The Ugly Bear
Date: 7/29/2024,
Categories:
Gay Male,
Author: byWhiteBeard50
... happiness.
"All you had to do was call me. I love it here, and I'm fine. I'll see plenty of you for the next couple of weeks, Mat." Jack pauses for a few seconds. "You know, it's not too late to call him. Surely, you're not working tomorrow, are you?"
"The office is closed, but I need to go in for a few hours."
"Call him. Go. On one condition: I sleep in your bed."
"You're serious, Dad?"
"Live your life, Mat. I'm sure he needs you. Go."
Jack gets up and goes upstairs.
"Hey! Karl," Mat says over the phone, "does your invitation still stand?"
Karl lets out a happy grunt. "I'll meet you halfway, at the bottom of Place Jacques-Cartier."
"I'll be there in five minutes." He hesitates a little. "I love you."
"I love you, too, little guy." Karl's bass voice resonates through Mat's body.
*
The snow's falling even thicker than before, the temperature's getting a lot colder, and the wind's getting stronger. Nothing stops Mat. He plows away, and he arrives at the rendezvous place a bit later than planned, where a large, white, abominable snowman is waiting for him. They kiss then walk slowly, hand in hand, through the romantic winter scene. There's not a soul in sight. Of course! Who's crazy enough to go out on a night like this? Lovers, that's who.
Loves conquers all; let us yield to love. A famous line in Virgil'sEclogues, and the name of a painting by Caravaggio, which represents Amor (the Roman Cupid).
Tonight, love conquers the ...
... snowstorm.
Karl and Mat enter the apartment—a penthouse unit. It's dimly lit inside, but the terrace is illuminated by LED lighting. All you can see are the billions of large snowflakes swirling crazily around the lights surrounding the patio. As they step in, the door closes quietly and locks automatically. Soft lighting welcomes them at the entrance, and two lamps turn on by themselves in the living room. The gas fireplace is already warming the place.
It's immense. Mat thinks to himself that the view must be out of this world from the room and the terrace. All he can see at the moment, though, is that thick, swirling white curtain.
The kitchen, to the left of the living room, sleeps in darkness. Only shadow forms can be seen from the entrance hall. Karls walks towards it, and, like magic, four ceiling-recessed LED spotlights turn on. A modern kitchen appears with a large central island and a dining area, which is surrounded by a large bay window.
They remove their thick winter coats and wool tuques and hang them over the boots-grid, which dries both boots and clothes with a light, warm, silent breeze. They remove their wet jeans and socks, which Karl throws into the dryer set into the wall behind a door next to the powder room, around the corner.
"I'll make hot chocolate," Karl offers. "You'll find sweatpants and t-shirts in the dresser in my bedroom at the end of the corridor, that way." Smiling broadly, he points to the right of the living room. "Your drawers are on ...