Page 63 (2/2)

I sn an untimely sob “Miss you too, Mom”

Before she can hear the e up

As the days ly ho, ic memories of the holiday On Christmas Eve, my mom and I would take a taxi to Manhattan We’d brave the cold to adiant tree at Rockefeller Center before having a special dinner at hoifts

Fortunately, the winter holiday spirit isn’t lacking in Alex’s house, even though I’ve learned that Russians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, as per the Eastern Orthodox tradition Since that’s considered a purely religious holiday, a lot of the Christifts, the decorations—are instead part of the New Year’s celebration in Russia Thus, the cookies Ti, the ones that fill the kitchen with the aromas of cinnamon, raisins, and vanilla, are for the New Year’s celebration, not Christlass ornaments that Lena has put up in the foyer, as well as the pine branches and red ribbons she’s tied around the balustrades The pantry is stocked with cured meats and pickled fish for the men’s New Year’s Eve party rather than for Christone up in the street, but they’re not visible from Alex’s bedrooet a peek at the fairy lights that span across the road along the river The lights aren’t colorful, like the ones back ho snowflakes, Christmas trees, and reindeer

Not wanting to add to Alex’s probles toHe lets me speak to Joanne, June, and my mom on the phone every week It helps, but I still miss them I can’t shake this weird sense of sadness

It’s not that I’m bored There’s plenty to occupy uards keep me busy More often than not, their ailments are minor, but I welcome the visits It provides es don’t always per much I asked Tiations and e is ined I try to stay positive, but even the walls of a palace can get to be too much after several weeks

Alex is late for dinner al a big effort into finding thehis life He refuses to tell ue answers Since he’s also focusing a lot of his attention on preparing for the gala dinner, I don’t bother hio outside We’ll attend the ball soon enough

In the arden At first, the heavily armed men unsettled ot used to the guns The auto over their shoulders don’t shock me as much as they did initially

Three days before the party, a tea for a dress fitting as well as atrial To my dis s

The dressed woowns to choose fro with diamante detail, and the second is a red dress with a low back and wide skirt Both are gorgeous, but the third iswith a slit on the side that ends just above the knee, and the sleeves are off-shoulder The pale pink fabric has a beautiful pearly shine Crystal beads have been sewn onto the bodice, artfully creating delicate flowers