Free Poles Apart by Marion Ueckermann

the couch before Sarah
noticed he’d seen the mistletoe. Must remember it’s there, though.
    “How did your writing go today?” He sank
into the soft cushions and stared at the ashy fireplace. He’d take his time
cleaning that out and preparing a new fire when he returned later. Thanks to
the wall-mounted heaters, the cabin was warm, but it lacked the cozy ambiance created
by a crackling fire.
    Sarah’s reply drifted from the kitchen.
“Great, actually. I only had a few hours this afternoon, but still I managed to
do some character sketches and bang out three thousand words. If I keep going at
this pace, I’ll have this novel completed before I go home. Mission
accomplished.” Her voice bubbled with an excitement he hadn’t heard yesterday.
    Resting an elbow on his thigh, Niklas leaned
forward, wishing he’d sat at the table where he could still see Sarah. Hopefully
she’d sit beside him on the couch once the hot chocolate was made. “You said you
have some questions?”
    “Just a few. How many sugars?” A laugh
slipped through from the kitchen. “That’s not one of my questions.”
    “No sugar. Everyone says I’m sweet
enough.”
    “Of course you are.” Another laugh.
Already he loved the sound.
    Niklas pulled the beard away and blew cool
air down his chin. Clad in all his snow gear beneath the Santa suit, he’d
rather be Alexis hiding outside in the sleigh at this moment. Actually, no. He wouldn’t
want to trade places with his friend—not for anything. To spend time with Sarah,
he’d gladly take the heat. Twenty minutes of discomfort. He could do that.
    Sarah strolled out of the kitchen
carrying two mugs. The beard snapped back against his skin. She looked good in
her black leggings and white off-the-shoulder T-shirt, ‘I love Cape Town’
printed on the front. In bold. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders,
almost touching the red heart-shaped depiction of the word love that drew his
attention.
    “You live in Cape Town?”
    “I sure do.” She smiled and motioned
toward her shirt with one cup. “And as you can see, I love it.”
    I think I love Cape Town, too.
    Sarah handed Niklas his hot chocolate
and eased into the opposite side of the couch, pulling her feet up onto the
edge of the cushion. Hugging her knees, she sipped her drink and eyed Niklas over
the ceramic rim. “Do you have children, Nick?”
    With a chuckle, he shook his head. “No.
No. I don’t have children.” He took a swig, wondering how he’d manage to not soil
the beard. Not a wise decision to request hot chocolate instead of water.
    “But you do love children?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Do you want children of your own one
day?”
    “I would like a dozen of them, but as
you can see, I’m getting too old for that.”
    She stared into his eyes then lowered
her gaze to his hands. “You’re only as old as you feel, Nick.”
    For a while she sipped her drink in
silence, a distant look on her face. “I love children,” she finally said,
shifting her gaze to him. “One day I hope I’ll have a few running around my
house, too.” A smile broke across her solemn features. “A husband to go with
them, as well.”
    “You’re not married?”
    “I— No.”
    “A beautiful woman such as yourself? Surely
you have lots of men trying to win your affections?”
    “Are you married, Nick?” She had ignored
his question but couldn’t hide the blush that tinged her cheeks.
    Niklas shook his head, the long beard
ruffling with the action.
    She gave a half-smile. “No Mary
Christmas?”
    “Ha-ha-ha. You’re very funny, Sarah
Jones.”
    Her smile widened. “Am I? How about I
get more serious then? You said you could share the secret of Christmas
with me. I’d love to know what that is. Is it to be found here in Lapland?”
    Lord, are you opening a door? “The
secret can be found anywhere, Sarah. It didn’t originate in Lapland. All of
this—” He gestured to his clothing, his beard. “This is not what Christmas