A Night In Hope Harbor

A Night In Hope Harbor
By four o'clock on December 23, I was ready to go and pick Crane for the party at Hope Harbor. Paul had invited us for a Christmas party and it was going to start by six pm, according to what was written on the invite.

Paul had made it clear that the dress code for the party was casual, so I hadn't spent much time worrying about what to wear.

I chose a dark blue pair of jeans, a cream-colored knit shirt, and a pair of clean white sneakers. I wore a simple watch and a light jacket because Hope Harbor was a coastal town and I expected the evening air to be cold.

I checked myself once in the mirror, grabbed my keys, and headed out.

Grace and I had gone back home after the bake sale the previous day.

When I pulled up outside the Xanders’ house about fifty minutes later, I noticed that there were no cars in the driveway.

I smiled.

Crane's family must have gone somewhere. And he must be the only one at home, waiting for me.

I knocked.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

And I forgot what I had intended to say.

Crane stood there looking effortlessly beautiful.

He wore a pair of dark trousers with a fitted charcoal-gray sweater over a plain white shirt. His sleeves were pushed slightly toward his elbows, and his dark shoes completed the simple outfit.

Nothing about what he wore looked excessive.

That was what made it worse.

He looked good without trying.

I stared at him.

He raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

I shook my head slowly.

"You are so beautiful, my darling princess."

His mouth curved into a smile.

"You like it?"

"I love it."

I stepped inside and pulled the door shut behind me.

Then I pulled him into my arms.

He laughed softly.

"Elias."

I kissed him.

I had waited all day to see him, and now that I finally had him in my arms, I didn't feel like pretending I had any restraint.

He kissed me back, his hands settling around my waist.

When we finally separated, he looked at me with that familiar warmth in his eyes.

"I missed you."

"I saw you yesterday."

"That was yesterday."

I laughed.

"Fair enough."

He grabbed his jacket.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

We locked the house and headed toward the car.

The drive to Hope Harbor took a little over forty minutes.

The evening sky darkened over the coast, and the lights from restaurants and small businesses appeared along the streets.

When we finally reached the venue, I could already see cars filling the parking area.

"Looks like the party is popular," Crane said.

I smiled.

"Paul and Xavier are popular from what I have read about them." I told Crane

We walked toward the hall.

Music reached us before we entered.

The party had only just begun, but the room already had a lively warmth.

Soft Christmas lights hung along the walls and around the windows.

A large Christmas tree stood near one corner of the hall, decorated in gold and silver.

Several round tables filled the room, though most people were standing and talking rather than sitting.

There was a buffet along one wall, while another section held drinks and desserts.

The room was filled mostly with gay couples, just as I had expected.

Some were young.

Some were middle-aged.

Others were much older.

There were two men standing near the drinks table with their arms around each other's shoulders.

Another couple sat together on a couch, talking quietly.

Near the Christmas tree, two women laughed together as one fixed the other's hair.

A few couples moved around the room holding hands.

Nobody seemed concerned about who was watching.

I felt something loosen inside me.

Crane noticed.

"You okay?"

I looked at him.

"More than okay."

He squeezed my hand.

We walked farther into the hall.

I recognized Paul almost immediately.

He stood near the far side of the room talking to another couple.

One man had his arm comfortably around his partner's waist while they listened to Paul.

"There's Paul."

"I see him."

We walked toward him.

Paul noticed us before we reached him.

"Elias!"

He smiled broadly and opened his arms.

I hugged him.

"It's good to see you."

"You too."

He turned toward Crane.

"And you must be Crane, I remember your face."

Crane smiled.

"I am."

Paul shook his hand warmly.

He introduced us to the couple standing beside him.

"This is Bill, and this is Eric."

Bill extended his hand.

"Good to meet you."

"You too."

Eric smiled at Crane.

"Paul has told us about you both."

Paul looked between us.

"These two are a couple."

Bill's smile widened.

"That's wonderful."

Eric nodded.

"How long?"

Crane glanced at me.

"A while."

I smiled.

"A very good while."

Bill laughed.

"That's the right answer."

We continued talking for several minutes.

The conversation was easy.

Nobody treated our relationship like something unusual.

Nobody asked uncomfortable questions.

Nobody stared.

We were simply two men who had arrived together.

A couple among many other couples.

It felt natural.

Paul eventually waved toward another part of the room.

"I want you to meet someone."

He led us toward an older couple standing near the Christmas tree.

The two men were holding hands.

Paul smiled when he reached them.

"Edward, Jeff."

The older men turned.

"This is Elias and Crane."

He looked at us.

"Guys, this is Edward and Jeff."

We exchanged greetings.

"It's good to meet you," I said.

Edward smiled.

"Good to meet you too."

Paul added casually, "They've been together for decades."

Jeff laughed.

"Fifty years."

I stared at him.

"Fifty?"

"Fifty," Edward confirmed.

I looked at Crane.

He was smiling.

I turned back to them.

"That's incredible."

Jeff squeezed Edward's hand.

"We've had our arguments."

Edward laughed.

"Plenty of them."

"More than plenty."

They both laughed.

I couldn't help smiling.

Edward looked at Crane.

"How long have you two been together?"

Crane answered.

"Several months."

Jeff nodded.

"Then you already know."

"Know what?" Crane asked.

"That love isn't only the easy parts."

Edward smiled.

"You have to learn how to stay."

His words stayed with me.

I looked at Crane.

He was already looking at me.

Neither of us said anything.

We didn't need to.

Paul moved on to introduce us to more people.

The evening gradually became livelier.

Music grew louder.

People began dancing.

Some couples danced slowly.

Others laughed and moved without caring whether they had any rhythm.

Crane and I stood together for a while, watching.

"This is nice," he said.

"It is."

He leaned closer.

"You look happy."

I looked around the room.

I saw people who had spent years together.

People who were still discovering each other.

People who had clearly built entire lives around one another.

I looked at Crane.

"I am happy."

He smiled.

I slipped my hand into his.

"Very happy."

He squeezed my hand.

We eventually joined the others.