Page 37 of Our Dark Winter Wish

I nod and offer a shrug.

‘It’s shit, but I couldn’t think of anything else. So there you go. Merry Christmas.’

Pixie takes the parchment, walks to the wall, and presses it against it. Branches emerge from the thick bark and twist, knot and swirl around the image, framing it perfectly. She steps back and admires it. Tears are in her eyes when she turns back to face me.

‘I love it,’ she says. ‘It’s the one thing I always wanted.’

‘It’s just a picture.’

‘A picture of us,’ she replies, turning to look at the picture I created once more.

It’s of all four of us. I think I captured our faces quite well. Ashe is smiling sweetly. Archie has a troublesome grin. Dorian is a sultry kind of happy. And I’m looking at her. Content and proud.

‘It’s a picture of something I have never had and always wanted,’ she continues, her hands clasped together and resting over her heart. ‘A family of my own. Proof that I am loved. That I belong. That we all belong.’

They all look at me now. Soppy fucking lot.

‘I just drew a portrait,’ I reply. Damn, my blushing! I’m a living nightmare. Not a schoolboy.

She’s in my lap and hugging me in a second.

‘I love it.’

I hug her back as the two others admire the picture some more.

Perhaps I’m not as bad as I thought at this gifting shit.

She sits up and claps her hands together.

‘My turn!’

I’ve never seen her scurry across the floor so quickly. She gives Archie his. He’s bouncing on his knees like a kid. She gives Dorian his, which he holds as though it’s the most fragile thing he’s ever held.

They’re two little parcels that fit in the palm of their hands. Then she turns to me and stands.

‘Up!’ she orders. I take her extended hand, and she pulls me to my feet before positioning me by the fire.

We stand facing one another as she looks up at me nervously.

The two others aren’t opening their gifts yet but instead watching us.

‘My gift is kinda, especially for you,’ she says. ‘I spoke to them about it, and they agreed.’

Archie and Dorian are watching with grins.

‘What is it?’

Slowly, she kneels.

‘Oh. Okay then.’ I go to undo my flies. I’m good for her to suck my cock again if she likes.

But she slaps my hand away and tuts before pulling out my gift. It’s the same size and shape as theirs.

I open it.

Sitting in the leaf wrapping is a ring made of deep gold wood. In the band is glowing amber, swirling like waves washing upon the shore.

I look from the ring to her. On one knee.

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