Gethin got downstairs next morning to the fragrant aroma of cooking bacon and the sizzle of the frying pan, the hiss and roar of the kettle boiling.
'Thought I'd make us breakfast,' Blake said brightly from the kitchen. 'You need something hot inside you to start the day. Especially if you're going to be busy in the shop.'
'Thanks,' Gethin said, coming over to help. 'Never asked, in all the excitement last night, were you okay?'
'Oh, fine, fine... bit of a bump, wanted to hit the ground first so young Jeff would have a soft landing – very bony lad, isn't he? But like I say, heal quickly, no problems. There's some orange juice in the fridge, too, want to get it?'
'Is there?'
'Yes – I put it there yesterday.'
The formica-topped table was laid for two and Gethin wondered whether this meal was leading up to anything, although he had to admit it was a better way to start the morning than a bit of jammy toast or a bowl of cornflakes...
They ate and drank together companionably enough, although Gethin was waiting for the inevitable 'I say...' but it wasn't until they were nearly finished that Blake admitted there was something on his mind.
'It's Christmas Eve on Friday,' the angel observed in his usual innocent, mild tone. 'And I thought it would be nice to have a party...'
'Yes, it would. Except shop is open until five, as usual, so there wouldn't be long to get ready for it, or shop for it, or clean for it, and who do you want to ask to a party anyway?'
'Oh... Steph... Craig and his mum... Ray and Reggie...'
'Who?'
'Gerbil-minders.'
'Ah. And everyone else you need to apologise to, I suppose, yes?'
'Yes,' Blake said. 'All the owners of all the sofas I used before you took me in.'
'And you'll invite Jeff too, of course. He introduced us.'
'You know, I'm not really sure about Jeff. I mean, he's a sweet person and all that, but he's a bit young, isn't he?'
'And Craig isn't?'
'Not if he's with his mum.'
'Ask Jeff's mum too, then.'
'Can I? Can I really? So we can do it, we can have a party?'
'Oh, fuck, what have I let myself in for? If they spill red wine on the carpets...'
'I just won't buy red wine, then.'
'I still don't know what's wrong with Jeff coming...?'
'He's very... very flirty, I've noticed. And the other night, after the meeting, he was very clingy... he's probably not over the shock of nearly being run down yet...'
'Well, it might be better to wait until just after Christmas, anyway. Shop's closed Monday, I'm going to open later – from ten instead of nine – in the week to New Year, so if I have one late night it won't kill me. And people will find it easier to get about, too. But don't be upset if Craig and his mum can't make it, they might still have things to sort out...'
'But wouldn't it be perfect? His mum can see how nice your friends are and it would reassure her...'
'Oh, I can ask my friends too, can I? Kind of you. But that's why asking Jeff would be a good idea; he's happy, and more-or-less together, he's young enough for Craig and his mum to identify with... No, I don't mind, I like a good party.'
'Could we do fancy dress...? I've heard a lot about it, I think it would be fun to actually see one...'
Gethin grinned. 'Good idea. Shall we theme it? Let me see... angels and demons? You can get your wings out then...'
'Lovely thought, but better not. Even mentioning the other side is considered bad form...'
Really...?
'Okay, then. Any ideas?'
'Do you think we could have something to do with the Nativity? It would be in keeping with the season, not too difficult to organise some of the costumes, at least...'
'Shepherds and kings and angels, yes, shouldn't be too hard. Though where we'll find a virgin from round here... and don't expect everyone to take it seriously, religiously, okay?'
Blake grinned. 'You do mean it, don't you? You do know it'll break my heart if now you say you were joking...'
'Wouldn't dream of it, no sense of humour, that's me. So they tell me.'
'I'll come as a shepherd, I think...'
Gethin laughed. 'With those bloody gorgeous wings of yours?'
'Well, it wouldn't be fancy dress if I came as I am...'
'True. And you might get into bother if anyone found out. All right, I'll come as an angel, if you like. You can be technical advisor.' He couldn't help smiling at Blake's expression of delight. 'You're doing everything, mind, all the organising, and the washing up after.'
'Yes, yes, anything!'
'More the sort of gaiety you thought you'd be helping with, yes?'
'Well, maybe. Not that I mind, especially not now I know...'
'Time for work,' Gethin said, pushing away his plate. 'Thanks for breakfast, really, thanks.'
'Thank you for the party.'
'As long as...'
'...I clear up afterwards. I say, Gethin?'
'What?'
'Well, if we're having a party, and it's over Christmas, don't you think people will expect to see a Christmas tree?'
Gethin hid a grin.
'They can look in the shop window, then, can't they, on the way in?'
Busy again, which was good, and bad, in the shop, Blake appearing and disappearing at odd intervals, dragging Steph off up to the flat ('Gethin said I could ask you to help with my Christmas display and you don't officially start for half an hour yet, do you, Steph...?'), reappearing with coffee and biscuits at half ten ('Just popping out to the shops to get something for lunch and look at things for the party...') and returning with bags suspended all along his arms an hour later ('Let me take these up to the flat, then I'll be down to help...') and generally making the morning seem a lot more pleasant with the distractions of his antics.
'Thanks for helping him, Steph,' Gethin said quietly after the angel had disappeared singing 'Rocking around the Christmas Tree, Well, I Would If We Had One...'
'Mad, your friend,' Steph said, shaking her head and grinning. 'Bonkers. Good laugh, mind.'
She gave Gethin a sideways look. 'Got his heart set on a Christmas tree.'
'No idea why,' Gethin said. 'It's just another socio-normative imposition masquerading as tradition to make us spend money on non-essentials when there are people starving on the streets...'
'Well, I might have been one of them, but for your Jonathan helping me out. And a bit of sparkle can make you feel better, I don't know why it matters to him either, he's your friend.' She thought for a moment. 'Actually, he's my friend too, when you think about it. So why can't our friend have a Christmas tree?'
'Because he's already got a Christmas display and there's a tree in the shop window.'
'Oh, oh, I see, makes perfect sense, that does. He won't give up, you know.'
Gethin sighed.
'I know. Listen, would you like a few extra hours on Christmas Eve? In the afternoon, it usually slows down around half two, I could do with a bit of time to nip out. That's if you think you could manage for an hour on your own, or with Blake helping?'
'Er... yeah, yes, sure.' She paused for a minute. 'Thanks, Gethin. For letting Jonathan ask me for Christmas dinner. It's going to be awful in the hostel, and...'
'Um... you're welcome, Steph...'
'You did you know Blake asked me for Christmas dinner ?'
Gethin hadn't even known they were going to do Christmas dinner, never mind have guests...
'Of course,' he said, too quickly. 'Looking forward to it.'
'So you didn't know?' Steph stifled a sigh. 'Sorry, I think he was just trying to be nice. It doesn't matter, I...'
'Look, if you'd said you'd no plans, I'd have asked you myself anyway,' he said, which he hoped was right. 'You're welcome, really. Just make sure Blake knows what you can eat and what you don't like.'
For the rest of the day Gethin kept his thoughts to himself, trying not to mind, because, really, Blake was just being Blake, but helping people was one thing and forgetting he was a guest was another, and there were other things to think about, such as a shop full of customers, so it wasn't until after Steph was gone and the Closed sign was up that he tackled his houseguest.
'Blake, can I have a word?' he said, heading for to the back room which was sort of neutral ground. 'Come through.'
'Yes, of course... ah, oh my, what have I done? I've done something, haven't I? Was it that man I thought was a lady, did he complain? Because I really thought I was helping, and...'
'No, it wasn't Bernice, I think you were a hit, actually. No, it's about Steph...'
'Steph? Steph is a lady, not that she'd thank me for saying it, very graceful...'
And now it came to it, Gethin felt awful mentioning it, bringing it up at all, but...
'I didn't know there was going to be a Christmas dinner. And I didn't know you'd asked her. She thanked me. Bit awkward.'
'Oh, my, I'm sure it must have been... well, I'm planning on doing everything so don't you worry about a thing...'
'I'm not worried, exactly...'
'Oh, that's a relief!'
'More surprised. Wasn't going to bother; it's always seemed a waste, to me, overindulging while people starve...'
'That's why I invited Steph, she won't have anywhere else to go. Her hostel only does breakfast at Christmas. So you see, it wouldn't be a waste, it would be helping Steph to have a proper meal.'
'Helping Steph?'
'Yes, that's it... should I have asked first? I never thought about asking first, only she was helping with my display, and went a bit quiet, and you know Steph well enough by now to know quiet either means she's planning something terrible or she's upset... and I got a bit carried away by all the tinsel, making me feel a bit fuzzy and things, and so I asked her to come to us for Christmas.'
'Right. Okay, I suppose. I already told her it was all right...'
'Oh, thank you, Gethin!'
'But you got to think a bit more – how's she going to get here, no buses? How's she going to get home after? I don't suppose you'll be dropping her off, so to speak, will you?'
'I... er, no, no. Taxis, I've got an expense fund, I'll pay taxis for her.' Blake visibly gulped, his brown eyes anxious. 'Is that okay? Are... are you okay about this? Haven't messed up again, have I?'
Was he being too hard on Blake? Suddenly, it felt like it. It felt like he was parent to the oldest teenager in the world... Gethin shook his head.
'Sorry, Blake. No, it's all right, I'm just a bit stressed, didn't mean to take it out on you, sorry. That's fine, do whatever you think you need to do. Only try and tell me first next time.'
'I will, Gethin, I promise. I say, Gethin?'
What now, what the fuck now?
'Yes, Blake?'
The angel paused for a moment, his eyes innocent, his mouth twitching.
'I think I need to do a Christmas tree in the flat, I...' he broke off, unable to keep his face serious.
Gethin burst out laughing and Blake shrugged.
'Well, it was worth a try. Come on, you need a sit down and a nice cup of tea, then I'll make supper, how does that sound?'
'Sounds like we're friends again.'
'Yes, friends. We weren't not-friends, though. Just... you were explaining human stuff to me; I sometimes don't get it.'
The Lesbians Aloud Choral Singers' extra rehearsal was scheduled for seven and they began arriving from around quarter to. Gethin had the room prepped, the biscuits replenished, and Blake was hovering near the piano as they came in and began taking off coats and gloves.
'I say,' he began. 'Don't suppose you need someone to play for you tonight, ladies?'
Gethin waited for the outraged we-can-manage which usually followed his offers of assistance, but to his surprise, the lead soprano nodded.
'That'd be nice, ta.'
'Lovely! Oh, do you know this one...?'
Blake seated himself at the upright and played up and down the scales before launching into Der Tannenbaum and joining in with the lyrics in a rich tenor as Gethin made himself scarce, grinning.
'O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches...'
The song followed Gethin up to the flat. It didn't quite drown out the television, but the words kept going round his head, insinuating their way into his mind, bringing guilt along with it. This was silly, his flat, his rules, he was doing Blake the favour, after all... the angel had his own display in his own room, didn't he? And a proper Christmas dinner, a party a few days after? What more was Gethin supposed to do? Could he not make a stand over one little thing of his own?
He determined to put it out of his mind and not let it get in the way of his friendship with Blake as he went back down to wave the choral society off and lock up after them. Blake was already busy with the washing up and he found a tea towel and began drying the cups.
'They were nice,' Blake said. 'Very singy.'
Gethin grinned.
'Yes, choral society, they tend to be. Didn't invite them to the party, did you?'
'No, I... should I have?'
'Probably not. I was joking.'
'It's hard for me, you know,' Blake said. 'I'm not complaining, it's just, I'm not used to it. People saying what they don't mean. And then saying what they do as if they don't, it's very confusing. Roscoe said I'd get the hang of it, but sometimes I don't always. And then I have this little niggling thing in my head saying, this is something you have to do, help this person, do this, be here, go there...' He washed the last plate, emptied the bowl, watched the water drain. 'And I'm not looking for sympathy, no, just saying... apologising, really...'
'You don't have to,' Gethin said. 'Apologise, that is. I know you're... different, I just... you look so bloody human, you fit in so well, I forget.'
'Really?'
'Really. Now leave that, come on, think we deserve a drink after that.'
Gethin found a couple of bottles of lager in the fridge and settled down to watch the news on TV, Blake sharing the sofa in friendly companionship. An item came on, an appeal from one of the animal charities about responsible pet ownership and finishing with the tagline 'A Dog is For Life Not Just For Christmas.'
'Gethin...'
Gethin took a good pull at his lager so he didn't sigh.
'We can't have a puppy, if that's what you're thinking.'
'Oh, no, hadn't occurred to me, actually. Why, would you like a puppy?'
'No, thank you.'
'Because, really, you'd be better off with a Christmas tree, they are just for Christmas. And the early New Year, branching across the old and the new years and... why are you laughing?'
