Aidan smiled before he went to his bedroom and pulled on jeans and a sweater. By he time he returned, Shirley had poured eggnog for everyone while Robert and Mori decorated the tree with tinsel and Theresa unwrapped a HoneyBaked ham in the kitchen.
He was amazed by their actions. "You know you guys don't have to do this. I know all of you have family you'd rather be with."
Robert scoffed. "Your surly butt or my klepto aunt Coco who always steals the silver by putting it in her purse when no one's looking... hard choice, buddy."
Theresa chided him. "You're our family too, Aidan. And this year, I think you need us the most."
She had no idea just how right she was. "Thank you, guys."
Robert grinned. "You say thank you until we burn your house down with these Christmas lights."
Aidan laughed at him as Shirley handed him a glass of eggnog.
"To Aidan," she said cheerfully. "Which reminds me of an old toast my grandfather used to give."
"And that is?" Aidan asked.
"To those who know and love me, I wish you well. All the rest may go to hell."
"Here, here," Mori said as he paused to lift his own cup.
Robert agreed. "Very fitting."
Aidan nodded. "Yeah. I'll have to remember that."
"I'm sure you will."
Aidan took a sip before he realized something. "I don't have presents for any of you."
Mori scoffed. "Don't worry. You're here with us and that's all the gift any of us need. We really are here for you, Aidan. Not because you pay us, but because we really do care about you."
And for the first time in years, he believed that. "Thank you.All of you." Then Aidan looked up at the ceiling and whispered "thank you" to it as well, hoping that somehow his words would get back to Leta. He was sure she'd had a hand in this.
The afternoon went by fast as Theresa warmed up the food she'd brought and they had a good lunch of ham, potatoes, gravy, and green beans, with pecan pie for dessert. Aidan could count the traditional Christmases like this that he'd had in his life on one hand.
And none of those had been nearly as special as this one. But all too soon, it was over and his guests were leaving.
He stood on the porch, watching them drive off with a lightness in his heart that had never been there before. Smiling, he picked up his phone and called Mori, who answered on the first ring.
"Did we forget something?"
"You can call the studio on Monday. I'll take the job."
"Are you screwing with me?"
"No, Mori. I'm serious. I'll do it."
The rented Town Car stopped in the driveway and Mori got out to look up at him. He pulled the phone from his ear. "I love you, man!" he shouted. "In a purely platonic kind of way."
Aidan laughed as several birds took flight in fright. "Love you too, Mor. Definitely in a platonic way."
Mori saluted him before he got back into the car and drove off.
Aidan hung up the phone and returned inside where the smell of pecan pie warmed him all the way to his toes. The day would have been perfect if only...
He couldn't finish that thought. It was too painful.
Yeah. There was also something to blight the happiest times of his life. But even so, he'd needed this and he was grateful to his friends for making this day special.
Sighing, he started for his den when he heard a light tapping on his door. He glanced into the kitchen to see if Theresa had forgotten something. She was always misplacing and leaving things behind. But he didn't see anything.
He opened the door, then froze.
It couldn't be.
Eyes so blue they didn't seem to be real stared up at him.
"Leta?"
Her smile dazzled him. "Can I come in?"
" Abso-fucking-lutely."
She launched herself into his arms.
Breathless, Aidan held her close, trying to make sense of this. "How can you be here?"
"Hades released me from the Underworld."
"I don't understand. Wouldn't you need a sacrifice?"
"Not if he does it. Once I died, Zeus no longer had power over me. Only Hades." She squeezed him so hard, his back popped. "Persephone was so touched by what you said that she told Hades I had to be with my loved one... You."
"For how long?"
She shrugged. "I'm human now. Just like you."
He couldn't believe it. More relieved than he'd ever been before, he scooped her up and closed the door with his foot.
She frowned at his actions. "Where are you taking me?"
"To my bedroom where I plan on nibbling on you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. I love you, Leta, and I intend to make sure you never doubt me."
She brushed his hair back from his eyes. "I would never doubt you, Aidan. And you will never,ever have a reason to doubt me."