Page 54 of A Winter in Wonderland
He laughed in delight. ‘Merry Christmas Eve to you. Did you make this?’
I could tell he was picturing my gingerbread heart situation. ‘Esteri made it.’
‘Great. Thank you!’
‘Elfing all day today?’
‘Absolutely. What are you on?’
‘A bit of everything,’ I said.
‘OK.’ He took the bowl and began heading out of the kitchen. ‘Thank you, and maybe see you around today?’
‘Yeah, maybe,’ I replied, my conversation glowing.
‘Or at the Christmas party tonight?’
The party. Of course. I was about to have an internal grumble about my dislike of festive shindigs and thenstopped myself. I was actually looking forward to this party. By tonight, I would have made it to Christmas.
‘See you there.’ I smiled.
Before heading out to work for the day, it was Secret Santa gift opening time. Not everybody could be in the chalet at the same time as we were all on different shifts, but the general agreement was those who were here now opened their gifts, those who weren’t would get theirs later, and nobody should open them alone.
Trying to keep a total poker-face, I watched as Angelique opened her ‘framed’ photo and laughed with delight. ‘This is gorgeous!’ she cried. ‘I don’t know which magical photographer made me look even prettier than the reindeer but thank you!’
I smiled. I’d fess up at some point and send her the pic digitally. If she really wanted it.
When it came time to open my present I winked at Esteri, since I knew she was my not-so-secret Santa. The gift was small and wrapped in red tissue paper, and when I opened it, out dropped a fabric bracelet, woven from soft emerald-green plaid. A friendship bracelet! This was so sweet and thoughtful, and I loved the colour, so slipped it on immediately. ‘Thank you so much, Secret Santa, whoever you are; I love it!’ I said, winning the Oscar for Best Actress.
I stayed to watch a few other people open gifts, but then really had to get to work. And nothing, not even being late, was allowed to go wrong today when I was this close to making it.
*
Esteri and I moaned as our tired bodies lay down on the warm wooden slats. We were sneaking in a quick pre-party sauna after our long, busy day of work full of different excursions and activities. Esteri told me a Christmas Eve sauna is a must-do ritual here in Finland, but because we’d be at the party the whole evening neither of us wanted to risk not fitting one in later. So ten minutes now would tide us over.
‘Is tomorrow ever as busy as today?’ I asked my roommate, and in reply she let out a satisfied sigh.
‘Yes, it’ll be busy, but we get a slightly later start. Today just feels extra-epic because of the party tacked on the end as well. Are you feeling ready for tonight?’
‘Hell yeah I am,’ I answered, my eyes closed. The excitement in the air had been everywhere today; on faces, in smiles, buzzing energy through the cold, dancing in the snowflakes.
‘I wonder if anything interesting will happen.’
‘What like?’
‘Well, you know, Christmas parties, dancing, mistletoe, Josh … ’
‘Shut up.’ I tried to swat her but couldn’t quite move my arm.
‘All right, all right,’ Esteri laughed, then said with determination, ‘We will have fun tonight.’
