“He’s an old fellow—”
“So an intruder.”
Her hands clap over her mouth and she giggles hysterically. Devin wheezes and leans against the air-sled while I watch her with amusement. “If you want someone to break into your farm at night, I doubt you need socks and a dead tree to convince them.”
“Stop talking,” she says between bursts of laughter, waving a hand at me. “Stop talking and I’ll explain. Just…quit making me laugh.”
“I’m starting to think the dead tree is the least ridiculous part of this holiday,” I mutter, but I cross my arms over my chest and wait for her to go on.
With a few lingering chuckles, Devin explains the holiday to me. Of a bearded male with a bag of toys for children, and of trees decorated with bright, festive trimmings. Of stockings and presents and carols, all of the traditions that are several hundred years old. It is an ancient human custom and so she does not know the reasons behind all the things that they do, just that they bring pleasure. “Christmas is everyone’s favorite time of the year, at least for Christians. And Liesje’s family was Dutch, so I think she’s Christian.” She reaches out and touches my shoulder. “Don’t ask about the Christian thing. Just don’t. It’s way too much to explain. At any rate, Christmas is a holiday that brings a lot of happiness to people. It brings joy and peace and anticipation for the end of the year. I thought it might give her something to look forward to. I’m making her some presents but I really wanted a tree for her to put in her house.”
I think about the house. Liesje’s house barely had enough room to turn around in. There’s no room for a tree of any size. “I don’t think it’ll fit.”
Devin looks crestfallen. “I really wanted to give her a merry Christmas.”
It bothers me that she looks so sad. I go back to teasing her again. “Merry implies cheerfulness. You’re not a very merry person, Devin.”
She gasps as if stung. “I’msofucking merry!”
“Not really. More of a cranky than a merry.”
Her expression turns lethal. “I am a merry person, damn it, and I’m going to make it a merry Christmas for Liesje. Now are you going to help me or not?”
Why is she getting so keffing mad at me? I’ve been supporting all her ideas…well, except for the kissing one. Surely she can’t be mad about that. I gesture at the trees to distract her. “Rather than cut down something that takes so long to grow, if you can give me a day or two, I can put in a request for a live sapling that’s awaiting planting. We can still decorate it and then once the holiday is complete, she can plant it in front of her house and keep enjoying it.”
Devin’s expression softens. “Won’t that be expensive?”
I shrug. “I have savings and nothing to spend it on. I don’t mind purchasing her a tree.” I indicate the ones growing here. “And we can leave these for the next person to appreciate.”
Her face blooms in another one of those radiant smiles that make my tail twitch. “I love that idea. It’ll give me a chance to whip together some decorations. Thank you, Sinath.”
“Call me Sin.”
Her eyes narrow. “I’ll call you Sin if you call me merry.”
I give her a grave look. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Asshole.” But she’s got a smile playing on her mouth again and she no longer seems mad. I’ll take it.
ChapterFive
SINATH
I’m still thinking about Devin the next day when I take an air-sled out to Liesje’s property. I’ve got a warm winter-weather poncho for her and a few packets of my favorite noodles in case she’s running low. It doesn’t seem right to show up without food. That was something my mother always taught me. You bring gifts when you visit family.
And since Liesje has no family, I’m going to be acting as hers.
I’ve also spoken to the female Bee and her terrifying-looking guard-slash-mate. Bee has set herself up as a “social worker” and is on good terms with all the human females. She seems concerned that there could be others falling through the cracks and wants to compare manifests with the custodial logs to see who’s put in at least one request. If no one has, she’s going to go out and visit them. I suspect I’ll be helping with that, too, because I want to make sure no one has been forgotten.
When my mother passed, no one remembered me and my grandmother. When my grandmother died two years later, I was alone. No one thought of me. No one cared if I had enough to eat, or if I was lonely. I know what that feels like, and I don’t want anyone else to feel forgotten.
So I wear a bright smile when I knock on Liesje’s door the next day. “Good morning,” I call out when she opens it. “I’m here to make your day better with my presence.”
Liesje snorts. “I’ve been here for months and this is the first time any alien has shown interest in making my day better. Devin put you up to this, didn’t she?”
“What? Never.”
“You’re such a bad liar.” But she gives me a hint of a smile and opens her door wider. “You might as well come on in or I’ll never hear the end of it.”