“That’s a lot of Christmas.”
Alina nodded. “She used to decorate the entire apartment,” she said, gesturing at the space around them.
“This apartment?”
She nodded. “You didn’t know I grew up here?”
“I had no idea.” He leaned forward and retrieved one of the red glass ornaments and affixed a hook to it. “Did you ever want to move away?”
“I thought about running away after my father remarried. I wanted to be anywhere but here.”
“You and your stepmother never got along?”
“We did, in the beginning. But looking back now, I think it was a show to impress my father so he’d think it was all right to remarry. But once she had that ring on her finger, things changed. There were rules for me and extravagances for my stepsisters. She claimed I was spoiled and unruly. But I wasn’t. She lied.” Alina pressed her lips together, realizing she shouldn’t have said all of that.
“She was jealous of you?”
“I don’t know. I can deal with a lot of things, just not lying. Why do people have to lie?”
“She wasn’t the only one that lied to you, was she?”
Alina shook her head. She’d said too much. This was a subject she never discussed. It was easier just to keep it to herself.
“When my father had a heart attack and passed away, I’d just turned eighteen. I inherited the apartment. My stepmother was furious and took me to court, but it was ruled that the apartment and the rent control lease were rightfully and legally mine. I was hoping it would be the last I saw of that woman and her daughters, but she used the life insurance money to move into a larger apartment in the building.”
Graham reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m sorry you went through all of that. I’m sure you were a great kid.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because I see how you are with people you care about. You go out of your way for them, from baking cookies to fighting on their behalf to save their homes. It takes a very special person to do those things. Not to mention sharing your Christmas traditions with someone you consider the enemy.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. “I never said you were the enemy.”
“But you thought it. And I understand because if I was in your place, I’d feel the same way. But with all you’ve been through, did you ever consider moving?”
“I can’t afford an apartment in the city without the rent control and I like my neighbors. They’re like family. Considering I have none of my own, I need them. And I know they need me, too—especially some of the older residents who don’t have family or their families have busy schedules and don’t visit very often.”
“You try to fill in the gaps. And that’s why you don’t complain when their faucets leak more than is normal.”
“Something like that.”
She never talked about this stuff with anyone. It was too personal, too painful. But she knew for Graham to understand the significance of the Stirling, she would have to bare her soul, no matter how much it hurt to pull back the scabs on her past.
* * *
They’d trimmed the tree.
And by the time they’d finished, it felt as though a bond had grown between them. They were no longer strangers. They were friends.
Graham found comfort in the thought of Alina being his friend. But in the next breath, he had to wonder if friendship was the right terminology. Because he’d never longed to kiss any of his friends.
There was something about being close to Alina. They didn’t even have to be touching for him to feel her draw. It was like she was the sun and he’d been pulled into her orbit, soaking up the rays of her smile.
But he knew that none of this was going to last. It was all an illusion created by their temporary closeness and the magic of the holidays. Once Christmas passed, he’d be back in his sterile and cold apartment. And Alina would never want to see him after he tore down the Stirling. So it was best not to let himself get drawn in.
Graham paused to look up at the tree. In his hand he held a white, glittery glass ornament. And for the life of him, he couldn’t find a spot to hang it. The tree was covered with lights, ribbon and ornaments.
He wanted to say it was overdone, maybe even gaudy, but he couldn’t say any of those things. There was a method to Alina’s madness and, in the end, the tree looked amazing. It sparkled and shined like fine jewelry.