Raleigh had mentioned the get-together at the bakery before she'd left the house this morning and though Spencer isn't always keen on being anywhere that's crowded with people, he's certainly more than happy to be here. He's more careful than usual tonight, making sure that he avoids bodily contact as he snakes through the crowd that's gathered inside because his hip still stings from the tattoo he'd gotten as part of his gift to Joel. It says the word 'Real,' a partial quote from The Velveteen Rabbit that speaks volumes about his relationship with his husband and underneath that, the date they'd gotten married. He'd gone to Siren Cove Ink to seek out Adrian Smith's services, and the process had made him a bit queasy but it's all been worth it. He doesn't plan on unveiling it until tomorrow, of course, and it's been painstakingly difficult to hide it from Joel the past few days, but Spencer's more than a little pleased with himself.

His gifts for Raleigh have remained at home, too--a gift certificate to one of the local boutiques so she can get herself more clothes that she actually likes and aren't from his dead mother's boxes in the attic, a brand new set of baking tools from Williams-Sonoma for her to use at home, and a Kindle Paperwhite pre-loaded with titles that he and Joel had thought she might like--but he's arrived with a bottle of wine, though he's not even sure they're allowed to open it for consumption here, a genuine smile, and a horrifyingly ugly Christmas sweater--at Joel's insistence--as he makes his way through the bakery, keeping his eyes open for a familiar face.