Concentrating hard on her task, Sarah continued to roll what would definitely be the head.
“Sarah, now that you’ve nothing to fear from meeting my parents, does that mean you’ll eat Christmas Eve dinner with us?”
Stooped over, she glanced up at Niklas, sweeping the long strands of hair out of the way to get a better view of him. You can do this. She smiled. “Yes.”
With a grin, Niklas placed the second ball on top of the first then dusted the powder from his gloves. He stepped closer. Taking Sarah in his arms, his eyes searched hers. “And my very first question? Will you write your love story with me?”
Holding his gaze, a smile spread across her face. “A co-authored work? I like the idea.”
He tightened his embrace. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” Yes. A million times yes. She smoothed her gloves over his hair. “I only believed in love at first sight in fiction…until now. Until you. I want to spend every Christmas together under the mistletoe, starting with this one.”
Niklas pulled the mistletoe ring from his pocket again and held it above them. And then he kissed her, as tradition demanded. Not that either of them needed an excuse. When their lips finally parted, Niklas removed Sarah’s left glove and slid the ring on her finger.
Her eyes widened. Had that mistletoe berry sparkled?
“Let’s go home and celebrate. My mother has glögi waiting.”
“Glögi?”
“Hot mulled wine with sugar, spices, raisins and nuts.”
“Hmm, sounds delicious, and warm. Like you.”
His eyes narrowed, sending ripples across his brow. “Warm?”
“All right—hot!” Heat flushed her cheeks.
As they walked back across the snow toward the sleigh, Risto began to bark incessantly. Niklas stopped and looked up at the sky. A faint applause surrounded them, and then the heavens burst into an array of luminous colors—pink, green, yellow, blue, and violet.
Sarah’s breath hitched. The Northern Lights. She’d given up hope of seeing them. Then again, she’d given up hope on love, too. But God knew her deepest longings and dreams. He’d been faithful. And patient.
“Even the heavens approve, Pupu.”
“They certainly do.” Sarah snuggled into his arm, her hand in his pocket to keep warm, her thoughts turning to her family. Mom. Dad. Hannah... What would they think? She had to tell them.
She gazed up at Niklas. “Can we stop at my cabin for a while when we get back?”
“Of course. You have something you need to do? Write that first chapter of our love story?”
“Yes, the part where I introduce you to my family on Skype—after all, I’m meeting your parents, it’s only right that you meet mine.”
He swallowed hard. “Now?”
Sarah turned. Her fingers caressed his cheek. “Don’t worry. Mom, Dad, Hannah, the boys...they’ll love you.” She slid her arms around his neck.
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I love you. And they know I don’t love easily. They’ve been waiting for my happily-ever-after for too long. Once they hear our story, they’ll fall in love with you, too.”
Placing his finger on her chin, Niklas tipped Sarah’s head and brushed his lips across hers. “How does a South African summer wedding sound?”
“Amazing. As long as it’s this summer and your parents are able to escape to warmer pastures for a while.”
“They normally do after Christmas.”
“Great.”
“Then it’s settled.” He sealed the decision with a kiss.
“We’re missing the Northern Lights,” Sarah mumbled.
Sliding his arm around her shoulder, Niklas and Sarah stood rooted, enjoying the heavenly show. Risto, too, had stilled in awe.
When the lights began to fade, Sarah turned to Niklas, a grin tugging her mouth. “So, if I’m to trade in Jones for Toivonen, what’s the meaning of my new surname? As a writer, these things are important to me, you know.”
Niklas wrapped her in his embrace and Sarah trembled as his kisses moved from her lips, across her cheek. His breath warm on her ear, he whispered a single word. “Hope.”
About Marion Ueckermann
Marion Ueckermann’s passion for writing was sparked in 2001 when she moved to Ireland with her husband and two sons. Since then she has published devotional articles and stories in Winners, The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven. Published novellas include Helsinki Sunrise and Oslo Overtures [White Rose Publishing, Pelican Book Group], and Orphaned Hearts. Her third Passport to Romance novella, Glasgow Grace, has been contracted. She’s a finalist in the 2015 ACFW Houston ‘Storming the Short Story’ contest. Her story, Dancing in the Rain, will be published in this anthology early 2016.
Marion loves writing contemporary inspirational romances set in novel places. She lives in South Africa in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.
Visit Marion at her website or Amazon Author Page.
Other Titles by Marion Ueckermann
Passport to Romance
Helsinki Sunrise
Oslo Overtures
Heart of Africa
Orphaned Hearts
Poles Apart Page 13