“Oh my God, you made me jump!” She smacked her hand onto her chest as she turned around to see Olafur looking concerned. “I’m just breathing in the sea air,” she explained feeling like a complete idiot.
“So am I,” he grinned, “but look, I can do it with my normal breathing.”
“Very funny.”
“So, you have been to see Jonas?”
“Yes, he’s not doing too good, is he?”
“He is frustrated. It is difficult to be injured for an active person. I expect you cheered him up.”
“I don’t know about that.” Rachel rummaged for a tissue to blow her nose. “We’ve said goodbye. It was hard.”
“He found it hard when Hilde left, he thinks that is what is happening this time. But it is different with you. He wasn’t scared to take the risk until yesterday. I think he is not thinking clearly. That is what Gudrun says.”
Rachel smiled at the thought of Olafur and Gudrun debating her and Jonas’s relationship.
“The thing is, I can’t expect him to feel any different. I understand how hard it is and he has no fight in him. I’m leaving in two days and he doesn’t want to see me again, it has to be his choice.”
“He is in pain, Rachel. He is not thinking clearly but he loves you.”
The tears started running down Rachel’s cheeks again. Olafur gathered her into a big hug.
“It will be alright in the end,” he said.
“It already is the end.”
30
BY THE TIME Rachel got back to the shop, there were still a few people waiting for the Design Call but the end was in sight. Luisa was perched on a stool, working away with her laptop on the kitchen island display unit. Thankfully Adam was nowhere to be seen,
“How has it gone?” Rachel asked her, taking off her coat.
“Really well from what I can gather. I had a word with Julia and she’s very impressed.”
“Oh, brilliant. The first thing I saw this morning I’d have said yes to.”
Luisa’s eyes lit up. “The woven blankets! I know! They must have said yes to her otherwise I’ll have to hunt that woman down myself so I can buy one.”
“I think she knows the lady who runs the wool shop so she would be easy to find. Where’s Adam gone?”
“I think he’s gone back to his hotel. He’s going out with Julia and Dave tonight.”
Rachel was relieved. After what had happened at Gudrun’s, the last person she wanted to see was Adam. He’d probably be at the opening but hopefully, it would be too busy for them to be able to talk.
“Have Gudrun and Stella wondered why he’s here yet?”
“They haven’t had the chance. They’ve been holed up with Julia since you left.” She looked at Rachel and frowned. “Have you been crying? Is everything alright, Rachel?”
“I’m fine. It’s just been quite stressful with me and Adam, you know.”
“Well, I can guess. It’s quite something to find out your employer is selling up let alone to find out your boyfriend, sorry, ex-boyfriend, knew all about it and didn’t tell you.”
If Luisa thought that was a believable explanation, Rachel was happy to go along with it.
The Design Call was over. Gudrun had taken photos of all the samples they had been shown and had filed them into yes’s and no’s. Luckily for Luisa, the blankets were in the yes file. They all looked through the photos, oohing and ahhing over the beautiful things that Snug Reykjavik was going to be stocking. Some of the designers had stock available for the opening which meant shuffling around the existing stock to accommodate it but it was all part of the fun and meant that there would be no time for anyone to be nervous tomorrow.
Dave and Julia had booked somewhere expensive to eat that night, possibly because Adam would pick up the bill, thought Rachel cynically, so she, Luisa, Stella and Gudrun planned to eat out together. Rachel and Gudrun had decided that they would start by going to a fantastic fish and chip restaurant and then they’d go to the gin bar down by the harbour. They had closed up the shop as soon as the Design Call had finished so Rachel decided to go for a swim before they met for dinner. She needed to clear her head. Luisa was heading back to the hotel for a long bubble bath but Stella asked if she could tag along with Rachel.
