“Because it’s a great market and everything is going so well and because you are the loveliest, my little Lucia brides!”
Liv had managed to partake in another Lucia procession with her cast and it had been very appreciated. Someone had decided to send around a hat and collected some money for the school children and now Lucias, elves and gingerbread men were sitting around the café tables discussing where they would use the money to go, because they had already decided it would go towards a school trip.
“Perhaps to your dad’s country,” Tore said.
Liv laughed and explained that Gambia was really far away. He nodded.
“Perhaps Gothenburg then, to Liseberg!” he said, chuckling.
Emelie sat down for a while, resting her feet.
“Coffee?”
She looked up, saw Andreas and smiled.
“I’d love some.”
As he gave her the cup, their hands touched, and he caressed her thumb with his index finger.
“Everything okay?”
“Everything is fine, just a bit tired. But I can’t think about that now because it’s almost time for Santa Claus. Have you seen Birgitta and Stig?”
She got up and scanned the crowd. People in thick winter coats and scarves that were laughing and chatting as they were strolling along the tables. Sometimes they bought something, sometimes they would look at a Santa or try on a necklace. Carina seemed to have a lot to do. Everyone seemed busy. Andreas grabbed her hand and she looked up at him.
“Hey, Sussi and Stina have made up their minds,” he said.
“About what?”
Her eyes met Linn’s behind the café counter and Emelie looked at her, giving a thumbs up, and Linn answered with the same gesture and a smile.
“About children,” Andreas whispered into her ear.
She chuckled. Was this the day that everything happened? Birgitta had gotten her papers, Carina was going to meet Christer and Sussi and Stina wanted to – or didn’t want to – have children with Andreas.
“Ok, so what have they decided?”
“They want to have children with me, and we will share the responsibility.”
He looked concerned.
“What do you think about that?”
Yes, what did she think? That it was great! She didn’t want any more children and Andreas did. She smiled at him.
“I think it is wonderful. I actually think I’m starting to relax a bit too.”
“Too?”
She started telling him about Birgitta but was interrupted by a salesman waving at her. She looked around, stole a kiss from Andreas and smiled. Then she walked over to the salesperson and helped him with a spilled cup of coffee. As she looked up, she saw Andreas helping Linnea to tie the red silk ribbon for her Lucia gown. As he finished, Linnea gave him a hug, skipping away in the direction of her friends. Linn and Oskar were in the café selling the last of the Lucia buns and the cream rings and in the corner of her eye, she saw Christer slowly moving closer to Carina’s stand.
She stretched her back and smiled at the salesman who thanked her for helping. She looked over towards the door where new people were constantly entering the room. It was a success, she thought to herself. She saw a hand waving with long, well-polished nails. A dark head became visible and Emelie let go of the dishcloth in her hand and rushed over.
“Sara! Sara! What are you doing here?!”
Sara laughed and they hugged for a long time.
“I just had to come by and see what you have gotten yourself into and what it is they’re talking about all the way back in Växjö,” she said, grinning.
