Chapter 14
“E’ssan beeg tee – oof!”
Peter fell face forward into the snow.
“Peter!” Tony and Stephen cried in unison as they trudged towards the bright red coat splayed out like a starfish.
“I fall’d!” But Peter was quick to pop up with a bright smile for his caregivers.
“Gotta be more careful,” Tony said as he helped the boy to his feet. “I know the snow is fun, but there are branches and rocks and all sorts of things underneath to-”
“Beeg tee!” But Peter was not interested in being lectured; not when there were so many cool trees to point out. “’Es beeg! Go up!”
“Oh, it’s big alright,” Stephen chuckled, “a little too big for the cabin though; don’t you think?”
“No,” Peter shook his head.
“Well, it’s definitely too big to fit on our car,” said Tony.
None of these assessments seemed to phase Peter as he toddled over to the next tree.
“I don’t even think we’re in the tree corral anymore…,” Stephen muttered, shading his eyes from the glare of the morning sun off the snow. “I can barely see the village…”
Over the snow drifts stood a collection of storybook cottages with fish scale siding and string lights looped between the eaves. The air around it smelled of gingerbread and dander from the reindeer in the unseen petting pens.
Stephen had spent the week before the trip researching any and all Little friendly activities available near the cabin and was surprised that there was a whole Santa’s Village only twenty minutes up the road. In addition to hosting Little days, visitors could visit a Christmas tree farm and pick one out to take home.
“Hey Peter…,” Tony began in the saccharine voice he used when he wanted to redirect his boy’s attention, “hey; do you want to go back to village and get some hot cocoa and then go see Santa?”
“San-tah?” The Little’s eyes grew wide and bright.
“Yeah, Santa,” Stephen joined in, “and you can tell him all about what a good boy you were this year.”
“Good me,” Peter nodded as he grabbed Stephen’s hand and held the other out for Tony. “Less’goh!”
To enter the village, the trio had to walk past a large, glistening white slope with a sled rental at its base. Littles and their caregivers could be seen riding down the well-worn tracks and tumbling into piles of snow at the bottom.
“Uh-oh!” Peter laughed as he watched them go.
“Yeah, big uh-oh…,” Tony’s voice was taut with tension as he waited for Peter to ask about riding the sleds.
“Peter, look!” Stephen was quick to distract the boy with the reindeer pens. “It’s Santa’s reindeer; do you know all their names? Let’s see how many you remember!”
Peter laughed and began to babble words that may or may not have been the famed Dancer, Prancer and et. al. The only one that came out with any real clarity was: “Roo-doph!”
“Yeah; and what was special about Rudolph?”
“Nose!” Peter giggled.
Stephen fed the Little question after question until they fully navigated their way through the right crowd to the bakery.
The bakery was by far the cutest house in the village, even outdoing the festive Santa pavilion. Smoke rose up from a slanted chimney and the eaves were scalloped with fine details to make them look like lace. Large bay windows flanked either side of the entrance and every inch of them was filled with lights and toys and animatronic bears waving to the visitors.
But the very best thing of all…was a little sign tucked by the mailbox for ‘Santa’s Letters’ that let them know the bakery proudly served Starbucks coffee.
“And yes,” Stephen whispered as he kissed Tony’s cheek, “I also called and checked, just to be sure.”
“Aw, babe; you know my love language!”
“Pretty sure everyone knows overpriced caffeine is your love language…”
Stephen felt his heart stop as they entered the bakery.
There were Littles…everywhere. And their caretakers. And their overstuffed diaper bags. And their strollers. And bags from the gift shops hanging off the strollers. The doctor began having flashbacks to his emergency rooms days; an urgent need to triage whatever the hell was going on took hold of his soul.
“Oh, bit toasty in here, huh?” Was all Tony had to say.
“No hat,” Peter pulled off his knit cap and handed it to Tony, “tank’oo…”
“You’re very welcome; want me to take your scarf too?” Tony did not wait for an answer as he loosened the scarf around Peter’s neck and then removed his gloves. “Better?”
“Yeah! Bet’tah!”
“Uh, why don’t you two try and find a table,” Stephen began, his eyes darting wilding around the room like a scavenger bird, “while I – there!” He pointed to a group getting up near the fireplace in the corner.
“Good catch,” said Tony with a chuckle, “but don’t you want some help-?”
“No, no, you two go sit; I’ll get all the treats.”
“Choc’at snay-all!” Peter chirruped.
“And a hot chocolate with extra marshmallows! And for me-e-e-e,” Tony smirked, “a venti white mocha with two pumps of toffee nut, a splash of soy milk and a caramel drizzle!”
“You’re a monster.”
“I know,” Tony put a kiss on Stephen’s cheek before turning to Peter. “C’mon, let’s find a seat!”
The display case of baked goods was like something out of a dream. Every type of treat was there; cookies and cakes for young ones and sophisticated treats like mini crème brulé and tiramisu for adults.
It was hard for Stephen’s mind not to suddenly go to the weight of the ring box in his jacket pocket…
Could I slip it into something? Maybe that white chocolate and lemon scone? No! He’ll choke on it! But…then again, you can save him with the Heimlich! Wait…Is that even romantic? It would certainly terrify Peter!
Another reason Stephen wanted to come to the village was that it seemed like the most perfectly Instagramable place to propose. He could see himself taking a knee outside near the large firepit or in front of the tree forest just a sprinkling of snow flurries came floating down…
“Brudder! Look, see! They have’ah gingah-bread house-oof!”
Stephen turned just as a Little girl bounced into him. Her teary blue eyes met his, round with worry.
“I-I’m sowwy…”
Before Stephen could say anything, an exasperated young man came up and gave her a hug.
“Wanda! Don’t run off like that! You’re going to give me a heart attack.” He then looked to Stephen, seeming to be convinced that the doctor was about to scold him and Little Wanda. “I’m so sorry! She, uh…you know, gets so excited around the holidays!”
“It’s okay,” Stephen smiled warmly at the pair, “I’m here with a Little one too; I know how rambunctious they can get!”
“I’mma not super L’ittle though!” Wanda smiled, “See? I tied my laces!” She stood back so he could see her red boots with faux fur around the top.
“I do see!” Stephen laughed.
“Alright, sis, we have to get going,” the young man began to tug at her arm, “remember; we already have a gingerbread house at home that needs decorating.”
“Oh yeah!” Wanda chirped before waving clumsily at Stephen, “Okay! Bye-bye!”
“Bye,” Stephen waved to her, “and happy holidays!”
“Ha’pee Holly-days!” Wanda sing-songed.
“Same to you,” said the young man.
The first thing Stephen ordered was Tony’s drink, so he no longer had to waste brain space remembering it. He then proceeded to order nearly one of everything out of the display case, doubling up on chocolate snails and sugar cookies.
“Here you go!” The cheery girl behind the counter handed Stephen a wooden candy-cane with a number on it, “You’ll be number seventy-two.”
Just then, another shop worker barked, “Fifty-nine? You’re order’s up!”
Lovely…
Stephen was relieved to see that Tony and Peter had secured the table near the fireplace. They had one of Peter’s silly light up toys on the table, playing a song while Peter wildly hit various buttons of no consequence.
What Stephen didn’t see was a highchair.
“They’re all in use,” Tony said dejectedly when Stephen asked.
Peter did not technically need one. He could sit…ish. As well as any toddler, anyway. The highchair just offered him a tray he could mash his food on, and the restraints helped keep the excitable boy in his seat.
“Bottom in your chair please,” Tony said as Peter began to wander, but his words made no impact.
“Think he needs a change?” Stephen asked.
“Probably, he’s been a real wiggle-worm since we got over here,” Tony turned in his seat. “A nice lady told me there’s a Little’s changing station back on the other side of the register…so…”
“Can-dee?” Peter held up the wooden candy cane before he-
“Peter, no,” Stephen gently guided it away from the boy’s mouth, “that’s not real candy.”
“Come on, little duck. Let go see if you need a change, okay?”
“Okay…,” Peter’s agreeable demeanor was a sure sign that he was wet.
“I’ll be right here,” Stephen assured.
The bakery seemed to have calmed down some. Most of the families had migrated towards the petting pen for story time with the reindeer. Once more, Stephen’s mind went to the ring.
No, still a bit too crowded in here…maybe after we see Santa…?
He was a bit surprised at himself for not planning better; but that’s what Tony did to a man. Stephen fell so hard and so fast, his logical doctor brain ceased to function. And Peter was the best cure for control issues. The playful Little made setting plans in stone near impossible. Stephen had to learn to live the sporadic life of a single caregiver and his high-energy baby.
“Here we are,” Tony said as he returned a laughing Peter to the table. The boy went right to Stephen and sat on his lap.
“Stee-ben; ‘en tee an’nah es beeg?”
“Yes, we’ll get a tree before we go,” Stephen smiled, “and I promise, it’ll be big.”
The doctor did not hesitate to put his arms around Peter or put a little kiss on his cheek.
“Seventy-two?” A voice called above the thinning crowd.
“That’s us, right?” Tony asked, already snatching up the candy cane, “Awesome! I’ll be right back.
“Stee-ben,” Peter cooed once they were alone.
“Yes?”
“Stee-ben…”
“What is it, Peter?”
The Little paused for a moment, his big brown eyes reflecting the dancing fire beside them. In small words he whispered, “Stee-ben no go.”
At this, Stephen cocked his head with surprise.
“And where would I go? I’m having the very best day ever with my absolute most favorite people.”
“’Es no go bye-bye…Stee-ben no go...”
“Honey, I’m not going anywhere,” Stephen assured, now placing a kiss on Peter’s forehead, “you and me and daddy, we’re here for a whole week!”
Peter made a sort of contemplative hum but did not say anything more.
Tony returned to the table with a tray overflowing with treats.
“Damn Stephen; couldn’t decide what you wanted?”
“I guess I overdid it a bit…,” Stephen muttered as he watched Tony lay all the items out. “But,” he reached out for the ornament shaped sugar cookie with red and green sprinkles and held it up to Peter, “look what I got for you.”
“’Ookie,” Peter giggled before taking the offering, “’es ‘ookie Stee-ben! Tank-oo!”
Stephen watched as Peter opened his mouth as wide as he could and chomped down on the cookie. The Little began to kick his legs and make noises of contentment.
“That good, huh?” Stephen asked.
Peter nodded enthusiastically.
“Wait, hang on,” just as Tony was about to sit, he shot right back up with his phone in his hand, “I haven’t taken any pics since we got here.”
“Tony,” Stephen sighed, “you know you don’t have to document every second of everyday…”
“You do when you have the cutest baby and most handsome boyfriend!”
“Cheese!” Peter was already grinning, “Cheese dah-dee!”
“Tell Stephen he has to smile too!”
“Stee-ben! Cheese!”
Stephen conceded, but not before giving Tony a dramatic eyeroll.
“Aw, perfect,” Tony made a deep, heartful sigh as he looked at his handywork, “here you go!” Then passed his phone over to Stephen.
“What’s this for?” The doctor asked as he took it.
“Take a pic of Peter and me with the hot cocoa,” said Tony. The cocoa had been served in a festive red cup with a snowflake pattern with a pile of extra mini-marshmallows on top.
“’Es me?” Peter asked as he slipped off Stephen lap, a small sliver of the sugar cookie still in his hand.
“Yeah, it’s for you,” Stephen patted the boys bottom, “go on, go sit with your daddy.”
Peter went and sat down in the chair beside Tony, and Tony was ready with a terrycloth bib from the diaper bag for him.
“Okay, let daddy try it first, just to make sure it’s not too hot,” Tony took a small sip from the cup, which made Peter whine with frustration.
“No daddy! ‘Es me!”
“Honey, I don’t want you to burn your tongue.”
A burnt tongue was clearly not sufficient reason to get the first sip. Peter’s whining got louder as he began to bounce in his seat.
“Peter, look here,” Stephen waved a hand to distract the boy, “lookie-look, see?” He pulled one of Peter’s plastic plates out from the diaper bag, “how about you help me make a plate of everything you want to try?”
With a small sniffle, Peter nodded.
Stephen took his time and explained everything to Peter as he went, making sure he gave Tony sufficient time to get the hot cocoa down to a room-temperature cocoa.
“Let’s do the gingerbread cookie and…let’s see; how about some of the red velvet Swiss roll? Yummy, right? And of course, a chocolate snail!”
“Snay-all,” Peter giggled as Stephen put the plate before him.
“I think this it cool enough,” Tony sighed with immense relief, looking up at his boyfriend. “Thanks for keeping him distracted.”
“Not a problem, except, uh…”
Peter had already smashed the Swiss roll into his face. Cream cheese filling was now smeared across his face.
“You still want me to take a picture?” Stephen laughed.
“Might as well,” Tony said with a resigned shrug.
Stephen snapped several sweet pictures of Tony and Peter enjoying their hot cocoa and the numerous sweets he had purchased for them. Thankfully, the bib did its job and with a little help from some wet wipes Tony was able to clean Peter up so they could take on their next adventure.
“Alright, my little duck,” Tony smiled, “are we ready to go see Santa?”
“San-tah!”