“Ben,” Nicholas said in a low voice. When Ben looked at him, Nicholas pointed to the floor. “You’re dripping.”
Ben lowered his gaze to where the snow from the bottom of his sleep pants had melted, forming a puddle of water.
“Oh dear Lord. It wasn’t a dream, was it?”
“I think we got through to him,” I murmured.
He collapsed onto the sofa. “Are youseriouslytelling me my brother is dating… Santa Claus? That Santa Claus… is real?”
I sat beside him. “I’ve known him since I was twelve years old. I’ve wanted him since I was in my thirties. And I’ve loved him for a while now. Our time together amounts to every Christmas Eve since 1979, but it isn’t enough anymore, so I’ve made a decision. We’re here because it will affect you too.”
Ben swallowed. “You’re scaring me.”
“If that means you start to believe what I’m telling you, then please, be scared.” I took another deep breath. “He’s asked me to live with him, in his realm, and I’ve said yes, but—”
“‘Hisrealm’?”
I nodded. “Forget all that North Pole shit, okay? I’ve been to his realm, many times, and it’s as far from the North Pole as it’s possible to be, all right? And while Ihaveagreed to go with him, there’s a drawback. Which brings me to why we’re here.”
Ben became still. “Go on.”
“I’d be going there for good. Forever.” I gestured once more to Nicholas. “He knew I couldn’t walk away from my family, that I’d need to see you, so he agreed that… I’d come back here one night every year—on Christmas Eve.” I swallowed. “But I had a condition. I had to come here first and tell you what was going on.” I gazed fondly at Ben. “And Nicholas agreed to share his secret, to let you see him—just you.”
Ben stilled. “One night?”
I widened my eyes. “One night is better than no nights at all. At least this way, I’ll still be in your lives, for a while anyway.”
“What does that mean?”
Nicholas leaned forward. “Anthony won’t age. He’ll always be as you see him now.” His eyes gleamed. “Which might be a little hard to take, don’t you think? So the day will come when he’ll stop visiting, and you’ll have to pretend he’s dead, for the sake of your family. They can’t know the truth.”
“Why not?”
“Do you really think they could keep something like this a secret?”
Ben frowned. “No. I don’t think they could. I’m not sureIcan, to be honest. But what do I tell Layla, Pete and Becca?”
“They don’t see that much of me, really, if you think about it. One day a year isn’t so far-fetched.” I gazed at him. “Canyoucope with only seeing me once a year?”
“It’s not as if I have a choice, is it?” A note of bitterness crept into Ben’s voice. “And what if there’s an emergency? What if I need you? How on earth would I contact you? Because it doesn’t sound to me as if you’dbeon this earth.”
I turned to Nicholas. “He’s right. I didn’t think of that.”
Nicholas smiled. “Then one channel will remain open, all year round. I’ll be able to know immediately if there’s anything wrong.”
“‘Channel’?” Ben’s brow furrowed.
“It’s… complicated,” I told him. “All you need to know is, we’ll be aware of everything that happens here.”
Ben peered around the room. “You got cameras in here that I don’t know about?” he quipped. Then he sighed. “I still don’t see why you need to go with him.”
I knelt in front of him and took hold of his hands. “You haveyourhappiness—Layla, Pete, Becca, a job you love…” I looked him in the eye. “Well, Nicholas ismyhappiness.”
He gave a half-smile. “And I still can’t get my head around that part. Santa Claus—gay.”
“He’s always been gay. Thereisno Mrs. Claus. And… I want your blessing.”
Tears glistened in his eyes. “How can I argue against that?”