Page 60 of Courting the Krampus
Natalie: What’s everyone doing for Christmas? Fancy a trip to the North Pole to join us?
Iris: Thank you for the generous offer, but Helena and I usually spend Christmases together somewhere warm. Dragging the males back to the Caribbean with us this time.
Natalie: That sounds fun! Feel free to visit anytime you want. It’s an open invitation!
Sadie: A snowy Christmas sounds fantastic! We’re in!
Natalie: Did I mention the snow here is pink?
Sadie: Girllll, my bags are already packed*sparkling heart emoji*
Florence: Let me ask Adelbert, but I’m sure he’ll enjoy visiting the forest up north.
Natalie: Yay!
Diana: Will need to ask my males, but I’m sure I can convince them.
Natalie: *MY*? Yes, girl! Get it! Boss babe!
Sylvia: We’d love to maybe come next year. Alice and Louisa are joining us in Paris with their males this Christmas.
Cordelia: Me too! We’re heading to South Africa for summer surfing and catching up with my family, but would looove to come next Christmas!
Natalie: Will miss you guys, but have fun and see you next year!
Chapter twenty-eight
Cole
The streets of Kirja look completely different on Christmas morning than they did when we first arrived. Each house is decorated in its own unique style, loosely based on the family’s favorite book.
Some streets have gone so far as to coordinate according to favorite authors or books in a series, stringing matching garlands between participating homes. It has been incredibly heartwarming to watch this community blossom over the past few months.
With the influx of fresh stories being written, families have returned to Kirja, and a few have even relocated from Joulu or neighboring villages. We have welcomed each family with open arms, hosting them at least once for a dinner at our place.
Watching my mates happily embrace this new lifestyle with me is the most gratifying experience of my life.
Today, Natalie, Jasper, and I got up way before dawn to quietly walk through the sleepy village. We stop in front of each and every house so I can sprinkle a fresh layer of snow for them to wake up to. For homes with young children, I add in some plump snowmen—one for each child living there—hoping they might enjoy the extra surprise.
“I think this is my favorite house so far,” Natalie whispers, coming to a stop in front of a creatively decorated home. The pathway is lined with giant candy canes as tall as Jasper, leading all the way to a front door with an elf-sized gingerbread man propped up against it.
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Jasper says softly, humor coloring his words. He stares at her with so much love, and I rub at my chest where the same emotion runs deep within me.
I strategically direct a flurry of snow onto the gingerbread man, making him look like he’s clad in a pink bikini.
“The kids are going to love that when they wake up,” Natalie says and hooks her arm through mine, directing us to the last few houses remaining.
“I aim to please, princess.” I place a kiss on her cheek and a shiver of glee vibrates down the bond.
Jasper’s spontaneous nickname he gave Natalie at the beginning of the month has kind of stuck. Even though she rolled her eyes a couple of times or pretended she didn’t care, the read we have on her real emotions is a clear indication that our woman likes to be given the regal treatment from time to time. She deserves nothing less.
Natalie is strong, brave, and unapologetic about her fierce love for us. However, underneath that tough shell is a heart so tender that we’ll quite literally do anything to keep it safe.
“Talking about aiming to please,” Jasper says, lacing his warm fingers with my icy ones before putting them in his coat pocket, “You guys ready to have a full house today?”
Natalie beams at us. “I am so ready. Quill’s making his famous chicken pot pie, and Daddy Santa is roasting a big Christmas ham. If you add in our casseroles and salads, along with whatever the Alberad boys and their mates are bringing, I think we’ll have more than enough for everyone.”
I nod, mentally adding up all the people we’re expecting. “Nick might still be tired after his busy night of deliveries, but he said he wanted to make somejoulutorttufor dessert when he gets to Kirja this afternoon. I went ahead and prepped the puff pastry for him and got the prune jam and other ingredients so there won’t be too much left to do. We can just help him fold the pastry into stars and pop them in the oven after dinner. They taste great fresh.”
