‘So, I’ll get you a drink, and why don’t you take a seat while I finish off the Christmas tree?’
It surprises me that the tree is left until Christmas Eve, as I always used to have mine up by the end of November. But, as Tomas prepares a drink, he tells me this is their family tradition and that of many other Czech families. No wonder there hasn’t been a tree up before now.
‘Well, I’m quite happy to help you. I can’t sit here and watch you do it. In fact, one of my specialities is decorating Christmas trees.’
‘That’s a speciality?’ Tomas laughs.
‘Yup, it is.’ At least I used to be good at decorating our Christmas tree. I hope that I still have that magic touch.
I take a seat on the floor beside Tomas and pick out some ornaments from a box beside us that are wrapped in paper. I start to unwrap one of the baubles and think how they must have been passed down from Albert’s parents as they are beautiful antique-looking glass-blown snowdrops and birds. The robin will fit right in. I lean over to the bag I brought with me and pass Tomas’ gift to him.
‘Here, I think you should have this now. Do you want to open it with your partner?’ I look towards the lady I assume is Milena, but she is busy laughing with Albert.
‘My partner?’ Tomas laughs and says something in Czech, and then Albert and the woman laugh too. I am left out of the private joke, and my cheeks flush.
‘That’s not my partner. This is Zuzana, she lives next door. I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce you properly. How rude of me.’
‘Oh, okay. Sorry.’ In that case, Milena must be joining us later.
‘Nothing to be sorry for. She’s very close to Albert. You do know she is in her seventies?’
I thought she was older than Tomas, but I would never have thought that she was more Albert’s age than his. It must be all the good food in this country.
‘Wow, she looks amazing.’
‘So, you want me to open this now?’ says Tomas, looking back at the present.
‘Of course.’ I watch his expression carefully as he opens it up.
‘No way? Olivia, this is my favourite bird!’
I think about telling him about the robin back home but then decide I will probably start nervous rambling, so I stop myself and say no more.
He takes the robin and hangs it at the top of the tree in a prominent spot right at the front.
‘I will treasure it,’ says Tomas. His smile is so genuine that I believe him.
‘I’d better give this to Albert,’ I say, remembering his honey.
Albert seems pleased and clasps his hands together to thank me.
Zuzana says something in Czech to Tomas, and he blushes. My gosh, what did she say to the man? Then she looks at me and smiles. I have no idea what is going on here. That is the problem with language barriers. I wish I spoke Czech right now, but I ignore everything and carry on decorating the tree.
‘Zuzana said you’re a very pretty lady,’ says Tomas, as I hang a bauble up on a branch.
Zuzana grins at me, looking pleased, and nods her head.
‘Thank you.’ I can’t ever recall being called a pretty lady. Let alone since I turned fifty. That is so sweet of her. Aunt Grace used to call me pretty, but she was a relative, so she couldn’t exactly say anything derogatory. Relatives never count when it comes to compliments. The best Craig could manage was calling me a ‘fit bird’ when he’d had too many cherry brandies at Christmas. Maybe Zuzana is just a nice lady and being polite.
Tomas says something back to Zuzana, and then I notice he blushes. I am intrigued. Did he just agree with her? I feel another of those little tingles down my spine at the thought.
Tomas looks back at the Christmas tree.
‘Anyway, we’re all done. Thanks for your help, Olivia. It looks like the best tree we ever had here. You’re right. It’s your speciality.’
‘Oh, I’m sure I only put a couple of baubles on, it was all your own work,’ I say.
Tomas touches my arm as he walks away, and that tingle happens again. I try to focus. This must not happen.
