Anna || HS

CHAPTER 58

~January 2016~

Anna- 21
Harry-21

Anna POV:

Harry and I, along with Sofie, Nate and mom, flew to Norway just before New Years to celebrate Christmas with Oma, Papa, uncle Erik, aunt Heidi, and our cousins; Helen, Jorgen and Ingrid. This time of year in Norway is always so magical, and I'm grateful that we always make it a priority to be here for it, regardless of where we are in the world.
Harry knows how important this tradition is to me, so he booked all of our flights for Norway when he booked everything for England, not allowing anyone to pay him back for anything, in true Harry fashion.

We land at the airport and thankfully it is quiet. Driving through town, Harry is looking out the window like a kid in a candy store. Though he has been before, there is something different about it at Christmas time. Snow blankets everything, so the brightly colored houses and thick evergreen trees look even more vivid against a landscape covered in a layer of glittery white.

The houses start to appear less frequently along the road, and I know we are getting closer to Oma and Papa's. They have always lived in the most idyllic Norwegian house, of course designed by my Papa, shortly after they were married. The bright red house is high up on a winding driveway. It is surrounded by open fields on one side and a vast tree-line on the other. With only one set of close neighbors, there are no window coverings in most of the rooms allowing the natural light to fill the space all year.

The exterior is covered in fresh pine branches and big white lights. Twinkling, so it can be seen when approaching from the road. As we pull in the driveway, Oma and Papa are outside, tending to a large bonfire in the snow,  surrounded by tree stump benches made of twisted wood. It is only about 7pm, but the sun set long ago, leaving a white glow surrounding us as the moonlight falls on the snow.

The light that reflects off the snow at night is one of my most favorite memories of being here at Christmas. That and the smell of fresh pine and Krumkake.

"Oh, my dears! You're here!!" Oma says as she pulls us into her soft body with the best of hugs. On the way from the airport, Harry reminded me to put my ring back on. "

----- Baby, you can wear it from now on. Everyone we have left to tell will know by tonight."-----

"How was the flight over? Uneventful I hope," Papa adds.

"The airport in Oslo was better than I expected, but unfortunately it is never uneventful when you travel with this one," I say, pointing over my shoulder to Harry with my left hand. Oma notices the sparkling blue jewelry straight away.

"Anna! Harry! Do you have some news you would like to share?!" Oma questions in excitement, reaching for my hand with a genuine smile.

"Um...yes, we are engaged," Harry offers sheepishly and she pats his cheek. "Oh, that is wonderful news. I've always liked this one," she says to me jokingly, but she has always had a fondness for Harry.

Papa comes over to shake Harry's hand, guiding us towards the house. "So, let's get you all to your room so you can drop off your things and bundle up. Erik and Heidi should be here any minute, then we can enjoy the fire while you tell us all about the proposal and plans, that I am sure you already have in the works."

He really does know me well.

"Anna and Harry, you can share this room," Oma tells me while opening the door to the guest suite. I give her a strange look. "Now, don't look at me like that. I was young and in love once. I am under no impression that you sleep separately everywhere else." Harry gives me a smirk and thanks Oma before closing the door behind us, as we unpack.