Page 18 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
“Avery,” Jack said.
“Hello, Jack.” Avery looked at the others working in the stall: Jack’s siblings and a tall broad-chested man Avery thought might not be a sibling, as he looked nothing like the others. They all stared at Avery and Jack even though two customers waited. “Hello.” Avery gave a little nod.
“Have you met everyone?” Jack gestured to the others. “This is Trent, Briar, Wulfric, and you know Lacy.”
They waved at and greeted Avery.
“I’m going to head off,” Jack said to his siblings.
Lacy made a shooing motion. “Go! Go! I don’t want to see you back here tonight.”
Jack chuckled and undid his apron, putting it aside. He grabbed a small box, opened a side door, stepped out of the stall, and joined Avery.
CHAPTER 10
“Are you sure it’s all right to leave?” Avery glanced at Jack’s siblings.
“It’s fine. Briar wasn’t meant to be working tonight. He and Wulfric offered to take my place to give me the night off. But I thought I’d help whilst I waited for you. Shall we?” Jack offered Avery his arm.
Swallowing, Avery took it, so aware of the close contact, of the fact he was clutching Jack’s arm even if their coats and clothes meant he wasn’t actually touching skin.
“Do you come often to the Christmas markets?” Jack asked as they meandered down the row.
Avery hesitated. “I’ve been a few times. But not recently.”
“You don’t enjoy them?”
“No. I…” Avery didn’t want to ruin the mood by telling Jack he hadn’t come in years because he had no one to go with. He didn’t want to sound pathetic. “I just haven’t had the opportunity. Does your family always have a stall at the markets?”
“Every year. I’m not sure when it started, but I know my grandparents had a stall. And I’m pretty sure my great-grandparents did too. Oh! And before I forget, I have a gift foryou.” Jack handed him a small white box. A red ribbon tied the box shut. “It’s not much. I just thought you might like to try an assortment of Christmas cookies whilst we walked around.”
Avery released Jack’s arm. Speechless, he took the box. Avery undid the string and pulled it off. He slid the red ribbon into his pocket and opened the box. A variety of cookies filled it, including a vanilla crescent cookie. He licked his lips as his mouth watered.
“Thank you.” Avery looked at Jack. “Which should I try first?”
“How about this one? It’s a spiced cookie.” Jack pointed at a round brown cookie. “It’s one of my favourites.”
“And you made these?”
“I did.”
Avery picked it up and took a bite. He moaned as a mixture of spices, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg burst on his tongue.
Jack smiled at him. “You like it?”
Avery nodded, his mouth too full of the soft chewy cookie to speak.
“It’s my mother’s recipe.”
Avery swallowed the cookie. “Really?”
Jack nodded.
“And is it magic?” Avery asked softly.
“Yes,” Jack said.
Avery stared at the half-eaten cookie. “What makes your baking magic?” That was one of the questions Avery had written down.
