Page 64 of Icebreaker
Quinn turned to face me, wrapping his arms around my neck. "Flattery will get you everywhere," he told me. "So, are there any Karlsson family traditions you forgot to mention? What about weird Swedish customs I should know about before Maja and your dad get here?
I grinned and thought about the Christmases of my childhood. "We used to do the full julbord, a traditional Christmas smorgasbord. I suspect Dad will still bring many of the items even if he doesn't go all out—pickled herring, meatballs, lutefisk."
Quinn wrinkled his nose at me. "Lute-what?"
I repeated the word, "Lutefisk. It's dried whitefish soaked in lye, a Swedish delicacy."
"Lye?" Quinn tilted his head to the right. "Isn't that what they put in that old-fashioned soap?"
I shrugged. "I suppose they do that with it, too. Hey, don't knock something new until you've tried it. Once you get past that chewy, gelatinous texture, the lutefisk is pretty good."
Quinn shuddered in my arms. "Maybe I should just stick with the meatballs."
His phone rang, and he fished it out of his pocket. "It's Maggie." He smiled. "Let me go take this in the bedroom."
While Quinn left the room, I walked around the living room and kitchen, straightening ornaments and decorations. I wasnervous. I'd never celebrated Christmas with my family on the U.S. side of the Atlantic Ocean, so I hoped it wasn't too much of a culture shock.
Quinn returned with a slight look of disappointment on his face.
"Is everything okay?"
"Oh, it's fine, and it's probably even better than that on Maggie's end of things. She has a new boyfriend who invited her to spend Christmas with his family. That's why she can't be here. I think I mentioned that."
I opened my arms to pull him back into a hug. "So, that means you're happy for her?"
"Yeah, but a little bit sad for me. We've celebrated every Christmas together since…well, since Mom and Dad have been gone."
I hugged him tightly and swayed back and forth as Judy Garland sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." I kissed his cheek softly. "It was bound to happen someday, and it's much better that you're not alone. We should invite her and her boyfriend next year if he's still around. We can start a new tradition."
"Next year," Quinn whispered, reaching up to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye. "I'm so happy you're thinking that far ahead…for us."
There was a soft knock on the door, and we almost didn't hear it above the music. I untangled myself from our hug and headed for the door.
"I'll get it," I called. "You go to the kitchen and check the eggnog to see if it's ready."
When I reached the door, I heard strange shuffling from the other side. Curious about what was happening, I opened it and was nearly knocked over by a flailing mass of legs, arms, and brightly colored Christmas gifts.
"Ho, ho, holy shit!" Moose shouted. He fell against my chest. "A little help here, Karlsson?"
I laughed and did my best to steady him. "Moose, what the hell? Have you been nipping into the eggnog a little early?"
He grinned with rosy cheeks flushed from the cold outside and his eyes sparkling with holiday spirit. "I'm just out spreading a little Moose-tastic Christmas cheer." He gathered up his pile of gifts and stepped into the apartment. "'Tis the season and all that."
I gave him a playful roll of my eyes and kicked the door shut behind him. As we headed for the living room, Quinn looked up, and he smiled broadly at the sight of Moose. He leaped up and hugged his friend tightly, denting boxes and crinkling bows. "First Christmas together, bud!"
Moose laughed. "Indeed it is. How could I miss a Karlsson-O'Reilly Christmas? And with culinary masterpieces from the elder Karlsson? This will be a day to remember."
I watched Quinn help place the gifts under the tree. "Dad is a great cook, that's for sure, but I should warn you—the lutefisk is not for weaklings."
Moose raised an eyebrow. "Lute-what now?"
Quinn scrunched up his face. "Trust me, it's best left to the Karlssons."
With a glance from Axel to me, Moose insisted, "Now I have to know."
I opened my mouth to explain the Swedish specialty, but Quinn cut me off. "Nope, we're not ruining Christmas day with a discussion about gelatinous fish soaked in drain cleaner."
Moose's eyes opened wide. "Drain cleaner? Gelatin? What the hell?"
