Simple Gifts - Andrew Grey

just snowy.” Eli continued fussing, making sure she had hay in her manger and tepid water to drink. The barn was warm and they were safe.
    Geoff let Eli fuss awhile longer before leading him outside.
“Go into the house; I’ll be right behind you.” 17
Simple Gifts * Andrew Grey
    Eli nodded and hurried inside while Geoff parked the truck and followed quickly behind him. Len and Geoff’s entire family were in the kitchen, relief plain on their faces. “I think you got back just in time,” Len said as everyone stopped working to exchange hugs and wishes for a Merry Christmas.
    “It was still sunny when I called Geoff to pick me up.” Eli looked guilty as he took off his coat before giving his own hugs and greetings. “The storm came up so fast. Don’t worry about it. You’re home now.” Len squeezed Eli’s shoulder.
    The house was full of family: aunts, uncles, their children, even Geoff’s cousin’s newborn baby, sleeping in his mother’s arms. Geoff watched as Eli looked around, and he saw the confused, conflicted look that had been present on Eli’s face for the last week or so slip away. Geoff smiled and took his lover’s hand as Eli led him into the office just off the living room and closed the door. “Merry Christmas.” Geoff felt Eli pull him into a soft kiss. “Thank you.” Geoff was suddenly confused. “For what?”

    “For letting me see my family today. It meant a lot, but not in the way I expected.” The sound of laughter drifted in from the living room as Geoff returned the kiss.

    “How so?”
    “I realized that as much as I sometimes miss them, they don’t really know me and they’ll never know who I am.” Geoff was about to say something, but Eli quieted him with a finger. “I need to say this. I realized today that you are my family. They raised me, but you love me for who I am and that makes you, and them…” Eli nodded toward the door as they heard more laughter and a baby’s giggle, followed by 18
    Simple Gifts * Andrew Grey
adult cooing, “my family.”
    Geoff found himself overwhelmed as his cheeks were cupped and his lips kissed. He’d started out by giving Eli the gift of family, and instead, Eli had given it back to him.

    Got Mistletoe Madness?
The Dreamspinner Press 2009 Advent Calendar is available at http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com.

    Read more about Geoff, Eli, and Len in
the Love Means… series
by Andrew Grey
    ANDREW GREYgrew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation. Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
    Visit Andrew’s web site at http://www.andrewgreybooks.com and blog at http://andrewgreybooks.livejournal.com/. E-mail him at [email protected].

    Simple Gifts ©Copyright Andrew Grey, 2009
Published by
Dreamspinner Press
4760 Preston Road
Suite 244-149
Frisco, TX 75034
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

    Cover Art by Paul Richmond http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com Cover Design by Mara McKennen
    This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034
    http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
Released in the United States of America December 2009
eBook Edition
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61581-326-1

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Simple Gifts
Read more in the LOVE MEANS series