Page 4 of The Shoemaker

Even if he'd gotten the job he'd come here for, and saved all year, he never could have afforded boots of such impeccable quality.Nothing he'd done had merited these, and yet they were clearly for him.

Hands trembling, he pulled on a pair of his new socks and then the boots, which fit perfectly, as good as anything he'd ever made for himself.They would last him years, even through hard use in foul weather.

He'd thought the other gifts so fine and beautiful, but they paled in comparison to these beautiful boots.

Putting them back in the box for the moment, he poured himself another cup of the lovely mulled wine and sat sipping it by the fire.Outside, the wind howled alarmingly, and the snow continued to fall relentlessly down, until he could not see out the window at all.

Frowning, he went to the door and pulled it open—and gasped to see the snow was more than halfway up it.He would never make it back to his crate in this, even though it wasn't far away at all.It didn't take much distance to become disoriented and lost, to wind up frozen to death just steps away from safety.That was why he'd come over here to begin with, but it didn't make it less disconcerting to see firsthand just how easily he would have died if coming here to hide from the weather hadn't been an option.

Closing the door, he returned to the fire and used his new blanket and scarf to make up a little bed, and used his new cloak as an additional blanket.Surely, after showing him so much kindness, Alvin would not mind if he slept here until the snow cleared.He could always offer to do additional work to make up for it.

Returning to the table, he enjoyed more wine and a large slice of Solstice Cake.By the time he'd finished, he could barely keep his eyes open.Still he could not resist one last indulgence: using the washroom to take a proper shower, filching an old bar of soap left there to clean himself thoroughly, using his new shaving kit to make himself look and feel truly himself for the first time in months.

By the time he was finished, he could barely keep his eyes open as he packed away the food, tidied everything up, and stoked the fire before finally crawling into his makeshift bed.

Maybe Alvin would be willing to let him do this every night.Stitch shoes, eat supper, sleep before the fire.If he did that well enough, he could possibly work up to being a proper clerk.Alvin had said to come see him in daylight, after all.Surely that meant it was possible.

How very fine it would be to work here every day, sing and dance with a happy Alvin, never have to worry…

The slamming of a door jerked him awake, and Brandt scrambled to his feet in a panic.He needed to go—he needed his things—there was too much to carry all at once—and he couldn't leave the food—how was he going—

"Oh, thank goodness, you're still here," Alvin said.

Brandt froze, dropping the bedding he'd hastily grabbed up, staring wide-eyed at Alvin.Who was barely dressed, shirt untucked, long coat unfastened, hair barely held back by a ribbon that would give way any moment, spectacles dripping melting snow.

"Sorry," he finally burst out."I couldn't leave; there was too much snow.If you give me a m-moment—"

"No!"Alvin burst out, then crossed the room and hugged him tightly."Stay.Please.Stay right here, for as long as you wish.I was so afraid when I saw the snow this morning that you might be outside, might be frozen to death.That you hadn't come last night because there wouldn't be work to do.I'm so very glad you did."

Brandt stared at him as he withdrew."You're not upset I've just been breaking into your shop?"

Alvin's mouth twisted into a smile."You broke in to help me.I kept hoping you'd leave a note or something.Initially I thought maybe you were angling for something, which was reasonable.I certainly needed the help, and I would have paid fairly for it.But you never asked for anything.At first I wasn't sure who you were, but a couple of neighbors saw you walking about at odd hours and mentioned it to me.I think they feared you might be trying to steal, but that's not really your style."

"I steal wood for my fire sometimes."

"That doesn't count," Alvin replied dismissively."There's plenty of it around, and nobody will miss a few logs here and there.I lingered one night, at the coffeehouse, and saw you finally.But I couldn't figure out why you wouldn't say anything.Then one night I saw your footprints and realized you didn't have shoes."

"Some kids stole them."

"I see.Anyway, enough of my prattling.The point is, ever since my lover betrayed me and ran off with my best friend, I have not been well.And everyone else has been so distant, even though they were angry on my behalf.It's like they didn't know what to do with me anymore, and on top of that, I couldn't find a decent clerk to hire… and I'm prattling again, sorry, I know it's irritating."

Brandt smiled tentatively."I like people who talk.I don't talk much, so I like when other people can.Thank you for the gifts.The boots.I've never had such beautiful shoes.Well, all of it is too beautiful for me, really, but especially those."

Alvin reached out slowly, as if giving him time to withdraw if he wanted, and rested a hand against the side of Brandt's face, large and warm and comforting, when usually people who touched him only did so to hurt him."Well, you're the first one to make me feel like talking in a long time."

"You started singing again too, and wearing colors and jewels and painting your nails…"

"I always wanted to help you, you know," Alvin said softly."The pretty elf who seemed abandoned by the world.But the last time I helped someone, they wound up stealing a bunch of stuff in the night and running away.Tomas forbade me doing it again, and I did not want to make him angry.Fool me.Then I was shattered, and not fit to help anyone…"

"You don't owe me explanations.You were never obligated to help me, and you did more than most.I'm glad I could help you.I just hated seeing you so sad when you used to be so happy."

Alvin smiled, soft and sweet."Get comfy by the fire.I'll make us some tea.I barely managed to get here, and the snow will not be stopping anytime soon, so I think we are shut in for a bit."He winked."If you don't mind me intruding."

Brandt laughed, cautiously happy."Tea sounds wonderful."He went and sat by the fire as bid, folding his new blanket up for them to sit on.It put them close together when Alvin joined him, but Brandt had no complaints about that.

Alvin poured the tea, and set the cups on the floor in front of them."I do not suppose I could persuade you to stay?Properly hired and paid?It would be nice to have an assistant again.More than that, though, I would simply like to have you around, in any capacity.You're the only one to help me, to be kind, to make me smile in a long time.To make me want to live again."

Smiling tentatively, Brandt offered his hand, palm up."I would enjoy leaving the nights behind and enjoying the days.What better time to start than now, when the nights grow shorter and the days longer?I would be honored to stay, if you'll have me."

"I might never let you leave," Alvin said softly.

"I might never want to leave," Brandt replied, voice barely above a whisper.

Alvin took his hand, and Brandt rested his head against Alvin's shoulder as the sun rose on Solstice Day.

End