Everyone needs a fresh start

Isabella

When Gustaf and I finally got back to the inn it was well past lunchtime, I made a quick sandwich for both of us before going back to decorating the fireplace.

" And how did you meet my friends? " I asked the boy as I sorted out the socks to hang on the mantelpiece.

" 'It was a little over two months since I had arrived in Alaska, I was occupying my cousin's couch, since I couldn't get a house to rent " Gustaf started narrating, taking one of the socks from my hand.

I felt a shiver run through my body as his skin brushed against mine, chiding me for that reaction. I need to start controlling myself around him!

" One day, I was coming back from a house I had been to visit and I saw this skinny girl with a boy literally strapped to her back helping a boy carry a big box into the house " I couldn't help but smile as I remembered how dependent Gwen was on Sling in Danny's first year.

That seemed like a century ago. I had memories of when she and Zachary told me they were going to be parents, just before they decided to get married. They had been living together since we went to college, but with the baby coming, they decided to make it official.

I was the one who helped Gwen through her postpartum, and during the baby's first few months, since her relationship with her parents had been completely severed when she came of age. And that was it for all of us.

And it seemed to have happened in another lifetime.

" I offered to help them, and by the end of the day, they knew enough to offer me the hut. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, but it worked out " Gustaf simplified the story.

That made sense, it was in their personality to return the help they received, and they got it right.

" 'You hit it off right away.

" Just like you," he returned.

That comment made me laugh, no, it made me laugh as I remembered Monaghan's expression the day I sat down with him for lunch.

" Are you kidding? He hated me. I beat the poor guy by fatigue.

" 'Didn't you say you sat with him at lunch and you became friends? " Gustaf frowned.

" 'Yes, but I didn't say I gave him another option. As soon as I sat down, he asked me if I was lost and told me to get out of there before he made me," I confided, receiving a surprised look in return.

" And what did you do? 

" 'I told him I wanted to see him make me do it and I chased him until he got used to me. We had a similar personality, so it didn't take more than a week.

Gustaf finished hanging the stockings, indicating what I should put inside each one.

" I didn't have to chase anyone, so I guess we just identified ourselves in a similar situation " Gustaf stepped aside to pick up an ornate garland to hang.

I turned to face him, leaning on the mantelpiece, watching the man arrange the ornaments on the garland.

" What situation? 

Gustaf moved closer, trapping me between his body and the fireplace, once again I felt that tension envelop us, making my legs shake.

" 'We were all here for a fresh start,' Gustaf stretched, hanging the garland at a point above my head.

With both hands free, he rested one of them on the wall next to my face, demonstrating his intention to end our conversation that way.

" I know the reason for their desire for a fresh start, and what is yours? " I tried to stop my mind from working, imagining not very decent scenarios involving the two of us and that fireplace.

" 'You're curious,' he raised his other arm, resting it on the other side of my face.

" 'Yes, I am. 'But I can wait until you want to talk about it,' I could see with my peripheral vision him clasping his hand around one of the fireplace bricks he was leaning on.

A small grateful smile appeared on his lips, making me take a deep breath in an attempt to ignore our situation.

'If Gustaf keeps this up I'll end up attacking him!

But before either of us could take the first step, the bell indicating the opening of the front door sounded, forcing us to move away quickly so as not to end up being caught in a compromising situation.

" "We'll end up ruining the fireplace decoration," Gustaf quipped, ducking near the last box of decorations, just before Danny came screaming in, followed by Stefan.

The little boy ran straight towards Gustaf, jumping on his back while he was down.

" Uncle Guuuus!

In one swift movement, Gustaf pulled my nephew over his shoulder, holding him upside down before standing up, making the boy laugh in response.

" Hey kid, how are you? " He walked over to the couch on the other side of the lobby, placing Danny there, starting to tickle the boy.

" Thanks for the help, Dixgard. I hope he wasn't too much trouble." I turned to Stefan who stood with his arms crossed watching the scene with a satisfied smile on his face.

" "Don't worry, who takes care of one, takes care of two," he assured me, "You guys did a good job here.

" "Yeah, I don't know what I'd do without Gustaf," I admitted, attracting the attention of the boy, who looked at me with a suspicious expression.

His gaze returned to his cousin, who kept tickling my nephew, who was squirming on the sofa.

" 'You have no idea how good it is to see this scene,' the boy commented, drawing my attention.

" Danny loves him! 

" "I have to go, but you can trust my cousin to help you with whatever you need, and anything else, Quinn and I are here too. I know it can be scary to become responsible for a child all of a sudden " Stefan said goodbye.

Yes, it sure was scary, especially since I had spent the last few years having contact with him only by video call.

I said goodbye to the boy, before walking over to the two of them.