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“Follow him,” Zane said.
Clary nodded. “I cooked, so I’m not going to clean up.”
Aldric groaned.
Seth got up and took Clary’s hand. “I paid for the food.”
Aldric looked from Oliver to Zane. “Let’s play a game.”
Seth shook his head and dragged Clary away. “Are those presents really for them?” he asked as they passed the monstrosity of a Christmas tree they’d created.
Another of Aldric’s games had led to a tree cluttered with multi-colored decorations. Aldric and Elton had made it a point to gather the biggest, same-colored baubles all in one section. Zane hung whatever Oliver asked him to. Seth, Oliver, Clary, and Andrea tried to save the tree, but after a while they kind of just gave up and hung things randomly.
Now, boxes wrapped in shimmering red, green, and silver festive wrapping paper took up all the space under and around the tree.
“Yes. You get more presents than they do.”
He grinned. Why did that feel so good?
It shouldn’t. He’d always tried to be fair to all his brothers, because being unfair was how Holly tried to tear them apart. He’d divided their building into apartments of the exact same size and floor plan. He’d shared his money with them equally.
But with Clary, Seth was really enjoying being prioritized.
“It’s all frivolous presents. Nothing useful.”
Seth snapped his head over to Clary. “What did you get for Oliver?”
“A game,” she said. “That he can play on Zane’s TV.”
Oliver had insisted that they bring the TV with them, so it was now sitting on the floor in their room. But while the rooms were spacious, with two of them in one room …
“He’s going to convince you to put the TV in the living room so he can play on it.”
Clary’s gaze scanned the living room as they headed up the stairs. Then she stopped walking and stared.
“You don’t have to.”
She jumped, then dropped her gaze to her feet as if she hadn’t realized she’d stopped halfway up the stairs. “I’m sorry. It’s just … I spent quite a bit of time here with Mrs. E.” Her chest rose as her eyes teared up. “She was the one who started the tradition of buying gifts for children in orphanages. We kept doing it even after she passed, just to honor her.” She cracked a smile as she turned to him. “I shouldn’t have kept that a secret. If you don’t—”
“It doesn’t matter to me.” How could it?
Judging by what Edward Eolenfeld had said about his wife and Clary, it was clear they’d had a fantastic relationship. Clary might have been May Eolenfeld’s angel, but in turn, Clary had grown up with all that favor and love. Clary was protected and well taken care of, even when she lost her parents.
He’d find a chance to tell Oliver not to try to get Clary to change anything in the mansion. Aldric, too.
Clary and Seth continued up the next few steps in silence.
Glancing over, he realized that despite all his worrying about his brothers being under an Eolenfeld roof, he’d forgotten about Clary. “It’s tough for you to be here too.”
She blinked and shook her head. “I don’t think about it all the time.” Her throat bobbed. “But sometimes, I’ll remember something we did together, and it just …” Her eyes grew wet again, and she dropped her face forward. “I’m sorry,” she said and dabbed her knuckle against the corner of her eye.
Seth stopped at the top of the stairs and pulled her into his arms. He wasn’t sure what else he could say or do. “Let’s find another place to move into.”
She shook her head. “No. This is fine.”
He leaned back so he could have a good look at her face. “It’s difficult for you.”
“But I love it here, too. She’d love for me to enjoy this place.”
