A Place Called Home

They had slowly crept out of the city.

Soaked roads, sleet pounding down around the car. They had just filled up the tank; after all, they needed to get there. He loved the smell of gasoline; it promised power and speed ahead. And yet, it was fleeting.

Home—well, that was only a familiar feeling for Keith. They were on their way to his parents, who lived 250 km away in the idyllic mountain landscape of The Starfall Mountains. He had been born and raised there until he moved to the big city of Patell to study.

At some point, "home" had moved into his brain, for he had met Tom, and they had moved in together. They had built their nest, and suddenly, he no longer thought of The Starfall Mountains as home but of his and Tom’s apartment.

It was a little bittersweet to get in the car and drive away from the home they both cherished. As if they left part of themselves behind.

Tom came from a town in the completely opposite direction, and he had, of course, spoken about how that town, that house, and that street had once been his home. He now spoke so naturally of their apartment as home. He too had moved, deep inside, away from the familiar and toward something the two of them created as the known.

Tom had been on board with the idea of celebrating Christmas at Keith's parents’ house. They had bought gifts, packed suitcases, and ensured the apartment was clean and tidy so it would be welcoming when they returned home.

Keith drove the car; after all, he knew the route best. They had finally made it onto the main road, and traffic had eased. It started snowing properly, the thermometer showing the road temperature gave a warning: frost. The snow began to settle, soon creating a glowing white surface amidst the swirling snowflakes spilling from the dark blankets of clouds in the sky.

They talked about what awaited them at Keith's home. How Christmas had once been celebrated in the small family consisting of Keith's parents, his older brother, and Keith as the youngest. A small, safe unit that easily had enough company within itself. They had never celebrated with other family members, and Keith remembered calm, warm days in the family’s chosen isolation in the mountains. Tom would be the first outsider to join the family’s Christmas.

Keith told Tom about his brother, Thor, who was two years older. He had never really spoken about himself, and Keith suspected he might also be into guys, but Tom brushed it off: just because they were gay didn’t mean Keith had to think that about his brother.

They laughed a little, and the kilometers ticked away, as did the snowflakes. Luckily, they could still see the road and the tracks left by others who had driven ahead of them. It was like lines they simply had to follow to keep traditions alive.

The radio droned on with Christmas music, all the old familiar songs. Now it was “Driving Home for Christmas.” It was relevant for many people in this snowstorm moment.

They had made it until 30 km remained. A climb toward The Starfall Mountains had been too much for a truck, which had jackknifed across the road. Traffic came to a standstill.

For now, they could only sit there. The car was warm, and they had coffee in a thermos, so they each poured a cup while they waited. Keith hoped the tow truck would arrive soon to move the truck and that a snowplow would follow to make the rest of the trip easier.

They sat for an hour before something finally happened. Flashing, rotating lights appeared in the storm. But they also signaled hope. Hope that they would, after all, make it.

An hour passed as the truck was cleared, and traffic should now move again. A man from the rescue service knocked on Keith's side window. He rolled it down a bit, and the man told them to wait for the snowplow to come through first—anything else would be dangerous with the thick layer of snow that had fallen.

They waited again, talking and holding hands, trying to stay hopeful that they would arrive.

Finally, it came, and they were waved forward. The path cleared by the plow was wide and safe to drive on, but the lines from other cars’ wheels no longer existed. Keith drove slowly and carefully on this new track. Was it an omen of the days to come? A different Christmas, now that tradition had been broken?

They finally reached the exit to Keith's childhood home. His father had apparently been out shoveling the snow, as they could drive the last 100 meters without any trouble.

Thor’s car was already there. Light shone from the house’s windows and from the bushes decorated with string lights, like small bonfires in the snow. Keith took a deep breath. He was a little nervous about Tom’s first meeting with his parents and Thor’s reaction to his new “brother-in-law.”

They stepped out of the car and grabbed the suitcases from the trunk. The air smelled of Christmas food; Keith’s mother had surely been busy preparing the grand holiday menu, and the kitchen fan sent the scent of roast drifting over the yard. Suddenly, it was no longer snowing, and the air was clear. Everything sparkled, and Keith felt nostalgia settle inside him.

The door was flung open, and there stood Keith’s father, Anthon, his mother, Karen, his brother, Thor, and a stranger.

Karen almost shouted across the yard:

“At last, you’re here. Now you’re home—all my boys are home. Come inside and let’s celebrate Christmas.”

Hugs and introductions followed. The stranger turned out to be Thor’s boyfriend, John. Tom was warmly welcomed, and the brothers laughed with each other. They were so alike in many ways—apparently also in their choice of partners.

Everyone gathered around the table as Karen served the most wonderful, fragrant dishes with the scent of cinnamon and cloves.

Anthon tapped his glass after the wine had been poured.

“Welcome, everyone. Your mother and I were surprised when you both—Thor and Keith—told us you were each bringing the person you’ve chosen to share your life with. John and Tom, you are so very welcome. We now have a strong team, your mother and I, and I’m proud of you and your choices. This will be a different Christmas than you remember, but the heart is in the right place, and we are happy for you.”

It truly was a wonderful and different Christmas, and home moved again in Keith’s mind. Likewise for Tom, John, and Thor. They had come home.