“He said something about volunteers and mulled wine.” Oliver pointed down the aisle in the direction Seb and Martin had gone.
“Right.” Jess stood on her toes to kiss Brian’s cheek. “I’m going to go find him. You take your time.”
“How have you been?” Brian asked Nick, once Jess had disappeared into the crowd.
Nick blew out a breath and glanced at Oliver, who tried to give him a reassuring smile while also not looking like he was eavesdropping, which he totally was. He busied himself rearranging the tree so the gaps left by the newly departed snowmen weren’t too obvious.
“Pretty good,” Nick said.
“Night shifts are quiet without you.”
Oliver’s chest hurt as the silence between the two men grew. Nick had left the department at the beginning of November. It had taken a lot of late-night talks before he admitted duty kept him at the dispatch desk and not love. Coaching him through turning in his resignation had been one of the most satisfying things Oliver had ever done, except for watching the gleam in his eye as they signed the lease papers on a storefront, right next door to Seb’s gallery.
Brian glanced around the booth. “This looks... “ His eyes settled on Oliver, who gave up any pretense of not listening, and Brian smiled. “This all looks really good. I’m happy for you.”
Nick clapped his friend on the back, following his eyeline. “Yeah, it’s pretty good. I think I have you to thank for it.”
Nick was selling himself short, but Oliver was feeling the holiday spirit, so he let it slide. “We’re having a demo party on New Year’s Day,” he said instead. “You and Jess should come. We want to get moved in before the spring.”
Brian grinned. “I do love a sledgehammer. I’ll be there. Not sure about Jess, though. The doctor said she’s not supposed to do any heavy lifting until the babies arrive next summer.”
Nick’s eyes widened. “Babies?”
Brian’s grin turned sly. “Twins.”
“Babies!” Nick turned to Oliver, clasping his hands tightly. “We’re going to be uncles!”
Oliver laughed. “How do you figure that?”
“Well, Brian is Martin’s brother. And Seb and Martin are together. And Seb’s your brother. So . . .” He frowned, trying to do that math.
Brian laughed. “You two will definitely be uncles.”
Nick beamed and blinked rapidly to hide tears Oliver was pretty sure he wasn’t meant to see. “That’s—that’s amazing, Brian. I’m really happy for you.”
When Brian left to catch up with Jess, Oliver slid a hand around Nick’s waist and kissed him softly at the temple. “Uncle Nick.”
Nick blushed and hunched into his jacket.
“And see,” Oliver said, “you sold three snowmen already!”
Nick’s eyes widened. “Oh shit! They’re friends! And they’re having a baby...er...babies. I shouldn’t have charged them. That wasn’t right! It doesn’t count if you sell them to friends.”
Convincing Nick to try selling some of his creations, instead of letting them build up in the basement, had been the hardest part of all. He’d resisted, deflected, procrastinated, and every other thing he could think of in order to avoid it. When Oliver hadn’t relented, he’d offered selling them online.
“No,” Oliver had said. “Part of this is getting you back out in the community. You’ve spent all this time being a part of it but not.”
“I’ve been busy,” Nick grumbled.
“I’m not denying that. But it’s different now. I’m here. I’ll help you do it. I won’t let you fail.”
Nick didn’t relax until well into the first hour of the Christmas market, even though a number of townspeople stopped to admire his ornaments. Many bought at least one, and a few stuck around to chat about what else Nick could make while Oliver helped the remaining shoppers.
Picture perfect. The night was clear, bright stars competing with the twinkling lights Martin’s volunteers hung for the weekend. Carolers roamed the market. Across the crowded aisle, Oliver spotted Avery, his red hair shining under the glow overhead. For a split second, his eyes met Oliver’s. He gave him a tentative smile, and Oliver returned it, along with an only slightly more confident wave. Avery’s grin widened, but then an older woman with strawberry blond hair said something to him, and he glanced away before they disappeared into the crowd.
“I saw plans online for a Shaker-style dresser,” Nick said, drawing Oliver’s attention back as well.
“Oh yeah?” He tried not to pounce on the comment. When he’d proposed opening a showroom for Nick’s furniture, Nick balked. Hard. But when Oliver took him to see the vacant shop one Sunday morning after brunch with Seb and Martin, and Oliver explained his vision for the hundredth time, Nick started to throw in ideas. Furniture he could make. Small historical details from the town that could be added to the store for authenticity. His eyes were full of an enthusiasm Oliver didn’t get to see very often.
