Page 63 of A Winter in Wonderland
‘Josh, what was that camera setting you were telling me about that would make night photos come out better?’ one of the other elves called across the room.
With a last smile at each other, and a pang in my heart, I whispered to him. ‘Goodnight, Josh. See you in the morning.’
‘Night, Myla. Thanks for the hot chocolate.’
‘Thanks for keeping me warm.’
‘Anytime.’ Stuffing his hands in his pockets and treating me to a last smile, he made his way towards his friend with the camera, and I turned to Esteri.
‘You don’t want to use the room?’ she asked me, quietly.
‘No.’ I brushed her away.
She shrugged. ‘OK. Rice porridge?’
‘Isn’t it, like, three in the morning?’
‘Is that a no?’
‘No, I’ll have some,’ I said, and got myself a bowl, stealing a glimpse back at Josh, bent over the camera, explaining the settings.
‘You all right?’ Esteri asked, spooning me some of the warm, creamy porridge.
I nodded. ‘Yes. I’m all right. More than all right.’ In fact, ever-so-slowly, like the moving parts of a mechanical clock, things were starting to work themselves into a place pretty close to perfect.
