Page 48 of A Siren Song for Christmas
“I know you didn’t like the Christmas markets.” Trent hesitated, suddenly worried this would seem a little silly. After all, this was something he’d started doing as a boy. Would Malachi think it childish?
It was too late now.
He pulled out a box from the paper bag. He lifted the lid, revealing greenery, twine, dried berries, dried citrus slices, ribbon, pine cones, and two wreath bases. “It’s a wreath-making kit.”
Malachi leaned forward, examining the contents. He adjusted his glasses. “A wreath-making kit?”
“We saw a stall yesterday where you could buy Christmas wreaths or make your own,” Trent said. “But you can also buy kits. If you felt like it, I thought we could make them together. Then we could put them up, since you don’t have any Christmas decorations. But only if you wanted,” he rushed out.
Malachi picked up a wreath base. He examined it, tilting the woven branches from side to side. “Sounds like fun. But you’ll have to instruct me. I’ve never made a Christmas wreath before.”
“Of course!” Trent laughed. “I’ve made them a million times.”
They packed away the food and placed the wreath elements on the table.
Malachi brewed fresh tea. Trent showed Malachi how to attach greenery with twine to the base.
Malachi wrapped red ribbon around the evergreen leaves. “So you would do this at the Christmas markets?”
“I think we did that when I was very young.” But Trent barely remembered that. “Then my parents died, and we stopped. We didn’t have the money to keep making them at the Christmas markets, so we started making them at home. First, we’d go and collect things from the forest.”
Trent remembered holding Ordelia’s hand as their boots crunched in the snow and leaves that littered the forest floor. Cas had flown ahead, pointing out what to collect. Lacy would run after Cas, giggling and shoving the different bits into her basket.
“Then we’d take our collection home. Cas would weave branches together to make the bases. Then we’d decorate them. For years we did it together.” Trent remembered laughing and crafting before the fireplace with his siblings.
“Cas always led the family in making Christmas decorations. He loves Christmas so much that he calls himself the Christmas pixie.”
Malachi frowned. “He’s a pixie?” He wrapped gold ribbon around his wreath.
“Oh yes.” Trent laughed, realising that might be confusing. “He’s adopted. We don’t know what happened to his parents. But my mum and dad took him in when I was still very young. I don’t remember a time when he wasn’t around. He moved out this year to be with his mate, Graal.”
Trent paused. “That’s why I haven’t made any decorations with him this year. Of course, Cas still decorated the bakery and the family apartment. But I wasn’t around for either. So I missed all that.”
“Are you all right?” Malachi asked.
Trent realised he’d stopped smiling. “It’s fine. Things are just different now. Cas and Ordelia don’t live at home. Nor do Lacy, Briar, or Jack. And everyone is so busy with their partners. A lot of the things, including the Christmas traditions, have fallen away.” Trent slid twine through a dried citrus slice before attaching it to his wreath.
“You miss them,” Malachi said.
“I do.” Trent blew out a breath. “Which is ridiculous, since I still see them every day. And I know everyone loves me and is there for me. But…”
“But it’s different now?”
“It is. They just don’t have time for me anymore. Not that I blame them!” Trent stared down at the wreath in his hands as he tried to put his feelings into words. “They just have other priorities now.”
It hurt to say aloud, to admit that his siblings didn’t have the same place for him in their lives as they once had. For years he’d been the youngest, the baby. Everyone had always looked out for him.
Malachi leaned towards him. “Have you spoken to any of them about it?”
Trent shrugged. “I can’t expect their lives to revolve around me forever. I’m not five anymore. I can look after myself.” Trent rubbed the pine leaves between his fingers. “I know it was hard for my siblings growing up. These days, they must relish having more time, more freedom, more money, and a life outside the bakery and the family.”
But for Trent, his family was his life. And now he found he didn’t quite know where he fit.
“I’m sorry, Trent,” Malachi said, voice soft and gentle.
“It’s fine.” Trent swallowed and pushed the sting of loss away. “Tonight is really nice.”
“It is.” Malachi smiled. “But it must seem pretty quiet compared to the family dynamic you grew up with. You don’t find it too dull? Just the two of us?”