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"Are you stirring?" Aunt Mary asked
"Yes," I said
She eyed the boiling caraan to splatter, Aunt Mary said, "Oh, hon, you’re gonna get that all over your pretty top Go grab an apron"
There was a hook full of aprons in the laundry roorabbed one that was pink and covered hite flowers But as soon as Aunt Mary sawin her eyes made me stop
"What?" I asked, then looked down and saw the name embroidered on the pocket Daisy "Oh, I’hter’s?"
"Yes, it is But … you wear it," Aunt Mary said "She’d want you to wear it"
When I started pulling my hair up into a ponytail Aunt Mary asked, "Did anyone ever tell you your hair looks nice away from your face?"
I sed hard and nodded "My mom"
"Do you miss her, sweetie? We can call her, or--"
"No," I said too quickly "I mean, that’s okay The time difference, you know It can wait"
The back door slammed open as Emily yelled, "Aunt Mary!"
"Boots!" Aunt Mary said, but E them by the back door
"Aunt Mary, do you have any potatoes?" she asked
"Why?" Aunt Mary sounded skeptical, but Emily cut her eyes at me
"You’ll see"
"Surprise!" Emily and Susan yelled in unison e arrived at Ethan’s house that night
There was another sign This one hung in the dining roo Happy Þorláksmessa, Hulda!
"What is all this?" I asked
"Well, we know it must be hard for you to be away from your family at Christmas," Aunt Mary said "The holidays are always hard without your fas, but it felt like the rooed as she said it For a second, no one could ht we’d bring a little of Iceland to you!"
"Oh Yay!" I tried Only then did I really look around the roo in all the s Yes, shoes Sinister looking Santas lined the center of the table, and a pile of potatoes was arranged on a serving tray like soely festive centerpiece
"Wow Someone went to a lot of trouble"
"Well, of course we did, silly It’s Saint Thorlakur’s Day!" Ethan’sthat correctly?"
"Yeah, Hulda," Ethan said "Is she saying that correctly?"
"Yes Very good," I told her, and Susan beamed Ethan smiled like he was about to choke on the canary he’d just eaten