Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

for a single man to eat in a widowed woman's house. But with the two of us and the two girls it would be completely proper. And she's going to make her famous cabbage rolls."
    They stared at each other in mutual dismay.
    "And then as she was showing me out, the damned cat launched itself off the top of the door where it had been lurking and landed on my head."
    "Oh, my."
    Daniel's voice was developing a stifled giggle. "So I was dancing around, trying to dislodge the animated toupee of Satan, and the cat was digging its claws in my face, and she says, 'Ooh, Mr. Acardi, Fluffy really likes you. I hope you'll come back soon.'"
    Jacob shook with laughter. "Maybe next time she'll ask for you instead of me. I could live with that. Do you think her nieces are anything like her?"
    Daniel sobered and his eyes got wide. "Oh God, Trip. How long until Easter? And how fast do you think we can find another apartment?"
    Jacob just shook his head, stepped forward and wrapped Daniel in a bear hug. Love and laughter bubbled through him. "Housing is hard to find right now. We may be stuck."
    "Do you think she would be offended if I asked her to lock the cat in the bedroom during dinner?"
    Jacob snorted. "Hell, yes. Fluffy loves you." He rubbed his cheek against Daniel's hair. "Are you really going to hate cats from now on?"
    "Nah. I like cats. Most cats. Anyway we had barn cats that would make Fluffy look like a social butterfly. But you can be in charge of fending it off if it makes another run at me."
    "I'll protect you from the nasty pussy."
    "And from the two lovely girls?"
    "We'll protect each other." Jacob put a hand under Daniel's chin and guided him into a quick kiss. "You're mine. The girls can go find their own men. You're taken."
    Daniel smiled into his eyes, and made the kiss deeper. Jacob cooperated willingly. He was losing track of the conversation, and losing his breath and maybe his mind. He pushed Daniel up against the counter and closed his eyes. End of the work day and coming home to this. He didn't have words for the feeling in his heart. He only knew he wanted to keep it forever.
    ****
    November 1947
    Daniel looked up from his book as Jacob came into the living room. He smiled and put down the novel. "Hey, you're home in good time for a change. Well, good time for you."
    "Thanksgiving tomorrow. The store will be closed." Jacob came over and bent to kiss him briefly.
    Daniel caught him with a hand in his hair before he could straighten. "Hey, what kind of kiss do you call that?"
    Jacob obediently opened his mouth for Daniel to plunder. It was a very nice kiss, but Daniel thought his man still seemed a little distracted. He let Jacob go and stood up, stretching out his shoulders.
    "Come on, Trip. I think I'd better feed you. There's hot soup on the stove and some bread from the bakery down the street. And then we can discuss what to have for dessert."
    Jacob's smile was perfunctory. Daniel felt a little lurch in his gut. He had a suspicion where this was coming from but he hoped he was wrong. He led the way toward the kitchen. Jacob detoured to the bedroom instead. Daniel stirred the soup gently, listening to the familiar sounds. Since Jacob had become assistant manager of the store, he wore a suit to work every day. That sound was Trip fighting to undo the Windsor knot that he inevitably tugged too tight. That was the clink of hangers as he put his suit jacket in their closet. That was the thump of dress shoes.
    Daniel turned as Jacob came into the kitchen. That was more like his man. Wearing his dress shirt open at the throat and wrists, and bare feet under the cuffs of his grey pants, Jacob looked like the young sailor instead of the buttoned up businessman. Daniel went to him and grabbed his open collar, pulling him in for a better kiss. It started distracted too, but Jacob's resistance had never been high and he was breathing hard by the time Daniel released him. And that wasn't the only thing that was hard.
    Daniel grinned. "We'll eat first. I don't want you fainting from lack of food."
    Jacob nodded. He hung around at Daniel's elbow as Daniel sliced bread. Daniel smacked at him as he filched a piece of loose crust, and for a wonder, the man went to actually make himself useful and get bowls out of the cupboard.
    "Hey, you made dessert."
    Daniel glanced over to where Jacob was admiring the pie cooling on its wire rack. "Keep your mitts off that. It's for Thanksgiving tomorrow."
    "Thanksgiving?"
    "Yeah." Daniel