“I can help you”, he said and sat down next to her in the sofa.
She could feel the heat from his arm and felt a tickling sensation. Oh, this was just too tragic. Why did she have to feel like this for him when he was only interested in Linn. It was just so stupid.
“Tell me about your plans,” he said.
She showed him the sketch she had made of the outside. How many tables were needed and their sizes, and then the same for the inside. Where the Christmas tree would go and where Santa Claus – Stig – would be sitting.
“And this is where the church choir will perform. Do you know how many members there are?”
“No clue, but not that many I believe,” Andreas answered.
“I really can’t do that much more now, because I haven’t started marketing the event yet and I don’t know if I’ll get any response at all. What if no one wants to come?”
“I don’t think that will be a problem, it used to be a very popular market back in the day. How do you plan to advertise for it?”
She told him about the website, and he nodded and suggested that she should put up an old-fashioned note in the shop as well, perhaps one in the community centre too, and maybe also saying something about it at the next line dance rehearsal at the pier. She wrote it down on the list and they continued discussing prices and whether to arrange a lottery and quiz for the kids.
Emelie jumped when her phone beeped, realising that 45 minutes had passed. Linn came out of the kitchen, said hello to Andreas and announced that she was finished for today.
“We’re having cream cake made with potatoes for dessert,” she said, smiling.
An hour later they had eaten sausage and macaroni and enjoyed the potato cake with coffee for dessert.
“That’s the best cake I have ever eaten”, Andreas said.
Emelie nodded, she was stuffed, and the younger girls were really excited. They ran upstairs to play a while before bedtime.
“Who’d have thought that potatoes can be so delicious in a cake?,” Linn exclaimed with wonder. “I think I’m starting to understand all the measurements. Tomorrow I’m making cream rings and fruitcake.”
Emelie frowned.
“Not one of those British ones? With a lot of dried fruit and that weighs ten kilos?”
“Yes, something like that. There’s just one problem; I need to drench it in rum. Do we have that at home?”
Emelie laughed.
“I don’t, that’s for sure. But perhaps there is some in the cellar? I haven’t been down there cleaning at all, just put a lot of boxes down. As I said, I think it’s haunted…”
Linn rolled her eyes.
“Come on mum! Can you come with me and look for bottles, Andreas?”
Emelie froze. She didn’t want him in the dark cellar alone with Linn. But before she had time to protest, Andreas replied:
“I have some rum at home, you can have it. I got a bottle as a gift from a customer, but it’s not a favourite of mine,” he said.
Emelie exhaled.
“Then you and I can take a trip down into the cellar when it’s time to start on the mulled wine,” she told him, leaving no room for discussion.
“I don’t mind going into dark spaces with you,” he said, winking at her.
Emelie quickly got on her feet and started clearing plates and cake off the table with rapid movements as she called upstairs:
“Girls, are you done with your showers?”
She excused herself, rushing up the stairs. As she got up, she stood still for a moment, pressing her hand towards her chest. Christ, he was only 31. This was impossible. She was awoken from her thoughts by Liv who was calling for her.
