Page 11 of The Last Gargoyle’s Christmas Wish (An MM Monster Christmas #3)

CHAPTER 11

G rady hoisted his nephew into his arms.

“Are you sure you can take him?” Ordelia sniffled. “We can make do. It’s just been a tough day with both Tony and me sick. I’d ask Tony’s parents, but they are sick too.” Tony’s parents often took Michael and Ruthie to help Tony and Ordelia.

“It’s fine,” Grady said. “Briar and Wulfric are working the Christmas markets tonight, so I can take tonight off.” He could have used tonight to go over the inventory or check the finances and books. But he could do that later. When he should be sleeping.

He wanted to be there for Ordelia. He wanted to be a good uncle.

“Oh! I haven’t met Wulfric yet and—” A coughing fit broke off her words. “When I’m better I’ll meet him,” she said when the coughing subsided. She considered. “I’m sure I’ll be better tomorrow.”

Grady nodded. “You’ve eaten?”

“I made some stew.” Ordelia gave a weary smile. “Thank you for this. I really do appreciate it.”

“No problem. It will be nice to spend some quality time together with my nephew. Won’t it?” Grady asked Michael.

Michael nodded vigorously.

“Well, we should get going and let you rest,” Grady said to Ordelia.

“I’ll try. Ruthie is down right now. But who knows for how long.” Ordelia sighed. “Poor darling. Her horns are coming in. I put some salve on them that Tony’s father gave us. It helps, but she still struggles to sleep.”

Carrying Michael, Grady walked the short distance to the apartment.

“What do you think we should get up to tonight?” Grady asked. “We could read a book. We could play a game. We could bake?”

Michael considered each option. But when Grady mentioned baking, Michael’s eyes lit up, and he nodded. “Let’s bake a cake!”

“Sounds good.” They approached the bakery. Grady glanced up and saw Uzoth above. A smile broke out on his face. “See the gargoyle up there on the roof?”

Michael pointed. “Him?”

“Yep. That’s my friend Uzoth.”

Michael tilted his head. “He looks scary.”

“Well, he might look a little tough. But he is really nice.”

Michael stared up at Uzoth, a considering expression on his face.

“Do you want to meet him?” Grady asked. “I promise he is friendly. Maybe he can even help us bake.”

Michael tilted his head. “Okay.” He smiled.

Grady gestured to Uzoth.

For a second, Uzoth didn’t move. Then he flew down, landing further away than usual, as if worried he might scare Michael. But Michael did not look scared, just curious now that Grady had told him Uzoth was in fact friendly.

“Michael, this is Uzoth.” Grady walked towards him.

Uzoth gave a slight bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Michael stared at Uzoth with obvious interest.

“We’re going to bake a cake,” Grady said. “Want to join us?”

Uzoth’s gaze moved between them. “As long as my presence is not a hindrance.”

“Of course not. Come on.” Grady led the way into the bakery. “Ordelia and Tony are sick, so Michael is staying over tonight.”

“I hope she is not too unwell,” Uzoth said.

“She’ll be better tomorrow.” Grady glanced at him. “She has a healing affinity. Means her baking heals those she cooks for. But it also means she can sense how long an illness should last.”

“I see.” Uzoth stood to the side.

Grady placed Michael on the counter. “What sort of cake should we make?”

“A chocolate cake!”

Grady began to pull out equipment and ingredients. “Yum.”

“Do all witches have an affinity?” Uzoth asked.

“Not all do. And it’s not really understood why some witches develop an affinity and others don’t. Some believe a witch’s affinity is a reflection of their character. But no one knows for sure,” Grady said. “Out of my siblings, about half of us have an affinity. Mine’s protection. Ordelia’s is healing. Cas’s is spreading joy. Jack’s is nourishment. And whilst we are all hearth and kitchen witches, Lachlan has a strong affinity for it.

“But the others might find their affinity still. They also might not have one.” Grady placed the last of the equipment beside Michael. “All right, let’s bake.”

Grady talked Michael through the steps. Michael threw himself into baking with gusto, although he ended up covered in ingredients and dough. Grady smiled at him, pleased to pass on the skills that had been passed down through generations. Maybe one day, Michael would pass the knowledge on to the next generation.

Most of the time, Uzoth just silently watched them. He did not seem bored or impatient. And anytime Michael was done with a wooden spoon or ingredient, he handed it to Uzoth, who cleaned it and put it away.

“And how is it?” Grady asked when they had finished.

Michael chewed, crumbs and frosting on his lips, cheeks, and chin. “Is good,” he said through a mouthful of cake.

Grady and Uzoth packed up as Michael continued to eat. His hoofed feet swung back and forth as they hung off the table. He hummed a Christmas melody.

“All right.” Grady surveyed the kitchen. “I think it is time to go upstairs and get ready for bed.”

Michael wiped his dirty hands on his trousers and lifted his arms. Grady picked him up, and they left the bakery.

In the apartment, Grady unrolled a mat for Michael to sleep on in his room.

“Will you read to me?” Michael asked from the main room.

Grady rose and walked to the door, words forming on his lips. But Michael held the book up to Uzoth. Uzoth stared down at the boy. Grady held his breath.

“Yes. I can do that.” Uzoth took the book and sat in his usual chair.

Michael climbed into his lap. Uzoth stared down at the crown of Michael’s horned head for several seconds, as if uncertain what to make of this young faun child on his lap.

Then Uzoth turned away, opened the book, and began to read, “One must always remember to respect the forest spirits…”

Grady’s chest tightened at the sight of the two of them together. For several minutes, he just watched. He didn’t want to intrude. The sight of Michael leaning against Uzoth’s chest whilst Uzoth read in his deep, rumbly voice made Grady’s insides soft.

When the story ended, Michael asked, “Another?”

Grady stepped forward. “That’s enough for tonight. It’s bedtime.”

Michael sagged but hopped off Uzoth’s leg.

“Don’t forget to thank Uzoth,” Grady said.

“Thank you, Uzoth!” Michael yelled as he ran to Grady’s room, and Grady put him to bed. After several minutes, Michael lay with his eyes closed as he breathed heavily. Grady returned to the main room. Uzoth had prepared tea and a plate of food.

“He likes you.” Grady sat and grabbed a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

“He does?” A brow raised ever so slightly.

Grady nodded. “He finds you interesting.”

“Not terrifying? I worried I might have scared him.”

“He was a little nervous at first. But then I told him you were nice.” Grady laughed. “He wonders how strong you are. He asked me how many rocks you could pick up. He had a lot of questions. I told him to ask you. So expect lots of odd questions next time you see him. He is a very curious child.”

Uzoth inclined his head. “I will try and answer as best I can. I had never interacted with a child before.”

“Well, you did very well.” Grady took a sip of his tea.

Honestly, he’d been unsure how Uzoth would be around his nephew. He knew Uzoth would pose no threat. But he thought Uzoth might be a bit uncomfortable. Yet it had all been fine, and Michael even seemed to have taken an interest in the gargoyle.

Grady smiled into his tea. The fire flickered in the hearth, and Grady admired Uzoth in the shadow of its golden flames.

He found himself returning to thoughts of kissing and touching Uzoth. The more time they spent together, the more he felt his desire for the gargoyle grow. But he hadn’t seen any interest on Uzoth’s part.

Uzoth liked Grady and wanted to spend time with him. They were friends. And Grady appreciated his friendship more than he could express. He did not want to risk losing it by propositioning Uzoth.

Still, Grady kept wondering if there was an opportunity for something more between them. His lips tingled. He pressed a finger to his lower lip, once again imagining kissing the ancient gargoyle.

Grady just wished he could tell what Uzoth felt for him.