Then Mats arranged himself behind them, his hands on the top rail either side of his children, which meant Ezz was included in the haven of his arms. All the feelings she’d been suppressing so hard roared back into her, every part of her body fizzingly aware of their coats brushing, his breathing, his warmth and her desire. Her mind leapt to crystal clarity, instead of the bamboozled mush it had been on the way down the slope.
This was good. It had to be, that Mats was still here when she’d thought him gone.
‘I’m hoping,’ he said, ‘that by the time I have to go back, maybe we’ll know what we’re going to do. Be warned, I’m hoping very much that you’ll visit Gothenburg with me at the end of that time to see how you like it. And if you think you could ever live between there and here.’
Her mind flew to logistics and her heart sank. ‘That sounds impossible.’
‘Different,’ he acknowledged. ‘But not impossible.’
He lifted the children down and gently turned them back towards the hall. ‘Astrid and Alvin, you run for a bitwhile I push the cart up the worst of the slope. Then you can both ride for the last part.’
‘Yeah!’ The two little people began running, Astrid holding her hat, Alvin soon lagging behind, though his small legs pedalled furiously.
Mats made no move to follow but let the handle of the cart fall to the ground while he took Ezz’s hands. He was bare-headed, and his fair hair blew in the wind. Smile lines radiated from the corners of his eyes yet a cleft dug itself between his brows. ‘I’m sorry that I can’t live here, but I can’t, because the children need a home with me and a home with Inger, and those homes will be in Sweden. But an airline has just announced direct flights between Gothenburg and Inverness that will make moving between the two places a hundred times easier. We could do it in half a day, door-to-door. But even if something happens to stop the new route, what I suggest is possible – just more hassle.’ One corner of his mouth tugged up. ‘I’m not being impulsive,’ he pointed out. ‘I’ve thought through every last detail. I happen to know your employer would let you work remotely as much as possible, once the assistant manager is settled in to see to a lot of the day-to-day – as I think was the case when you were assistant manager and Tavish was manager. We could come here as much as Inger, school and work allowed. There would be weeks where I’m there and you’re here, I know, but we could be together for big chunks of each year.’
‘Daddy?’ Astrid’s voice was thready on the wind. ‘Are you coming?’
Mats sent her a quick wave. ‘In a minute. I’m just talking to Ezz about something important.’
‘What about the children?’ she asked, dry-mouthed,hardly daring to examine the plan he’d laid out for them in case she found holes.
‘They adore you.’ Gently, he squeezed her fingers. ‘Of course, you have to want to become part of yet another family and that will make three, but we want you very much. I’m not going to drop down on one knee or even tell you I love you yet because you’ll tell me I’m impetuous and dismiss everything I’ve suggested.’
She stared into his winter-sea eyes, her heart galloping faster than any of the nearby ponies could ever have done. What he suggested could work. She’d be back here often. She didn’t have to miss Thea’s baby growing up or Valentina’s holidays in Rothach. She could visit her birth family.
And she’d have a new family.
And Mats.
No more feeling miserable and hollow without him. A chance to share his children, too – the ones who were now shouting insistently, ‘Daddee. Comeon.’
Her heart felt as if it was soaring over the roofs of Rothach Hall and up into the brilliant blue winter sky. ‘I’m glad you’ll be here for a month or so,’ she said softly.
A huge smile broke over his face. ‘So, you’ll use it as a chance to decide?’
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘I’ve decided already. I want the third family. There are enough stars in the sky.’
‘There are,’ he declared. ‘Though I’ve no idea what stars have to do with anything.’ Then he swept her into his arms and squeezed her so hard she thought her ribs would break, as he planted kisses all over her face, making Ezz laugh and splutter and gasp for breath.
Astrid came panting back. ‘What are you doing that for?’
Mats turned a big smile on her. ‘Because I love her.’
‘Oh.’ Astrid’s face cleared. ‘So do I. But can you bring the cart up the steep bit so we can ride the rest of the way?’
‘I can,’ said Mats.
‘Jump in now,’ Ezz invited. ‘I can help Dad push.’ She gave him a wink. ‘That’s how we’re going to work things, right? We’re in it together.’
