Winter arrangements of green holly, red berries, and white roses overflow from vases scattered around the room. Candles flicker from every flat surface, guarded by finely painted Nutcrackers, each one a work of art.
But the real centerpiece, the thing that makes me gasp, is the twenty-foot tree in the middle of the room. It’s full and lush and a verdant green, stretching so high it almost skims the vaulted ceiling. What looks like tens of thousands of lights glimmer from within the branches, refracted across the most elegant array of ornaments I’ve ever seen.
I have to tip my head almost entirely back to see the star perched at the very top, tears blurring my vision as the beauty of the room overwhelms me.
“Oh,Alik… It’s…” I pause. Alik stays silent behind me as I search for the right words. “They’re the most beautiful decorations I’ve ever seen.”
He wraps his arms around my stomach, hugs me close. “You like it?”
“Iloveit. But—it’s March, not December. What’s it all doing here?”
“It’s for you,moya voitelnitsa. Your family took Christmas from you this year. I’m just giving it back.”
I can’t stop the tears from slipping down my cheeks, saltwater splattering across my white cashmere sweater. “I love Christmas. It sounds silly, given everything else that’s happened, but I did miss it this year. When you told me how long I’d been in Rocco’s basement, I was gutted to realize that Christmas had come and gone.”
“It’s not silly,” Alik says. “It’s natural to miss something that you love, no matter the circumstances. Especially if it’s something that gives you joy when there’s not a lot of it around.”
I grip his arms where they’re banded around my midsection. “But, how did you know?”
I feel his chest as it rumbles with laughter. “I might’ve eavesdropped a little, heard you watch some holiday romance movies back when we were in the apartment.”
I twist in his arms, wearing an expression of mock anger. “You spy!”
He brushes a kiss across my lips. “I’ve been called worse things,moya voitelnitsa.”
Delight warms my face. I can’t help but giggle. “Probably by me.”
“Definitely by you,” he says, expression adoring. “Now, before you start to remember all of the horrible things you’ve called me in the past, it’s time for the best part.”
“What could be better than this?”
Alik’s smile is wide and bright and brilliant. “Well…what’s Christmas without presents?”
“You didn’t!?”
He points to two packages under the tree. They are small and shiny and as we get closer, I see the wrapping is an absolute mess. He picks up the first one, places it in my palm. He looks genuinely bashful when I touch the ragged edge of wrapping paper. “I’m good at many things,moya voitelnitsa,” he mumbles. “Turns out wrapping gifts isn’t one of them.”
I grin at him, giving the box a little shake. “Which is perfect, because now I don’t feel bad about ripping the paper.” Gold scraps fall as I reveal a flat, rectangular box. Inside is a small rectangular card with a name printed on it. I look at Alik in confusion.
“She’s a good friend,” he explains. “And she’s excellent at removing tattoos.” He kisses my forehead, my neck, the spot on my chest hidden behind my sweater. “It’s time, Sera. You survived hell and came out the other side. Those monsters can’ttouch you anymore. Claim your victory. Have that tattoo removed.”
Tears sting the back of my eyes. I press my hand to Alik’s cheek. “Yes, you’re right. I’m ready to put that part of my life behind me. Let’s go tomorrow. Tonight, even. The sooner the better.”
Alik’s soft smile falters, his eyes drifting to the other gift. “Maybe not tonight…”
I look at the second box, my curiosity sky high. “Why? What is it?” I’m practically bouncing on my toes. “What’s inside?”
“You’ll just have to open it and see.” Alik hands me the gift, tense energy radiating off him.
I glance between him and the package, excitement exploding into nervous anticipation when the paper comes away to reveal an iconic, regal red box with delicate gold garland scalloped along the border.
When I don’t immediately move to open the lid, Alik pushes the tiny gold button and the top releases with a barely audibleclick. Inside, nestled against soft velvet, is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. The band is platinum, the setting a halo of exquisite diamonds, all supporting a large, rectangular-cut emerald. It winks and sparkles from inside the box, the green vibrant, almost alive.
“It reminds me of you,” Alik murmurs, slipping the ring free. “Unexpected, gorgeous, full of life. The most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, for the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
The tears that were threatening before cascade down my cheeks, blurring my vision as Alik slides the ring onto my left ring finger. He presses his lips to the same spot. My heart turns over in my chest. And then I’m falling, falling into Alik’s eyes as he looks at me like I’m the most precious thing in his world. “Marry me,Serafina. Love me, be my better half, my stronger half for as long as we’re alive. I will give you everything that I have, everything that I am. I will love you, protect you, worship you. Live my life for you.”
He presses my hand against his chest, the connection as deep as it is electric. “After Rina disappeared, I stopped believing in a future. I think that even before, I only ever let myself survive one day at a time. Nothing to look forward to, nothing to give my life real meaning. Not until I found you. You are at the heart of every dream, every plan I have for my future life.Ourfuture life. I want to commit everything I am, everything I’m capable of, to you and the future we can have together. If you say yes.” He pauses, the truth of his words burning bright in his blue eyes. “Please,moya voitelnitsa, say yes. Marry me?”