The friends couldn’t understand what Varya saw in Pasha. Always frowning, never smiling, he didn’t like to have fun.
«You’re so young, so lively, and you got together with this… old man,» her friends once said with a touch of disgust.
«Old man?!» Varya laughed. «Pasha is only three years older than me.»
«But he acts like an old man,» they persisted. «What’s interesting about him? We’d understand if he were rich. But like this…»
«Oh, girls,» Varya shook her head, «you don’t understand. While your guys are hopping from one party to another, mine is doing the repairs in the apartment. While yours are cracking jokes, mine is making me breakfast so I can sleep in a little longer. Sure, he’s not the most social, and he doesn’t like to joke around. But I know that with him, I’m as safe as behind a stone wall.»
Her friends, due to their youth, truly didn’t understand that you can’t build a family on fun alone. Varya had always seemed older than her age, and she had fallen deeply in love with Pasha. It felt like inside this stern man, there was a gentle kitten. And Varya knew that no one saw him the way she did.
The New Year was approaching. Varya didn’t fool herself with illusions; she knew not to expect any romantic surprises from Pasha. He had immediately asked what she wanted for a gift, and Varya had answered. She decided not to ask Pasha what he wanted and said it would be a surprise. But it seemed like he didn’t even care.
Three weeks before New Year, Varya went up to Pasha. They had recently moved in together, and Varya was slowly making his bachelor’s home more comfortable.
«Do you have a Christmas tree?» she asked, knowing she’d probably hear no.
«A tree? No.»
«Don’t you remember that New Year’s is coming?» she asked softly.
«I remember. I’ve never decorated a tree. But if you need it, we’ll buy one.»
«I do need it,» Varya smiled.
And how could her friends not understand why she loved him? He didn’t even need to be persuaded, there was no need to make any arguments. Even though he didn’t care for all that Christmas décor, he understood that it mattered to Varya. And he didn’t ask any unnecessary questions.
«Then, this weekend, let’s go to the mall,» he shrugged.
«We’ll also need some ornaments and garlands,» Varya continued. «I can pay if you want.»
«Stop making up excuses,» he frowned. «You’ll choose them, because I have no clue what’s needed.»
«Okay,» Varya agreed.
On the weekend, they went to the mall. Varya decided to buy food for the New Year’s table that would last for a while. Green peas, for example. Which, she promptly told Pasha.
«Why peas?» he asked.
«Why?!» Varya laughed. «I didn’t think anyone would have such a question about the New Year’s table.»
She thought Pasha would immediately get it, but he still looked at her with confusion.
«Pasha, are you joking? Olivier… it’s the traditional New Year’s salad.»
«Okay,» Pasha shrugged, pulling out a shopping cart. «Olivier, then Olivier.»
Varya knew that Pasha was indifferent to all the New Year’s traditions, but this conversation unsettled her. It’s one thing when you don’t care, but it’s another when you don’t even understand what’s being discussed.
But soon, Varya forgot all about it because she had entered a fairytale. So many decorations, garlands, Christmas trees – all different and beautiful!
She immediately apologized to Pasha.
«Sorry, but we’ll be here for a while. If you don’t want to walk around with me, you can wait in the car. When I finish filling the cart, I’ll call you, and you can meet me with the shopping.»
«Ah, forget it. I’ll walk with you.»
In Varya’s family, the Christmas tree was always decorated in a chaotic manner. All the ornaments that the family had were hung on it. It turned out to be very colorful. And although that was also fun, Varya dreamed of decorating her own tree in one style, like in the beautiful pictures.
So, she took her time picking out the decorations. But Pasha didn’t complain, patiently waiting while his beloved examined and touched everything with enthusiasm.
They barely managed to get everything to the car, considering they also had a huge tree in a box.
When they got home, Pasha immediately collapsed on the couch. It was clear how tired he was from all those trips. But Varya, on the other hand, was full of anticipation.
«I want to decorate the tree today!» she exclaimed.
«God, where do you get the energy from?» Pasha muttered.
«Well, when it’s something you really enjoy, there’s always energy. You’ve got energy to watch TV, right?» Varya retorted.
«Yeah, because I don’t have to move,» Pasha grinned.
Varya just smiled. While Pasha watched the movie, she set up and decorated the tree. Varya noticed that Pasha occasionally glanced at her, pretending not to see. So, she decided to involve him.
«Don’t you want to help me?»
«You’re doing fine on your own.»
Varya smiled.
«Pasha, decorating a tree isn’t work. It’s a tradition, a family affair that builds up the excitement for the holiday. Didn’t you decorate the tree with your family?»
«In my family, we never decorated it,» he said.
Varya froze, holding a golden ornament in the air.
«How is that possible?» she asked quietly.
«Well, that’s how it was,» he shrugged.
Varya put the ornament back in the box and sat next to Pasha.
«What did you do on New Year’s then?»
Pasha sighed.
«Nothing, everything was the same as usual. You know my mom raised me alone. Money was always tight, and she usually had to take the night shift on New Year’s because they paid more. We lived in a room in a communal apartment. There wasn’t even space for a tree, and my mom didn’t have time for that either.»
«And gifts?» Varya asked even quieter.
«What gifts, Varya?» Pasha snorted. «Sometimes, my mom would bring me a chocolate bar from work if they gave her one as a gift. She’d give it to me. That was the gift.»
«And there was no table? No Olivier or tangerines?»
«No. If we were lucky, there was enough for basic food. And you’re talking about tangerines…»
«And when you got older, nothing changed?»
«My mom passed away when I was fourteen. My grandmother took me in. She had a tree, but money was still tight. And by fourteen, I was already out with the guys, setting off firecrackers,» Pasha snorted. «We didn’t have money for fireworks, but we scraped together enough for firecrackers.»
«What about when you went to the technical school?»
«Well, in the dorm, we all gathered. You think students make Olivier? We had tons of alcohol, chips, and croutons. We were fine.»
«What about Father Frost?» Varya almost cried. «Didn’t he bring you gifts when you were little?»
Pasha laughed.
«I hope you understand that Father Frost doesn’t exist?»
«For a child, he does! It doesn’t matter who plays the role.»
«There was a Father Frost at kindergarten, he gave us a candy or something. At home, my mom told me right away that he wasn’t real.» Varya frowned. «It wasn’t because she was mean, Varya, but to stop me from waiting for a miracle and getting disappointed. We really lived in poverty. I remember, we used to share one sausage between us for dinner. The soup lasted a week, and there was no meat in it. The meat was used for another dish. My mom had it tough. There was no magic in our life. My dad drank away our apartment, all our belongings. We had to move to a communal apartment and try to survive. There was no room for Father Frost in that situation.»
Varya couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. The next morning, she went to the store.
She bought a huge sweet gift. Then, after thinking, she got a remote control car. Not from her, from Father Frost. Boys remain boys, even when they’re grown, and Father Frost owed Pasha a lot.
They celebrated the New Year together! They welcomed it under the chimes, and then exchanged gifts. Varya got what she wanted – a new wallet. Pasha loved the backpack she gave him; his old one looked awful.
Of course, Varya set the table. She made all the traditional dishes, so Pasha could enjoy the New Year that Varya thought everyone had as a child.
Varya saw that her man was really delighted. Even on his usually serious face, there was a smile from time to time. He liked the tree, the garland on the window, even though he wouldn’t admit it. Varya saw how he looked at her for long moments, thinking she didn’t notice.
They went to bed not late. Pasha fell asleep almost immediately, but Varya couldn’t sleep. She quietly got up and placed the gifts from Father Frost under the tree. On the box, it said, «To Pasha from Father Frost. Sorry it took me so long to congratulate you! Happy New Year! Be happy!»
Varya lay back down with a smile on her face. She didn’t know how Pasha would react, but at least she had tried to add a little magic to his complicated life.
Pasha woke up earlier. He stretched, got up, and headed to the kitchen. After making himself coffee and a sandwich with caviar (though he’d been earning well for a while, he’d only tried caviar for the first time that New Year), he went to the living room. He sat on the couch and glanced at the tree, not understanding why it was so captivating. Then, he froze.
He put down his cup and sandwich, walked closer, read the note on the box, then looked around. Varya wasn’t there, she was still sleeping.
Next to the box was a huge sweet gift. Unconsciously, he remembered how, when he was little, he’d look at those gifts in the store, knowing that his mom couldn’t afford them.
He opened it and smiled. So many candies!
But he decided to try them later. He was more interested in the box.
Varya found Pasha in the living room. He was sitting on the floor, holding the toy car in his hands, quietly, like a man, crying.
Varya didn’t say anything, just sat next to him.
«Thank you,» he whispered.
«Why are you thanking me?» Varya smiled. «It wasn’t me, it was Father Frost. See, he finally made it to you.»
Pasha hugged his girlfriend. He had always known that he loved her deeply. But he didn’t understand what she saw in him. She was so beautiful, so kind. He even thought that Varya didn’t love him seriously, that she might leave.
Today, he realized just how much she loved him. Because only for those you love can you create a miracle. Only for those you love can you make them believe in magic. And today, Pasha believed. He believed that Father Frost had come to him. Finally, Pasha’s letter had reached him.
