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The way they’ve been raised is so different. Elisha doesn’t know what to say, except that, yeah, he’s right. The Hollinses might be capable of change, but for that, Karl and Adeline have to actually want it. And maybe Ves is right that this is the way they’ll always be. It’s sad, sure, but it’s naïve of anyone to think that they can meddle and magically fix things just because they selfishly want to try.
“Sorry you asked?” Ves asks.
“A little,” she admits. “Mostly I just... is it okay to say that I hate your parents? Or strongly dislike, if that’s too harsh a word.”
“I don’t particularly like them, either, so.” He shrugs. “Go for it.”
She waits for him to follow it up with something like I don’t like them, but I love them, but he doesn’t. “So, what would you be doing right now if you weren’t here?” she asks. He still hasn’t let go of her hand in his lap, so she wraps her other arm around his shoulder and into his hair, teasing the fine strands at his nape, enjoying the feel of his soft blond hair against the pads of her fingers.
“Right now? This time of year, I’d be... hmm.” His voice goes a little sleepy, and she likes to think it’s from her tenderly stroking his neck instead of nostalgia for his city routine. “I’d have a full belly from Katz’s Delicatessen. Walking it off. Probably stopping at my favorite street vendor for hot chocolate. Maybe a museum or a bookshop. See a show later. I watch The Nutcracker every year.”
The things he’s mentioning sound nice, and she’s not one to knock anyone’s traditions, but...
“Do you put up a tree?” she asks.
“We have one in the lobby of my building.”
She’s bemused. “But that’s not the same as your own tree.”
“I don’t think a lot of New Yorkers go around cutting down ten-foot-tall evergreens. Especially not ones who don’t have an elevator.”
“Okay, as admittedly charming as it looks in movies, I don’t like using real trees.” Ves instantly gives her a disbelieving look. “Hear me out! I know it may seem counterintuitive because they’re plastic, but they can be reused year after year. Sustainable! And real trees drop sap and needles, so mess. And people are so picky about height and bald patches that so many trees just get chopped down into mulch after Christmas Day.” She makes a face. “Think about all the small woodland creatures who make their home in those trees.”
“You’re a regular Snow White, aren’t you?”
“No. I don’t like birds. They’re creepy. Same goes for squirrels.”
He laughs out loud.
“Would you maybe want to put up a tree here? And decorations? I’m sure Damian won’t mind a bit more cheer; in fact, he’ll probably want to get a feel for the place while he’s here. I think there’s a box around here somewhere with all Maeve’s holiday stuff.” She definitely remembers sweeping out all the autumn stuff from the hutch in the kitchen.
“Uh, you do remember we’re cleaning the mess out, not putting it back in, right?”
“Ves!” She pulls her hand free from his to lightly swat his thigh. “Decorations are not mess.”
He reclaims her hand. “Politely disagree.”
“Okay, forget all the bric-a-brac and the Santa cushions and the little LED Christmas houses. What about just a tree? We can keep it simple. Lights, ornaments, tinsel, nothing over the top. Like your wreath! Super tasteful! Come on, don’t tell me you’re not a little excited? We can do it however you want!”
“Our traditions... weren’t like that. My mom hired someone to decorate. Christmas was always a ‘look, don’t touch’ holiday in our house. I’ve never decorated for the holidays before.”
Her energy goes down a notch. She gets the feeling he never put out cookies and milk on Christmas Eve, either. Karl and Adeline don’t sound like the kind of people who would humor their son that way. “I’ll be your first,” she says with a wink, trying to get the levity back. “I promise I’ll be gentle.”
“I’ll only have to take it down again before I leave. Or maybe Damian will want to decorate the inside to match the original movie. It’s pointless effort.”
“I’ll help put it up and take it down!” A wily thought pops into her mind. “Plus, it’ll look great in pictures when you put the house up for sale! Really charming and inviting. One of the other houses down the street had multiple offers last year because of how cozy it looked. The couple wanted to move in right away because they could see themselves raising a family here. And we—you—get to enjoy it in the meantime.”
A slow frown spreads over his face. “Multiple offers during Christmas? But Solana said—” He breaks off, furrows deepening.
She blinks at him. Is that so surprising? It’s a desirable area to live, after all, and proximity to the Christmas House has only increased house values.
Before he can say another word, she plows on. “I’ll make us a pot of Maeve’s hot chocolate and whip up a big batch of popcorn. Salty and buttery, mmmmm. Oh, and I bet Sleighbells is on TV!” In fact, she knows it is. “We can make you your own traditions.”
He looks into her eyes. “You said we. So they’re our traditions.”
“Well—” She hesitates, then agrees. “You’re right. Our traditions.”
She tries not to think about the fact that they’re not really traditions if he won’t be here next December.
