#BigCosyBed #GalaxyChocolate #NoAurora #Disappointing #LaplandNights #NewFriends #WhyITravel
Chapter Fifteen
Waking up on Christmas Eve in a snowbound cabin by a Lapland forest is, let me tell you, the most Christmassy thing I’m ever likely to experience, and a world away from last Christmas when I woke up next to Cole at the Love Shack, preparing for a tense day at Patricia’s.Ugh, I don’t even want to think about that now. Not when the world is still totally dark at nine a.m. and I am contentedly sitting up in bed – I’ve braved a night in the glass room and found I’m not afraid to sleep in there any more.
I’m batting away intrusive memories of Cole and Christmases past and watching the snow falling from the black sky and wondering if I can be bothered clambering into my snowsuit to drag myself to breakfast at the hotel restaurant when Nari bangs on my cabin door. She’s in her pyjamas and snow boots with a furry blanket clasped around her.
‘Come and see what’s just arrived in my kitchen!’ she yells as soon as I open the door, and I watch as she runs off and up the steps of her cabin next to mine.
Grabbing keys, pulling on snow boots and wrapping a white woollen throw around me, I chase after her, making deep footprints in the crunching snow.
I find Nari unpacking a big picnic basket at the kitchen island, grinning from ear to ear.
‘What’s all this?’
‘Stephen’s PA emailed last night telling me to expect a surprise delivery today. Just look at all this stuff.’
There are two beautiful hand carved wooden Lappish bowls and matching deep wooden spoons like ladles, a bag of almonds tied with a red ribbon, a tall glass bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice, a box of apple pastries dusted with snowy icing sugar, a thermos of espresso, a jar of runny cream, something that looks like fruity, nutty muesli and lots of other little boxes and packets, all beautifully wrapped and extremely tempting.
‘There’s a note,’ Nari says as she unfolds the piece of paper.
A taste of the best of Lapland. Enjoy your breakfast, x
That’s all the encouragement we need and within half an hour we’re full of sweet treats and enjoying the caffeine buzz. ‘Good old Stephen, what a thoughtful gift,’ I say, stretching out on the sofa in front of Nari’s blazing fireplace.
I notice she’s made an effort and decorated her Christmas tree. I think of the bare spruce in my cabin next door and the basket beside it, still filled with pretty baubles. What with dog-sledding and dining out at the resort restaurant, then the toboggans and carolling, I just haven’t found the time, and I’ll be heading out again soon.
Nari’s already getting absorbed in writing her blog and looks settled on the big armchair so I don’t feel too bad about abandoning her this morning.
‘You staying here all day?’ I ask.
‘Yup, until three, then I’m taking Niilo out for a night on the tiles – well, an afternoon on the gritted streets.’
‘Well, you guys have fun. Don’t cut your date short on my account, OK? I’ll be totally fine having dinner by myself in my cabin, and I might have an early night.’
‘Here’s hoping you do.’ Nari’s waggling her eyebrows and doing her leery grin again.
‘I don’t know what you’re suggesting. I’m only taking a look around the resort with Stellan this morning, nothing else. It’s you who’s going on the hot date.’
She just laughs at this and shakes her head, which is annoying because, as much as I’d like to be preparing for a romantic date, the most I can expect from Stellan is a (hopefully) friendly and relaxed meetup this morning, just two old acquaintances spending a few hours together.
Fifty minutes later, I’m waiting on the steps of my cabin, in the resort-issue black snowsuit and so many layers there’s no way the cold can get through today. I’ve managed to blow dry and straighten my hair into submission and – don’t read anything into this – I’ve borrowed Nari’s pretty white snood and red lipstick (the lipstick was her idea), and I’m feeling pretty glam actually, which is miraculous given the extremes of hot and cold, damp and dry here. But where is Stellan? It’s almost eleven and he was never, ever late, back in the day.
I can see Nari through her cabin window, still bundled on the armchair looking cosy and typing enthusiastically. I know she’s more excited about spending time with Niilo than she’s letting on. How could she not be? He’s adorable. He has a magic quality all his own, something elemental, he makes you feel as though anything can happen when you’re with him. I’m hoping he pulls out all the stops and they have an ultra-romantic date. Meanwhile I’ll have caught up with Stellan and will be relaxing on my own in my cabin. I might try to Facetime Mum and Dad in New York, or I’ll take a long bath and read a magazine. It’ll be nice to have some quiet me-time. I’m not sure why I sigh as I look up at the dark sky.
It hasn’t really gotten light today, everything is a gorgeous lowering blue, and the sky is obscured by heavy snow clouds and swirling flurries of flakes. I’ve seen snowstorms in England before, but they’re nothing like this dark brooding wildness. Even the bad weather in this place feels strange and wonderful. I cock my head and peer through the snowflakes. I’m pretty sure I can hear a jingling, tinkling sound carried on the wind. It puts me in mind of the bells on the airport elves’ hats, and for some reason, I find myself thinking about my schoolkids back home and how excited they’ll be today – even though a belief in Father Christmas is just something they humour their mothers’ wistfulness with.
I smile at the thought of my four little nephews too. They span the ages of five to nine. The eldest, Rupert, will most likely for the last time, be hanging a stocking with his little brothers tonight, consumed with excitement and believing they’ll be magically filled with toys and treats by morning. They’ll all be searching the skies looking for a sign that Santa’s coming, and leaving out mince pies or milk and cookies, hoping against hope they’re on the nice list.
What a shame the magic has to end, and all too soon. I have a feeling I’ll never see those little boys again, not that I saw them often even when I was with Cole, but I hope they received the gifts I sent, signed just from me this year.
With all this in mind, standing under the arctic sky, I make a wish that all the children on the threshold of young adulthood have one last perfect Christmas before the magic fades, and they join us, the grownups, with all our jaded worldliness.
There’s that jingling sound again. I know I’m definitely not imagining it this time. If Stellan were here I’d ask him what it is. As I’m struggling to part the thick layers between sleeve cuffs and glove to get a glimpse at my watch, and thinking that Stellan really is cutting it fine, I see it, and for a moment I can’t believe my eyes.
The first thing I notice is the dancing light from two swinging lanterns, then I hear the bells growing louder, and the trotting, snorting sounds of the animals. There, dashing out of the dark forest towards me are four reindeer pulling behind them a long sled, and finally, all dressed in black, blond wisps of hair escaping from his fur-trimmed hood, is Stellan. Standing up in the sleigh, he is grasping the reins and making the silver bells sing out in the darkness. In the blink of an eye, he’s pulled the animals to a halt at the foot of my cabin steps, and he’s offering me a gloved hand.
‘I believe!’ I cry.
