2019-12-26 - Christmas in the OBX

Zipping the bag shut Easton looks out over the falling snow and blows out a hard breath. It's not that he's not looking forward to the trip, it's just that he only agreed to this whole thing because he thought Bennie would be going with him. But Thanksgiving seems like a world away now and a lot has changed since then.

Despite the snow, the drive and flight out east are uneventful. A few beers at the airport turns into a couple little bottles of whiskey on the plane though and by the time he finally arrives it's a good thing he had no plans on driving out to the house. The house itself is a gorgeous beach house, done up in a New England shingle style with a large section of private beach to itself. It's just within the area serviced by paved roads, before it turns into rougher 4x4 only territory.

Jenny and Doug arrive a few hours after him, giving Easton time to do things like start the fireplaces and run out for a quick grocery run. Thankfully all the meals will be taken care of via catering services so that neither of them has to inflict their cooking on the other. And by the time her car pulls up to the house it looks if not festive, at least warm and cozy.

The days themselves pass pretty quickly between the nerf gun wars between Easton and Doug, the holiday movies that need watching and the great cookie making disaster I and II. Despite the chill December air and nearly freezing water a walk along the beach turns into an impromptu polar bear plunge in their skivvies for the boys. Jenny screaming at them to get out of the water before they freeze and Easton being sure to grab Doug after a particularly brutal wave tumbles him. Laughing Easton carries the boy on his shoulder all the way back to the house retelling how many times he and Tom would inflict freezing or disgusting swims on one another via dares and bets.

Christmas day itself comes and there are a few gifts to exchange in the morning. Jenny tries but doesn't do a good job of hiding her meaningful looks at Easton as Doug opens his gifts and hugs his 'uncle' in gratitude. And her own gifts get a little more of a heartfelt thank you than Easton would like.

He tries to push aside those thoughts and just enjoy the holiday, but he knew this would happen. It's why he never would have agreed to the trip if Bennie wasn't supposed to come to. Jenny has hinted more than once that she wants more from their relationship. And finally after a long dinner with too much wine and Doug safely ensconced in the warm glow of his Switch, she makes the subtext into text.

"Easy, I'm so glad you came out. I've been thinking a lot about you. About us." Jenny says, curled up on the other side of the couch in front of the fire holding a wine glass that has been refilled countless times through the day.

"Jen."

"Don't. Don't look at me like that. It wouldn't be the first time anyway?" She raises her eyebrows, silently asking him to take a trip down memory lane with her.

"That was different." Easton stares at her, his one and only beer from dinner still barely touched in his hand. He knew this was coming and the last thing he wanted to do was not have a clear head when it did. "Tommy was still there and we were very, very fucked up."

The conversation is not an easy one, but it's a necessary one. It takes time and a gentle kiss on her forehead but Easton finally gets her to bed, alone.

With the danger having passed Easton allows himself to crack open the bottle of Knob Creek that's been calling his name all day. With a sardonic "Merry Christmas to mee" Easton settles into the couch to enjoy his drink and congratulate himself on handling that like an adult. But one drink turns into three and then he can't sleep so it becomes more.

The holiday texts to friends and 'family' back in Gray Harbor help distract Easton, particularly when he gets a little drunker and starts sending the bawdy joke texts to Itzhak and others. Particularly explaining his current endeavor to Itzhak gets this little snippet of an exchange.

Itzhak texts>> There's a jewish saying. It's a mitzvah to tickle a widow.
Easton texts>> Tom wasn't jewish.

The texts continue on and off for a while, mixed in with plenty of others and a few more glasses of whiskey but eventually even with the time difference the texts stop. And still Easton sits up.

He doesn't remember walking up the steps to the bedroom, but he opens the door to check in on Doug. He meant to just check on him and then try and get some sleep but finds himself sitting in the chair opposite the bed instead and talking. Telling stories that are way to inappropriate to tell Doug when he's awake. Stories of Thailand bars and the time they bought something they thought was Molly from a guy named Cliff. And that turns into other things he wants to tell him about the dad he'll never get to know. About how terrible Tom was with money and how much of an asshole he could be. And how brave and selfless he was.

And at some point his voice just gives out.

He meant to go to his bedroom and fight for some sleep. But somehow he ended up in the wrong guest room. And he meant to just kiss her on the forehead again...

But that didn't go as planned.

In the cool gray light of the morning the conversation is even more painful. But at least they come to an understanding before Doug wakes up. And while it doesn't make for the most comfortable time spent over the next couple of days, they do their best. But Easton can't pretend that he's sorry to see them off a day early. Ostensibly because there is bad weather on the way, at least it's enough of an excuse that Doug doesn't complain too hard.

And left alone in the house Easton doesn't even bother pretending like he's keeping it together. He started out so well, but by the end of the week, he's back down at the bottom of the bottle.