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She puts a hand on my knee. “That doesn’t sound like a hardship.”
“One more warning, then. There might also be more of this.”
“More of what?” she asks.
I lean in and kiss her sweet mouth, very slowly. Just once. But it’s a good one. And then I make myself retreat. “More of that.”
She blinks at me with unfocused eyes. “I see. Well.” She blinks again. “That doesn’t seem like a hardship.”
I cup her smooth face, as I’ve been wanting to do for so long. “It would be my pleasure to have your company for the holiday,hani.” It meanshoney. “But no pressure.”
“Ivo, I don’t deserve you,” she whispers. “I’ve wanted to spend more time with you since the first month we met. And I didn’t follow my instincts.”
I stroke a thumb over her soft cheek. “You’re here now. It is enough.”
She leans her head against my shoulder for a half second, and then sighs. “I should get home now. It’s late. You’re probably exhausted from your game.”
I should be. But it’s hard to be exhausted when your wishes are coming true. “Let me ask the doorman to get you a taxi.”
“What time should I come over tomorrow?” she asks, rising from the sofa.
“The party starts at midday. But come early—we will have breakfast porridge. Someone has to find the lucky almond.”
“All right.” She dons her coat. “Maybe we can watch a Christmas movie before the party.”
“Good plan.”
I ride downstairs with her to make sure the taxi is there. And I give her only a kiss on the cheek as she goes.
I’m a patient man. And my Christmas wishes are already coming true.
CHRISTMAS EVE
I am up at nine on Christmas Eve, video-chatting with my family overseas, and stirring the rice porridge. This recipe is made with milk and butter, but no sugar. The jarred fruit compote—helpfully provided by Mama—gives it sweetness.
There is Christmas music playing in my kitchen, and I am in a very festive mood, even if it breaks my heart a little to see my entire family all together in a place I am not.
“Do not forget the almond!” my mother says in Finnish. “I want you to have another lucky year.”
“I’m not sure it works that way, Mama.” My porridge is thickening, and I toss the almond in. “How lucky could the almond be if I’m the only one who might find it?”
“Luck is luck,” she says crisply. As if that makes any sense at all. But you don’t argue with a mother of six kids. She will fight you. “You made a big pot of porridge, Ivo. It could take you days to be lucky.”
“I can wait.” The buzzer suddenly rings—the one the doorman uses to speak to me. “I have to go, Mama. A friend is here.”
“What kind of friend comes to visit on Christmas Eve morning?” my little sister asks.
“A nice friend.Hyvää joulua ja nähdään!Later!” I wave at the screen, and then hit theENDbutton even as my sister starts to ask another question. I grab the house phone and tell the doorman to let Chiara come upstairs.
To be fair, I thought she might change her mind. But I’m glad she did not.
I know it’s unusual to spend the biggest holiday of the year with the woman you have loved from afar. But I’d rather have an awkward day with her than no day with her.
When Chiara comes to my door a moment later, she wears a shy smile. “Morning. I brought coffee.” She holds out two takeaway cups from the chic place on the corner. “I also brought a bottle of wine for later. Thank you for making this day easier for me.”
“I don’t think you understand that you are doing exactly the same thing for me.” I kiss her on the cheek, inhaling her sweet scent. “And Happy Christmas. Come in and make yourself at home.”
She takes off her winter coat to reveal a winter dress. It’s like a big sweater, comfortable looking, but also pretty. The dark red color is perfect against her dark, shiny hair.
