{"id":406,"date":"2023-12-18T04:48:57","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T04:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/?p=406"},"modified":"2023-12-18T04:48:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T04:48:57","slug":"december-18th-making-the-yuletide-gay-by-m-butterfly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/?p=406","title":{"rendered":"December 18th: Making the Yuletide Gay by m.butterfly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bay City, December 19<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“I wish I could come with you.”<\/p>\n

Hutch zipped up his garment bag, which was lying on the bed, and gave Starsky his full attention. “No, babe, you don’t. Trust me. You’d have a lousy time. And it’s freezing there.”<\/p>\n

The look of incredulity on Starsky’s face made Hutch queasy.<\/p>\n

“I wouldn’t expect to have a blast at your grandfather’s funeral,” Starsky told him in a small voice. “And I know that Duluth gets really cold in December.”<\/p>\n

Hutch sighed and beckoned his partner over. “I know you know that,” he said softly, pulling Starsky in close. “I’ll be back the day after tomorrow and then it’s just you and me for almost a whole week.”<\/p>\n

“Sure.” Starsky swallowed. “I guess you’d have a hard time explaining why some guy from work was tagging along, huh?”<\/p>\n

“Dammit, Starsk,” Hutch said as Starsky slipped out of his arms. “You’re not just ‘some guy from work,’ and I’d never refer to you that way. You’re the most important person in my life and you know it. But my family wouldn’t understand, especially during such a sad and emotional\u2014”<\/p>\n

“S’okay. I get it.” Starsky scooped up Hutch’s bag and slung it over his shoulder. “C’mon. We should hit the road. You don’t want to miss your flight.”<\/p>\n

“There’s something I need to do first.” Hutch blocked his path. “Something I can’t do at the airport.”<\/p>\n

“What?”<\/p>\n

“This,” Hutch said, giving Starsky the kind of kiss he hoped would not only serve as a deep declaration of love but also an apology for the secrets he felt he had to keep.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Duluth, Christmas Eve, late afternoon<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“You’re going to wear out that phone, big brother,” Jennie Barton, formerly Jennie Hutchinson, warned. Three years younger than Hutch, she’d married Jamie Barton four years ago, and Hutch wondered how that calm, rational man could stand living with such an abrasive woman. Their parents, Krissi and Billy, said Hutch and Jennie had always clashed because they were so much alike. Hutch agreed that his bratty kid sister looked like him\u2014all the Hutchinsons were relatively tall and blond\u2014but insisted that was where the similarities ended.<\/p>\n

“Jesus!” Hutch fumbled the receiver, nearly dropping it before setting it back in its cradle. “You shouldn’t sneak up on a guy like that!”<\/p>\n

A smug Jennie glided into the living room, coming to a graceful halt in front of her scowling sibling. “For someone who’s on vacation, you’re awfully tense. And grumpy. You were in a better mood at Morfor’s funeral.”<\/p>\n

“First, I’m not grumpy<\/em>. Second, being snowed in isn’t exactly my idea of a winter getaway.”<\/p>\n

“Oh, poor Ken. Do you think that Jamie and I are okay about what happened?” The way she was standing\u2014jaw jutting and hands on hips\u2014signaled that Hutch was in for a scolding. “Even before Morfor died, Mamma and Pappa decided that Mormor would spend the holidays here. But when it started to snow the day after the funeral, while Jamie and I were visiting, we never thought it would get so bad, and so fast, that we couldn’t go home to our own house after dinner. Otherwise, we would’ve brought a change of clothes or two. At least you don’t have to borrow pajamas or socks and underwear from\u2014” She shuddered. “\u2014our parents.”<\/p>\n

“Look, I know that I’m\u2014”<\/p>\n

Jennie pointed a finger at Hutch before poking him in the chest with it. “You’re lucky you weren’t at the airport when this son-of-a-bitch storm hit because you’d still be there, lining up at vending machines for crappy coffee and stale candy bars, and sleeping on the floor or, if you were lucky, in a plastic chair.”<\/p>\n

“Okay. Yes, you’re right, but\u2014”<\/p>\n

“I’m not finished,” she went on. “This may not be sunny California but count your damned blessings. We have heat. We have electricity. And telephone service. And lots to eat and drink. Most importantly, we’re all safe and, for the first time in ages, we’re spending the holidays together. I hope you’re feeling guilty that you missed Morfor’s last Christmas last year.”<\/p>\n

“Hey! I can’t dictate when I get time off\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hang on a minute. You’re only here this Christmas by accident! How come, huh? How come you didn’t have to work this year but didn’t bother to tell us you weren’t coming home?”<\/p>\n

Hutch blew out a noisy breath. “You’re right. I made other plans. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, but you\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Made plans with whom?” She indicated the phone with a tilt of her head, her cheeks flaming. “I thought it was your partner you’ve been trying to reach for the last two days, but if it’s some woman you were\u2014I don’t know, flying off to Rio with\u2014why wouldn’t you just say so?”<\/p>\n

“If I could get a word in edge\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Why are you the one person in this family who can’t be honest and open?”<\/p>\n

Hutch glanced up at the ceiling despite knowing he wouldn’t find patience there. “Jennie, please\u2026”<\/p>\n

“Forget it. Talk to your girlfriend in peace. I’m going to help with dinner. But once you’re done\u2014” She held an invisible phone to her ear. “\u2014make yourself useful for a change and stoke the fire.”<\/p>\n

“For a change? Did you forget that I shoveled a path from the front door to your car\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Jeep.”<\/p>\n

“\u2014to your Jeep<\/em>, brushed all the snow off it, and rooted around inside for gym bags and stray bits of clothing?”<\/p>\n

“Jamie shoveled and rooted with you, or did you<\/em> forget?”<\/p>\n

“I thought you were leaving.”<\/p>\n

She stomped off.<\/p>\n

Relieved to hear nothing more than the crackling of burning wood and the rattling of windowpanes, Hutch redialed Starsky’s number. If Starsky answered, he wanted privacy. If he didn’t answer, Hutch didn’t want a witness to his reaction. His partner was a man who’d been kidnapped, injected with poison while he slept, and subjected to other bodily harm in places thought be to secure, so having not heard from him in more than 48 hours was cause for worry. He should’ve been home.<\/p>\n

“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” he muttered. “Please, babe. Pick up.”<\/p>\n

Starsky didn’t.<\/p>\n

Hutch hung up with more force than necessary, as if the phone were responsible for the silence at the other end. He was sorely tempted to chuck the dumb thing through the window and into the deep pile of snow that blanketed the front lawn. Squinting into the frozen version of Hell, he wondered if the flurries were abating or just looked like they were because that’s what he wanted.<\/p>\n

There was no doubt, however, that he was now hearing a strange noise. It wasn’t the sound of Christmas carols on the radio or chatter from the TV or clatter in the kitchen; whatever it was, it was getting louder by the second and coming from outside the house, which Mother Nature had gift wrapped in several feet of insulating snow.<\/p>\n

He also detected the sound of footsteps approaching.<\/p>\n

“Uh, Hutch? Sorry to disturb you,” said Jamie Barton, owner of the footsteps. A few inches taller than Hutch and Billy Hutchinson, he was a handsome, well-built man with a head of thick, auburn hair. “Do you hear that?”<\/p>\n

“I do.” Hutch turned toward his brother-in-law. “And it’s headed this way.”<\/p>\n

One by one, the rest of the family emerged from hither and yon, joining Hutch and Jamie in a tight cluster at the window.<\/p>\n

As the rumbling got closer, they spotted a blinking amber glow that cut through the inky sky despite the excess of professional light installations littering the neighborhood.<\/p>\n

“Either Santa’s come early or it’s a plow,” Billy proposed with a snort.<\/p>\n

“Or,” said Jennie, elbowing Hutch in the ribs none too tenderly, “he’s come early and brought<\/em> a plow.”<\/p>\n

Krissi giggled. “You guys! How could Santa get something that big down the chimney?”<\/p>\n

“In tiny pieces?” was Billy’s suggestion.<\/p>\n

“How about very carefully?” Jamie chipped in.<\/p>\n

Further clever remarks were drowned out when a behemoth of a snowplow chugged into view and stopped in the middle of the street.<\/p>\n

“This is weird,” said Jennie. “After a storm this big, all the snow emergency routes have to be cleared first. And this is no emergency route.”<\/p>\n

“Is that another plow?” Jamie asked as a second vehicle arrived on the scene. “Uh, hold on\u2026 Nope. It’s just a Ford truck with chains. A Bronco Wagon, I think.”<\/p>\n

“What’s going on, Kenny?”<\/p>\n

Hutch pressed his forehead against the cold, ice-feathered glass. “I have no clue, Mom.”<\/p>\n

Brimming with curiosity, the family watched as a bear of a man jumped from the plow, eyeballed the Hutchinsons’ driveway, and marched over to the Ford. After a brief exchange with the driver, the plow operator made a beeline for the front of his machine, where he adjusted a piece of equipment. Satisfied, it seemed, with his handiwork, he climbed back into the cab and, to the horror of his audience, started chugging up the driveway. Jennie pounded on the window, cursing uselessly, until she and the others realized that only half the driveway\u2014the Jeep-free half\u2014was being tended to, geysers of snow spewing harmlessly onto the next-door neighbor’s property. Mission accomplished, the plow reversed its path back to the street, performed an impressive U-turn, and blasted out a couple of short honks as it passed the Ford, which honked back and pulled away from the curb.<\/p>\n

“What the heck is that guy doing?” Billy asked.<\/p>\n

“I’ll be damned,” said Jennie as the driver of the Bronco tramped up the newly cleared pavement, parked beside the Jeep, and continued on foot to Chez Hutchinson. He was bundled up more than the average Minnesotan and carried a duffel bag.<\/p>\n

Krissi emitted a sharp gasp and clutched her son’s arm. “I hope your gun is handy, sweetie, because that man’s come to rob us!”<\/p>\n

“Th-that’s no robber,” Hutch said, trying to loosen his mother’s death grip without hurting her. It took no small effort to get free, and by the time he reached the front door and yanked it open, the visitor was there, his left fist raised and ready to knock.<\/p>\n

“Hi, Blondie!” Starsky’s laugh was shaky. “You going to let me in or leave me out here to freeze to death?”<\/p>\n

Temporarily speechless, Hutch grabbed his partner by his profoundly padded arms and hauled him over the threshold into a crushing hug. He finally relaxed his cobra-like hold and slid his warm hands up Starsky’s body to his cold, rosy face, admiring how the snowflakes in his eyelashes brought out the sparkle in his baby blues.<\/p>\n

“How in the world\u2014?”<\/p>\n

“Flew to Milwaukee the day after this storm started. Drove the rest of the way, sticking to I-94 and US-53 because they were being plowed. It was when I got into northern Wisconsin, close to Lake Superior, when things got interesting.”<\/p>\n

“God, Starsk.” Hutch squeezed his eyes shut. “How did you make it to this neighborhood alive?”<\/p>\n

“Rescued by the snowplow driver you just saw. When my rental finally got stuck, it was on his street. Turns out he’s a retired cop with a big heart and a convenient hobby.”<\/p>\n

“I’ll throttle you if you ever pull another dangerous like that again.”<\/p>\n

“Do you wish I hadn’t?”<\/p>\n

“Don’t be an idiot.” He plucked the damp wool hat from Starsky’s head and let it fall to the floor. “A bulky idiot. Where did you find an Arctic explorer’s getup in Bay City?”<\/p>\n

“One of Huggy’s endless supply of cousins has a thrift store.”<\/p>\n

“I hope you didn’t pay too much, considering you’ll\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Excuse me for interrupting, Kenneth,” said Hutch’s maternal grandmother. Only a hint of an accent betrayed Annika Nylander’s nationality. That such a sophisticated woman\u2014her gently graying hair in a tidy bun, her outfit a tailored navy pantsuit and white turtleneck\u2014had given birth to someone as quirky as his mother was a mystery Hutch had long given up trying to solve. “I think Mr. Starsky would be far more comfortable sitting by the fireplace than standing in this chilly hallway. How does that sound, David? May I call you David?”<\/p>\n

“Yes, ma’am,” Starsky said. “I’m glad to meet you, Mrs. Nylander, but I feel awful about showing up unannounced on Christmas Eve like this. The trip from Bay City took a lot longer than I thought.”<\/p>\n

“There is no need to apologize. We are delighted to have you with us and are grateful that you arrived safely.”<\/p>\n

“That’s very kind of you, especially under the circumstances. Please accept my condolences about Mr. Nylander.”<\/p>\n

“Thank you. My husband, Karl, was ninety and had not been well for several years. My family and I take solace in knowing that his suffering is over. But where are my manners? I am keeping you from shedding your heavy coat and boots.”<\/p>\n

Hutch was still clinging to Starsky, and vice versa. “Mormor, I was just about to help him\u2014”<\/p>\n

“I need you to move, sweetie.” Krissi hip-checked Hutch out of the way and captured Starsky’s hands in hers. “Hi, Davie. I’m Kenny’s mom, Krissi,” she said, peeling off Starsky’s gloves.<\/p>\n

“It’s good to meet you, Mrs. Hutchinson.”<\/p>\n

“Call me Krissi. Everyone does. Except the kids, of course. And my mother. She calls everyone by the name on their birth certificate. My husband is William instead of Billy and I’m Kristina, not Krissi, and\u2014well, you get the picture. Anyway, like Mamma said, we’re thrilled that you decided to come for Christmas.”<\/p>\n

Fingers now free, Starsky unzipped his parka but wasn’t fast enough to get it off unassisted. That task was performed by Hutch’s father, who then steered Starsky to a teak bench.<\/p>\n

“Have a seat, son. I’m Kenny’s dad. Billy’s the name,” he said, kneeling in order to unlace and remove Starsky’s boots. “Jamie, fetch a pair of slippers from the pile in the closet, would you?”<\/p>\n

Unable to gain access to Starsky, Hutch gathered up and put away the discarded winter gear and duffel bag, lest someone trip over something.<\/p>\n

“These should fit,” Jamie said, returning with a pair of chunky slippers. He placed them in his father-in-law’s outstretched hands and introduced himself to Starsky.<\/p>\n

“Is your friend\u2014what was his name? Harry, uh, Marsupial?\u2014still playing football in Canada?” Starsky asked.<\/p>\n

Jamie grinned broadly. “It’s Marisipio, but you were close. Yeah, he’s still with the BC Lions.”<\/p>\n

“Jennie, go and get\u2014Jennie? Where are you?” Billy hollered as he got to his feet along with Starsky. “Kenny, see if you can find your\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Dad!” Hutch clenched and unclenched his fists. “I mean, Dad, isn’t there a roaring fire waiting for us?”<\/p>\n

“Right you are, my boy. I’m not sure about the ‘roaring’ part, but we’ll see. In the meantime, keep an eye out for your sister.”<\/p>\n

Worried that Jamie might have been conscripted to carry Starsky, Hutch swooped in and put a protective arm around his partner, reclaiming all rights.<\/p>\n

“After you,” he said to the four members of the welcome committee.<\/p>\n

Billy and Krissi led the procession, swinging their clasped hands back and forth, followed by Jamie and Annika.<\/p>\n

“You okay, Starsk?” Hutch kept his voice low. “My parents can be annoying, but they went the extra distance today.”<\/p>\n

“Hmmm?” Starsky’s head was swiveling from left and right, bobbing up and down, gawking at the myriad decorations.<\/p>\n

“They go overboard with everything, including Christmas. It’s too much, right?”<\/p>\n

That<\/em> statement Starsky caught. “Are you for real? This house is incredible. Your folks are, too. You’re the luckiest guy in the\u2014oh, my God!”<\/p>\n

Hutch understood why Starsky’s first encounter with the Hutchinson Family Christmas tree had left him dumbstruck. It was a huge Norway Pine, the Minnesota state tree, festooned with every kind of ornament imaginable, from faded paperchain garlands and ping pong ball Santa heads that Hutch and Jennie had crafted in elementary school to dazzling crystal stars and blue and yellow hand-blown glass orbs. Countless strings of twinkling, colored lights tied it all together, making the annual theme that Hutch thought of as “kitschy chaos” work perfectly.<\/p>\n

Krissi and Billy stood next to their creation, Krissi fussing with the strands of chunky green and silver tinsel she wore like a necklace. Hutch had nothing against the matching red and white Nordic sweaters his parents sported and thought they were plenty Christmasy without the addition of the tacky homemade jewelry. “What do you think, Davie?”<\/p>\n

“It’s the prettiest tree I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen the one at Rockefeller Center. I could just stand here and stare at it all day.”<\/p>\n

“Your retinas would burn out,” Hutch quipped in a stage whisper, earning a discreet pinch from Starsky.<\/p>\n

“Hello!” Jennie waltzed into the room and, ignoring Hutch, cut Starsky from the herd. “I’m Jennie Barton.” She presented him with a brandy snifter, then a hand to shake. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”<\/p>\n

“Likewise. And thanks for the, uh\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Cognac, and it’s expensive, so hold on tight and come this way.”<\/p>\n

Starsky was escorted to the wide, deep leather armchair nearest the fireplace.<\/p>\n

Jennie made a sweeping gesture that would do a Price Is Right model proud. “What do you think? Nice flames, huh? While Ken was loitering in the front hall while everyone else was taking care of you\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Hey!” Hutch thundered. “Loitering<\/em>?”<\/p>\n

“\u2014I was in toiling away in here, rebuilding the fire that he almost let die earlier.”<\/p>\n

“I didn’t let\u2014”<\/p>\n

“I hate to barge in during such festive banter,” Jamie said. “As keen as we are to learn more about Dave from his perspective, we’ll have to do that later because dinner will be ready soon.”<\/p>\n

Krissi’s hand flew to the base of her throat. “Oh, my! Where has the time gone? Come with me, my little kitchen elves. Except for you, Kenny. You stay put and tell Davie what to expect over the next few days.”<\/p>\n

“I think we’re alone now,” Hutch sang, the room belonging to Starsky and him at last. He hightailed it to the leather chair, faced Starsky and straddled him, then lowered his butt onto Starsky’s thighs. “This could be our last chance to neck for a while, so put down the glass and pucker up.”<\/p>\n

“No necking, you sex maniac! Just one small kiss.”<\/p>\n

“Party pooper.”<\/p>\n

Starsky’s mouth was soft and warm and accepting, enhanced by the exquisite taste of the cognac. But the moment Hutch uttered a small moan, the not-so-small kiss was brought to an abrupt end.<\/p>\n

“You’d better start telling me about what you guys do for Christmas,” he rasped, “before your mother gets back and catches us in the act.”<\/p>\n

“Or gives you a pop quiz.” Hutch borrowed the snifter and took a healthy sip on his way down to the floor, settling at Starsky’s feet, which he gathered into his lap. “Are you all set to hear how a family with Swedish roots celebrates the holidays in Minnesota?”<\/p>\n

Starsky nodded, all ears.<\/p>\n

“The first thing you need to know is that Christmas Eve\u2014not Christmas Day\u2014is the star of the season. It’s when we get together with the people we love and gorge ourselves silly on a buffet-style dinner called the julbord, also known as the Christmas smorgasbord. The main attraction is a special ham glazed with mustard and breadcrumbs and served cold. There’s also asparagus soup, Swedish meatballs, pickled herring, fish stew with shrimp, chopped beetroot salad, and a few other traditional dishes.”<\/p>\n

Starsky rapped Hutch’s head with his knuckles. “If I was you, I’d spend as many Christmases as possible in Duluth.” He winked. “Kenny.”<\/p>\n

Feigning mild fury, Hutch shook one of Starsky’s feet. “Call me that again and not only will you not hear the rest of the story but you’ll also be sleeping in your truck tonight.”<\/p>\n

“At least let him eat first,” Jennie said from the doorway.<\/p>\n

“I like your sister.”<\/p>\n

Jennie curtsied. “I like you, too. And I’ll like you more if go and wash up. Both of you. Dinner’s in five.”<\/p>\n

The grin disappeared from Starsky’s face. “Should I change? Hutch, where’s my bag? I don’t even know if I brought anything decent enough to wear to dinner.”<\/p>\n

Jennie scoffed. “None of us is changing. Not even Mormor. You could wear your pajamas or a Halloween costume for all we care.” She checked her watch. “Four-and-a-half minutes left, gents.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Christmas Eve, Around the Julbord<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

“A second helping, Starsk? How can you still be eating?”<\/p>\n

“This dessert is how.” Starsky wiped his mouth with a paper napkin that featured drunken cartoon reindeer. “This is unbelievably good, Krissi.”<\/p>\n

Hutch rolled his eyes but was secretly thrilled that Starsky was enjoying the Ris \u00e0 la Malta\u2014vanilla rice pudding served with orange slices\u2014as much as he always had.<\/p>\n

“I’m so glad you like it, honey.” Krissi was glowing. “It’s another old Nylander Family recipe, like the ham. Gosh, you’re Jewish and you even ate that!”<\/p>\n

“Mom!” Hutch frowned at his mother.<\/p>\n

“It was delicious, too,” Starsky assured her. “Just don’t tell my mom.”<\/p>\n

“What do you prefer,” Jennie chimed in, “Hanukkah or Christmas?”<\/p>\n

“Jennie!” Billy pointed a finger at her and wagged it.<\/p>\n

“What? Aren’t I allowed to be curious?”<\/p>\n

Starsky licked his dessert spoon clean and set it down on his plate. “It’s not a question of preference. Hanukkah’s a religious holiday for Jews. Christmas isn’t. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy Christmas hams and trees and eggnog and movies.”<\/p>\n

“Exactly!” Krissi crowed. “In my opinion, anyone can have fun at Christmas, Christian or not.”<\/p>\n

“Tell that to your son because\u2014” Starsky tried to stifle a yawn but failed. “Jeez. It’s too early for that.”<\/p>\n

“Oh, goodness! After the ordeal you’ve been through, it’s a miracle you’re still upright.” Krissi drained the last of her schnapps, then addressed her son. “We should discuss sleeping arrangements.”<\/p>\n

Hutch tried not to squirm. “What about them?”<\/p>\n

“We have a full house, as you know, so what do you say we give Davie your room? You can sleep on the sofa in the den.”<\/p>\n

“Sure, Mom.”<\/p>\n

“Perfect.” She pushed her chair back from the massive round table. “While it’s fresh in my mind, I’m going to change the sheets on your bed and get some for the sofa.”<\/p>\n

“Kristina,” Annika said, an enigmatic expression on her face. “You needn’t bother. After all, they’re just going to wind up in the same room, in the same bed.”<\/p>\n

All eyes focused on Hutch and Starsky, both too stunned to speak or even sputter.<\/p>\n

“Why would they do that, Mamma?”<\/p>\n

“Krissi, my love.” Billy placed a hand on her shoulder, his demeanor strangely serious. “Think about it: Kenny has talked about Dave nonstop from the moment we picked him up at the airport. Dave drove more than 400 miles under dreadful weather conditions to spend Christmas with our son. And the way they look at each other when they think no one’s watching makes it obvious they’re more than friends and partners. To paraphrase your mother, the boys want to share a bed because they’re a couple, probably for some time now.”<\/p>\n

Starsky grabbed Hutch’s knee under the table.<\/p>\n

“D-dad,” Hutch croaked, “I, uh\u2014I d-don’t know what to say.”<\/p>\n

Billy leaned forward. “Say that you’re happy. That’s all your mother and I want to hear.”<\/p>\n

“It sure is, my baby boy!” Krissi sniffled.<\/p>\n

Hutch swallowed. “Thanks, Mom and Dad. I’m happy. The happiest I’ve\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute,” said Jennie. “How come Jamie wasn’t allowed to sleep with me, in my room, until we were married? Why are the rules in this house different for Ken? How is that fair? Why does he\u2014?”<\/p>\n

“Jennifer,” Annika interjected. “The chances of Kenneth and David being allowed to wed in this country are highly unlikely. And that’s a great injustice, as I imagine they’d have done it already if they could.”<\/p>\n

Hutch shifted his blurry gaze from his grandmother to Starsky, raising his eyebrows at him.<\/p>\n

Starsky exhaled through quivering lips and nodded, winning him a brief but daring caress of the cheek.<\/p>\n

Annika was the first to rise and offer her grandson and Starsky best wishes. The rest of the family\u2014even Jennie\u2014needed no encouragement to join in on the lovefest.<\/p>\n

“Now that we’re all standing,” Billy said after tapping a coffee spoon against his beer glass, “I’d like to thank all of you, from the bottom of my grateful heart, for spending this most wonderful Christmas Eve with Krissi, Annika, and me. Of course, I’m well aware that only Dave had any choice in the matter.”<\/p>\n

That earned him a few chuckles.<\/p>\n

“Does everyone have something to drink?”<\/p>\n

They’d moved on from red wine and dark beer to schnapps and Swedish Aquavit, and there were no empty glasses to be seen.<\/p>\n

“Good.” Billy was beaming. “On behalf of my lovely wife and my dear mother-in-law, I wish you god Jul.”<\/p>\n

“God Jul!”<\/p>\n

Billy cleared his throat. “And please raise your glasses to welcome Dave to the Hutchinson family. Sk\u00e5l!”<\/p>\n

“Sk\u00e5l!”<\/p>\n

But they were less popular when it came time to put the food away and do the dishes. Despite insisting that they should handle those chores because they’d done nothing to help with dinner, they were practically ordered to go to bed.<\/p>\n

“Babe,” Starsky said as soon as they were out of earshot, “I’m tired and might have had a bit too much to drink\u2014”<\/p>\n

“Might have?”<\/p>\n

Starsky swatted his butt. “\u2014but did we just get married?”<\/p>\n

“If we did, you’re stuck with me and my crazy family for life, my unlawfully wedded husband.” Hutch paused at the bottom of the staircase. “You like them, don’t you?”<\/p>\n

“Yes, I do. And they seem to like me. Why did you think we wouldn’t get along?”<\/p>\n

“I have no idea.” Hutch kissed Starsky on the nose. “No idea at all.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Christmas Morning<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“Hey, Starsk? Have you seen our slippers?”<\/p>\n

Starsky took a quick look around the bedroom. “Yeah, before we showered. But I don’t see\u2014oh, there they are.”<\/p>\n

Both pairs were neatly lined up by the closet.<\/p>\n

“That’s weird.” Hutch scratched his head. “I don’t remember doing that.”<\/p>\n

Starsky mimed chugging from a bottle.<\/p>\n

“Ha-ha, Shecky Greene. We can solve that mystery later. Dad’s famous Swedish pancakes with homemade buttermilk syrup taste better when they’re hot off the grill.”<\/p>\n

“Hey! There’s something in here,” said Starsky when he shoved his foot into the left slipper. He plunged his hand into it and pulled out a silver coin. “What’s going on? Why is there money in\u2014?”<\/p>\n

“Check the other slipper.”<\/p>\n

“Nothing.”<\/p>\n

“Well, that’s not what I expected.” Hutch picked up his right slipper and fished out a gold coin. “Huh! I’ll be damned.”<\/p>\n

“Is this another Swedish Christmas tradition?”<\/p>\n

“Believe it or not, it’s a Swedish wedding <\/em>tradition,” Hutch laughed. “When Swedes get married, the bride has two coins placed in her shoes: a silver one from her father in the left shoe and a gold one from her mother in the right shoe. It’s the parents’ way of making sure their daughter never goes without.”<\/p>\n

“So, we’re both brides<\/em>?”<\/p>\n

“Apparently.”<\/p>\n

“Who do you think did this?”<\/p>\n

“Well, Jennie’s a little sneaky, but it could be my mom. We’ll see who fesses up at breakfast, which we’re going to be late for if we don’t hustle.”<\/p>\n

“I know, but can I just say one thing first?”<\/p>\n

“Go ahead.”<\/p>\n

“God jul, babe.”<\/p>\n

“God jul, Starsk.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Click on the image to view it larger.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bay City, December 19 “I wish I could come with you.” Hutch zipped up his garment bag, which was lying on the bed, and gave Starsky his full attention. “No, babe, you don’t. Trust me. You’d have a lousy time. And it’s freezing there.” The look of incredulity on Starsky’s face made Hutch queasy. “I … Continue reading “December 18th: Making the Yuletide Gay by m.butterfly”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,15,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fic","category-sfw","category-slash"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=406"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":591,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406\/revisions\/591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2023\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}