed stressed and distracted the past couple of days.

  It had been great seeing his family and friends again. But there was also an element of sadness and finality about saying goodbye. Hopefully there’d be occasional visits home, but he knew it wasn’t as easy to hop on a plane as it was to drive down the M1.

  Colin had been amazed and moved at the number of gifts he and Martin had been given—way too many to fit in their suitcases. Harry had promised to post them to Australia in the New Year.

  Colin had noticed that close to the bottom of Martin’s suitcase had been a poorly wrapped box bearing a tag with Colin’s name on it. As the paper hadn’t been secured, Colin thought he should help Martin by rewrapping it. But in the process he’d accidentally seen inside the small box, the contents of which had been a folded piece of paper and a lump of coal. Unfolding the note, Colin had read, That’ll teach you. He’d put the box back where he’d found it and felt suitably chastened.

  But Colin couldn’t wait any longer. So what if it was only half six. It was Christmas Day and he was excited.

  “Martin?”

  His partner continued to snore lightly.

  Colin leaned over and licked at Martin’s exposed left ear.

  Martin slept on.

  “Shit!” Colin said under his breath. “Martin, time to get up.”

  Still no movement from his husband.

  “Come on, time to stuff the turkey and unstuff the stockings.”

  “You don’t have a stocking,” Martin mumbled.

  “So you are awake.”

  “’Course I am. Who could sleep through one of your tongue baths.”

  “True. So, come on, what did you get me?”

  “A lump of coal. It’s in my suitcase.”

  Colin pouted. “Martin,” he whined.

  Martin let out a breath, rolled out of bed, and padded to the door.

  “Where are you going?” Colin asked.

  “To pee.”

  “Oh.” Colin tried not to let his disappointment show in his voice.

  “And to get your present. It’s well hidden.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “What, get you a present, or hide it?”

  “Uh, both, I suppose.”

  Martin rubbed his face, smiled, and left the room.

  Colin’s real gift, when he finally got it, was a total surprise.

  He’d had his eye on an iPad for a while, but hadn’t thought he’d get enough use out of one to justify the cost.

  “One of these, particularly the mini model, will help keep you entertained during the flight.”

  “I thought you’d be doing that,” Colin said, showing Martin his gratitude by kissing every part of Martin he could reach.

  “We’re already members of the mile-high club,” Martin chuckled when Colin reached his ears.

  “Yes, but I want to renew our membership.”

  Martin huffed a breath and shook his head. “I can see you’ll be a handful.”

  “A big handful.” Colin brought Martin’s hand to his groin.

  Martin moved his hand away. “I checked, and the planes have charging sockets at every seat, so you’ll be able to keep the tablet going a long time after you’ve worn me out.”

  Colin laughed and moved on to kissing Martin’s neck. Martin was always so thoughtful. Colin bet the man had gone online or even telephoned the airline to check details of in-seat entertainment. It was just the latest example of how Martin looked out for those around him. Physically the man had limitations, but he more than made up for them with a seemingly never-ending stream of thoughtful gestures.

  “And besides, this thing will talk to me.” Martin disengaged himself from Colin’s kisses and patted the bed. “Where is it?”

  Colin put Martin’s hand back on his hard dick. “I’m sure he’ll talk to you if you stroke him.”

  Martin laughed, gave Colin’s dick a quick squeeze, then let it go in preference for the iPad, which Colin had brushed against Martin’s other hand.

  Martin rapidly pressed the button at the bottom of the screen, and a male voice issued from the speaker. “Colin, meet Daniel,” Martin said, running a finger across the glass, making the thing read aloud the names of the icons under his finger.

  “Cool,” Colin said, glad his man would be able to use the device, too.

  Colin worried his gift to Martin would be disappointing in comparison. But h
e thought that every year, and every year Martin said that having Colin in his life was gift enough. Colin didn’t get it; he knew he was nothing special.

  “What is it?” Martin asked, holding the still-wrapped box that Colin had handed him.

  “Open it, then you’ll find out.” Colin bit his lip, anxious for Martin’s reaction. Colin would swear Martin delayed the opening of gifts just to frustrate him.

  Slowly Martin peeled away the paper.

  “Just rip it off,” Colin said, his fingers itching to help.

  “Patience,” Martin soothed, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

  Eventually the wrapping paper was removed and Martin smoothed his hands over the closed box. “Still don’t know what it is.”

  “Martin!”

  “Sorry, love.” Martin leaned over and kissed Colin on the lips. “You’re so easy to wind up.”

  Why had Colin believed Martin was always thoughtful?

  Finally Martin found the tab on the front of the box . Lifting the lid, he delved inside. “Huh?” Martin’s hands came out, holding an Australian cowboy hat.

  “You liked the straw one I had a couple of Christmases ago, so I thought I’d get you the genuine article this year.”

  “Great.” Martin smiled, his fingers running around the brim. “Put it on for me.

  There was a moment of confusion; Colin put the hat on Martin’s head, but Martin had been expecting that Colin would wear it. Yet again Colin was reminded how giving Martin was. Martin had expected his gift was actually for Colin, and that he would only get the pleasure of knowing that Colin was wearing it. Colin knew that this was mainly his fault. When they’d been in Australia, Colin’s Christmas present to Martin had been to dress up as an Aussie cowboy and give Martin the pleasure of letting him feel what Colin was wearing. True, Colin had also organized a breakfast picnic, but Colin still felt guilty that his gifts paled in comparison to those Martin gave him.

  * * * *

  “This turkey is so moist,” Colin told his mother through a mouthful of food. He swallowed. “Sorry.”

  Avril, red paper hat perched on her head, smiled. “Thank you. But I can’t take the credit. It was Martin’s idea to soak the bird in salt water overnight.”

  “Good idea,” Colin said, looking over at his man, who was wearing a blue hat.