Page 82 of A Winter in Wonderland
Chapter 36
Thefollowing day the snow was falling in fat flakes from a cloud-filled sky, and I was standing in it, hanging out with the reindeer, doing odd-jobs that didn’t involve too much bicep work, helping out Kirste and Johánná with anything they needed, and mulling over what Esteri had said. A sparkle of excitement kept fizzing through me every time I thought of Josh, because I’d decided: I was going to take matters into my own hands.
Everything felt better now. Even with the overcast sky, the colours were vibrant, the air was fresh, and I wanted to show Josh what he’d come to mean to me over the weeks. Even when I hadn’t really known it myself, he was always one of the first people I looked for when I entered a room, one of the only ones I was drawn to across the snow.
The snow had fallen throughout the night, and today it continued kissing the ground in layers, softening every path and coating every fence. The visitors were loving theirwinter wonderland, even with the low lighting that the arctic circle brought at this time in the late morning.
I was brushing a reindeer called Phil and chatting away to him while all around me other guides were helping their guests get ready for sleigh rides.
‘So, Phil, in conclusion, I think he might just be lovely.’
‘Excuse me,’ said a lady, approaching. ‘Is this reindeer friendly? My daughter wants to meet one of them but she’s a bit scared.’
‘Oh yes, he’s very friendly.’ I looked around the lady to see a teenage girl, her eyes downcast, layered up but looking like she wanted to be anywhere but here. ‘What’s your name?’ I asked her.
The girl looked up but wouldn’t meet my eye, and mumbled, ‘Nadia.’
‘She’s shy,’ said Nadia’s mum. ‘She had a bad experience with a horse once and hasn’t wanted to go near them since, so she’s a bit worried about this.’
‘All right.’ I stepped over to Nadia and said, ‘This reindeer is called Phil, if it helps.’
A small laugh escaped and Nadia said, incredulously, ‘Phil?’
‘Yep. He thinks he’s a heart-throb but he’s actually just a typical, farty guy. I’ve made him sound really appealing.’
‘Yeah.’ Nadia smiled, looking back at the ground.
With a little more coaxing, and a little more explanation about Phil, and a lot of Nadia watching him and how he interacted with me, eventually Nadia was gently running her hand over Phil’s pelt. I stepped back a touch to give herand her mum a little bit of space, but to be on hand in case anything went awry.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Josh approaching. He was in his elf outfit, rosy cheeks and all, and striding straight towards me.
Was this it? Had his heart taken over to the extent he was marching over to kiss me, right here, right now? My breath caught with the possibility, and when I smiled at him, he returned the smile, only, something was different …
‘Hello, Elf Josh,’ I said, playing along as I knew he’d have to remain in character with all these guests and children around.
‘Hey, Adventure Guide Myla,’ he replied, stopping before me and clearing his throat, searching my eyes for a moment.
‘Everything all right?’ I felt hyper-aware of Nadia and her mum right there next to us, and I couldn’t leave my post in case they needed me.
‘Everything’s great!’ he said, though it sounded anything but. ‘I just needed to come and tell you that I have to take a trip.’
‘To where?’
‘The United States of America.’ He gestured playfully. His eyes betrayed him.
I tried to play along. ‘Wowzers, Elf Josh, that’s a long way. When are you going?’
‘I have to go now,’ he said through a sad smile.
‘Now?’ I breathed out the icy word, feeling my heart drop.
‘My elf grandfather lives all the way over there and he’s had to go to elf hospital because he’s kinda poorly, so my elfmom needs my help. I’m just going to pack some things and join one of those sleigh rides that fly over the seas.’
Despite the gung-ho voice, it wasn’t hard to translate that he was saying his grandfather must be really sick and his mum couldn’t cope and needed him home ASAP.
‘Is he OK?’ I asked quietly.
With a glance around he nodded and sighed, ‘At the moment.’
