The day went by in the blink of an eye, as it always does when you are busy. There was a steady stream of customers all day and at times, there seemed to be barely room for another person in the store. Despite that, it looked tidy and well-stocked and the flow of the store seemed to be working to keep people moving around.
When the doors closed at 6 pm the several people still in the shop were released by Gudrun who was manning the door now, once they’d finished browsing or buying.
“How do you think the first day went?” Rachel asked her as they waited for the last couple of people to pay.
“It wasamazing. Do you think so?”
“I don’t think it can have gone better,” Rachel said, and they hugged. “Congratulations!”
“Rachel, I haven’t had a chance to say thank you for everything. I couldn’t have done it without you and I’ll miss you so much. Why don’t you stay here and work for me?”
Rachel laughed but could tell by Gudrun’s face that she wasn’t joking.
“That is a tempting offer but I think Luisa would have something to say about that. I will come back and visit though because I love it here. You know that.”
“I know what you’re leaving behind Rachel. Did you go and see him?”
“Yes, we said goodbye.” Rachel’s eyes filled with tears and she smiled and attempted to blink them away. “And you know that already. I’m sure Olafur told you I saw him afterwards.”
Gudrun looked slightly sheepish. “Yes, he did but Jonas hasn’t said a word about it. I need more information.”
“Come on, lock the door because we need to cash up.”
It was a ritual with every store opening that everyone stayed behind to cash up. Normally it was just the store manager who would deal with the money but on the first day, everyone was allowed to know. Gudrun stood behind the counter with Julia running the end-of-day procedure. They grinned and looked at each other.
“Seven hundred and eleven thousand Krona!” Gudrun announced as she waved the strip of paper over her head. Everyone cheered and Julia produced a bottle of champagne and some plastic champagne flutes.
“To Snug Reykjavik!” they all chanted, followed by a “Skål!”
Rachel had seen Adam earlier when he called into the shop briefly to see Julia but she had mercifully been too busy to talk to him at that point. She thought he must have gone back to London because otherwise he probably would have shown up at closing time. She had nothing to say to him anyway and was drained just thinking about what awaited at home.
Dave and Julia had booked a table at the hotel for dinner. Gudrun went home and was going to meet them at the hotel later. Rachel went up to her room and for the first time in days, felt like she could relax.
She lay there, thinking about Jonas. How was he doing, she wondered. She’d be able to ask Gudrun later. Had he asked about her or was she completely out of his thoughts now that she was about to leave and their… whatever it was, was over. No, she remembered Gudrun had been fishing for information. Maybe he hadn’t said anything. She had to try and put it behind her. Gudrun’s offer of a job had been playing on her mind as well. In reality, there was no way she could work for Gudrun, she needed more of a challenge than that, but the idea of staying in Iceland hugely appealed and it was the first time she had seriously considered it as a possibility. A germ of an idea had been niggling at her since she had met Eldey with the beautiful blankets at the Design Call. It needed to percolate a bit more, but Rachel was excited.
It had been a couple of days since she’d checked her emails properly; as Luisa had arrived it wasn’t necessary. There was lots of rubbish to trawl through as usual with the only ones of interest being from her brother asking if she had bought anything for their dad’s birthday and if so could he go halves, and there was a message from Adam. Sent today.
Rachel, I didn’t think there was anything else to say to each other at the moment so thought to keep things on a professional level I wouldn’t approach you to say goodbye today in the shop. I’m glad things went well with the opening and despite everything, I am looking forward to seeing you when you come home. Adam x
So, he had gone. It was a huge relief to know that he wasn’t going to show up at dinner. It would have been a nightmare with everyone knowing that they’d broken up but yet he was involved in the sale of the business. She shuddered at the thought of Stella giving him the third degree.
Having freshened her make-up and brushed her hair, Rachel went downstairs to meet everyone for dinner. She met Gudrun just as she was arriving in the lobby.
“Oh,helvetis frystingu!” she said, pulling off her hat and mitts.
“I take it it’s cold?” Rachel guessed.
Gudrun sat down on one of the sofas and removed her snow boots switching them for some chunky black Mary Janes. Rachel perched next to her.
“How’s Jonas?”
“A little better this evening. He is turning from ‘in pain’ grumpy to just plain grumpy so we think that is a good sign. But seriously, he looks more colourful.”
Rachel smiled at Gudrun’s expression and because she was glad to hear he was starting to look better.
“That’s good. Will you say I asked after him? Actually, don’t. We said goodbye, I’m sure he can do without me going on.”
“Rachel, it wasn’t because he doesn’t love you. You do know that, don’t you?” She paused. “He can’t see a way forward, that’s all. And it was bad timing with his accident. The way he felt before, it hasn’t changed.”
