Page 118 of My Secret Snowflake
The vendor is from Canada, and he’s happy to sell us a tree. He’s leaving soon so he can be home with his family. We agree on a skinny seven-foot tree. After he cuts three inches off the bottom and ties it all up, we balance the tree on top of the handlebars and the bike seat.
Sebastian wheels it down the street as I walk alongside. The snow is still coming down softly.
“I always love walking by the Christmas tree stands because it smells so good and makes me feel like celebrating the holidays,” I say.
Sebastian winks at me. “Then I hope the fact that I smell like tree sap will definitely lead to some celebrating when we get home.”
Thebalsamfirtreestands tall in the living room. Fatma meows as she explores the apartment. I hang her stocking—in the shape of a cat paw—on the cabinet where we’ve decided to hang the stockings, and then I follow Sebastian into his bedroom.Ourbedroom.
I like the way he’s decorated it. It has a very modern feel. The bed is a queen, in pale wood. Above it hangs a color photo of the ocean. A black-and-white photo of a street in London hangs above his dresser.
“My sister took that photo and gave it to me last Christmas,” he says.
“She’s cool. My siblings liked her as well,” I say.
Sebastian smirks. “Your brother was definitely friendlier this time.”
“Well, he was being protective initially, but he likes you.”
I open Sebastian’s closet.
“Hey, no peeking,” he says. “Are you looking for your presents?” He pulls me into a hug.
I kiss his cheek. “Do Ihavepresents?”
“Of course,” he says.
“When have you had time?” I ask.
“It helps to have a retired dad.”
“Your dad bought my Christmas present?” My eyebrows rise.
He nods.
“Well, that rules out lingerie,” I say.
Sebastian grimaces. “Definitely. Anyway, I like your cat pawprint underwear.” He scoops his shirts out of a drawer. “You can put your clothes here, for now.”
“That’s perfect,” I say. “I only brought a few things anyway, since we’re going back to my family’s house tomorrow when my sisters’ kids come over in the afternoon.”
I unpack one of my backpacks and put my clothes in the drawer and my toiletries in his bathroom.
“So is my present at your house?” Sebastian asks as we return to the living room. Fatma has curled up on Sebastian’s couch.
“You want a present?” I ask, pretending I don’t have one.
“I’m sure you didn’t have time to get one.” He pulls me into a hug. “You’re my best Christmas present.”
“I made you one. Plus, I bought these.” I pull out two stockings from my other backpack. One saysSebastian, and the other saysIris. “I thought I should give these to you tonight because maybe Santa will fill them. If you’ve been good.”
Sebastian hugs me. “Like I said earlier, I’ve been very good this year.”
We hang the stockings next to Fatma’s.
“By the way, what are we going to tell our kids about how Santa gets into the apartment? We don’t have a fire escape or a fireplace.”
My mouth opens. “Are you talking kids already?”
