her up and settle her in his lap. He fastened the necklace behind her neck then opened his arms so Josie and Maria could scramble into the hug too. ‘I have everything I could wish for.’
Josie nodded wisely. ‘Good job it was you who got the Christmas pudding sixpence.’
It was nearly midnight.
In Nico’s bedroom at Honeybun Cottage a bottle of champagne rested in a cooler. One of Hannah’s gifts had been scented candles and their sinuously moving flames added a glow to the room and a sultry fragrance to the air. A chair had been wedged under the doorknob in case of intruding children.
Hannah lay in Nico’s arms, boneless after the last hour of lovemaking. He traced the shape of her new amber necklace, which was all she wore.
She snuggled into his rangy body. ‘This has been the best Christmas.’
He murmured an agreement, his breath hot on her skin. ‘I was scared it was going to be the worst. But every Christmas from now on is going to be just as special. The anniversary of when you told me you loved me.’
She kissed the corner of his mouth. ‘It’s our love-iversary.’
‘Tomorrow we get a taste of the future,’ he said seriously, the planes of his face gilded by the candlelight. ‘The girls are going to Loren at Vivvi and Redfern’s house for Boxing Day. Josie and Maria might be worried I’m not coming back for them or want to stay longer than arranged. Loren might be having a bad day. Vivvi might boss everyone about. But it’s also an opportunity. You and I can find somewhere open for lunch or walk by the canal. It’s not the most exciting Boxing Day date but at least we’ll spend time alone.’ His voice became apologetic. ‘I can’t leave the girls two or three hours away in Reading and come flying back here to spend the day in bed, much as I’d love to.’
An idea hit Hannah with a tingle. ‘We could borrow The Bus!’
He snorted a laugh. ‘Seriously?’ Then: ‘Hell, yes, let’s borrow The Bus. It’s a mobile bedroom, for goodness’ sake. The best Boxing Day date venue ever. We can take a picnic.’
He rolled onto his back, snuggling her half on top of him so her hair spread over them both and they fitted together all the way down. ‘Hannah Anna Goodbody, we’re going to be great together.’
And, as she watched him slide gently into sleep, she felt her ideas of going it alone fade away. Her old relationships had just been her trying to find the real thing and not a warning never to rely on a man. With this man, she’d never find ‘together’ a bad place to be.
Acknowledgements
When I pondered settings for this wintry book my friend Pia Fenton, who is also author Christina Courtenay, suggested that one of them be Sweden. As well as masterminding the research trip she was my tour guide, historian, translator and host. Thank you so much, Pia! She lined up her friends and relatives to help and the only thing I had to do was organise a hotel in Stockholm for three days. I booked the wrong one.
I’m also enormously grateful to:
Pia’s mother, Birgitta Tapper, who hosted me in her lovely home in Småland, provided delicious Swedish food and taught me about ice hockey. She took us to see Swedish Hockey League team HV71 play in Jönköping, a wonderful evening that left me in awe of the lightning-quick, skilful sport and its players.
Lars and Chicki Jonsson provided delicious fika (coffee and cake break) while they talked about teenage ice hockey. They, Pia and Gunbritt Lager shared their memories of growing up in Sweden.
Anthony Tapper and Malikah Semakula welcomed me into their apartment in Östermalm and generously answered a hundred questions about Östermalm Man and Stockholm life.
Carol Dahlén-Fräjdin, Victor, Lisa and Johan Fräjdin gave me a delicious lunch and kindly illuminated the Swedish education system in interesting and relatable detail.
Nat and Eugene Powell offered entertaining and valuable insight into moving to Sweden and learning Swedish.
Anna Rambëck gave us a lovely evening chatting about Stockholm in the Ice Bar and then over Swedish meatballs.
Back in the UK, my niece Véronique Moorcroft, who you might know under her pen names of Ella Allbright and Nikki Moore, provided essential HR information and advice.
Nurses David and Julia Roberts shared their knowledge of the recovery timeline of an elderly lady with a broken arm.
Anne Dicks helped me with rural retail outlets and their signage.