Vivian glances at me with a frown marring her forehead. “You don’t help them?”
“The last time I did, I dropped a big bowl of Rosolli—a salad made from boiled beetroot, carrot, potato, apple, onion, and pickles—and Elise cried for over ten minutes as it’s her favorite Christmas dinner side dish. According to her, I ruined the entire Christmas that year. Since then, I stay out of the kitchen on holidays.”
“Smart man,” Pappa comments as the women of my family leave the room, leaving me, Vivian, and him alone.
“So, Vivian, do you watch hockey?”
“No, Mr. Åkerman. It isn’t a sport that I have found interesting in the past, even though my dad is a huge fan of the Woodpeckers. But Jasper invited me to a game, so I might attend one early next year.”
Her reply makes Pappa let out a surprised laugh. “Only people who want something from me call me Mr. Åkerman. Please, call me Nils, we’re all friends here.”
“I can get behind that, Nils.”
“Now that we have that out of the way, care to explain why you don’t watch the greatest sport out there?”
“Pappa…” I warn him.
Vivian looks directly at Pappa, tapping her pointer finger over her lips like she is deep in thought before speaking. “Well, you see, hockey leaves me cold when I don’t understand what’s happening. Everything moving so fast makes it hard to follow. And let’s not even start with the brutality. Ihatefighting.”
Pappa snorts in amusement. “That last point hits close to home after Jasper’s last game before the suspension—”
Vivian shakes her head and raises her hand slightly to interrupt him, a sweet smile on her lips. “Can we talk about something else than that game? It’s Christmas, after all, and if I understood anything about what Jasper told me about the Declaration of Christmas Peace earlier today, we should focus on the positive. Right?”
Pappa glances from her to me and back, nodding. “I like you, Vivian.”
They both laugh and continue discussing sports Vivian enjoys watching instead. I quickly learn about her favorite sports teams (Knicks and Yankees) and how her dad used to have season tickets for the previously mentioned teams and the Woodpeckers when he still lived in New York.
All the while, the only thing I can think of is that I’ll spend my time in Finland with this woman who amazes me with almost everything she says. The same woman that I have wanted in more ways than one from the moment I laid my eyes on her at the security check line and then the lounge bar.
“Jasper, are you listening?” I’m snapped out of my thoughts by Pappa’s voice.
I shake my head, feeling my face flush with embarrassment. ”Sorry, what did you say?”
”I was just asking if you and Vivian had any plans for tomorrow.”
Vivian looks at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. ”Actually, I was hoping that we could go for a walk in the snow. It’s so pretty outside, and I want to see more of Helsinki.”
Pappa nods, a smile spreading across his face. “That sounds lovely. Just be sure to bundle up.”
As the conversation continues, I find myself slipping away into my own thoughts again. I think about how much I want to be alone with Vivian. It’s not only about the physical side of things. It’s more about the way she makes me feel when she’s around. I feel calmer for the first time in months.
Too bad I’m not in the market for a girlfriend or anything serious. I still want to be her friend. Someone like Vivian, so full of life and energy, deserves so much more from a partner than I can offer her right now. It would be unfair to get her mixed up with my life and end things when they get too real.
10
NOT THE PHOTO ALBUMS, ÄITI
VIVIAN
The Åkerman family is loud, boisterous, and loving. They show their affection easily, tease each other all the time, and tell stories that make everyone in attendance smile and laugh. Looking around the table, I’m touched to be a part of their holiday celebrations. When Jasper first invited me to join them, I felt ridiculously nervous. But after meeting his parents, I understand where he gets his warm personality and hospitality from.
I love watching Jasper with his sisters, who adore him. With every interaction between them, it’s clear that they are close and love each other, even when they’re intentionally annoying one another. Seeing the Åkermans together makes me miss my family and I can’t wait to see them when I get home.
“I’ll always remember the first time we put these tiny skates on Jasper’s feet and took him on ice,” Nils recalls with a nostalgic look.
“How old was he?” I ask.
“He had only turned two, so it wasn’t like he skated without our help. Kids that age don’t normally have enough strength in their muscles. And their basic motor skills aren’t suitable for skating, but he still enjoyed it. I held Jasper under his arms and skated with him.”
