‘It’s nothing, really. Probably best you don’t bother.’
She’s biting her bottom lip now, and I see the colour returning to her face.
‘I’m sorry, Sylve. Everything felt so different yesterday, remember? How could I know our dates were going to go tits up?’
There’s a wicked gleam in her eyes now, and I know I’ve already forgiven her, whatever it was she said on that blog about me and Stellan. Like everything else that happened yesterday, it doesn’t really matter. Nari turns the phone to me.
‘Woah!Seventy two notifications, and on Christmas day too,’ I say.
‘That’s the most comments one of my posts has ever had. Look, this follower’s really into it, and so is this one.’
Nari shows me their messages and I scroll through, reading some aloud.
‘Tell me more about this herder, Nari Bell! You’re taking me back to the old days of your dating blog!’
‘Maybe she’s met her match?’
‘OMG, I NEED to know what happened!!!’
‘Well, Nari, whatever you wrote, you’ve caused quite a bit of excitement,’ I say, handing her phone back.
Nari’s shaking her head, half amused, half mortified, and she swipes the screen to power off, too distracted to notice him arriving. He’s stolen into the restaurant in silence and comes to a standstill behind her shoulder, his chest rising and falling heavily.
I see the grave, determined look on Niilo’s face. He’s waiting for Nari to turn around.
When she follows my widened eyes and finally clocks him, her face breaks into a huge grin. So much for being angry and feeling judged by this guy; she’s positively beaming. Niilo remains serious and, I realise, he’s nervous too. His hands are shaking.
‘Good morning, Nari, Sylvie.’ He makes two sharp nods with his head. ‘Happy Christmas.’
Nari doesn’t reply. She’s staring at him in his traditional high-collared, royal blue tunic with a cluster of plaited pewter decorations at his throat and a colourful quilted belt studded with round silver buttons at his waist. The impressive get-up is crowned with a tall blue hat also decorated with bright embroidery. I’m fairly sure there are love hearts forming in Nari’s eyes like in a cartoon.
‘I’m just gonna grab more coffee,’ I say.
‘They bring it to the table, remember?’ Nari says over her shoulder to me, never tearing her eyes from Niilo.
Nevertheless, I slip away to the breakfast buffet just a few feet away and pretend I’m busy behind the juice machine, and I watch what happens.
I see Niilo crouch by Nari’s knees and she leans close to him. They speak in low tones to one another so I can’t overhear – very inconsiderate – but I see Nari’s expression change. She looks as embarrassed and apologetic as Niilo does and she’s making a crossing action with her palms outspread in front of her, waving away what is clearly Niilo’s attempt at an earnest apology.
Then, as I watch, he asks her something which makes her look… well,bashful! Bashful and Nari aren’t a natural combination, so this isn’t something I’ve seen much of before. Whatever he’s asking, she nods in assent. Niilo takes Nari’s hand in his, upturning it and smoothing his fingertips over her palm. All the while they’re looking into the other’s faces. He gently turns her hand over again, dips his head, and presses a kiss against her skin. Then, smiling shyly, he stands and walks off across the restaurant. I make my dash from behind the juice glasses back to the table to get the salacious details.
‘What was that?’
‘I’m not sure.’ Nari seems dazed, but she’s still smiling as she watches him make his way around the tables towards the low stage at the other side of the room. ‘I said I was sorry for wanting to go clubbing on what’s basically Christmas day in Lapland, and he said he was sorry for being quiet, and then…’
‘I saw!’
Nari shuffles her chair back under the table, settling herself again and wrapping her hands around her elbows in a hug as she watches Niilo ascending the stairs onto the stage.
‘Has he seen your blog post?’ I ask.
‘He didn’t mention it if he has,’ she replies in a whisper, her eyes trained on Niilo, who has come to a halt in front of a keyboard lit by a spotlight.
That’s when I notice all the restaurant staff have lined up along the walls and are grinning and winking at one another. They’ve clearly hatched a plan with Niilo and something special’s about to happen.
‘He says he’s going to sing something. For me,’ says Nari, still staring dead ahead.
The piped carols coming over the restaurant speakers cut out, and there’s the faint crackle of a microphone switching on. Niilo’s voice, a little shaky, rings out over the room.
