‘So, do you think we’ll see them?’ Hugo asked as they made themselves comfortable on the reindeer skin outside the lavvu.
‘If we’re lucky.’ Freya smiled at him.
‘I’m very lucky indeed.’ He wrapped his arm around her. ‘My luck changed when you came back into my life.’
Frankie shook her head. Over a year had passed since her parents had officially got back together on New Year’s Eve, even renewing their wedding vows the following summer, and they were still in awe at being together again. They’d even both produced their original wedding rings and Frankie had thought it incredibly romantic how they’d kept the rings safe all that time. Seeing them reunited never failed to lift her heart, and although the sadness still lingered that they’d lost out on so much time, they kept reminding her that they had plenty of time ahead to enjoy as a family. Frankie and her father had moved out to Norway just before Christmas and were staying at Freya’s home, and Jonas spent a lot of time there too, although he’d recently started hinting that he and Frankie should start looking for a place of their own. Frankie and her father also travelled back often to visit Helen, who had made a good recovery with the right balance of medication and had housekeeper Annie close by in case of emergencies. A nurse also visited her three times a week as part of the private hospital’s aftercare package. The softening that had come with Helen’s illness and realization about her poor treatment of her family, especially her daughter-in-law, had also made Helen kinder to work for, and even though Annie was her housekeeper, she’d also become a close friend. Freya had gone back to the house with Frankie and Hugo a few times and Grandma had apologized to her for her behaviour in the past. It had been awkward and stilted, and the two women would never be close, but they’d managed to have their say and Freya had accepted Helen’s apology. Frankie didn’t think it was possible to get over a lifetime of hurt and loss, but her mother had been gracious and kind towards the woman who had pushed her away all those years ago, and it had made Frankie love her even more. Freya had a good heart and an enormous amount of compassion, and Grandma had been extremely penitent. The way that Freya accepted Grandma’s apologies made life easier for Frankie and for her father, and they were both grateful for that.
‘Here.’ Jonas arrived at Frankie’s side and handed out frothy hot chocolates and home-baked ginger-spiced biscuits.
‘Thank you.’
‘Are you warm enough?’
She shook her head. ‘Apparently the best way to keep warm is body heat.’
‘So they say.’ He grinned then sat behind her and wrapped his arms and legs around her as Luna settled at his side, ever their watchful and loyal companion.
‘Look!’ Hugo shouted as he pointed up at the sky.
They all looked up and Frankie gasped.
‘Do you want to get your camera out?’
‘No, it’s fine.’
‘Are you sure?’
He squeezed her tighter. ‘There’ll be plenty of opportunity to take more photographs but right now I just want to hold you.’
Frankie leant back in his embrace and watched as above their heads, great swaying bands of green, blue and purple undulated and shimmered. Their movement was constant as they shifted and rolled, one moment seeming like ocean waves, the next like giant serpents, dancing to the tune of a snake charmer.
It was the most incredible thing she’d ever seen and her heart swelled with emotion.
‘It’s so beautiful,’ she whispered.
‘You’re beautiful.’ Jonas held her tight against his chest. ‘I love you, Frankie Ashford. More than anything.’
She tore her eyes from the sky and turned in his embrace.
‘I love you too.’
His blue eyes reflected the night sky and as she gazed into them, she knew she loved him more than anything too. But for Frankie, falling in love with Jonas had been a bonus in a long journey. By coming to Norway she’d found herself, had overcome her own doubts and fears about her mother, her career and her past. She had forgiven herself for running away from her wedding, for accepting Grandma’s version of how her life should be for so long without question, for not following her heart. She had met her mother, and now she finally felt able to call her ‘mum’. It had taken time and she hadn’t known if she would ever be able to, then one day, on her thirtieth birthday, Freya had presented her with a silver bangle to match the one from her father and as she’d hugged her, the word had popped out. They’d both been shocked but also delighted. Frankie had also made peace with what her grandmother had done, with what Freya had done and with what her father had done, or rather failed to do. Life was not easy, it would never be neat and tidy, and there would, no doubt, be many more bumps in the road. Accepting that, as well as her past, had empowered Frankie. She’d thought she needed to find her mum to know herself, but in reality, she had needed to peel away the layers that the years had created around her and to look inside. With her new design business, regular commissions from Norwegian boutiques, including one for an outdoors range that Jonas had helped her with, and the workshop above her mum’s gallery, Frankie felt fulfilled.
And then, of course, there was Jonas.
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, their connection deepening under the Norwegian sky, beneath the magical display she’d once only dreamt of seeing. And when he moved to his knees, took off her glove and then produced a beautiful white gold ring set with a sapphire that matched the colour of his eyes, they didn’t even need words. This was what they both wanted, as equals, as lovers, as friends and as partners. He slid the ring onto her finger then sealed the deal with a kiss.
Her heart was full, her mind finally at peace, and she knew that she really had found love at the northern lights.