Epilogue | Stodax

Epilogue

Stodax

I pull the tray out of the fridge as the timer sounds. It is yet another year of log cake baking.

"Welcome! What can I get you?" Zoe is energetic as always. At the cash register, she's working hard too.

I take a breath, enjoying the sweet scent of freshly baked bread. The tray of bread is waiting to the side until it cools a tiny bit more. I check the log cakes, making sure they look as perfect as when I put them into the fridge.

The log cakes... look like logs, so we're good to go.

Time flies, but Zoe and I remain in the bakery, putting in work every day, and making all the customers happy.

I take the tray of cakes, moving my way to the display next to the cash register. As soon as I step out of the kitchen, the Christmas music punches me.

I'm learning to enjoy the holiday.

Still learning.

A few customers look at me, more accurately, at the cakes in my hands. Zoe comes over to open the display door for me, so I can slide everything in without having to come out more times than I must.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at the silly Santa's hat Zoe made me wear. It's not that bad, probably.

Even though I don't enjoy Christmas, I can always enjoy Zoe in the silly red clothes.

I poke the fluffy white ball on her hat. She chuckles. "Don't be silly. I'm serving customers."

I want her for myself, but that has to wait. "I'm getting the bread out next."

"Sure, I'll get the display ready for you." She turns around to serve another customer, all with a smile on her face.

Inside the kitchen, it feels like I can stare at her harder without getting caught. She is a smaller being compared to me, but she has a way to move swiftly. I love watching her dance around in the bakery.

The snowstorm that led to us being mates was over the next day. We managed most of the estimated Christmas sales, so everything worked out well. Since then, everything's even more like a dream.

But Zoe's real. She's staying in my life.

The days aren't that long anymore when I have something to look forward to, but this year's Christmas is another thing. I'm not sure whether I should look forward to what's to come this evening.

"Yes, you'll have to pick up your order before five. We'll be closing earlier this year. ... Yes, we're sorry for the inconvenience, but that's the arrangement for the holiday this year. ... Yes, we'll have your cake ready when you arrive. Be sure to follow our account for updates with business hours and special offers!" Zoe is seemingly still joyful despite the customers being pretty dumb at times.

Maybe that's why I'm not trusted with the cash register. I'd drive all the customers away.

"Stodax! Are you coming with the bread?"

"Right! Almost there!"

It's all her fault. She's always the distraction.

I lift the tray of bread, heading to the storefront again, bracing for the music along the way. A few regular smile at me. I hope it means they like seeing me around.

At times, I still struggle to figure it out, but Zoe's there and she always knows.

She, my mate, knows me well, too.

* * *

When the day is finally over, we finally have the time to sit and stare at the Christmas tree together. I wrap my arm across Zoe's back, keeping my Christmas gift close by. She leans onto me, letting out a breath. "Finally... But the day is far from over."

"Are you ready?"

"No."

"Oh..."

"But we're doing it, regardless." She pats my hand, but I'm not letting go of her just yet.

"I don't know how to feel about it." I spread my hands. "Look, I'm not a human."

"And?"

"Do you think they will like me?"

She huffs and rolls her eyes. "Who cares whether they like you or not?"

"But they are your family."

"Come on, you're my mate, not their mate, so who cares when I love you?"

She makes me happy all the time. There's a pool of warmth in my stomach. Humans can't give electrical sparks, but she sends tingles to my horns all the time. "Thank you."

"Don't worry. You don't need to try to be someone else. You're perfect the way you are. If they are rude to you, we'll just leave."

"But you miss your family too, right? You said it has been years."

"Years since I went to visit in person, yes. But we've been in contact, so it isn't that bad."

I nod. It gets me nervous regardless.

She pats my thigh. "You're going to be fine. We have nice food over there. You're going to like that. Last year, and the previous ones, I was too busy to put out the right food, but this time around, you won't be missing out at all.

I hope. I like food. Since meeting her, food has a different meaning than the mere things to put into my mouth, so I don't die. Everything's better with her.

* * *