A Sweet Thanksgiving, Part One

“This is our last rehearsal until after the Thanksgiving holiday,” Danny Yarrow told his high school students as they all trudged off stage and grabbed the backpacks they’d stashed in the corner of the theater. “Have a wonderful holiday.”

They’d been preparing for their December production of White Christmas since just after Halloween. Rehearsals were going well, but Danny looked forward to the four day break.

After all the kids had left, Danny gave the school theater a once over making sure nothing or even no one had been left behind. With a sigh of relief, he walked out and locked up.

His couldn’t wait for his first real holiday with his lover, Jason Sweet, to begin. Sure, they’d spent Halloween together. In fact they’d gone to Jude’s Halloween party with Jason dressed as the Scarecrow and Danny dressed as Dorothy from Wizard of Oz. He still wasn’t sure how he’d gotten roped into that. But as far as he was concerned, Halloween wasn’t a real holiday. Certainly not the kind where just about everyone had the day off.

Danny walked out to the curb where Jason waited in his car to pick him up. They were going to a local specialty supermarket where fresh, range-free turkeys could be bought.

“Hey, how’d it go?” Jason asked with a smile when Danny got into the passenger side and closed the door.

“Pretty good. I think the kids will be more than ready come opening night.”

“That’s excellent. I’m looking forward to it.” Jason pulled away from the curb and drove the short distance to Sutter Bay’s only specialty grocery store. The parking lot was pretty full, but Jason finally found a spot to pull into several rows away from the front door.

They’d reached the turkey aisle when Jason turned to him, looking a little unsure of himself.

“What’s the matter?”

Jason shrugged, not looking at him. “Nothing. I just…you don’t really mind terribly much that I wanted it to only be the two of us for Thanksgiving, do you?”

Danny had to admit he had been a bit surprised when last week Jason asked if they could celebrate the holiday by themselves. The past couple of years he’d invited friends like Jude and Adam over. He’d initially felt bad about not inviting them, but found out pretty quick both men had other plans anyway.

“I’m good. As long as we can be together, that’s fine by me,” Danny assured him. He peered into the turkey selection. “I suggest we pick a fairly small one though unless you want to be eating leftovers between now and Christmas.”

They picked out a nine pound fresh bird and then headed down the other aisles, picking up potatoes, gravy mix, yams and cranberry sauce.

“Should we have a vegetable?” Jason asked peering at the produce.

Danny wrinkled his nose. “It’s Thanksgiving. Can’t we skip the healthy stuff?”

Jason looked amused. “Would it kill you to eat a few sprigs of broccoli?”

“Maybe.”

Jason grabbed a bag full of broccoli anyway. “My house, my way, and we’re having a vegetable.”

Next they went and picked up a frozen apple and frozen pumpkin pie. Danny figured they could manage to stick those in the oven tonight. It was true they didn’t yet officially live together. He would be spending the night at Jason’s. Maybe someday soon they could actually set up one residence and act like a normal couple. He hoped so. He’d even be willing to sell his place if Jason wanted to keep the Sweet home.

“Okay,” Jason said, glancing over a list. “That seems to be everything. Anything else?”

“Nope, I’m good.”

“All right let’s go pay and we can head home.” He leaned over closer so he could speak directly in Danny’s ear. “Other than cooking and eating time, I intend to keep you naked in my bed for the next four days.”

Danny knew from the heat in his face his fair skin had turned a dark red. He had goose bumps. “Let’s get out of here quick then.”