For Keeps

22. Long-jeray from your mom.

{Kurt}

"Hurry hurry," Bea whispered, tugging on Kurt's elbow. "It's present time and Jon is going to be so surprised!"

Kurt trotted after her into the White family living room. "Why didn't we have presents with cake?" he hissed back. This was the weirdest party he'd ever attended and next year he was going to be all up in Jon's birthday business.

Jon was standing in the kitchen doorway, drying his hands on a dishtowel, his eyes a little wide as he glanced at his family gathered in the room looking at him. Perched on the couch, Mel looked about to burst, her eyes dancing with laughter.

"Jon dear, I know you always say you don't want a big deal for your birthday, and no gifts. But I'm rebelling this year." She dragged an enormous gift bag out from beside the couch arm, topped with tufts of sparkly white tissue paper. "I shopped for days and spent a silly amount of money on this gift for you and I'm not sorry. Now you have to open it."

Kurt bounced on his toes, clapping his hands and grinning.

Jon took a breath like he was about to say something, his cheeks pink, then caught Kurt's eye. His mouth quirked and he bent his head and joined his mother on the couch. "Thanks Mom," he said softly. "And Dad."

Pete held up his hands. "Oh no, this was all your mother's doing. I tried to persuade her to keep it...well, you'll see."

Jon pulled tufts of tissue out of the bag and emerged with a pair of pillar candles.

"This is a Jonathan Nathanial White self-care bundle," Mel said. "You've been on my heart all month and whenever I was worried about you I went out and found something else that was nice for your birthday."

Jon set the candles on the coffee table and continued to dig on the bag: a pastel-coloured baseball wrapped in cellophane and a package of hand-crafted chocolates.

"Oo a bath bomb," Cary said, leaning forward. "What flavor?"

Jon snatched it away, giving him a glare. "No stealing my bath bomb." He peered at the package. He was still blushing to the roots of his hair, but his eyes were shining. "It's lemon lavender."

"Sounds delish," Kurt said from where he leaned in the doorway, his lips curling in a smile. "I'm climbing in with you."

Bea tipped her head back to shoot him a pretend glare, pointing her finger in his face. "Behave."

Kurt pouted innocently. "What? I'm just gonna scrub his back for him. I'll all in on Jonathan Nathanial White care."

"Are these bear claws?" Jon was tearing into the chocolates, and proceeded to cram one into his mouth, making an inarticulate noise of happiness.

Mel nodded, clasping her hands under her chin. "From that chocolate place you like." She waved her hand at the bag. "Keep going."

Two more bath bombs emerged: 'Vanilla coffee bean' and 'Redwood Forest,' as well as a tube of silky lotion. Tabitha looked pleased as Jon rubbed a little on his hands and admired the smell.

Tabitha said, "Body Shop has a new men's line. It's all gorgeous; I thought you might both like it." She glanced at Kurt. "You look like you value skin care."

Kurt couldn't help winking at her. "I do value skin care," he drawled. "Thank you darlin'."

She rolled her eyes and looked away.

Finally Jon reached the bottom of the bag and drew out a length of silky dark gold fabric. Kurt's eyebrows flicked up as a wide-sleeved men's kimono emerged, cranes with long pink legs spreading their white wings over the shoulders.