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‘I got permission from Charles. He says I can take whichever tree I want. Anyway, trees can’t run away, so I’m sure it wouldn’t technically be rustling.’
‘Is it Christmas Eve tomorrow?’ Mette started to jiggle up and down in excitement.
‘In Scotland we can put up our tree as soon as we like, we don’t have to wait until the day before Christmas Eve.’
Mette’s eyes grew rounder. ‘I like Scotland, Papa. Do we have two Christmases?’
‘No, but there’s Hogmanay.’ Aksel grinned as Mette looked perplexed. ‘You’ll have to wait and see what that is.’
Mette nodded, and Aksel leaned towards Flora, her soft scent curling around him. ‘I like Scotland, too.’
* * *
They took their time choosing, wandering through the plantation hand in hand, while Mette relied on Kari to guide her through the snow. Mette declared that she wanted a tree tall enough for her to climb up to the sky, and Aksel explained that they couldn’t get one like that into the cottage. In the end, Flora settled the argument by choosing one they all liked.
‘Stand back...’ He started up the chainsaw, grinning at Flora, and then cut a ‘V’ shape in the trunk. Flora hung tightly onto Mette’s hand as she screamed excitedly. The tree fell exactly where Aksel had indicated it would.
He’d brought some netting, and Aksel wrapped the tree up in it, bending the larger branches upwards. Then he lifted the tree onto one shoulder to take it to the car. The raw power in his body never failed to thrill Flora. But there was more now. They were becoming a family.
‘How long do I have to hold out for? Before I ask you to marry me?’ Mette was busy scooping snow up to make a snowman, and Flora watched as Aksel loaded the tree into the car.
‘Be strong.’ He grinned at her. ‘I’m finding that persuading you is much nicer than I’d thought. I have a few more things in mind.’
‘What are they?’
‘Breakfast in bed on Christmas morning. A Hogmanay kiss. Taking you back to Norway to meet my family after the New Year.’
Flora had always thought that the most romantic proposal must be a surprise. But planning it like this was even better than she’d dreamed. ‘That sounds wonderful. Don’t think that I won’t be thinking of some things to persuade you.’
‘So how long before we give in?’ He leaned forward, growling the words into her ear as if they were a challenge.
‘I think that decorating the tree’s going to be the first big test of our resolve. Christmas Eve might prove very tempting...’
‘Yes. That’ll be difficult.’ He took her hand,
pulling off her glove and pressing her fingers to his lips.
‘You’ll be ready with your answer?’ Flora smiled up at him.
‘Oh, yes.’ He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her. ‘I’ll be ready.’
EPILOGUE
Oslo, one year later
IT WAS THE night before Christmas Eve, and the family had gathered for Christmas. The big tree at Olaf and Agnetha’s house was the centrepiece of the celebrations, and both Aksel’s and Flora’s parents were spending Christmas here this year. Everyone had admired the appliquéd Christmas stockings, a present from Mary Monroe, who had made a complete recovery and was back working at her beloved quilt shop three days a week.
Mette had fallen asleep as soon as her head had touched the pillow, and Aksel and Flora had tiptoed next door to their own room.
‘Mum was telling me how welcome your parents have made her and Dad. They’ve been showing them around Oslo.’ Flora slid onto the bed, propping herself up on the pillows next to Aksel, and he put his arm around her.
‘I’m glad they get on so well. And with Olaf and Agnetha too.’
Flora nodded. ‘I’m really going to miss this year. We did so much.’
They’d arranged a wedding and bought a house, one of the large stone-built properties just outside the village. Mette understood that her new family would always be there for her, and was gaining in confidence and exploring her world a little more each day. Aksel had been working at the canine therapy centre, after the previous vet had decided not to return from her maternity leave, and helping Ted Mackie organise adventure trips on the estate for the clinic’s residents.
‘I’ve got something to get us started on next year. I had an email from Charles this morning. He’s signed the papers for the land, and it’s now officially ours. We can start to build in the New Year.’
