Page 41 of The Orc Who Hated Christmas
“Just put them up where you think.” Cas kissed him on the cheek.
Graal’s body heated.
“You’ll do wonderfully,” Cas said.
Taking a deep breath, Graal lifted a star Cas made and stood. He hung the red star by its string from a shelf holding several books. He glanced at Cas, worried this spot was wrong.
But Cas beamed. “That’s perfect, Graal.”
Graal let out a breath. The tension in his chest released. Then he continued to hang up the stars.
“They look great, Graal,” Leo said.
Graal smiled as the last of his self-consciousness melted away like snow.
Cas began to hum. Then he began to sing, “Bells are ringing, bells are ringing.”
Several of the others joined in. Graal knew the song. He had heard the Christmas carol sung by children in the streets when he’d been a child.
Taking a deep breath, Graal began to sing along, “Snow is falling, snow is falling.” Graal glanced around, worried someone would think him foolish for joining in. But only Cas looked at him. Cas just smiled, blue eyes twinkling.
Graal let out a shaky breath. He looked around at all the lovely decorations, some of which he’d made and hung.
Graal was a part of this. He was really a part of this. For the first time in his life, he was a part of a family’s Christmas festivities. It wasn’t Graal’s family, of course. And this wouldn’t last. But today he belonged here.
He thought of himself as a small orc, asking his mother about trees and presents. He thought of his yearning and disappointment for something like this. And now here he was. He took a deep, shaky breath.
Years from now, he would look back and think how blessed he was to have been included in celebrating Christmas with Cas and the Berry family, even if it wasonly once. He doubted he’d get a second Christmas with them.
Realistically, how much time did Cas and Graal have left?
Cas didn’t seem tired of him. Not yet. But he’d been clear from the start that he wasn’t ready for anything serious. Graal could still remember the hurt on Cas’s face when Cas saw his ex-lover walk past the bakery window. And it wasn’t even a month since they’d broken up.
But Graal had this Christmas. And that was more than Graal ever thought he’d get.
Throughout the afternoon, those taking part in decorating changed. Kit and Lachlan retired to their room. Jasper returned to the group and wanted to make stars from twigs and sticks. Leo decided to take a nap. Briar and Wulfric remained, but after a while, they stopped creating decorations. Briar read a book,Mating and Different Races,whilst Wulfric crocheted.
At some point, Grady and Uzoth joined them in the main room after being down in the bakery.
“We’ve got hot chocolate, meat pies, and cookies!” Grady announced as he came into the room carrying a basket of cookies and a tray of pies.
Following him, Uzoth carried a tray of steaming hot chocolate.
“Thank you,” Graal said as he took a couple of cookies and some hot chocolate.
“You’re welcome,” Uzoth said.
“If we eat enough cookies, we won’t have to worry about meals.” Cas came over and took a mug and several cookies. He ignored the pies.
“You should still eat proper food, Cas,” Grady said.
But Cas didn’t respond, just smiled as he stuffed his mouth.
Grady rolled his eyes.
Graal drank his hot chocolate. He looked around, trying to capture the feeling of being here, trying to memorise it so he would remember years from now when he sat alone in some crappy room on a cold Christmas Day.
“I’m feeling a bit tired. I might have a nap.” Cas looked to Graal expectantly. “You coming?”
