Icy Heart and Warm Love

Chapter Fifteen

Thanksgiving went by in a blur, and Kalda could only imagine what Britain and Russia had done for the holiday.

Kalda had spent much needed quality time with her brothers, laughing and joking around like nothing else in the world had mattered.

Now, it was around the middle of December, and Christmas had seemed to be on its way.

Kalda was excited, though, wanting Christmas to be there now.

She didn't know any Christmas carols, but if she did, she would have been singing them like crazy.

"How was your Thanksgiving, Kalda?" Britain asked, reading the newspaper.

She smiled as she remembered spending time with her brothers.

"It was nice," Kalda told him. "My third oldest brother, Seborga, is staying with us for a while. He's the best! He tells me all of these stories about love, and battles in far away lands! He's like a living history book!"

Britain smiled as he diverted his attention to Kalda, the newspaper still in his hands.

"That's wonderful," he said, and Kalda could hear how genuinely happy Britain was for her. "I'm that glad you had a great time."

Kalda blushed a little out of guilt, turning to face him as she tried not to spill her tea.

"But don't get me wrong!" Kalda stuttered a little. "I love all of your stories, too. Especially the one that you told me as you wrote the follow up letter for the Halloween party. You know, the one about the fancy dances?"

Britain grinned, happy to hear her words of appreciation for his stories.

"Well, there's plenty more that I can tell you if you would like?" he agreed. "I have one picked out right now, even."

Kalda smiled bigger as she sat at the table with him.

"What's it about?" Kalda asked him, getting excited.

Please be about love! Kalda thought happily. I love the romance stories!

"Well, it's about a woman and a man," Britain answered, his voice going soft. "They met a few weeks after the woman had just gotten into a divorce with her current husband."

"Oh no," Kalda sighed. "That's so sad. Why would she just jump into a different relationship so fast?"

"She wanted to move on," Britain continued, "plus, the man was quite handsome in her eyes."

"Is this even a real story?" Kalda giggled. "It sounds like you're just making it up."

"It is a real story," Britain defended. "Now do you want to hear the rest of it or not?"

"Okay, okay," Kalda calmly surrendered. "Sheesh. Don't get yourself in a tizzy. I was just messing with you."

He sighed in annoyance, but continued.

"After a few years had passed, the man and woman got married. After a couple more years passed since their wedding, the couple had a child. However, when their child was no more than a year old, the father had to go off and fight in a war."

"You mean to tell me that he left his wife and child to go and fight?" Kalda wondered sadly. "Why would he just leave them behind like that?"

Britain gave Kalda a surprised look as Kalda continued to speak.