Leena looked at all of them, noting how Fidelia tensed. “Ja. Karl listened to why I love working here. He understands. He no longer resents it.”
Fidelia relaxed and smiled at her friend. “Your gamble paid off.”
Annabelle gave Leena a hug, unconcerned about Leena’s flour-stained apron. “I’m so happy, Leena. You were never meant to live here.”
Leena nodded as she pulled back from Annabelle. “Thank you for giving me the space I needed to see the strength I have. And for Karl to come to understand that we must compromise in this marriage.” She took a deep breath. “As we must compromise in the bakery.”
Annabelle frowned. “I don’t understand.” She sat on a stool as Leena gripped her fingers together.
“Karl understands my desire to work here, but he does not want me to work here every day. He learned that there are days you are absent, and he believes we should have a schedule where we each work the bakery alone two days a week, and then on Friday and Saturday we work it together.”
Annabelle frowned as she cast a look at her sister, who shrugged. “So his plan would be that we share the duties?”
Leena bit her lip. “Ja.”
Annabelle sighed and rubbed at her head. “That seems only fair to me. I fear I have taken advantage of the fact you are here so I can spend more time at home with Skye. Having a schedule would be good for both of us.” She met Leena’s relieved gaze. “And I will do what I must so that I don’t lose you, Leena. Not just because you are a brilliant baker but because of your friendship. Our little shop wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Fidelia gave a nod of agreement as Leena swiped at tears. “Thank you.” Annabelle gave her another quick hug before they washed their hands and resumed baking for the day.
That afternoon Ewan slipped into the printing shop that his wife ran, heating his hands over the warm potbellied stove in the center of the room. The number of excess papers had been drastically reduced in the recent weeks as she had burned them for heat. Thus there was now room near the entrance, and the space appeared twice as large as when he had first entered her printing shop fifteen months ago.
He frowned as he heard sniffling. “Jessie?” he called out as he flipped the lock on the front door. He wandered around to the back area of the room where she still had a small cot. He frowned as he saw her perched on it, tears coursing down her cheeks. “Oh, my love, what is it?” He knelt in front of her and clasped her hands. “Yer article was a triumph.”
“Why aren’t you at work?” she whispered in frustration as she tugged at one of her hands. When he wouldn’t free her hands but instead held both of hers with one of his and swiped at her cheeks with his callused fingers, she leaned forward and buried her face in his neck.
“Come, love. Share with me whatever has caused this sorrow. I’ll make it better. I promise.”
She sobbed and clung to him. “You can’t,” she stammered out. After a few moments, her crying calmed, and she relaxed in his hold. He pushed her onto the cot and joined her, kicking off his boots.
“’Tis like when we first met, afore we were married,” he said with a smile as he tugged her to him, chest to chest, with her face buried in his neck.
“I’ve failed you, Ewan,” she whispered.
He jerked back and shook his head. “Nae, ye never could, Jessie.” He stroked thumbs over her cheeks and then kissed each eyebrow. “What is it, darling?”
“I spoke with Helen a few months ago.” She made a shushing noise as she saw the delight and hope flare in his gaze. Fat tears formed and tracked down her cheeks. “She thought I was pregnant. I’m not. I … I have my courses again today.” She met his saddened gaze as tears continued to pour down her cheeks. “I … I thought this would be my Christmas surprise for you.”
“Oh, love.” He kissed her forehead. “We’ll keep trying, aye?” he whispered. “Not having a bairn doesna make ye a failure.”
“You’re going to want what your brothers have!” She stopped speaking as he pushed her so he leaned over her, his countenance irate.
“Aye, an’ I do, ye ken? I have ye, the woman I love. The woman I want with me until the day I die.” He gripped her head between his strong palms. “If we dinna have a bairn, I’ll be all right because I still have ye, Jessie. As long as I have ye, I’ll never want for anythin’ more.”
She nodded and curled into his arms, her hold on him as fierce as his on hers.
“Are ye sure ye were pregnant?” he whispered after many minutes of holding her.
“I … I don’t know. I think so.”
“Talk with Helen, darling, to help with yer doubts.” He kissed her head and tugged her even closer into his embrace.
“I love you, Ewan,” she whispered.
“An’ I ye, Jessie.”
Chapter 7
On the twenty-third of December, Leena gave Annabelle, Leticia and Fidelia hugs before she wrapped herself in her warm outerwear as she prepared for the sleigh ride home. She carried a basket filled with goodies outside and smiled at Karl as he grabbed the basket from her. He stowed it in the sleigh before helping her into the seat. After bundling under the blanket, she snuggled into his side. She felt the townsfolk’s curious stares as they continued to watch them with fascination after their reconciliation.
“I hope you had a good day, love,” Karl whispered as he gave a click to the horse. The sleigh seemed to move effortlessly as they sped past the livery, church and school. He chuckled as he felt her relax the farther they traveled from town. “I thought you liked working at the bakery.”
She squeezed his arm at the teasing. “Ja, you know I do. But I’m looking forward to the break. To time away from the gossips.” She sighed as she rested her head against his arm. “The townsfolk are fascinated by my disagreement with Mrs. Jameson.”
“Our argument too,” he muttered.
She smiled and stroked a hand down his arm. After a moment she sighed in pleasure. “I’m looking forward to my time with my husband. Four days for us.” She felt him tense next to her and frowned. “What is it?”
“I agreed to go to Cailean MacKinnon’s house for Christmas dinner. I thought you would be pleased.” He glanced down at her, worry marring his bright blue eyes.
She sighed. “I am, and I know Nathanial will enjoy being with his friends.” She leaned into his side. “I was being selfish.”
“No,” he teased. “You were acting like a newly married wife.”
She blushed and giggled but did not disagree with him.
“I have a surprise for you at home, my love,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.
When they arrived at their small house, Nathanial walked over from his house and took the horse and sleigh to the barn. “Thank you, Nathanial,” Karl said, running a gloved finger over the furrow between his wife’s eyebrows. “He is ensuring my surprise is not ruined.”
She giggled at her husband’s teasing tone and kissed him. “Should I close my eyes?”
“Excellent idea.” He put his hands on her shoulders and steered her inside. When the door closed, he whispered, “You can open them now.”
She gasped as she saw the small tree, standing in the living room area, with paper decorations on it in heart-shaped baskets. “Oh, Karl,” she rasped as she turned and flung herself into his arms, holding him close.
“This is our first Christmas together, Leena. I cannot buy you jewels or fancy clothes—”
She put her hand over his lips. “Shh, none of that. I have a home with you. I need none of those things that do not prove love or devotion. Those are just things, Karl.” She turned to look at the tree. “It must have taken you hours to cut out all the decorations.”
He flushed as she looked at him with love and wonder. “Ja, but there is not much work at the sawmill just now.” He kissed her softly. “I love you, my Leena. I know you miss home.”
She shook her head and traced his eyebrows that had risen in surprise at her denial. “I miss Norway, but here, wi
th you, is home, Karl.”
He cupped her cheeks with his strong hands and held her face tenderly. “I want our home to always be where you want to be.”
Her eyes glowed with love and the promise of their future. “It is. It always will be.” She leaned forward to meet his kiss. Their hands tangled as they fought buttons and knotted strings, and she giggled. “I hope we never lose this.”
His eyes shone with devotion and passion. “We won’t, min kjærlighet.” He held out his hand and tugged her toward their bed. “Come, my love,” he whispered. “Dinner can wait.”
The following afternoon Leena spun toward the door as it opened, beaming at her husband and brother as they entered her house. She had pulled the small table away from the wall, then covered it with a red tablecloth, and a candle sat ready to be lit as they celebrated their Christmas Eve festivities. Karl kissed her cheek, and Nathanial gave her a hug. She shivered from the cold as they had come from the barn and had tended the animals for the evening. “Whatever you are cooking smells heavenly,” Karl said as he sat with a contented sigh.
“Ja,” Nathanial agreed. “Although we should have had this celebration at my house. It’s much larger.”
“No,” Leena said as she set a hand on her husband’s shoulder. “This is our first Christmas together, and Karl and I wanted to celebrate in our home.”
Nathanial studied his sister and his best friend before nodding as he sensed the harmony between them. “God Jul!”
Leena clapped her hands with joy and then moved to the stove to ladle out warm mugs of glogg. “Karl made this. I think it tastes delicious, and I hope we can share it with the townsfolk next week at the New Year’s Eve Dance.” She waited as her brother took a sip and frowned as he made a sour face. Her grip on her husband’s shoulder tightened as Karl tensed.
“You plan on giving this to them?” Nathanial asked.
Karl nodded, his shoulders tightening further.
“Fool. You should charge for it.” Nathanial smiled at his friend and laughed. “I’ve never tasted a better glogg.”
Leena’s breath whooshed out of her as she realized her brother had been teasing Karl and then laughed. “Oh, it’s like old times,” she whispered as she swiped at her eyes. She met her brother’s smile and then shrieked as Karl tugged her to sit on his lap. “Where you take great joy in tormenting each other.”
“All in good fun,” Karl said with a sigh as he nuzzled the side of her neck.
After a moment Leena pushed up and moved to the stove. “Isn’t this the most marvelous stove? Karl bought it just for me.” She beamed at her husband with pride and happiness at his thoughtful purchase. She opened the oven door and pulled out a tray of braised pork ribs, placing it on top of the stove. After extracting potatoes and finely chopped cabbage cooked with caraway seeds and vinegar, she plated them each a portion. After serving her brother and husband, she sat.
“I will always miss the lutefisk,” Karl said as he recalled the tenderized and cured cod that was a specialty eaten during the holidays in Norway. He gripped his wife’s hand a moment. “Thank you for making us our special foods, Leena.”
Nathanial nodded. “Ja, tomorrow will be a nice day with the MacKinnons, but it is good to have time to remember our ways.”
Leena smiled. “You’re welcome. I don’t want to forget either. And this helps me feel closer to those who are so far away.”
After they had eaten their meal, as she rose to fix a pot of coffee and to serve dessert, she asked, “Did you leave the risengrynsgrøt in the barn?”
Karl nodded and gripped her hand. “Of course. Any gnome that finds it will be delighted.” He winked at his wife.
“I know you think me foolish, but I want us to continue to have good fortune.” She flushed as she thought of what her friends and neighbors would think should they realize they had left a bowl of delicious rice pudding in the barn.
“It is an important tradition to you, my love. It does not matter what others think,” Karl said as he squeezed her hand.
“As long as you kept plenty for us,” Nathanial joked. “It’s my favorite holiday treat.” He met his sister’s challenging look. “Well, except for your pepperkake.”
Leena smiled. “I baked pepperkake today too.” She laughed at Nathanial’s whoop of delight. “You can’t eat it all, Nathanial, like you did when you were fifteen. We must bring some to the MacKinnons tomorrow.” She smiled as Karl watched them with curiosity. “You don’t remember, do you? You were never at our house for the holiday season.”
Karl’s delight dimmed as his smile faded. “I was forbidden from visiting you and your family at that time. I was told I was not to pester your family.”
“Oh, Karl,” Leena said as she gripped his hand. “If you only knew how many times our mother looked to the door, as though awaiting your arrival. We always had a place set for you.”
Nathanial nodded. “Ja, I think that was Leena’s doing. I should have known she was sweet on you from the beginning. It was not only our mother staring at the door like a lost calf.” He sat back in his chair and kicked out his legs to the side as he sighed after eating his fill of the delicious meal. “The Johansens were miserable people, Karl. Nothing they said was true.”
Karl cleared his throat as he looked from his wife to his best friend. “You wanted me there?” At their nods, he took a deep, stuttering breath.
“Always,” Leena whispered, running her hand over the back of his head and nape, kissing him softly on his forehead. “Always, my love.”
Later that evening Leena brushed and braided her hair before crawling into bed. Karl insisted she sleep on the side toward the stove so that she had more warmth. “Merry Christmas, my love,” she whispered.
He groaned and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “Merry Christmas, Leena.” He took a deep breath and shuddered as though battling deep emotions.
“What is it?” She ran fingers over his cheeks and frowned to find them wet. “Why are you crying?”
He shook his head and pulled her closer. After many minutes he let out a deep breath and relaxed in her embrace. “Do you know, … do you know, my Leena, what it means to be here with you? To have your arms around me? To know of your steadfast devotion for years?” He shook his head as though words failed him.
She moved so that she freed herself from his hold and cupped his face. “Min kjærlighet, my love, my beloved husband.” She paused as she kissed him. “You are the only man I have ever seen. The only one I have ever wanted. Nothing they ever said about you is true.” She let go of his face and tugged his hand, holding it to her heart. “The truth of you is etched in my heart, as mine is etched in yours.”
He looked deeply into her eyes. “What is that truth?”
“You are a good, strong, stubborn man. You are loyal. You are kind.” She smiled as a tear leaked out. “Your stubbornness and pride almost cost us so much, but you were able to acknowledge when you were wrong.” She cast a quick look over her shoulder at their small house. “You worked to ensure I felt at home here on our first Christmas together.” She kissed him again. “I love you, more than you will ever know.”
“Oh, Leena,” he rasped as he tugged her close. “Thank you. For forcing me to see that I was being an obstinate fool and hurting you in the process. For enriching my life by bringing the MacKinnons into it.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “But most of all, for loving me. Me.”
“You have always been worthy of love, my Karl.” She leaned forward, kissing him, and soon she was lost to their shared passion.
The following day Leena, Karl and Nathanial traveled to Cailean MacKinnon’s house for a Christmas Day dinner and celebration. They entered the small living area, already filled with family and friends. Harold and Irene sat on the settee while Leticia and Annabelle sat near them with their children in their arms. Cailean and Alistair filled glasses with beer from a keg Ewan had smuggled from the Stumble-Out, and Hortence sat beside Bears as he told her st
ories. Warren and Helen whispered to each other as they admired the tree in the front window.
After exchanging hellos, Leena asked, “Where is Fidelia?”
“In the kitchen,” Bears said.
Annabelle smiled at Leena. “She is making sure everything is coming along with the meal.” She shook her head as she anticipated Leena’s next question. “And, no, there is nothing you can do but relax and enjoy yourself.”
Karl tucked her into his side and chuckled as his wife bristled at not being allowed in the kitchen.
“How is Sorcha, Irene?” Leticia asked as she rocked Angus in her arms. She smiled up at her husband, Alistair, as he ran a hand over their son’s downy head.
Harold laughed as Irene poked him in his side before she answered Leticia. “Sorcha is fine. It’s Frederick you should be worried about. He’s going crazy with your sister living there.”
“Her jabbering is driving him insane,” Harold said.
“No, I think it’s because she’s shown no interest in him, and he’s frustrated,” Irene said with an amused smile. “I wish this weather weren’t so harsh, or we would have ventured out there to see for ourselves how they got along. As it is, we have to rely on Frederick’s letters delivered by ranch hands who travel into town for sporadic visits.”
“I don’t relish being marooned there,” Harold muttered.
“I thought you liked the ranch,” Cailean said with a frown.
“I do. I just like town more.”
Irene snorted. “He always says I’m the one who will miss the gossip and news we learn at the café when we retire. He’ll miss it as much or more than I do!”
They all laughed at Harold’s disgruntled expression before filing into the kitchen, where the table had been expanded to accommodate all of them for dinner.
The brothers gathered to one side of the living room after dinner as the women sat and discussed babies, the bakery and Jessamine’s recent articles. Cailean noted the tightening of Ewan’s jaw as Leticia held Angus high and frowned as Ewan excused himself from the festivities. Cailean motioned for Alistair to stay behind to entertain their guests as he followed his youngest brother.
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