Chapter Ten

[Under the Mistletoe II.]

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. Kurtis carries a bag to the kitchen and places it on the counter, Jerry helping unpack the wine into the refrigerator. Rick quickly snags a wine bottle, setting it aside for everyone to drink. "I'd had that one for about ten years now." Kurtis smiles. Rick smirks to himself as he evaluates the bottle.

"Sweet." He takes out wine glasses for their group, the three sharing a little conversation before leaving to the living room. They hand one another their glasses and Rick takes his original seat, Kurtis and Jerry resting against the dining room doorframe, not wanting to disrupt the family by forcing them all to squeeze together uncomfortably, just for them - besides, they want them to be comfortable. Rick pops open the wine bottle carefully, before pouring for everyone. Eager and thirsty, the elders old their glasses out to Rick, fighting silently for theirs to be filled first.

Once their glasses are filled and they all sit back, Rick glances over his shoulder at the two younger men sharing a whisper. They move closer to him and thank him as he pours the rich wine into their glasses. They stand back once again, the two clinking their glasses together before taking a sip each, enjoying the bittersweet taste as it glides down their throats.

Jerry lowers his glass, some wine droplets on his upper lip. It begins snowing outside, the afternoon slowly coming to an end as the glistening snowflakes fall to the ground. Kurtis sighs with a smile on his face, lifting a hand to wipe the wine off of his soft lips. Richard observes their movements, glancing at Quinn before gesturing with his eyes to above the two.

She giggles to herself as she stares up at it. "Hey, sweethearts," Kurt drops his hand and turns to his aunt with Jerry, calm smiles on their faces. "Why don't you two take a look above yourselves." She tilts her head and giggles to herself, Joyce joining after a moment. Frowning, Kurtis and Jerry glance above their heads, eyes falling on the mistletoe hanging from the wall. Wasn't a very bright idea, Jerry. He clears his throat and moves his eyes to Kurtis, who stares at him - the two remaining silent. Kurtis allows his gaze to drop to his [Jerry's] lips, knowing they're soft, he wonders how they'd feel against his. He bites his bottom lip softly.

"Ahem." The two break from their trance and turn to look in the dining room, Beth frowning. Kurtis takes a deep breath and instantly moves across the room, Jerry forcing a smile despite the fear filling his body.

"Beth, hi-"

"You think I'm so stupid, don't you?" She grits her teeth, Rick standing.

"Beth." He says sternly, but she doesn't respond, nor bat an eye.

"You want to pretend nothing's going on, like I'm crazy!" She gestures to Kurtis. "But you know you were about to kiss him, Jerry! You can't just invite your mistress over and jerk him off in front of the family!"

"Th-that's not what's happening! W-we were just under the mistletoe, and-..." Jerry cuts himself short, searching for the right words.

"Beth, baby, calm down-" Quinn tries continuing, but stops when Beth speaks over her.

"Zip it!" Rick raises his unibrow at her, Kurtis scoffing at the scene.

"Don't talk to Aunt Quinn like that, she didn't do anything to you," Kurt moves closer and holds onto Jerry's shoulder, "In fact, stop being so rude to Jerry, it's just a misunderstanding." He lies, unable to look her in the eyes as he does.

"So, when you two looked at each other like you were about to eat each other's faces off, it was just a misunderstanding?" Beth rolls her eyes. "I'm not a retard! For fuck's sake!" She runs a hand through her hair.

"Beth, please stop," Jerry begs, looking down at the floor, "We can talk about this in private."

"Oh, but you can show it off for the entire world to see?"

"Sweetie needs to be put down." Quinn murmurs as she faces the front of her seat again, sipping from her wine.

"Mom?" Summer and Morty stand by the doorway, both curious and somewhat afraid of their mother.

"Back to your rooms!" She yells and folds her arms, Summer and Morty hiding behind the wall as they listen to the argument.

"Beth, maybe you need to calm down, take a deep breath and think of what you're doing." Jacob tries, holding Joyce's hand in an attempt to comfort her.

"Jerry, are you fucking Kurtis?" Beth looks at Kurt, "Are you fucking my husband?"

"No!" They deny in unison, "We never-..." Jerry cuts himself off once again, glancing at Kurtis. They take a step away from one another, Kurt's hand dropping.

"Oh God." Leonard raises his eyebrows as he stares at them. Kurtis frowns and stares at the ground.

"Beth, I never had sex with Jerry when you two were together. I left after meeting your kid, we're just friends." Kurtis explains, grip tightening on his wine glass.

"And before we got together?"

"That's none of your business." Jerry mumbles, growing anger towards his wife, but he tries to relax himself.

"Beth, what they did before you and him got together shouldn't matter," Rick takes a step forward. "Same with you and other guys before Jerry."

"You were very defensive over Kurtis when Summer accused him of not being who he said he was. Why's that?" Beth speaks through her teeth, eyes swaying between the three.

"Cause I looked a bad memory of theirs and saw how real it was, okay?" He scoffs. "Now, can you stop? I just spoke to you about this, it hasn't even been thirty minutes, like I said." Beth looks at Kurtis, swerving around Rick as she moves to him.

"Do you love him?" She huffs, pointing to Jerry. "Do you love Jerry, Kurtis?" The farmer remains silent for a moment, glancing at Jerry for a brief moment. He looks at Beth with a gentle gaze, calm.

"Why would my answer matter to you?" All eyes on them, Kurtis sighs, "No matter what I say, you're going to continue to make a scene." He takes a deep breath, "Yes, I do." He admits, the elders not too shocked compared to Jacob, Jerry and his children, Beth only growing more furious. "But it doesn't matter, it never did. I could never be his back then, because of society's view on same-sex marriage at the time. Joyce hated me for years before coming to terms that I was into her son. But she never wanted us together. I respected that and cheered Jerry on whenever he went out with women."

He glances at Jerry, sighing as he looks down, "I didn't say anything, cause I didn't know how to address it, besides, I always knew I wouldn't end up with him." He looks at Beth, in the eyes. "Yeah, we kissed all the time when we were younger, but I doubt Jerry ever thought of it more than that. And I'd never get between you and Jerry, I'm actually kinda jealous of the way he looks at you. I'd love for him to look at me and see more than just a friend, I wish I was special... But I'm not... Cause he loves you..." Kurt pauses for a moment, sighing. "I should get going."

He sets his glass on the table, helping Quinn to her feet. He shoves his hands into his pockets, Quinn greeting them all before moving to the front door. Kurtis follows her, pausing to look at Jerry, the man's eyes teary and his figure shaking as he stares at Kurtis. The farmer gives him a single nod and leaves with his aunt. He couldn't let this happen, let this man walk out of his life like this. He finally got him back, finally got his love back. No, He told himself, I'm not letting this happen. This thought, emotion, need stronger than the other primitive thoughts. He doesn't want him to go, he can't let him go. But he doesn't. He runs upstairs once he just couldn't bare being near Beth, not knowing Kurt stands by the door for a minute longer, waiting for Jerry. When he was sure he wasn't coming, he moved to the truck, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Beth stands in the living room, sighing heavily. "I can't believe them." She grumbles, her father, Jerry's parents, they all look at her with disappointment, shame even. Leonard and Joyce move to follow their son, Jacob standing beside Rick as he glares at his daughter. She scoffs, anger brainwashing her. Rick shakes his head at her.

"I don't even know what to say to you right now." He says in a soft, hollow voice, when he looks at her, all he sees is a reflection. He shakes his head again, Jacob following him into the garage. Summer and Morty come out from hiding, both scurrying after their grandfather for comfort, leaving their mother alone.

Jerry lays on his bed, crying into his pillow - Joyce knocks at the door gently, opening it slowly. "Jerry, dear? It's mom, do you need a shoulder to cry on?" She asks softly, sighing as Jerry tries stifling his sobs. She walks in with Leonard, the two sitting by him as they attempt to comfort their wailing son, holding him dearly.

[20 June 2022.]