White Roses

June

In June Dean stopped in for his mother's birthday, and Cas put together a large rose bouquet for her. In July he stopped in...just because. Cas liked that Dean was thoughtful and sweet. In August he stopped in because the girlfriend got a promotion at work. He seemed tired, less bubbly, but Cas got him engaged in pleasant conversation as he put together an arrangement.

Dean didn't stop in during September or October. In November he came in for a Thanksgiving Day arrangement for his mother. He seemed drained and somewhat upset. Cas wanted to ask how he was doing, but he didn't want to pry.

In December, Dean stopped in again. He seemed a little happier, and Cas was glad for that. They weren't exactly friends, but Dean was definitely one of his more regular customers. He liked having the chance to chat with the man, even if it was only as long as it took to put together an arrangement. So what if maybe he took his time when Dean came in? This time Dean wanted a centerpiece for the dinner table at his girlfriend's house. Cas had learned several months back that her name was Lisa and that she was now a vice principal at the elementary school. Dean followed him as he put together a winter themed arrangement, complete with sprigs of juniper and holly.

"You have Christmas plans? I'm sorry if you're Jewish, I don't know, guess that never came up?" Dean scratched nervously at the back of his neck as he watched Cas decorate a silver sleigh.

"No, not Jewish. I usually just go spend it with my parents and my brother and sister and their families," Cas replied.

"You're not married? No beautiful wife?" Dean smiled nervously. Cas found it endearing.

"No, and I don't plan to ever have one," he said with a smile.

"Not the marrying type?" Dean wondered.

"Not straight," Cas corrected. Dean blushed.

"Oh, then yeah, I guess a wife wouldn't work," he said with a chuckle.

"No, it really wouldn't," Cas laughed softly.

"This is my first girlfriend in two years. It's not going as well as I thought it would. Everything I do makes her mad, from how I talk to how I breathe, to my jokes. She complains about how I dress, and it pisses her off that I can cook. Like who gets mad that their boyfriend can cook? I'd be thrilled. She thinks I'm a bad influence on her son too because I watch football on my days off, and she gets mad when I take time to take her son to the park to play. Like I'm showing her up or something. The kid gets bored, so I take him out to have some fun. It's not a contest; I like the kid and am trying to include him." Dean shook his head sadly. "It wasn't like that with my last boyfriend. He wasn't like that."

Cas looked up in surprise but Dean was standing looking at a cooler full of roses, his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his jeans. He turned his attention back to the arrangement he was making.

"A healthy relationship shouldn't have one person putting the other down. That's a big reason why I'm currently single. My last boyfriend, we were together three years, and he was terribly verbally abusive almost the entire time. I finally had to leave, for the sake of my own sanity. That and he was cheating. I don't condone cheating."

"I don't know what I should do."

Cas stuck the last sprig of holly into the arrangement.

"Well, it's actually simpler than you might think."

Dean turned to look at him. "How do you mean?"

Cas turned to face him. "Do you love her?"

Dean didn't answer right away. "I...try. She makes it really hard."

"If you can't answer immediately with a yes, then perhaps it is not the kind of relationship that you should be in, especially not one that has lasted nearly a year," Cas said. Dean frowned.

"Yeah..."

"I don't envy your decision. I've been there." Cas held out the sleigh. It really was a masterpiece, one of his best yet. Dean smiled, but there was sadness in his eyes.

"It's beautiful. You really work magic with flowers."

"Thank you, Dean." Cas preened a little at the compliment.

"Well, I suppose I better go drop this off. She's having a dinner party tomorrow night." Dean accepted the sleigh and they went back out front to the register.

"Well, enjoy the party, and have a wonderful Christmas." Cas told him as he rang the order up.

"Thanks. And you too, have fun with your family." Dean watched as Cas slid the arrangement into a box for him.

"Merry Christmas, Dean."

"You too, Cas."