Chapter Two
Ella
Iopen the pantry and pull out the ingredients for gingerbread and Linzer Torte.
“Tell me again about this cake we’re making?” Claudette asks as I pass her each item one by one.
She returned from her daily ice-hole dip a few minutes ago and still has a rosy glow. Goosebumps rise on my skin just thinking about diving into freezing water.
How anyone can do this for fun is beyond me.
“Linzer Torte is more than just a cake. My ma and I would bake it a few days before the holidays. It’s a traditional Austrian Christmas treat.”
Bittersweet memories surface, as they have every year since ma and da’s fatal accident.
That first Christmas without them, Rhia tried to convince me to skip the tradition and pick it up another time, but that would have felt worse, like losing another piece of them. So we baked together anyway, and I cried the entire time.
I push the sadness down where it belongs and focus on the here and now. Patting my belly, I savor the new life growing inside me. I can’t wait to share this holiday tradition with Peanut.
“Where is your mob boss fiancé?” she asks as I turn back to the cupboard, searching for almonds. We need them, and hazelnuts for the torte.
“Former mob boss,” I correct. “He’s gone out to buy a few bottles of champagne.”
Her brows draw together. “Champagne? But you can’t drink.”
“But you guys can. He wants to celebrate.”
That gets Claudette’s attention.
“Oh? And what are we celebrating?”
“Christmas and New Year’s?” I reply, a little evasively, rummaging through the shelves for nutmeg and cinnamon. “Plus, I think he wants to save a bottle or two for later.”
“For after the baby is born?” Claudette asks, confused. “He could just buy more booze then. He’s got until May.”
Should I tell her now?
I’m not entirely convinced that getting married in the next eight and a half days is such a brilliant idea. This will only happen once in my life. I don’t want to rush it.
It has to be memorable. Even if it’s only with Tiero and me.
“Yes and no,” I reply, just as the sound of a plane flying low over the house disturbs the Alaskan peace.
I pause, listening. I haven’t heard a plane since I got here. That sounded close.
“Can you please stop speaking in riddles?” Claudette complains, unperturbed by the noise. It’s gone as quickly as it appeared.
“It sucks when you don’t get straight answers, doesn’t it?” I tease, raising my eyebrows pointedly at my psychic friend. It’s time for a little payback.
She stares at me expectantly. I smile sweetly and let another moment pass, busying myself arranging the ingredients on the kitchen counter.
She stays silent until I can’t stand it anymore, the corners of my mouth tilting up.
“Tiero wants to keep at least a bottle as a memento. He’s surprisingly sentimental,” I tell her.
I’m enjoying the hell out of drawing this out.
“Memento for what?”
“Umm… our first Christmas together,” I say, making it up on the spot. “You know, when he was shot, he thought he wouldn’t see another one.”
She eyes me suspiciously. “What else?”
I nudge her with my elbow. “You tell me. You’re the psychic.”
That earns me an eye roll.
Claudette stays quiet while I turn back to the cupboard, pretending to rummage. I’ve already taken everything out, but teasing her is too much fun.
When I turn around again, she widens her eyes, tapping her fingers on the counter.
I relent.
“Tiero wants to get married before the end of the year.”
A grin lights up Claudette’s face, and she fist-pumps the air.
“Ha, I knew I liked him,” she exclaims. “That’s so romantic. He wants to start the new year with you as his wife.” She swoons. “I love it. Looovvvve it!”
For someone who doesn’t want to get married or settle down, her reaction is surprising. Then again, I should always expect the unexpected from Claudette.
I can’t help but smile and laugh with her as she pulls me into a hug and twirls us around.
“I love a good wedding. And Rhia will be back by then, so she can be part of it too.”
Still laughing, I disentangle from her.
“I don’t think it can be done,” I say. “Especially not without Rhia, the super organizer, back here until after Christmas. There’s not enough time to put it all together.”
I shake my head.
“Where would we even find a minister at such short notice? And everything else? A dress, a suit, a cake, flowers, a venue…”
I frown. This is impossible.
“I want it to be special. Even Rhia, if she were here, couldn’t pull this off in nine days. Eight and a half, really, given today is half over. Especially with Christmas right around the corner.”
Claudette shrugs, unfazed as ever.
“Well, sounds like Tiero is securing the booze. That’s one item ticked off. And as for a minister…”
She grins.
“I can marry you guys.”