The Solstice Mistletoe Effect (6 page)

been to many academic presentations and fundraisers for

his expeditions.

“So, what do you think of Sweden so far?” Magnus took

the tie with a smile, stepped behind him, and slid his arms

around Lance’s shoulders so he could do a good job.

“I liked what we saw today. The Old Town is just

beautiful with all those ancient houses, the narrow alleys,

and those many unexpected squares and plazas we came

across. And, my God, all those canals, they reminded me of

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pictures I’ve seen of Venice. Only I’m sure it’s warmer there.”

Lance leaned back into Magnus’s embrace when his lover

was done with the tie. He wished they could go straight to

bed, but unfortunately, Magnus’s parents expected them

downstairs for dinner in a few minutes.

“This is only the beginning. There’s so much more I

want to show you.” Magnus turned him around so they were

facing each other. “But we should do something fun for

Jakob tomorrow. He’s been very good so far, but I’m pretty

sure he’d like to visit the Tivoli Gröna Lund amusement park

more than some stuffy museum.”

“Sure he would! What kid wouldn’t?” Lance leaned his

tired head against Magnus’s shoulder. “And I bet he’ll be

wide awake tomorrow morning after we put him to bed as

early as we did. But he couldn’t keep his eyes open even a

moment longer.”

“So we better try and catch an early night as well,

right?” Magnus smiled and bent down to press an all-too-

brief kiss onto Lance’s lips.

“Yes, please. My head is about to explode, and my eyes

feel as though there’s sand in them. An early night is exactly

what I need.” Lance realized that Magnus’s eyes were

twinkling. “And I mean for sleeping, baby. I don’t think I

have the energy to do much else. Not before tomorrow

morning, at least.”

“That’s okay, I don’t feel much different.” Magnus

stepped back, and Lance regretted the loss of his warmth

immediately.

When they made it downstairs into the formal dining

room, Mr. Carstens greeted them with a reluctant smile.

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What was going on? He’d given Lance some strange glances

over lunch as well, and Lance hadn’t felt comfortable at all.

He suspected that Jakob’s presence had stopped the man

from saying anything, but now that they were amongst

adults, he hoped that whatever was bothering Magnus’s

father would come out into the open. He only wished he were

more awake to face this strange situation.

“Would you like an aperitif?” Mr. Carstens wore a dark

suit that would have looked more natural in a theatre or

opera house than it did in the man’s own home.

“No thanks, Father. I think we’re better off not having

alcohol tonight. It’ll only interfere with our bodies

readjusting to the new time zone.” Magnus pulled out a chair

from under the massive mahogany table that had been set

with what was clearly the best of everything, pointing at it for

Lance to sit down.

“Really, son, a little alcohol won’t hurt you. You’re a

grown man who should be able to deal with it.” Mr. Carstens

grimaced as though he’d been personally insulted.

“I think it’s best if you leave that decision to me.”

Magnus was beginning to sound annoyed, clearly not

impressed with his father’s lack of understanding.

Magnus sat down next to Lance, which made his father

frown more intensely. Mr. Carstens snorted and turned

toward what looked like a bar area in one of the corners of

the room to pour himself a drink. What was wrong with the

man? He expected them to do what he wanted rather than

make their own decisions?

Just then Mrs. Carstens walked into the room carrying

a large soup tureen. The atmosphere became a little more

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relaxed as they talked about their trip and the day’s events.

It took Lance a while to get used to the somewhat unusual

taste of the rosehip soup, but after a few spoons, he really

started to like it.

The main dish consisted of fish, potatoes, and a crisp,

leafy salad. By the time Mrs. Carstens served dessert, Lance

had been lulled into a sense of security. He wanted to believe

that he’d misunderstood the earlier looks of disdain from

Magnus’s father.

“So….” Mr. Carstens loudly cleared his throat and

stared at Lance. “I understand that you’re sharing a

bedroom with my son despite the fact that my wife

specifically asked you to pick another one. I have no idea

what possessed you to do that, and I would like you to

change it. Jakob is at an impressionable age, and I don’t

want him to get the idea that it’s okay for two men to share a

bedroom.”

Lance’s mouth dropped open, and he was truly lost for

words. Magnus stiffened next to him, and Mrs. Carstens

sighed.

“Enar, please. Not on their first night here.” She leaned

back in her chair and suddenly looked very fragile.

“If not now, when would you like me to bring it up?” Mr.

Carstens narrowed his eyes, then turned back to Lance.

“This ‘phase’ or whatever it is that Magnus has been going

through has lasted long enough. It’s time he grew up and

faced the responsibility to his family like Mikkel did years

ago. I don’t want you to encourage him….”

Lance was too dazed to know what to say. How could

anyone as clearly well educated as Magnus’s parents believe

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that being gay was a choice or a phase? It sounded as

though Magnus’s father was on a crusade for Magnus to

settle down, get married, and produce more grandchildren.

Lance tried to focus on formulating some sort of response,

his head throbbing with fatigue and confusion.

“That’s enough, Father.” Magnus’s face was flushed,

and his eyes blazed. “I’ve explained to you that being gay is

not a phase. I thought we’d settled that, and I’d appreciate

you not bringing it up again. Attacking Lance is

unacceptable, and I won’t stand for it. This isn’t about me

facing or shirking family responsibility, it’s about how I want

to live my life. And that’s with Lance at my side as my

partner.”

“But—but what about Jakob?” Mr. Carstens looked

honestly shocked.

“What about him?” Magnus moved his chair back, ready

to leave.

“You’re setting a very bad example for the boy. What

happens if you make him gay as well? I can’t allow that!” Mr.

Carstens banged his fist on the table.

“What?” Magnus leaned forward, eyebrows almost

hitting his hairline. “We are not setting a bad example for

Jakob! We’re showing him what it’s like to live in a loving

family. We’re giving him a stable environment. And as for

‘making someone gay’—that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve

ever heard you say. Not that you’d be able to ‘allow’ or

‘disallow’ it anyway. Either Jakob is gay already—”

“No!” Mr. Carstens’s voice was loud enough to fill the

entire room.

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“Is that what this is all about?” Magnus looked from his

father to his mother, who had visibly shrunken in her seat.

“Let me tell you something. Jakob is either gay or he isn’t.

Nothing any of us does will change that. And I won’t have

you interfere in our lives again. So you can either accept our

living arrangements or we’ll leave and spend our summer

break somewhere else.”

“No.” Mrs. Carstens sat up and stared at Magnus. “You

wouldn’t do that!”

“Yes, I would.” Magnus nodded, as if the tone of his

voice hadn’t been clear enough. Lance had rarely seen him

this determined.

“You wouldn’t dare.” Mr. Carstens was red as a lobster.

“You can’t stop me, Father. I’m not a child anymore.”

Magnus did get up this time and held out his hand for Lance

to take. “It’s time for us to get some sleep. You have until

tomorrow morning to think about this. Goodnight.”

LANCE cuddled into the heat that was Magnus at his back,

awake but not willing to face the day. The alarm clock on the

nightstand said it was only six-thirty a.m., so they had a

little time to themselves before they’d have to face reality.

Last night was supposed to have been a quiet night

spent getting to know Magnus’s parents. Instead, it had

turned into a total nightmare. He’d been too tired to take it

all in, but after a good night’s sleep, the full horror of their

situation was beginning to hit him.

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“Don’t worry about it.” Magnus tightened his hold

around Lance’s middle and kissed his head. “I meant every

word I said last night. I’m sure my parents will realize that

and behave themselves from now on.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t speak up.” Lance felt like he’d

abandoned Magnus. “I was too exhausted to get my brain to

work.”

“I’m not sure they would’ve listened to anything you said

anyway.” Magnus snorted. “We’ve had these discussions

before, so they should have known better. I’m surprised they

even mentioned it.”

“Maybe the fact that you’re their only surviving son has

something to do with it?” Lance turned around in Magnus’s

arms so he could look at him.

“That may have been the trigger, but it’s still

inexcusable.” Magnus slid his hands down Lance’s back,

making him shiver in delight. “But I don’t really want to talk

about that now. We’ll find out about their decision at

breakfast, which isn’t for another hour and a half at least.

Until then, I’d like to focus on us.”

That was fine by Lance. He needed to reconnect with his

lover, and what better way than to kiss and caress every spot

of warm skin he could find?

By the time Jakob knocked on their door, Lance was

thoroughly sated and so relaxed that he felt he could face

anything. They got dressed and walked downstairs together.

Mr. Carstens had already left for his weekly Sunday

morning golf game, but Mrs. Carstens embraced both Magus

and Lance, mumbling a “sorry” into his ear. He looked at

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Magnus and felt enormous relief when he smiled and

nodded. Looked like they were back on track again.

Their breakfast of pancakes Mrs. Carstens had made for

them was relaxed, and Lance started to hope their holiday

would be a good one after all. Jakob spent the whole time

talking about all the rides he was going to go on, and Lance

listened with a smile on his face. It was good to see the boy

so happy.

The visit to the Tivoli Gröna Lund amusement park was

a huge success. Jakob wasn’t the only one who liked the

rides. When they made it back in the evening, there was a

simple supper of soup and sandwiches waiting for them.

Lance was relieved to see that Mr. Carstens held back in

Jakob’s presence. Even after they’d tucked the boy in and

went downstairs to have a glass of wine, the atmosphere was

friendlier and less formal than before.

Mr. Carstens didn’t apologize, but he didn’t mention

their sleeping arrangements again. He seemed to have

accepted there was nothing he could do or say that would

change their minds. Lance was happy enough just not being

attacked. He’d have liked a better relationship with Magnus’s

father, but it didn’t look likely right now.

As he was trying to fall asleep on Monday night, he

thought back to the issues he’d had with some of the parents

at Jakob’s school. He wasn’t a confrontational person, and

he hadn’t wanted to intrude in anyone’s life. Why wouldn’t

people stay out of his?

“Come here, älskling.” Magnus sounded tired, but he

opened his arms, and Lance moved into them as quickly as

possible.

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They’d both been too exhausted to do anything but drop

into their bed once they’d made it upstairs. But with Lance