Page 9 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas

But of course, that was all before Jasper’s accident.

“Although, I suppose we don’t tend to get nobles in this part of the city,” Leo said. “So maybe that’s normal behaviour for hoity-toity lords and whatnot.”

“I’m surprised he came in again,” Trent said as he juiced the lemons. “Didn’t he complain yesterday?”

“Eh!” Leo rolled his eyes. “He went on and on, telling me off for my poor manners and for keeping him waiting while I served other customers. I thought for sure I’d never see him in here again.” He placed the sliced apples onto the pastry lining the tin.

“He must have liked your pies, then,” Lachlan said.

Kit nodded. “They are very good!”

“He said the food was passable.” Leo chuckled. “What a conceited dickhead!”

Everyone laughed. Everyone except Jasper, who stirred the mixture, facial features tight. Like he was in pain. Which he probably was.

The bell above the bakery door rang.

“I’ll get it.” Trent put down the lemons and wiped his hands on his apron. “Hopefully it won’t be another haughty lord.” He smiled and headed out to the front.

Leo continued arranging the apple slices. But he kept glancing at Jasper, who sagged in his chair as he mixed. Leo put down the apple slices and headed to the stove. He placed the kettle on. He’d make Jasper ginger and turmeric tea. Hopefully that would give him some strength.

“Once I put the apple pies into the oven, I’m going to head over to the Christmas markets,” Leo said.

More of their siblings would come into the bakery soon to start their shifts.

“Grady should already be at the markets, and I want to help him set up before they open. You planning to come, Jas?” Leo asked.

In recent years, he and Jasper were usually there when the markets opened at midday. The markets had opened the day before on the first day of the Christmas season. But Jasper hadn’t come with Leo.

Since his accident, Jasper had so little energy. The healer had said he should have recovered soon after his fall in the forest. But everything about Jasper’s accident was weird. Even the accident itself.

“I might just stay here again,” Jasper said softly.

“Of course.” Leo smiled at Jasper, even though Jasper wasn’t even looking at him.

“I’ll send over either Trent or Cas once some of the others arrive for their shifts,” Ordelia said.

Leo nodded. He brewed the tea with intention, hoping for Jasper to receive healing. Then he handed the tea to his twin.

“Thanks,” Jasper said with a weak smile.

Swallowing, Leo went back to assembling his apple pies.

Ever since Jasper’s accident, Leo felt like a chasm had exploded between them. They’d been so close before. Inseparable. They’d worked the same shifts in the bakery. They’d told each other everything. They’d had no secrets.

They’d fought a lot. Almost constantly. But still, they’d been close.

Now everything had changed. And Leo couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something going on with Jasper, and it wasn’t just his continued health issues. He felt like Jasper was keeping something from him.

But what? When would Jasper have had the time to develop a secret?

Leo was so fucking confused. And he didn’t know what to do. He rolled out the pastry and cut it into strips.

He should just be happy Jasper was alive. After all, his twin had come very close to dying. He licked his lips as he laid the strips of pastry in a lattice formation over the apples. He flicked his gaze to Jasper, who was now mixing the lemon drizzle topping.

They’d been in the forest in late summer, collecting blackberries for a cake they wanted to bake. The sky had been clear and the sun warm. They’d ended up walking along a steep track up a hill. There’d been a sharp drop to one side.

He’d been walking ahead. Then behind him, he’d heard his brother’s sharp yell. He’d turned just in time to watch rocks slipping out from beneath his brother’s feet. His brother had fallen flat on his face and slid towards the drop, hands scrabbling at roots and dirt, trying to halt himself.