Chapter 48 Tristan
TRISTAN
The second the portal closed, Tristan gave a whoop of triumph and swept Haisley into his arms to spin her around, nearly crashing them both into Breck and Darla. “You were amazing!” he crowed.
“I would have appreciated some warning!” Haisley scolded him, laughing as she clung to his neck.
“I didn’t know!” Tristan insisted. “Scarlet told me no! In no uncertain terms! I gave my notice and was ready to move here and buy a dogsled!”
“I still thought we were moving to Shifting Sands!” Haisley pounded on his shoulders.
“I’m unfit for anywhere else!” Tristan sang.
The others gathered around, exclaiming over the unexpected visit, praising Haisley’s knowledgeable orientation, and speculating over the future.
“Graham can supply you with out of season produce,” Alice volunteered.
“Scarlet is a very fair and generous employer,” Chef assured her. “You will love working for her.”
“It’s not sure yet,” Tristan cautioned, although he was so full of hope and possibility that it seemed almost inevitable. Scarlet wouldn’t have sent Mal if she wasn’t seriously considering it…though he wasn’t really sure why she wouldn’t come herself if that was the case.
“Dinner!” Chef announced. “It will be late, but hunger is the best spice!” He marched into the kitchen, Darla scampering at his heels.
“This calls for drinks!” Breck said. “Shall we open champagne?”
“It’s not for sure,” Tristan said, drowned out in a chorus of agreement. “We shouldn’t celebrate, yet…”
But there was no holding it back, and Tristan didn’t want to. Breck handed out flutes and toasted. “To our last day in Alaska!”
“To the rest of my life in Alaska,” Tristan countered, looking intensely at Haisley. “However it works out.”
“To the best Christmas present ever,” Haisley said, happy tears in her eyes.