Page 27 of New Beginning

Mikkel smiled. “Your wish came true.”

“That tree isn’t even going to fit through the door.”

“It will. Trust me.”

Teddy sighed. “You know I do.”

Mikkel got out of the truck and went round to the back. “You hold onto the top of the tree and I’ll pull it out. Walk backwards until the tree’s off, then head to the door. I’ll be carrying the other end. The door will open. Go straight to the sitting area.”

Teddy did as he was told, because he was a good boy. Mikkel’s heart thumped hard. If he didn’t have preternatural strength and a magical house, this wouldn’t have been possible but he had and it was. Teddy had more strength now too, he just didn’t know it yet.

Teddy put his end of the tree down in the living area and gasped. “I hope we didn’t bring a squirrel family in here with us. We’ll find out when you take off that netting.”

“Will you bring in the decorations from the truck, please.”

As Teddy skipped off, no fears now about being outdoors, Mikkel and the house put the tree upright in a metal stand. He’d been going to cut the netting but decided to wait for Teddy. Mikkel felt the house murmuring in his head. Excited. Something different. This is fun. The view through the windows changed to one of snow-covered trees and an iced-over lake.

“Thank you,” Mikkel whispered.

Teddy came bounding back like a puppy and gaped when he saw the tree. “Good grief, it’s huge.” He put the bags of decorations down on the couch. “Oh, I like the view through the window. Just right. Well done, house! You are clever.”

Mikkel picked up a large pair of scissors. “Stand back and look out for flying squirrels and annoyed bears.”

When Teddy laughed, Mikkel smiled. He wasn’t naturally a funny guy so when he managed to make Teddy chuckle, it made him feel happy.

A moment later, the netting was off the tree, the branches had spread and it looked beautiful. And there were no squirrels. Or bears.

“Wow.” Teddy tucked in against him. “I don’t think we have enough lights to cover it. Two boxes are nowhere near enough.”

As he spoke, lights appeared all over the tree, thousands of them sparkling with a soft, warm glow. Mikkel noted they pulsed in time with the house’s steady, contented hum.

Teddy gasped, pressing closer to Mikkel’s side. Mikkel wrapped an arm around his shoulders. The enjoyment of the house was a physical thing now, buzzing through the floorboards like a cat purring. Show-off, he thought toward the ceiling and was rewarded with a playful bow by the tree’s top branch.

“Right then.” Mikkel motioned towards the bags on the couch. “Since the house took care of the heavy lifting with the lights, I suppose we’re on ornament duty.”

Teddy began to unwrap the decorations. “How are we even reaching the top half? Unless your magical house fancies lifting us up?”

Before Mikkel could speak, two sturdy wooden step ladders glided smoothly across the hardwood floor from the hallway, coming to a gentle halt on either side of the massive pine.

Teddy burst into another laugh, a bright, clear sound that made Mikkel’s heart swell.

“I could get used to this.” Teddy grabbed a handful of silver stars, handing half to Mikkel. “Bottom branches for me, high-altitude expedition for you?”

“Deal.” Mikkel grinned, stepping up onto the ladder.

They didn’t have enough decorations, but Mikkel made sure they never ran out of the ones that Teddy had declared were, “The best things ever.” Though he did say that rather a lot.

For the next hour, the room was filled with the scent of pine and the rhythm of their shared laughter. The house produced warm mince pies and brandy butter. Mikkel couldn’t believe this was happening.

Believe it the house said to him.

Every time Teddy hung a decoration on a lower branch, a subtle ripple would pass through the tree as it adjusted its branches to show an ornament in its best light. Teddy didn’t notice, but Mikkel did.

Finally, the bags were empty.

“Done.” Mikkel came back down the ladder and as he stepped off, both ladders moved out of the room.

Teddy didn’t even notice, he was staring at the tree.