Harvest of Holidays by Tracy Cooper-Posey

around the corner of the table to look over his shoulder.
    It was a photocopied section of a map of the lower half of the state. Just north of Poughkeepsie, there was a small circle. It had been made with a felt-tipped pen, bright blue among all the greys.
    “Where is that?” Donna asked Carson. “It means something, doesn’t it?”
    “There’s an old mine just around there,” Nick said. “The Widow Jane Mine. They dug cement out of it for decades, but it’s been closed down for nearly ten years.”
    Carson looked at him. “A man made cave. All the comforts of home for them.”
    “Yes.” Nick flicked the sheet with his nail. “Although why would Jimmy have had it? Why didn’t he share it?”
    “Perhaps he meant to, but ran out of time,” Oscar said.
    Carson folded up the sheet and held it out to Donna. “I’m retiring,” he said firmly. “You should check it out.”
    Donna pushed his hand back toward him. “I got into this business because of demons,” she said. “Now I’m going to go back to that side of it.” She held her hand out to Oscar, who hesitated, then took it. There was agony in his eyes, but a small smile played around his mouth. His grip tightened.
    Donna looked back at Carson. “The gargoyles are Tally’s project, but she’s going to be busy for the next few weeks. You should check it out. For her. If it is their nest, then you could get rid of the last of them just as your baby is born.”
    Carson held the map in mid-air, looking at it. He could see where the felt-tip had gouged a tiny furrow in the paper, and the ink had soaked through to the opposite side. “Miguel will want to follow up. I’ll give it to him.”
    Donna shook her head. “Don’t let him go alone,” she said.
    “I will go with him,” Nick said. “Tomorrow, when the sun has risen.”
    Carson held the map out to Nick.
    “I know where the mine is,” Nick said gravely. “I’ve been there before.”
    Carson looked at the folded sheet, wondering what to do with it. Then he stuffed it into his pocket. “Just to keep it safe,” he said, and felt an odd tightness in his chest.
    Nick was studying him. “Why don’t you come with us, tomorrow?” he said. “One last sally before you take up diaper duties.”
    The door swung open again. The music didn’t jump nearly as loud this time. Damian kept the door propped open and leaned in. “Cory has his camera set up. Come and get ready. Everyone has to be in the picture.”
    “Who gets to hold the camera, then?” Nick asked, amused.
    “It’s on a tripod and timer,” Damian tossed back. He beckoned with his hand. “Come on.”
    They all filed out into the crowded front room. A short row of chairs had been set up, and Tally was sitting on the last of them, her belly rounded out under her breasts. She smiled at Carson and patted the chair next to her. The other chairs were being taken up by the others, while still more people crowded around behind the chairs.
    Carson leaned down and swept Tally up into his arms, then settled on her chair and put her on his lap. He stretched his arms around her. The quiet, contented peace he had felt at the cemetery that afternoon, when he had finally decided to quit, settled over him again.
    “I love you,” he whispered to Tally as Cory fussed with the camera setting and directed everyone’s positions so they would be included in the frame.
    Tally’s hand rested on his and her eyes glowed. “Love you back. Always.”
    Damian stood behind them and waved Nick over. “Stop looking grumpy,” he told his lover as Nick settled next to him.
    “You know I don’t like photographs,” Nick muttered. “They’re a security risk for us.”
    Carson sighed as the contentment spilled out of him. He wanted to embrace the whole room, and shower everyone with his joy, even salty old Nicholas Sherwood.
    Cory looked up from the camera. “Don’t anyone move,” he said, picking up the shutter control. He depressed it. “Fifteen….” he