Page 37 of A Winter Courtship
Ulrich and his father didn’t spend much time together. Normally, he only saw his father when he dropped in at the smithy or when they passed each other in the village. But for as long as he could remember, he, his father, and Elias always ate together on Solstice Eve. Like their one attempt to be a close family.
And even after Elias had left Bordertown, his father and Ulrich continued the tradition.
“Oh. Oh, of course,” Mila said, deflating.
“But you should come here,” Ulrich said to Lutoth. “Mila knows how to cook a good Solstice Eve feast.”
Lutoth’s brow furrowed slightly as if he wondered whether they should be spending Solstice Eve together. It was common for couples to do so. But Ulrich couldn’t bear the idea of Lutoth being at his father’s table. His father would stare at Lutoth. Look down on him. Make cruel remarks about nymphs.
“But after, you can come back to my place,” Ulrich said. “And we can spend the whole Winter Solstice celebrating together.”
Lutoth’s face relaxed. “That would be nice.”
“Well, we should get going,” Ulrich said, keen to leave the store in case his father appeared. “We’re going to decorate my cabin.”
“You haven’t done it yet?” Mila cried.
“That’s what I said.” Lutoth laughed. “Apparently he doesn’t usually do it.”
Her mouth dropped open in horror. “Well, go! Go!” She shooed them. “Go decorate!”
They left the store, Rhorton’s laughter and Mila’s cries of dismay following them out.
Ethel spotted them and galloped over, and they walked in the direction of the forest.
Ulrich’s footsteps faltered. He spotted his father, bent over and walking towards the store through the snow. If they kept walking, they’d cross paths. Then his father would see the Solstice gift. And Lutoth.
“Actually, let’s go this way.” Blood pounding, Ulrich abruptly began walking in a different direction, towards the forest. His breathing came in short puffs.
“Everything all right, Ulrich?” Lutoth asked.
“Of course!” He forced a cheery smile as they entered the forest. But shame rose in his throat, choking him with his cowardice.
He just wasn’t ready to confront his father. Furthermore, he didn’t want his father to ruin the Solstice season. Everything was so perfect, and really, Winter Solstice was only a few days away.
Perhaps it would be better to wait until after the Solstice to deal with his father. Perhaps he could go the day after the Solstice and tell his father then. It would be difficult, but at least it wouldn’t ruin Winter Solstice.
He’d practise what he was going to say beforehand. Maybe he could even ask his brother for tips, when he visited, on how to stand his ground. That would be the wise thing to do.
Then he would face his father.
ChapterTwenty-Three
“Why are you eating our Solstice decorations, Ethel?” Lutoth laughed. “We’ve only just finished decorating.”
Completely unperturbed by the reprimand, Ethel grabbed another pine cone from the windowsill and crunched into it. She then turned towards the boughs of evergreen decorating the table. She nosed around amongst the green pine branches, searching for more pine cones.
Ulrich wrapped an arm around Lutoth. “Should I stop her?”
Branches toppled to the floor. They sat together before the wood-fired stove. It crackled and popped as it heated the cabin. They leaned back against an armchair, curled up on the floor beneath a woollen blanket that bore several holes thanks to Ethel’s habit of chewing everything.
Outside, darkness had descended. Lutoth saw snowflakes falling fast and heavy in a blur beyond the window. But they remained snug within the cabin.
“No.” Lutoth relaxed against Ulrich. “Let her.”
Ethel shoved her snout amongst the evergreen on the floor, perhaps searching for more cones. Or perhaps just curious as to why the forest seemed to have entered their cabin.
“Maybe she’s just trying to help us decorate,” Lutoth said. “Maybe she thinks we need more branches scattered haphazardly on the floor.”
