Aunt Santa

Chapter 13

Sara said nothing as she helped BB out of the sled. Despite the cold, her niece was cheerful as she pulled off her boots and climbed out of her snowsuit. She bounded into the cozy lodge where a fire was already roaring. "That was so cool!"

It must've been warm enough for her under the blankets on the snowmobile despite the relentless wind. Sara rubbed her own numbed hands together, surprised when Henrik closed his hand over them and pointed to the fire. "Go to the warmth."

She did as she was told, too overwhelmed to respond fully, and grateful for the quiet calm of the lodge even as BB ran throughout the building, deliberately disturbing its peace.

It's just a coincidence, she thought dimly as she brought herself closer to the fire. Surely, it was her imagination that they'd traveled directly to a place that looked identical to the snow globe they'd discovered on her mantel in New York.

The door opened and snow blew in with Sam and Jakob, both of them flushed and hair tousled. "We made it," Jakob declared to her from across the room. "How was your first ride?"

"Great." She tried to catch her nephew's eyes to see if he had recognized the cabin as well but, like his sister, he was busy taking in the room.

It was a small, functional space with a couch, a few cots and blankets in the far corner, and a kitchen. "This is just for travelers to use?" she asked Jakob as he brought himself to the fire.

"Yes. If there is a storm, it can become safer to stay put for the night. There is a radio there as well." Jakob withdrew his scarf from around his neck. "Last year, there was a blizzard and we had a tourist party who had to remain here for almost three days until we could dig them out."
He must've seen the color drain from her face because he patted her on the shoulder. "Do not worry, I checked the weather. The snow will not trap us here."

"Good to know."

"We will have a meal," Henrik declared from the kitchen, "and continue on. It is not too far from here, the point on the map." With his thick gray sweater and beard, he looked very much like he belonged there, which of course he did.

They ate together at the table in the corner. Henrik had brought the provisions in his bag and revealed packages of jerky. "Reindeer," Jakob said, handing one to Sam. "It's good. Henrik makes it himself."

Sara looked at the dried meat sticks and bowls of porridge that Henrik set out for them, wondering if BB would eat any of it.

Her niece wrinkled her nose at the jerky. "I don't like that you eat reindeer. That's mean."

"It's like eating hamburgers at home. Cows," Sam explained. "Is that mean?"

"No. Because I like hamburgers."

Sam rolled his eyes. Despite his irritation with his sister, he didn't look overly enthusiastic either until he dipped his spoon into the milky porridge and gave it a taste. "Oh. It's good."

"Of course," Henrik said with a laugh. "A lot of butter and kanel." Sara guessed that was Norwegian for cinnamon. "And sugar. Very close to what we give Julenissen, who you call Santa Claus."

"We leave Santa cookies," BB told Henrik. She wrinkled her nose at the porridge, despite Sara's attempts to get her to try it. "Cookies look way better than that."

"I do like cookies too," Henrik replied. They all ate their porridge, other than BB, and Sara found herself hoping there was more of it. The rich, sweet rice was creamy and warmed her body through. "Jakob told me you are delivering something to Santa Claus." He looked at Sara expectantly.