‘Do you see down there? They’re working on another replica ship. Shall we go down and take a look?’
‘Lead the way,’ Harrison said. ‘I’m all yours.’
Charlotte grinned and placed her hand to his back to guide him, surprised when he stiffened beneath her touch. But whenhe glanced back over his shoulder at her and smiled, she wondered if she’d imagined it again, because he certainly looked relaxed now.
‘Harrison, when did you say your friends were arriving?’
‘Tomorrow afternoon.’
‘I think I’m going to have to come up with a list of all the touristy things you need to do with them,’ Charlotte said, looping her hand through his arm without thinking, tugging him along with her. ‘I’m not letting you leave Norway without seeing the sights. A couple of Viking ships are definitely not enough.’
Harrison cleared his throat, and when he glanced down at her, she felt that familiar flicker between them. But as soon as his gaze dipped and landed on her mouth, her lips parted, he pulled away, and she was left wondering all over again why the gorgeous, presumably single man beside her was running so hot and cold.
16
THE MAJESTETISK HOTEL, SOGNEFJORD, NORWAY, 1950
Amalie had butterflies in her stomach as she walked beside Oskar. He was holding her hand, which was the only thing stopping her from running in the opposite direction. She couldn’t stop thinking about the last time she’d met his mother, and although she’d begged Oskar not to bring her this time, he’d insisted. He didn’t want to hide her, and although Amalie loved him for that, she wasn’t convinced that it was even worth trying when it came to his parents.
‘Just keep smiling,’ Oskar whispered as they neared the table. ‘You deserve to be here—don’t let them make you feel that you don’t, no matter what is said.’
But her smile had already begun to falter when she saw that the table was only set for three. She hesitated, trying to pull away from Oskar, but his grip on her hand was firm.
‘Everything will be fine,’ Oskar murmured, leaning in slightly so that his words were only for her. ‘All you have to do is trust me.’
His father rose when they approached the table, and a little something inside of Amalie flickered with recognition. He was an older version of Oskar, albeit one with flecks of grey peppered through the sides of his otherwise dark hair.
‘Father, I’d like you to meet Amalie,’ Oskar said, shaking his father’s hand before gesturing to her.
His father at least gave her the courtesy of a smile. ‘Pleased to meet you, Amalie,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, this is a family dinner, but perhaps?—’
She glanced at his mother as Oskar interrupted.
‘I booked the table for four this evening,’ Oskar said, before waving out to one of the waiters. ‘We’ll need another place set, when you have a moment.’
Amalie watched as Oskar faced his father, his stature defiant but his demeanour friendly. ‘It’s very important to me that Amalie joins us.’
His father cleared his throat, but as if on second thoughts, nodded. ‘Of course. Please excuse me, Amalie, I expected to discuss family matters tonight and wasn’t aware you’d be joining us.’
A lie, she was certain, but she smiled politely and took the seat that Oskar pulled out for her. He sat beside her, his hand comfortingly on her knee as he spoke to his mother.
‘Amalie and I met soon after I arrived here,’ Oskar said. ‘I thought I’d have to bring her home to meet you both, but I’m pleased it was able to happen sooner.’
His mother finally looked at her, and Amalie felt like a spotlight was shining on her. ‘Amalie, it isn’t that we didn’t expect our son to have a summer fling while he was here—it’s best for young men to get these things out of their system while they’re young and carefree, after all. I just didn’t expect to have to meet the object of his lust.’
Amalie froze, her eyes widening as she realised what this woman had just said to her. She may as well have slapped her, she was so shocked.
‘Don’t youdarespeak to her like that again,’ Oskar said, his voice rising. ‘Amalie deserves your respect.’
His mother raised an eyebrow and smiled, shaking her head as if the entire situation was somehow amusing to her.
‘And what, precisely, will you do if your mother doesn’t heed your words?’ Oskar’s father asked, taking a sip of an amber-coloured drink that Amalie presumed was whisky. She wasn’t much of a drinker, but she almost wished for a whisky of her own. ‘It sounded very much like a threat, son, if I’m not mistaken.’
Oskar was silent then, and Amalie spoke, filling the ominous silence between them all. ‘If my presence makes you uncomfortable, I’ll go,’ she said, lifting her gaze and looking first at his father, then his mother. ‘I love your son very much, and I respect you as his parents, so please, if?—’
‘Enough!’ Oskar muttered, taking her hand again. ‘I have spent the most magical summer with Amalie, and all I wanted was for you to show her a little respect for one night. Is that too much to ask? Because all my life you’ve told me to show gratitude and respect, to behave politely and understand my place in the world, and yet you, Mother, you’re behaving like a petulant child.’
His mother looked as if she’d sucked a lemon, her face sour as she stared at her son. But it was his father who settled everything, his gaze never wavering.
