“And do you want to go?”

She hadn’t been back in a long time. Not since the exhibition. “There was never a reason, and now there’s a reason. But there’s also this place, and all the work, and—”

“And there’s family.” Erik settled himself at the table. “Which is the most important thing. And talking of family, my nieces can help out here. My sister, too, if it comes to that. They’ll love it. And depending on how busy we are, maybe I can join you for a week. They’re not planning on moving?”

“No. Christy seems to have settled down in the cottage, and since Seb got his new job and can work from home some of the time, they’re enjoying village life more than they thought.”

“Well, that’s good for me, because you’ll tempt me to the country faster than the city.” Erik stirred his coffee slowly. “But they’re still coming for Christmas?”

“Yes. And Alix and Zac have confirmed that they are coming, too. Oh Erik—” it almost felt like too much “—I’m excited to see them again. I can’t wait.”

“Alix and Zac.” Erik put the spoon down. “Are they together?”

“What do you mean, together?”

“Well, last time they weren’t together, were they? It seems I misunderstood that conversation with Christy. They weren’t a couple at the beginning.”

“But they were a couple by the time they left.” Robyn picked up her coffee and joined him at the table. “All of which means you’re a smart matchmaker.”

Erik gave a grunt. “I think it means I don’t understand women. Apparently there is more than one meaning for together, and I never knew that.”

“Christy says they’ve been seeing each other all year. Alix has moved her things into Zac’s apartment,” Robyn said and frowned, “although I’m not sure I’m supposed to officially know that. Don’t say anything, will you? She’s not one to settle down, from what I can gather.”

“The chances of me remembering a detail like who is living in whose apartment are zero.” He drank his coffee. “And you weren’t one to settle down, either. But people change, don’t they?”

And thank goodness for that, she thought. What would her life be like now if she hadn’t traveled north and met Erik? She couldn’t imagine living anywhere other than this beautiful frozen wonderland that offered the gift of nature on a daily basis. She couldn’t imagine living without the forest, the snow, the dogs and the northern lights.

“We’ll give them the same cabins they had last time, because that seemed to work out. We need to think what we can buy Holly for Christmas. I’ll talk to Christy.”

“No need for that.” Erik finished his coffee and stood up. “I’ve been working on something that I think she’ll like. Started it the moment they left.”

“Does this mean you’re finally going to show me what you’ve been doing in there for the past six weeks?”

Intrigued, she followed him to the workshop that he also used to store wood and all the tools he needed to maintain the cabins. In the center of the room was a traditional toboggan, the wood sleek and polished, the seat padded.