Happy McDean Day to all!
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CRAIG
"Right then, gingerbread or these...Tippaleivät things?" I ask, waving my hand towards the two different steel topped kitchen surfaces. We'd followed our noses and the delicious smells, to Mother Christmas's kitchen, where we were invited to join in with the baking of the traditional Finnish confections. We just had to choose which ones.
"What are Tippaleivät?" John Paul asks, scrunching his nose up as he attempts the correct pronunciation.
"Funnel cakes?" I shrug my shoulders because I haven't even heard of the English version, let alone what the Finns call them, though by the looks of things, they're like swirly, fried pastry things. They look nice and smell great but I'd rather take some gingerbread home, that way, if I get peckish later, there's something to nibble on.
"I think we'll stick with the gingerbread then, besides, we can take them back to the cabin and hang them...or just eat them" he says laughing when he sees the look I give him. We go over to the cloak room and change out of our winter wear and then head over to the largest of the work benches, setting ourselves up at the farthest side to the door.
"Thanks" I smile at the red hatted elf as he passes us two aprons, folding one over my arm so I can help John Paul on with his first. He dips his head so I can hang the top loop around his neck and then turns, presenting his back and his arse in those worn, snug jeans of his to me. I love these jeans. They really fit nice on his thighs and they're just tight enough over his bottom that I can...
"Craig?"
"Hmm...oh" I hadn't realised I was staring until he looks back over his shoulder, chuckling as he gives me a nudge. "Right, sorry" I say sheepishly, grasping hold of the two ties and knotting them at the small of his back before wrapping my arms around him and planting a light kiss just above his collar bone. He leans back into my embrace and tips his head back a little until it comes to rest against my cheek, turning it slightly so I can see him. Then he covers my hands with his and just holds them there for a second or two, squeezing them lightly before twisting round in my arms and turning me around, fastening my apron strings the way I'd just done with his. We're ready just in time it seems as a couple of Santa's helpers arrive at the long, metal bench similarly attired but with their uniform underneath. They clap their hands together smiling as they wait to get everyones attention.
"Hallo, Salut, Merhaba and Konnichiwa" one of them says, giving a little dip of her head after the last greeting as she looks towards the Japanese couple at the far end of the table. She introduces herself as Janna and the other woman as Hanni and we listen and watch as they demonstrate the process but as the mixture is already made, there isn't that much can go wrong. I mean, how hard can it be to roll out the biscuit dough and cut it into shapes ready for baking? Janna finishes demonstrating, at which point we go in search of the cutters we're going to use as well as each of us getting a rolling pin, flour shaker and one of those flat, greased trays to place the shapes on.
"Right then, what're you making?" John Paul asks as he liberally shakes some flour onto the surface in front of him, flour dust flying everywhere when he drops the gingerbread mixture to the table. I wave it away laughing, covering my mouth and holding back a sneeze as the white cloud hits me. "Shit sorry...got a bit carried away there" he says, leaning in and pursing his lips, blowing away the flour as it settles on my face. "So, what areyou making then...snowflakes?"
"Nope, I thought I'd make you some gingerbread elves, that way you can nibble on them and forget about me ever wearing one of those outfits...I saw your face when I had that hat on" I tell him succinctly, smiling at him brilliantly to soften the blow. He frowns anyway but I can see that he's itching to smile beneath it, the sparkle lighting his eyes belying the pout of disappointment adorning his lips. "I'll tell you what...I'll make you a special one that you can pretend is me" I say leaning in and whispering. His brows furrow and then he gets this really mischievous expression on his face, one that has me tutting and rolling my eyes.
"Not because of that!" I give him a nudge, watching with delight as his face flushes crimson, his fingers, which were unconsciously forming a ball of dough into a thick sausage shape, suddenly becoming busy with the rolling pin. "Right then, better get stuck in".
I grab the ball of dough and sprinkle some of the flour onto the surface of the table and rolling pin and then I start flattening it out, standing back pretty damn pleased with myself once I've got the thickness right. John Paul seems to be getting stuck in with his as well but when a second expletive bursts from his lips, I stop what I'm doing and look over.
"What?...you're meant to be making gingerbread not crumble...what happened?" I ask, reaching towards the mixture that's flattened out like a jigsaw puzzle on the metal table top, giving it a prod. He steps back dejected and lets out a little huff, his lip curling up as he frowns and shrugs.
"I don't know...I put plenty of flour on it but it's just..." he lifts it up, the pastry like dough falling to pieces on contact with his fingers. "It's crap. How did you do that?" he asks forlornly, gesturing to my flawlessly smooth biscuit dough.
"I don't know...I just rolled it?" He stands there, his eyes darting from my attempt to his, his frown getting deeper the longer he stares. As cute as he looks when he's sulking, I much prefer him smiling so I come closer, my hands cupping his cheeks so I can plant a little kiss there, smiling into his eyes when I see that brightness start to return. "Now then, how about you..." I take hold of his upper arms and move him gently to the left in front of where I was standing, "make a start on these and I'll see if we can sort this out eh? It can't be that bad" I say, inclining my head towards the floury mass, chuckling to myself when he raises his eyebrows and takes another look at his attempt now in an untidy heap on the metal worktop.
"Are you sure...it might not be salvageable" he says cautiously. I shrug my shoulders and get stuck in, putting the mixture back into the bowl and adding a little bit of water.
"It might not be but you managed to save my pot right?" I respond, referring to the lump of clay that I'd struggled with on holiday before he'd come along and helped me transform it. "The least I can do is try, just..." he looks at me expectantly, quirking his eyebrow when I place my hand over his on the flour shaker, "just...leave the flour alone now yeah" I say with a wink, shaking my head and getting back to the task at hand as soon as I see him let it go.
JOHN PAUL
"You're really good at that you know. If you don't make your first million in business, I bet you could make a packet selling your gingerbread" I tell him grinning, watching as he neatly lays the last biscuit shape out on the greaseproof tray. I'm a bit in awe that he actually managed to salvage something from the mess I'd made, let alone made it look as flawless as his own first attempt but he had and the neat little rows of cut out Christmas shapes was proof of that. He'd even giving me free reign with his cookie dough before he knew he'd be able to sort mine out.
"Thanks, right then, best get them in the oven and get cleared up ready for decorating" he says excitedly, the dark brown depths of his eyes showing his glee at the prospect. Who knew Craig would prove to be such a dab hand when it comes to baking? I look discreetly at my watch, mentally working out if I've got time to run an errand and deciding if it would be too cheeky asking Craig to clean up my mess as well as his considering he's already helped me out making the perfect gingerbreads. He's in a good mood though and it's not like I want to leave for selfish reasons...after all, it's a surprise for himand if I want it to remain that way, I can hardly go and get it sorted when he's right there with me. It'd defeat the object of it being a surprise.
"Craig?" he looks up from juggling the trays, a few short, dark strands of hair flopping down onto his forehead as he waits for me to continue. Seeing him standing there, balancing a tray in each hand, flour streaking his cheek and a couple of crumbs of the dough clinging to the corner of his mouth, I get this overwhelming feeling of affection for him, so strong that I want to just take him in my arms and hold him tightly until he knows how much simply having him near me affects me. He's standing there though, the veins in his wrists prominent from holding the heavy trays, looking at me expectantly. "Here, give me one of those" I take the largest tray and start walking over to the ovens, waiting until the biscuits are safely inside before continuing.
"Do you mind if I go and just do something?" I ask, unable to resist reaching out and thumbing the flour off his cheek, laughing lightly when he blinks and his eyelashes tickle my knuckles. He frowns, scratching his fingers through his hair and then shrugs lightly, smiling back at me, eyes dancing merrily.
"What? And leave me to clear that lot up?" he asks, waving towards the messy metal worktop. I nod my head sheepishly, stuffing my hands in my pockets. "I don't see why not" he grins broadly and makes his way back over there.
"Really?" Yeah I know, I'm having one of those 'too good to be true' moments. He shrugs.
"What are boyfriends for?" he questions innocently. "You'll owe me one though" he finishes slyly with a wink.
"One what?" I ask suspiciously, blushing when he snorts in a very rude way. I roll my eyes but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth so, quickly kissing his cheek, giving him a hug and telling him I'll see him soon, I grab my stuff and head back outside, going in the direction of the gift shop and the little cabin next door.
Stepping inside, I'm assaulted by the varying scents, from subtle and flowery, to the sweet fruity fragrances like mango and raspberry to more subdued but equally intoxicating woody, musky, masculine scents. I root around in my jacket for the leaflet that I saw and pocketed at the breakfast table, re reading over the information once more before taking it over to the counter.
"Hei, I uh...hyvä...?" Shit! I try to remember the phrase that I'd read in the translation book for 'please can I have' but for the life of me, I can't remember anything but the please. Lucky for me, the woman behind the counter takes the leaflet from me, smiles and in almost perfect English, starts speaking.
"Hi...German?... American?...English?" I start nodding my head emphatically, at which point she stops, looks more closely at the leaflet and then turns her gaze back to me. "Okay...are you wanting to make the cologne or a balm or one of the massage creams?" she asks, throwing me a little. I thought I'd decided with the cologne but hearing her say there were massage creams and balms has me thinking. Picturing Craig as he stood this morning, freshly shaved but his face devoid of any soothing cream to put on afterwards, I make my decision.
"Could Istill make it though, if I pick a balm?" I ask, worrying my bottom lip, hoping I can. She inclines her head in agreement and makes her way around the counter, lightly touching my arm as she passes, indicating I should follow her. I do, ducking my head as I walk beneath the low beamed doorway into the room next door. She stands to one side and gestures towards the various sized bottles and jars that are lined up, row upon row on the solid wooden shelves lining all but one wall of the room.
"The balms are all unscented with different moisturising compounds. We add a base oil and then the essential oils, the scents, that we add that gives it a unique blend." I nod my head, taking and looking at the two bottles she's passed me, the larger containing the base 'rapeseed oil' and the second containing something called 'clary sage'. I unscrew the cap and hold the little stopper to my nose, my eyebrows lifting at the unfamiliar but intoxicating fragrance.
"I like that one" I say, passing her the two bottle back, the smell of the clary sage lingering in my nostrils even after she's recapped it, my stomach clenching a little as I imagine it mixing with Craig's own unique scent.
"So you see, it's entirely up to you if you like to mix a blend of your own or buy one of the balms that we already have mixed...is it for a gift?" she asks. I nod my head, a little quiver of excitement passing through me at the thought of creating something especially for Craig. "For a female or a family member...?"
"My boyfriend" I reply, shaking my head but smiling at her when her lips curve upwards, her lips parting on a silent 'oh'. "I uh...I wanted something special, you know?" I add, feeling the need to elaborate.
"Then you should make your own...think of your lover as you create it yes?" she says, voicing what I'd been thinking all along. Her smile broadens and her expression becomes thoughtful as she looks at me. Then she pulls out a chair at the heavy wooden table for me to sit on and starts extracting loads of the smaller bottles and vials from the shelves, placing them in front of me. When there's maybe...fifty or so in front of me, she leaves me alone, giving me a smile of reassurance and encouragement before disappearing back into the other room.
I've no idea what I should be looking for or anything but as I start to smell each scent, I do what she suggests and think about Craig, closing my eyes and picturing him as a take a sniff from each bottle. Using what I imagine would be Craig's methodical method, I put the ones I definitely don't like to one side and the ones I really like to the other side with the undecideds in the middle. I hadn't thought it would be so easy to choose but thinking of him, imagining the warmth of his skin and his own natural scent that I possibly recognise better than my own, it's not such a difficult task.
I'm just putting the stopper back into the one called 'Royal jelly' adding it to the dislike group...too floral and sweet, when the woman comes back in, asking how I'm going on.
"Not bad...I'm trying to narrow it down a bit" her brows furrow and she turns her head thoughtfully as she glances over the separated bottles. "I'm trying to choose my favourites" I elaborate, putting things more simply, realising I've done the right thing explaining when she smiles widely and nods. Then she takes the seat on my left side, turns each bottle label towards herself and looks at my different choices.
"These are the ones you like best, yes?" she asks, waving at the smaller collection of bottles, the ones I'd picked for definite.
"Yeah...how many should I have do you think?" She looks at the last two bottles, nodding her head, her brows raised in surprise, her lips curling into a smile showing she's impressed at my choices.
"You already chose some of the more...how to say...distinct? fragrances" she says, picking up and showing me both the bottles of ylang-ylang and cedarwood. "And you have the bergamot, tonka bean and mandarin so...I would say another citrus and perhaps...the vanilla, to balance things out a little" she clarifies.
"Okay, sounds good" I enthuse, pleased that she seems to think I've done a good job. She gets back up and starts perusing the shelf to the right of me.
"Are there any particular citrus scents you like...? Orange, grapefruit...lemon or lime?"
"Lemon...definitely lemon" I say eagerly, my senses suddenly filling with the smell of Craig's preference for shower gel.
"Then I would suggest adding a little..." her fingers trail along the bottles, curling around one as she finds what she's looking for. "Ah, lemongrass!" She exclaims, uncapping the top and holding the stopper out towards me. I take a sniff, nodding in agreement and grinning warmly back when it triggers a clear picture of Craig showering in my mind.
"Oh yeah, definitely that one" I acquiesce, feeling my body tighten. She adds that vial to the others and then starts getting other things together...a mixing palette, a variety of droppers and the cream moisturiser it will eventually be added to that Craig can put on his cheeks after shaving. I take a quick glance at my watch to check the time and then throw myself into creating a scent that will be both unique and distinct and utterly delectable on Craig.
Hope you liked it, comments/reviews are wonderful. Also a really big thanks to those of you that do. It's a great motivation to read what you think of each chapter so...thank you all xx