“We weren’t actually married, but yes, I guess that’s the same conclusion that I’ve come to. That he’s a coward and a bastard, that is” Emelie said.
“I’m so jealous of your lovely girls,” Sussi said.
“Some days I feel like donating them to the closest charity,” Emelie said, smiling.
Sussi laughed.
“Of course, but still, they’re just so sweet, just look at them!”
The girls were playing on the shore together with two other kids; Kajsa, who was Liv’s best friend and her little sister who was only three years old. The older girls were nice to her, letting her play along. Emelie nodded. Sussi was right, they were lovely girls.
While Emelie was spending time on the beach, Linn was struggling with the baking at home. She was still trying to make the perfect rolls, but she hadn’t quite succeeded. Today, she had tried making a chocolate cake and, at lunch time, Andreas came by to have a taste.
“Hmm, it isn’t quite as moist as Astrid’s”, he concluded.
Linn was stomping back and forth in the kitchen, letting out annoyed little grunts.
“Bloody Astrid. I’m going to go mad! Nothing is as good as hers! What was her magic ingredient?”
Andreas held up his hands in surrender.
“I have no clue, but perhaps it is in that book”, he said.
Linn stopped by at the table and dropped down into a chair. She supported her head in her hands and muttered:
“We have looked everywhere, it’s nowhere to be found. I’m starting to believe that it never existed. Otherwise we would have found it.”
“It did exist once, I’m sure of it, but now I have to get back to the nursery. See you around!”
Linn followed him with her eyes as he walked towards his moped. Broad-shouldered and handsome. He was quite some guy. She sighed to herself, took a roll from the oven tray and had a bite. Nope, they weren’t any good. A bit dry and boring. Andreas was right. She picked up her phone and called Oskar.
“Hi there, it’s Linn, are you busy?”
“No, no, at least I don’t think so…”
“Can you come over with some more eggs and butter?”
“Even more?”
“Yes, I’ve used it all up, and you can have a taste if you come over”, she said flirtatiously.
“Okay, I’ll be there.”
Half an hour later, Oskar was there with three kilos of butter and two cartons of eggs. He carried in the shopping, sat down at the table and helped himself to both the cinnamon rolls and the chocolate cake.
“Wow, these are incredible”, he said, wiping his fingers on a dark blue napkin with a snow-covered cottage.
“What? You really think so?”
Linn looked at him in distrust.
“Yes, bloody amazing,” he said, reaching for another one of the rolls.
“So, the rolls aren’t dry and boring?”
She shook his head with his mouth full of cinnamon roll and gave her a thumbs up. Linn sat down on the other side of the table.
“But have you ever tried Astrid’s cinnamon rolls?”
