Page 8 of The Orc Who Hated Christmas
CHAPTER 5
“Will there be anything else?” Cas asked the bird shifter.
A line of customers stood at the counter. Cas, Lacy, and Jack served. No seats remained free at the tables crowded around the bakery. The bell tinkled every few moments as the door opened and more customers came in.
“That’s everything,” the bird shifter replied. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Cas turned to the next customer, a gnome carrying his small child in his arms.
They worked through the afternoon, serving a steady stream of patrons, many of whom were on their way home from work.
“You look so beautiful,” an older witch said as she took the fruit and nut loaf from Cas. “A perfect Christmas pixie.”
“Thank you!” Cas beamed. “I try my best.” Today he dressed in a green outfit with red-and-gold accessories. The colours didn’t really match his blue wings. Not like the silver. But he liked to embrace all the Christmas colours.
“I’m going to go start packing stuff for the Christmas markets,” Jack said once the number of customers dwindled.
“Sounds good,” Cas said before turning to greet a centaur at the counter. “Merry Christmas!”
He took the centaur’s order. The bell tinkled. Cas glanced up.
The orc entered the bakery and joined Cas’s line. Snow rested on his large brown coat, but he didn’t brush it away. He shoved his hands in his pockets. His dark-black hair had been pulled back from his face. Small gold hoops and studs lined his pointed ears. An air of sadness clung to him.
Cas’s chest tightened with the need to bring a smile to the orc’s face.
It’s not your job to make people happy or like Christmas. You can’t reach everyone.
“Anything else?” Cas asked the centaur. “How about some sugar cookies I made earlier today?” He gestured to them sitting behind the glass.
The centaur smiled. “They look delicious,” she said. “I’ll take six. My foals will love them!”
Cas smiled and boxed the cookies. As he served the next couple of customers, Cas continued to glance at the orc, who kept his gaze down on the floor.
“Do you think I make a good Christmas pixie?” Cas asked a faun.
The faun of course agreed.
Finally, after Cas had served two more patrons, the orc stood in front of him.
“Brick bread, please,” the orc said in his deep, gruff voice. “Four.” He glanced quickly at Cas before dropping his gaze.
Did he ever smile? Or did he always look this downtrodden?
Cas thought of what Grady had said. Perhaps the orc did have a sad past? Maybe he’d been an orphan like Cas. Butmaybe, unlike Cas, he’d never found a family. Maybe he’d spent years living on the street in the cold, never knowing love or care or the joy of a family who accepted you.
Cas swallowed as pain tried to choke him. His hands clenched.
He wanted to make the orc smile. He wanted to show him that good and kindness existed in the world, like his own family had shown him. Cas wanted to offer him cookies and scones and suggest he try the Christmas jam Cas made the day before.
Cas was a pixie, but he’d been raised as a hearth and kitchen witch. And hearth and kitchen witches provided nourishment and care through their food to those who entered their home, or for them, their bakery. Cas had taken the lessons he’d learnt from his adoptive parents to heart. And he wanted to spread joy and cheer and happiness with his food.
But still, it would be rude to push. Even if he wanted to. So he gave the orc a smile and packaged the bread. “Of course. Here you are. Will there be anything else?”
The orc took the package. He frowned. “I’ll…” He hesitated. He looked side to side, still not meeting Cas’s gaze. “I’ll have some of the sugar cookies you mentioned yesterday.” He paused. “If that’s not a hassle.”
Cas’s wings fluttered. Pixie dust sparkled around them. The orc looked up, eyes widening.
“Of course, you can have some sugar cookies. It’s not a hassle at all!” Cas smiled brightly.
