“Not yet!” Elea dropped to her knees and reached a hand under the couch, coming out with a small, wrapped rectangle. “Your present, Aunt Tatta.”
Tatiana took it, brows drawn. “When did you have time to do this?”
“Anders helped some,” her niece admitted, plopping onto Tatiana’s other side on the couch.
Of course he did. She shot him a smile but then turned her attention to the gift. The paper was some of what she’d bought, so she tore it off. Then smiled in delight at the framed crayon drawing.
The second picture she’d received today of her and Elea, and she couldn’t have said which one she loved more. “Oh, sweetheart. It’s beautiful! Look at us—and even my typewriter!”
“Anders had to help with that.”
Anders shook his head. “All I did was help you see it.Youdid the drawing.”
Elea grinned. “Then he gave me the frame.”
“Well, I love it. I’m going to keep it in my office at work so I can look at it any time I need a smile.” She leaned over to kiss the top of her niece’s head. “Thank you, Elea. I’ll treasure it always.” Then, just because shecould, she leaned over the other way to press a soft kiss to Anders’s lips. “Thank you, Anders, for helping her.”
Elea giggled. “Told you he liked you.”
Anders chuckled and reached for the sagas, passing the book over. “You’ve proven yourself to be very astute.” His gaze moved to Tatiana. “What will you read tonight,elskan min?”
Her pulse fluttered at the endearment. He’d said he loved her, yes, but somehow hearing him call her “my love” made it even more real. “The novel your sister gave me, I think.”
He plucked it from the pile of gifts and handed it to her. Then rubbed his hands together and reached for the manuscript in its box. “Come to me,” he said, pitching his voice low and earning a giggle from Elea.
Tatiana’s gaze moved over the pages in her book, but she couldn’t have said what she was reading. She was too aware of the warmth of Anders’s side, of every expression on his face as he read, of every typewritten page he flipped over into the top of the paper box. And she thought that maybe this wasn’t such a brilliant idea. It had been bad enough when she’d known he was reading her first book at the office. But here? Beside him? When he knew it was hers?
“I can feel you fretting,” he said as he flipped to the second chapter, a smile in his voice.
Tatiana puffed out a breath—and saw she was still on page three of her own book. “It’s probably full of mistakes. I’ve edited those first chapters a bit, but—”
“Stop. It’s good—just as I expected it to be.”
She opened her mouth to object, but the phone rang. They all froze. Who would call this late on Christmas Eve? They’d already talked to Elea’s parents earlier in the day, but she couldn’t think of who else would be calling—not unless something was wrong.
She pushed herself up and dashed to the phone, telling herself not to worry even as her pulse pounded and her mind flew into frantic prayers. “Hello?” she said as soon as she had the earpiece in position.
“Tatta?” It was Gunnar’s voice, and it sounded... anxious, excited? She couldn’t quite tell. “Is Elea nearby?”
Excited. Definitely excited. That didn’t calm her pulse any. “Of course. Elea.” She waved a hand. “Yourpabbiwants you.”
“You stay on too, Tatta.”
“All right.” She dropped to her knees so that she andElea could both put their ears to the receiver. “We’re both here.”
“Glethileg jolagain, Pabbi!”
“Glethileg jol, precious. I have a special present for you.”
“I just opened the dress Mamma made. It’s so pretty!”
“I’ll tell her you said so.” His smile was audible. “But I have something even better.”
Elea turned to meet Tatiana’s gaze. “What is it?”
A beat, then a laugh. “A little brother! Your mamma just had your little brother, and they’re both fine. Healthy, squalling—the baby, not your mother—and perfect.”
Elea squealed so loudly Tatiana had to pull away with a laugh. But she could hardly blame her. They’d already had such a wonderful Christmas Eve—full of love and wonder and story. But this? There’d be no topping this. Though it would certainly make the night’s scripture readings all the more poignant when they went to church. A new life, a son, a brother, to commemorate the Son of God, who had come to draw them all into his family.
