‘A party?’

Cas glanced down at the paper in his hand. Various cheeses. Potatoes. Turkey. Cranberries. Salad greens. Crackers. Tomatoes. Basil. Olive oil.

‘Have the ingredients ready by the end of tomorrow,’ Silas said. ‘The chefs will arrive Saturday, and I want you upstairs when the guests are here.’

Cas was quiet, staring at the list. Silas spoke.

‘Is there a problem?’

‘It’s Christmas Eve,’ Cas said carefully. ‘They want me in the restaurant till seven.’

‘Fine. Return here once you have finished.’

When Silas left, Cas exhaled. His heart had impulsively quickened, and he willed it to steady. In truth, his shift ended at three, and he would make his way to town.

When Saturday came, it was difficult to contain his excitement, for it had been years since he’d visited the Christmas markets. His shift was not too bad, and the restaurant owner, a no-nonsense man in his early forties with a portly belly, even gave the staff a Christmas bonus.

A hubbub of joyous activity consumed the snow-laden town. The hustle of grabbing the earliest subway home, or the moodiness from the late nights and early mornings were long forgotten. Instead it was about buying one and why not two more gifts for the stocking, pearly white smiles despite the last minute queues. Momentary stresses eclipsed by the spontaneous kindness from strangers. 

Couples linked arms with matching jumpers, children giggled at Santa’s Grotto, punctuated by delighted gasps at beautiful window displays. Cas couldn’t help but smile. Joy was an infection, and none were exempted. 

The dark four o’clock skies were tainted with the thick scent of mulled wine, citrus, cinnamon and hot chocolate. A stall sold multicoloured candles, laid out like obedient sweets in a row. Sweet smoke cloyed the senses amongst faint carols and chunky boots marking the snow beneath them. 

At the centre stood a Christmas tree, lights shining like a beacon. It was a known landmark that could be seen from afar, turning blissful night into day. Cas stopped upon seeing this, and inevitably, a warm memory came to pass. 

Lily was holding his hand, pointing at the glowing star topper. Snowflakes tickled his face, and his younger self had squinted up at the tree that, in his young eyes, almost resembled Jack’s Beanstalk with multi-colored sprinkles. Everything was lovely, warm, and beautiful. It was all he’d ever known. 

They are like stars, Cas. A map that would always lead me to you. No matter how far apart we are, if you come to this tree, I promise I will always be able to find you. 

Even now, the scent of roasted chestnuts lingered. 

Cas waited at the centre, tightening his scarf around him. From here, he could see the rink a little farther away. Parents with children stumbled on the ice, chaos at the edges. A burst of hysterics among friends when two of their own fell rather unceremoniously, ice powder dusting their trousers. A rare assured few took to the centre, gliding with fluidity and grace. 

‘Cas!’ 

Erik was standing at a distance from the tree, his arm outstretched into a wave. His dark hair was restless in the frozen wind, his breaths a shadow of white in the air. From where Cas stood, those mischievous eyes were brighter than any star. 

In the glow of the myriad of Christmas lights, seconds stretched to infinity. There was only the abyss between them both, visitors around them receding into nothing but a dizzying blur of mittens and woollen coats and faded laughter. Cas stared. It was impossible to look away. 

‘There you are,’ Erik said. Cas’ scarf covered his mouth, and the kiss landed between his brows.

Cas knew he was blushing again, for Erik burst out laughing.

‘You’re not even hiding it anymore.’ 

Cas couldn’t help but huff, knowing Erik would find it even more amusing, ‘Are you ever going to stop teasing me?’

‘How can I resist, Casimir Blake, when it’s too much fun?’

Before Cas could respond, Erik took his hand and dragged him toward the markets.

It was crowded, the endless sea of bodies pressing them close together. Erik stopped by a stall selling an assortment of cookies. It was run by a friendly woman in her thirties, who smiled at the pair when they came. Erik purchased two gingerbread cookies, and passed one to Cas. From another stall selling delicious hot food, Cas bought them a few sausage rolls.

As they sat on a bench to eat, snow began to fall.