‘Yes. A cappuccino for me, please,’ Gudrun said before turning to answer a customer who had a question about some pottery.
Astrid listened to her sister embark on a conversation about how the potter used a special clay that contained lava, which was how they produced such interesting colours from the glaze. If she worked here, she’d never in a million yearsget to the point of being able to have conversations like that. It wasn’t in her nature, and sometimes it surprised her how different she and Gudrun were, given that they had the same parents.
It had started snowing, making the coffee shop look cosy and enticing from the outside. Inside was just as she’d remembered. Gazing at the tempting array of cakes made her stomach rumble, and she realised the last time she’d eaten had been at breakfast. So she ordered two cappuccinos and two cinnamon buns to take away. It would be a while before they ate this evening.
Gudrun’s customer was just leaving, again, carrying a large Snug bag, and now there was no one else in the shop but the two of them.
‘Come on, let’s sit over here,’ Gudrun said, pulling out two stools from under a kitchen island that was displaying various glassware. She moved a few things to make space for Astrid to put the coffee down.
‘I bought cinnamon buns. I couldn’t resist,’ Astrid said, handing the bag to Gudrun.
‘Oooh, it’s ages since I’ve had one of these. I have to be strict with myself with it being so close. I could easily pop in there every day for breakfast. But since you’ve bought it for me, I can’t say no, can I?’
‘Think of it as a welcome home celebration for me,’ Astrid said.
‘Yes. I think I can use that excuse for the next few days.’
Once Gudrun had closed the shop, they walked along Laugavegur and up the side streets to Gudrun and Olafur’s small house. It was just as Astrid remembered. Blue with a grey roof, now dusted with snowflakes, and Olafur must have beaten them home because the small windows were glowing in the most inviting way.
‘You still have the fairy lights on,’ said Astrid. It wastraditional for Icelanders to decorate outside with lights through the winter months to stave off the darkness of the long nights, but now spring was almost here, it was less common.
‘We have them all year round, except in midsummer,’ said Gudrun. ‘They’re just pretty.’ She shrugged and went up the steps to the front door. ‘Welcome!’ she said as they stepped inside. The front door opened straight into the sitting room, where Olafur already had a fire blazing in the wood-burning stove.
‘Hæ! We’re home!’ Gudrun called.
He appeared at the door from the hallway opposite and slung his arm around Gudrun’s shoulders, planting a kiss on the side of her head.
‘Astrid. I have put your cases in the spare room.’
‘It’s not the spare room, it’s the guest room,’ said Gudrun. ‘Come on.’
She led the way into the small hallway, which led to the kitchen, two bedrooms and the bathroom.
‘It’s been decorated since you last stayed here.’
The room had previously been fairly bland. Olafur’s friends stayed the odd night here and there, and they had never cared what it looked like. Aside from their friends Anna and Ned, Gudrun and Olafur lived closest to the centre of town out of everyone in their friendship group, so it was a handy place for people to crash if they didn’t want to make a longer journey home. It was particularly well used in the winter months when the weather was unpredictable and one needed shelter from a snowstorm.
Now, the room was just as cosy and welcoming as the window of the Snug store. It was painted a dusky pink and had a metal bedstead, which had been painted in a deep teal shade. All the accessories, of which there were many, were in heathery shades of pink, purple, green and blue and even toAstrid, who didn’t have the first clue about anything to do with decorating, they looked stunning against the walls.
‘It’s gorgeous,’ she said to Gudrun. ‘It has such a warm and cosy feel.’
‘I’m so pleased you like it,’ Gudrun said. ‘You’re the first person to stay in here since it’s been finished. I banned the men from staying over once I knew you were coming.’
‘Thank you,’ Astrid was genuinely touched.
‘I think it’s important that you have somewhere you can feel at home. And you know you can stay here as long as you want.’
‘Oh, Gudrun. That’s so kind, but I’ll try to get my own place as soon as I sort out some work.’
‘If you won’t take a job at Snug, you have to take the room for as long as you need to.’
‘But Olafur might not want a long-term house guest.’
‘You’re not a house guest, you’re family. And Olafur loves having you. He’s pleased I’ll have someone to talk endlessly to that’s not him.’
Astrid hugged her sister.
‘Come through when you’re ready,’ Gudrun said. ‘Olafur’s making pizza.’
