Christmas at the Farmhouse - Rebecca Boxall Page 0,49

games, while I set about preparing the evening meal – slow-cooked goose with apples and prunes. I put the radio on and hummed along to Christmas carols while I chopped and stirred, the scents of cooking soon filling the cosy kitchen. As I occupied myself, I kept half an eye on the weather. There had been some talk of snow on the mainland but, while the sky looked grey and threatening, I wasn’t sure it was quite cold enough for it in Jersey. I hoped we wouldn’t get snow, anyway; it might interfere with the surprise. By four, it was starting to get dark, so I pulled across the curtains and lit candles. I prepared some tea for the children and then called Heidi and Astrid and they set about feeding Percy and Violet while I went upstairs.

I quickly made up the children’s camp in the corner of Magnus’s office and then hurried down to the bedroom where, for the second day in a row, I examined myself in the long mirror. What a difference a day made! I felt like a new woman. I found a nice dress I hadn’t worn in a long while: forest green and skimming nicely over all the curves. I did my make-up carefully and then sprayed on scent, feeling wonderfully like Liz from the hairdresser’s. The doorbell rang and I heard excited voices: Mikkel, Belle and the twins must have arrived. I took a breath then went to join my family, for the first of our Christmas celebrations.

***

‘They’re exactly what I didn’t know I wanted but completely love!’ Freja said, after ripping open one of her presents from Magnus and I: deep purple velvet Mary-Janes.

‘I thought they’d match your hair,’ I said.

‘For now… Actually, I’ve decided to grow the colour out. I don’t want to scare the baby! Going to go back to trusty old auburn. But I love the shoes regardless.’

The carpet in the sitting room was no longer visible, strewn as it was with ripped festive paper.

‘I’ll go and get a bin bag,’ Magnus said, leaving his drink perched on the mantelpiece. A couple of minutes later Magnus was back, with Sunny following behind.

‘Mikkel!’ Sunny said warmly, greeting him with a hug. Mikkel looked a little uncomfortable with the tactile greeting but, despite that, he seemed pleased to see his old friend. ‘You’re doing presents,’ Sunny added, watching as Magnus began to stuff all the wrapping paper into the bag. ‘That’s perfect actually, because I have one for you Freja.’

‘Oh!’ She looked a bit uncomfortable. ‘We can wait until tomorrow if you want?’

‘No, have it now,’ he replied, bright-eyed with eagerness. He knelt down beside her, while she started to unwrap the little gift. We all watched, interested to see what Sunny might have bought her. Freja opened up the little box and gasped while Sunny raised himself up onto one leg.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, looking across at Magnus. ‘I haven’t done this completely traditionally, I know, as I haven’t asked you first. But Freja,’ he continued, looking at her intently. ‘Will you marry me?’

Freja was very still. I could see tears glittering in her eyes.

‘You really mean it,’ she said. ‘I didn’t believe you, when you made the offer before…’

‘I know you didn’t. But surely you believe me now? I want us to be together. All three of us.’

The rest of us were observing the scene with intrigue, all casting meaningful looks at each other as we tried to work out what was going on. Freja had said Sunny didn’t know about the baby and yet clearly he did.

‘So?’ Sunny asked her, smiling.

‘Yes!’ she told him, tears now running down her pretty face. ‘Yes, I’d love to!’

Astrid squealed with delight and we all began hugging each other as if it were midnight on New Year’s Eve, drinks sloshing everywhere. Huckleberry decided it was all too raucous and sloped off out of the room. Eventually Sunny took the ring out of the box and slotted it on to Freja’s finger. It was a perfect ring for her: turquoise, in the shape of a flower, set in gold. Quirky. And it fitted perfectly, which made me realise how much planning must have gone into the proposal.

‘Can Sunny move in here for a bit?’ Freja asked next.

‘Of course,’ I told her. ‘If you want to, Sunny!’

‘I’d love to. I’ll pay rent, of course.’

‘We can sort out the details later,’ I told him, remembering that I needed to check on the food. I hurried