After an hour of chatting, Aslaug yawned. ‘I’d better go to bed. I’m all done in and I’m going to see a friend of mine out of town tomorrow.’
‘Are you still taking Luna?’ Jonas asked.
‘I have to.’ Aslaug smiled. ‘She loves my friend and her children, so she’ll have a fabulous time in their big garden.’ She turned to Frankie. ‘She’s normally glued to Jonas’s side but she does like to accompany me on day trips. Goodnight, Frankie. Goodnight, my boy.’ Aslaug kissed Jonas’s cheek then went to her room.
‘Your mum is lovely.’ Frankie smiled. She’d enjoyed meeting Aslaug and feeling as though she could be herself; she didn’t feel any need to act on ceremony as she’d done with Rolo’s mother and the rest of his family. Aslaug hadn’t seemed to judge Frankie at all and it was refreshing.
‘We Norwegians don’t impose ourselves upon others and neither do we judge them. It’s a good thing about living in Norway. Family is very important, as are friends, but no one will force their company on you or their opinions.’
‘That sounds very different from my upbringing.’
He nodded. ‘You would like it here.’
‘Luna’s very relaxed, isn’t she? Considering that there have been fireworks tonight.’
‘Things like that don’t bother her. Give her ten minutes though and she’ll be asking for her pre-bedtime walk. Obviously, it’s a bit later tonight because I’ve been out. I took her before I left but she’ll need to go again before bed.’
‘How did you come to adopt her?’
‘I was out on a shoot almost two years ago, taking photos for a tourist website. Luna was the runt of a litter born to a female from a dog-sledding team. She was so small and yet so determined to try to get to the food before the other puppies. Even so, she was being pushed out by the two bigger male pups at feeding time and the breeder didn’t think she’d make it through the winter. I asked if I could have her.’
‘He just gave her to you?’
‘I took some photographs for his section of the website and he gave me Luna as payment.’
‘She’s a lucky girl… to be rescued by you.’
Jonas stroked Luna’s head and she peered up at him, her bright blue eyes full of trust and loyalty. ‘I’m the lucky one. She’s a good companion.’
‘It’s clear that she loves you.’
‘I’m loveable.’ He winked. ‘So my mum tells me.’
Frankie giggled. She couldn’t disagree with Aslaug.
‘I suppose I should get going.’ She stood up. ‘I don’t want to make any noise and keep your mum awake.’
‘I’ll walk you back to the hotel.’
‘There’s no need.’
‘I’m not letting you walk back at this time, and there will be stragglers wandering the streets looking for another party to go to. Besides which, I need to walk Luna.’
He went and got their coats, hats and other warm paraphernalia then they dressed quickly, until Frankie felt like an Egyptian mummy again.
*
They walked through the dark streets to Frankie’s hotel in silence. They were clearly both tired so the silence was fine for Jonas. He was just happy to be with Frankie and to see how she’d reacted to his home, Luna and to his mum.
Of course, she could have been hiding her shock at the apartment’s size and simplicity, but if so she had done it well and he was grateful for how well she’d got on with his mother. Aslaug was a quiet and serious woman who worked hard and lived a modest life, but she was also kind and caring and had done her best to give him a good upbringing.
Outside Frankie’s hotel, they stopped and she smiled up at him.
‘I had a great time tonight.’
‘Me too. Thank you for…’
‘For what?’
‘For not judging.’
‘Judging what?’
‘My home.’
‘What? Why would I judge your home, Jonas?’ She frowned causing a tiny line to mar her pretty features.
‘It’s nothing like yours.’
She shook her head.
‘Jonas, I don’t care about that.’
‘You don’t?’
‘Your home is warm, cosy and clean. Your mother is sweet, kind and funny and she clearly loves you deeply. I’d have loved to grow up in a home like that, because that’s what it is. Sometimes where I live didn’t feel like a home at all… that’s why I used to sleep in my cupboard, remember?’
‘That image makes me so sad for you. But I was nervous about what you’d think. It’s where I grew up and I am proud of it but you come from such wealth, your house is enormous and we’re very different.’ Luna leant against his legs, letting him know she was sensitive to his mood so he patted her head to reassure her that he was OK.
‘We are, Jonas, but I think we’re also very similar.’
‘You do?’
She nodded, her green eyes wide as they roamed over his face.
‘Jonas, I did grow up surrounded by money and privilege. I had whatever material things I could desire but you know what? All I ever wanted was to have my mother back and I’d have sacrificed everything else in a moment just to see her walk through the door. I’d have lived in a caravan or a shed if I could have grown up with her in my life.’
A tear trickled down her cheek and he automatically removed his glove and wiped it away.
‘You really mean that?’
‘Of course I do.’
He pulled off his other glove then cupped her face.
‘Frankie, I could never give you everything that you’ve had throughout your life. I don’t have much money and I still live with my mother.’
‘I still live with my father and grandmother.’
He laughed. ‘You have a bit more room than we do, but it suited me because I still wanted to travel and to be free of the constraints of my own place and, of course, it meant that I could help Mum out with the rent. I watched her struggle while I was growing up and I couldn’t bear to see her struggling again.’
‘Of course not.’
‘Since I’ve been selling more photographs at the gallery, though, I’ve been able to help make her more secure.’
‘Glad to hear it. Jonas… I’m freezing.’ She was trembling with the cold. ‘I need to go inside.’
‘Of course you do. Sorry… I’ll let you go.’
‘Would you come with me?’
‘To the bar? I think it’ll be closed now.’
‘No, to my room.’
He gazed at her then pulled her closer and stroked the soft skin of her cheeks, ran his thumbs over her pretty lips then leant forwards and kissed them gently.
‘Are you sure this is what you want?’
‘I don’t want you to go. I want to be with you tonight.’
‘How can I say no to that? But I have Luna.’ He looked down at the dog and she tilted her head to one side and let out a small whine.
‘I’m sure I saw a sign saying that they allow dogs inside. If not, we can sneak her in.’
‘I suppose it will be quiet now that it’s so late… or rather early.’
‘Come on, let’s go find out.’
He kissed her again then she took his hand and they entered the hotel together.
Frankie hadn’t judged him, his mother or his home. She was exactly as she seemed. Kind, sweet and friendly. Beautiful and desirable. And she wanted him too.
A new year had just begun and Jonas had a good feeling that it would be the best year yet…
Epilogue
‘So, do you think we’ll see them?’ Hugo asked as they made themselves comfortable on the reindeer skin outside the lavvu.
‘If we’re lucky.’ Freya smiled at him.
‘I’m very lucky indeed.’ He wrapped his arm around her. ‘My luck changed when you came back into my life.’
Frankie shook her head. Over a year had passed since her parents had officially got back together on New Year’s Eve, even renewing their wedding vows the following s
ummer, and they were still in awe at being together again. They’d even both produced their original wedding rings and Frankie had thought it incredibly romantic how they’d kept the rings safe all that time. Seeing them reunited never failed to lift her heart, and although the sadness still lingered that they’d lost out on so much time, they kept reminding her that they had plenty of time ahead to enjoy as a family. Frankie and her father had moved out to Norway just before Christmas and were staying at Freya’s home, and Jonas spent a lot of time there too, although he’d recently started hinting that he and Frankie should start looking for a place of their own. Frankie and her father also travelled back often to visit Helen, who had made a good recovery with the right balance of medication and had housekeeper Annie close by in case of emergencies. A nurse also visited her three times a week as part of the private hospital’s aftercare package. The softening that had come with Helen’s illness and realization about her poor treatment of her family, especially her daughter-in-law, had also made Helen kinder to work for, and even though Annie was her housekeeper, she’d also become a close friend. Freya had gone back to the house with Frankie and Hugo a few times and Grandma had apologized to her for her behaviour in the past. It had been awkward and stilted, and the two women would never be close, but they’d managed to have their say and Freya had accepted Helen’s apology. Frankie didn’t think it was possible to get over a lifetime of hurt and loss, but her mother had been gracious and kind towards the woman who had pushed her away all those years ago, and it had made Frankie love her even more. Freya had a good heart and an enormous amount of compassion, and Grandma had been extremely penitent. The way that Freya accepted Grandma’s apologies made life easier for Frankie and for her father, and they were both grateful for that.
‘Here.’ Jonas arrived at Frankie’s side and handed out frothy hot chocolates and home-baked ginger-spiced biscuits.
‘Thank you.’
‘Are you warm enough?’
She shook her head. ‘Apparently the best way to keep warm is body heat.’
‘So they say.’ He grinned then sat behind her and wrapped his arms and legs around her as Luna settled at his side, ever their watchful and loyal companion.
‘Look!’ Hugo shouted as he pointed up at the sky.
They all looked up and Frankie gasped.
‘Do you want to get your camera out?’
‘No, it’s fine.’
‘Are you sure?’
He squeezed her tighter. ‘There’ll be plenty of opportunity to take more photographs but right now I just want to hold you.’
Frankie leant back in his embrace and watched as above their heads, great swaying bands of green, blue and purple undulated and shimmered. Their movement was constant as they shifted and rolled, one moment seeming like ocean waves, the next like giant serpents, dancing to the tune of a snake charmer.
It was the most incredible thing she’d ever seen and her heart swelled with emotion.
‘It’s so beautiful,’ she whispered.
‘You’re beautiful.’ Jonas held her tight against his chest. ‘I love you, Frankie Ashford. More than anything.’
She tore her eyes from the sky and turned in his embrace.
‘I love you too.’
His blue eyes reflected the night sky and as she gazed into them, she knew she loved him more than anything too. But for Frankie, falling in love with Jonas had been a bonus in a long journey. By coming to Norway she’d found herself, had overcome her own doubts and fears about her mother, her career and her past. She had forgiven herself for running away from her wedding, for accepting Grandma’s version of how her life should be for so long without question, for not following her heart. She had met her mother, and now she finally felt able to call her ‘mum’. It had taken time and she hadn’t known if she would ever be able to, then one day, on her thirtieth birthday, Freya had presented her with a silver bangle to match the one from her father and as she’d hugged her, the word had popped out. They’d both been shocked but also delighted. Frankie had also made peace with what her grandmother had done, with what Freya had done and with what her father had done, or rather failed to do. Life was not easy, it would never be neat and tidy, and there would, no doubt, be many more bumps in the road. Accepting that, as well as her past, had empowered Frankie. She’d thought she needed to find her mum to know herself, but in reality, she had needed to peel away the layers that the years had created around her and to look inside. With her new design business, regular commissions from Norwegian boutiques, including one for an outdoors range that Jonas had helped her with, and the workshop above her mum’s gallery, Frankie felt fulfilled.
And then, of course, there was Jonas.
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, their connection deepening under the Norwegian sky, beneath the magical display she’d once only dreamt of seeing. And when he moved to his knees, took off her glove and then produced a beautiful white gold ring set with a sapphire that matched the colour of his eyes, they didn’t even need words. This was what they both wanted, as equals, as lovers, as friends and as partners. He slid the ring onto her finger then sealed the deal with a kiss.
Her heart was full, her mind finally at peace, and she knew that she really had found love at the northern lights.
Also by Darcie Boleyn
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First published in United Kingdom in 2018 by Canelo
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
57 Shepherds Lane
Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2DU
United Kingdom
Copyright © Darcie Boleyn, 2018
The moral right of Darcie Boleyn to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781788631181
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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