Page 41 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
“But if you don’t like roast pheasant, she can make something else, I’m sure,” Avery said.
“Roast pheasant is fine.” Jack dropped his gaze to the brown soup.
“Are… Are you sure, Jack?” Avery leaned towards him. “It won’t be a hassle to find something else. Of course, she can’t go to the markets in this weather. But I believe there is some cold ham we could have instead. Maybe some smoked haddock. She could make some more chestnut soup.”
In Avery’s tone, Jack could hear his desire to please him. It tore at Jack. Because with each word, Jack’s stomach dropped further and further. Jack was a hearth and kitchen witch. He put all his heart and soul into his baking.
The cook had no doubt worked hard on preparing the pheasant. Jack didn’t know her at all, but her hands had prepared the food. And to please his guest, Avery would cast that work and effort easily aside without a second thought to her efforts.
“Daniel, could you ask Cook what she has on hand?” Avery asked.
Daniel turned to leave.
“No! Pheasant sounds delicious.” Jack forced a smile. He should try to act grateful. Avery was trying to please him, after all. But the way he did it made Jack so ill at ease. Yet it wasn’t Avery’s fault. They were just too different.
“I’m sorry for being such a bother,” Jack said. “I feel terrible for turning up like this, and now you need to look after me.”
“It’s fine, Jack. I want to look after you,” Avery said.
And somehow that made the guilt even worse.
Fuck! Jack was a terrible guest. He’d shown up on Avery’s doorstep, and now he judged Avery, just because he’d never known what it was like to be desperate, starving, and without.
Avery looked to Daniel. “Let us know when dinner is ready.”
With a bow, Daniel left. But his departure didn’t put Jack any more at ease. How could he be in this apartment?
An awkwardness stretched between them. Neither knew what to say or do. Which was entirely Jack’s fault. After all, he’d been the one who decided to come here, and now he was stuck until the snow passed.
Should he apologise again? Try to clear the air?
“I’ll put your tea here.” Avery set it on the table beside him. Then he rose and took a seat opposite Jack. “Will your siblings be worried?”
Jack frowned. He’d not thought of that. “I don’t think so. I left a note saying I was coming here. Hopefully, they’ll assume I got here safely.”
“And Carrie?”
“She’s in the apartment. And they’ll look after Carrie.” And once the snow cleared a little, he would head out. He glanced towards the window. But for the moment, the snowfall continued.
Jack finished his soup and then drank his tea quickly. He stared into the empty cup.
“Do you want more tea? How about some cake?” Avery asked.
“No, thanks. I’m fine.”
The wind whirled outside. The fire crackled. Neither spoke, and the awkwardness settled in the space between them.
Jack cleared his throat. “Have you got any plans for Christmas Day?” Jack cast for a topic.
Avery’s shoulders tensed. “Oh. Nothing much.” His voice sounded strained. “I just spend the day here.”
“With your father?” Jack asked.
“No,” Avery said blankly. “My father is very busy.”
Jack frowned. He wanted to ask more. But it would be rude to push. Especially now with everything so broken and fractured between them.
“What’s it like?” Avery asked.
