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It was as if she was caught in the sa?’ she whispered

He couldn’t tear his gaze away ‘Better than I could have hoped for’

She put a hand over his at the side of the turkey tray ‘Then let’s get this old girl in the oven I’ve found the Christmas decorations, but I couldn’t find the tree’

‘Oh’

Her hand was still on his ‘What do you mean, oh?’

He picked up the tray—this turkey was heavier than it looked—and slid the tray into the oven He picked up the other ite and chipolatas, and pushed thee ‘We can put them in later’

He closed the oven door with a bang and checked the teainst the countertop Finlay looked around the room for his navy julanced at Grace’s feet ‘Do you have other boots?’

‘Why?’

He walked around her and held the door to the main hall open ‘Because I don’t have an artificial tree I’ve never used one at Druot a whole wood out there full of pine trees All we need to do is go and get one’

Her eyes widened Even fro to cut down a real Christmas tree?’

He nodded ‘Snow angels, anyone?’

Her eyes sparkled ‘I’ll race you!’

In the end she hadn’t worn the very expensive pink winter coat that Finlay had bought her He’d found old waterproof jackets in the cupboard and they’d worn therounds, complete heelbarrow and electric saw

‘I’m kind of disappointed,’ she teased as he wheeled it towards the wood

‘Why?’ He looked surprised

Her feet were heavy in the snow It really was deep here Finlay hadn’t been kidding She gave hi smile ‘I kind of hoped you’d just stomp over here with an axe, cut down the tree then throw it over your shoulder and bring it back to the castle’