Page 38 of A Winter Awakening
“I’m glad.”
Gael’s stomach gurgled. “Sorry. All of…” He blushed. “All that seems to have made me a little hungry.”
“I’ll get you some food.” Orteo untangled himself from Gael and slipped from beneath the blankets. “Actually, I’ll get you some food from the store. It’s almost evening, and Mila mentioned they sell hot food at night.”
“Really? But don’t we still have stuff you bought this morning?” Gael asked.
“We do,” Orteo said, pulling on his trousers. “But you deserve something warm to fill your belly. I’ve got to keep you satisfied.”
“That would be wonderful.” Gael sat up on the side of the mattress, still naked.
Suddenly, Orteo felt the urge to crawl back beneath the blankets with the man. Instead, he grabbed his bag and said, “I’ll be back soon.”
I’m getting him food. I’m fulfilling all his needs. I’m taking care of him.
Orteo returned a short while later.
“They had fish stew,” Orteo said. He held up the small pot Mila had lent him, filled with the stew. He placed it by the fire. Then he reached into his bag and pulled out a small brown package. “And I have this.”
“What is it?”
Orteo placed the package on the table and unwrapped the paper. “It’s paint.”
Gael’s eyes sparkled. He picked up the little tubs of different-coloured paint and several small paintbrushes. “I can’t believe you remembered.”
“Of course I did,” Orteo said. “I asked Mila for some paint and told her what you needed it for. She ordered it for me, and it arrived today.” It had come from Castle Evermore, but Orteo didn’t mention that. He didn’t think Gael wanted to be reminded of the place. He then reached into his bag. “And here are some reindeer for you to paint.”
Orteo had been carrying them around since he’d ordered the paint.
Gael took them, beaming. “Thank you.”
And Orteo let himself believe he deserved the devotion in Gael’s eyes.
They ate the fish stew together, and after dinner, Gael started to paint. Orteo sat back, contentedly watching him, basking in Gael’s joy.
“And you should whittle,” Gael said.
“Should I?” Orteo asked.
Gael nodded.
“All right.” Orteo pulled out a chunk of wood from his bag. He didn’t continue the figure of Wareth.
Wareth was part of the family set. Working on them always brought up painful and complicated feelings. And he didn’t want Gael asking Orteo why he whittled Wareth. Orteo didn’t want to talk about his relationship with his family.
So he started something new. “I think I’ll make a rabbit,” he said. “I finished the one of you and Daisy.”
“Really?”
Orteo nodded. “I’ll bring it by next time I go to my cave. Then you can paint that one.”
The night crept onwards. Orteo worked on the rabbit, and Gael painted the reindeer.
Orteo wanted more nights just like this. Peaceful, companionable nights.
“I’ve finished,” Gael said.
He placed the last reindeer on the table.
