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"You’re a hoarder" North’s voice was amazed and incredulous

"I’m not a hoarder And neither is , hoarder?"

Marigold’s chest tightened like a Victorian corset "It’s a temporary situation We’re … between houses"

"Why isn’t this stuff in storage?"

"Because storage costsit for the new house"

North didn’t have a comeback for that one An abashed expression crossed his face, but it disappeared quickly Purposefully Maybe he understood "So … where aot it froh there" He gestured at the narrow pathway "And where’s your end gaold was overwhelmed by a familiar sense of fear and humiliation How could she have let hi that they’d have to throw out next week? So that couldn’t even fit into their apartold’s heart raced "I--I don’t knoas going to put it in front of the sliding-glass door Like all the others in the building"

North craned his neck across the threshold "The balcony door? The one straight ahead? The one behind that china cabinet?"

"Yeah Maybe?"

"You’re insane Why would you buy a Christmas tree?"

"Because you’re extremely persuasive!"

North whipped around to stare at her For a moment, his expression was unreadable And then … he sold feel the teensiest bit caluess … shift some of this around?" Her expression was as doubtful as her question After all, she and hersince they’d moved in

North took a tentative step inside the apartold’s chest sunk She shouldn’t be embarrassed--They had a reason for this, damn it This was all temporary, damn it--but she was

"This is madness," he said "There’s no way it’s safe"

"We’ve been here for a year, and nothing has fallen on us yet"

"You’ve lived in this pit of death for a year?" He slunk into its depths The pathway led to theareas--kitchen, bathroo my tree in here," he called out from around the corner "It would die before Christmas And that’s only five days away"

"Doesn’t matter My tree only has to live until tomorrow"

"What’s tomorrow? The day the demolition crew arrives?"