I understood the significance of that moment. Behind him was his safe, predictable old life. Whatever was up ahead was unfamiliar, scary, and intimidating to him, and I wondered for a moment if he’d actually go through with it.
Then he took a step forward, crossing that imaginary line as he exhaled slowly.
We arrived at the Victorian about a minute later. The first thing Theo saw when we went inside was my Santa suit, which was hanging on the coat rack beside the door. A big bag of toys was sitting with it. I’d be visiting the kids at the hospital that afternoon, before my shift began.
Theo looked like he was about to comment on the suit, but before he could get any words out, Lark shrieked and ran at us. He was dressed in fluffy, tan footie pajamas with big, stuffed reindeer antlers on the hood.
When he grabbed Theo in a hug, my boyfriend went completely rigid for a moment. Lark didn’t seem to notice as he gushed, “I’m so glad you’re here, Theo! I’ve been dying to meet you. If Casey’s my brother, does that make you my brother-in-law? I don’t know how the family tree works, but this is so great! You’re finally home!”
After a beat, Theo relaxed his posture and returned the hug, as best as he could with that big box of candy in one hand. Once Lark finally let go of him, Theo handed over the gift and said, “You must be Lark, I’ve heard a lot about you. These are for you and your housemates.”
“Awesome, thanks! Come on in,” Lark said, as he grabbed Theo’s hand and started to drag him into the living room. “You have to meet the rest of the family.”
Lark introduced Kel first, who’d had a bit of a makeover since the last time I’d seen him on Friday. His hair was pure white and cut into an attractive style with long bangs, and he was wearing a little eyeliner and lip gloss. I recognized Lark’s cropped, dark red sweater, which Kel had paired with black skinny jeans and red fuzzy slippers.
When I told him he looked great, Kel straightened his posture and said, “I decided I’ve had enough of moping, and Lark helped me pull myself together. So what if my boyfriend and I are fighting, and who cares if he left me out and went to spend the holidays with his family in the Midwest? What does it matter if he’s so deep in the closet that he’s probably got a clothes hanger up his ass? I’ve had enough of lying around feeling sorry for myself.”
“Good for you,” I said. Then I turned to Eliot and did a double take. He was in full drag as a stunning brunette with a pretty red negligee, matching robe, and kitten heel slippers. He kissed the air near both my cheeks, then extended a hand to Theo and purred, “Charmed, I’m sure.” The interesting thing was that his transformation wasn’t just physical. Eliot seemed happier and more confident than I’d ever seen him.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d be at your family’s house in the East Bay,” I told him.
My roommate shrugged a slender shoulder. “I’ll be attending a family dinner this evening, as Eliot, obviously. They’re not ready for this much fabulousness. But in the meantime, I decided Miss Kitty should come out and play.”
“I never knew the name of your drag persona,” I told him.
“That’s just what she’s called this week,” he replied with a grin. “Next week, she might be Glamazonia, queen of the Amazons. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
By that point, Lark had herded Theo over to JoJo and Yolanda, who were curled up on the couch together in flannel pajamas and fuzzy bathrobes. JoJo shook Theo’s hand, and both she and Yolanda welcomed him with sincere smiles.
“That’s almost everyone,” I said, “but where’s the rodent?”
Kel pointed to a tiny cat bed on the cluttered coffee table, where Winston was sitting and watching everything with his beady, black eyes. Someone had dressed the chinchilla in a tiny, green sweatshirt with a picture of Santa on it. That was actually a big improvement.
When the doorbell rang, I called, “I’ll get it.”
I threw open the door and greeted my brother and my oldest friend with backslapping hugs. They stuck some presents in my hands, and as Theo approached us shyly, I said, “Guys, please meet my boyfriend, Theo Koenig. I know you already met over video chat, Seth, but now you get the official introduction.”
There were greetings and handshakes all around, and then I guided everyone into the living room, where another round of greetings and hugs took place. The sideboard was loaded with home-baked muffins, scones, mini frittatas, and cinnamon rolls, and someone had set up the industrial coffee maker Yolanda kept stashed in the pantry, which was big enough for a church potluck.