“My mom called. My uncle fell and broke his hip. He’s going to spend the holidays in the hospital, and my parents don’t want to leave him alone.” I take a deep breath before continuing. “But you know what? I want to stay in Finland. I mean, why not? I came all the way here, and researched the country a bit beforehand and then this hockey hunk gave me a crash course on his home country…I know there’s a lot to do in Helsinki if I don’t want to travel up north to Lapland alone.”
He is quiet for a moment. But then he speaks. “That’s a shame that your parents can’t travel with you. You were so excited about the trip with them. Is there anything I can do?”
Of course, he asks that. I wouldn’t expect anything else from him. “Let me know if you’ve any suggestions on what I should do in Helsinki during the holidays. I might relax in my hotel room watching movies for the next two days and then explore.”
“Vivian, you’re not going to spend time between four walls when you’ve got a chance to experience a new place! Where are you right now?”
“Umm, I'm just walking to the Hilton Airport Hotel. Why?”
There is a silence on his end of the line before he speaks. “Just wait outside, and I'll get you from there. You’re spending the holidays with my family—”
“Are you out of your mind? I can’t do that, Jasper! No way,” I whisper-shout in disbelief, standing there dumbfounded.
He mumbles something I don’t comprehend. It might be Finnish, for all I know.
“What did you say?”
“Just that you’re such a hardheaded woman, Vivian Powers,” he sighs.
“How did you know my last name?”
“You introduced yourself when we first met.”
“Oh. That’s right.”
“Now back to the point: will you join me for Christmas dinner with my family tomorrow? Please say yes.”
I really can’t say no to that, can I?
“All right. But only because I don’t want to appear ungrateful.”
“Then turn around. While I enjoy my current view, you need to walk my way so we can catch a taxi and get going.”
As I spin on my heels, I see him—the guy who just saved my holiday.
I take a calming breath before following him back to the terminal area. We hail a taxi and climb inside, the warmth enveloping us as we settle into the leather seats. When I start crying five minutes into the ride as I’m just so damn overwhelmed, Jasper quietly reaches over and takes my hand, sending a jolt of electricity through my body.
“Don’t worry, Vivian, it’ll all be okay,” he says softly. “I know it isn’t what you had planned, but I’m sure we will have a great holiday together.”
Knowing he is right, I feel a sense of peace before gently squeezing his hand before releasing it. “Thank you for being here for me.”
“Whatever happens next, know that you aren’t alone.”
DID YOU GOOGLE ME, VIVIAN POWERS?
JASPER
Imight be out of my mind, but I don’t care. When Vivian called me twenty minutes ago sniffling, sounding like she had been crying, I couldn’t help it. Ihadto invite her to stay with me and have Christmas dinner with my family. I didn’t want to leave her alone in a foreign country during the holidays.
And let’s be honest; I want to spend more time with the woman who has me feeling so smitten. There’s just something different about her. When she’s around, I feel this pull I rarely do. Like I can’t get enough of her. It all sounds bizarre since we only met earlier today, well yesterday, but I don’t care.
As we sit in the cab on our way to my apartment in the center of Helsinki, I watch her smiling—which is so much better than seeing her sad. I hated seeing her tears earlier when it finally hit her that she wouldn’t spend the holidays with her family.
“Do you see that red brick building on the left?” I ask, pointing to a spot that brings back memories for me.
“Yes, what is it?”
I gaze at the building as we drive by. “That’s where I went to high school.”
