‘I’m embarrassed to say I had no idea how picturesque it would be,’ Louisa said. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’
‘Charlotte and I are actually going kayaking this afternoon, so that we can see more of the fjord,’ Harrison said.
‘We’ve decided to go with the lazier option of a cruise,’ Luke said, before turning to Charlotte. ‘I’m not an active relaxer like this one.’
Charlotte grinned. ‘Thankfully Harrison and I are on the same wavelength there. I’m so used to being on the go all day, so lying around relaxing is what I’d call impossible.’
‘Well, maybe that’s why you were drawn to each other,’ Louisa said with a wink. ‘Luke and I are all about perfecting our sloth routine when we’re on holiday.’
Charlotte felt uncomfortable for a split second as she saw the way Louisa quickly glanced at Harrison, as if she might have overstepped in treating them like a couple, but Harrison didn’t seem perturbed. And as they all ate breakfast, she was happy to sit back and listen to them talk, liking the way Harrison’s face lit up when they teased him, or the way Louisa grinned when he gave it straight back. The rapport they had was special to watch, and it made her wish she’d invested more time in her old friends; the ones she’d been close to when she was younger. Moving away had put more than just a physical distance between her and her old friends—they’d moved on with their lives, some of them already had families of their own—but seeing Harrison with his oldest friends made her even more determined to expand the circle of people she surrounded herself with.
‘How’s the food, Charlotte?’ Luke asked. ‘Up to scratch?’
‘Any food that’s cooked for me is appreciated,’ she replied. ‘I honestly don’t think there’s anything about this hotel not to like, the food included.’
‘Speaking of food, I think we should finish up here and go and collect our packed lunch,’ Harrison said, pulling out her chair when she rose to join him. ‘We’ll see you two here for dinner tonight.’
Just as he did, Charlotte caught sight of a young chef heading out for a break, and a very pretty maid dashing over to meet him. They kissed before they’d even walked out the door, and she imagined them as Amalie and Oskar; their love forbidden, but still knowing no bounds.
‘You’re lost in thought again,’ Harrison said. ‘Are you sure everything’s okay? You’re very quiet.’
She looped her arm through his, dropping her head to his shoulder as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
‘I keep losing myself in thoughts of Amalie and Oskar,’ she said. ‘Wondering where they were, the places they explored here, the way she felt when she saw him in the hotel. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for them.’
‘I should have tried to hire a romantic rowing boat,’ Harrison said. ‘Like the one she talked to you about.’ They reached the front desk then and she waited for Harrison to collect the packed lunch he’d ordered.
Charlotte laughed. ‘As nice as that would have been for them, I’m loving the kayaking option. It’ll be fun.’
‘Make sure to wear your running shoes,’ he said. ‘Apparently, we can go hiking from the place we’re heading to. If we still have any energy left after paddling there, that is.’
‘Sounds like the perfect way to spend an afternoon.’ They’d reached their rooms then, and she took out her keycard to let herself in. ‘Meet again in thirty minutes?’
Harrison tousled her hair, his touch light. ‘See you soon.’
Charlotte had thought the fjord was beautiful from a distance, but now that she was actually on the water, it was enough to take her breath away. The deep, blue-green water stretched as far as the eye could see, and the mountains on either side of them almost felt as if they were forming a guard of honour, guiding them on their journey out into the wilderness.
‘How are you going back there?’ Harrison called out, as he slowed and let her catch up.
‘I’m distracted by the scenery,’ she said. ‘But otherwise, it’s going great. I’m so pleased you chose this for us to do.’
‘Did you ever explore like this with your family when you came here?’
‘I remember we did a cruise and I’m sure we hired a little rowing boat, but I was so young that I don’t remember any of the scenery, or at least not like this. I guess you don’t appreciate the beauty of the water and the mountains as a kid.’
‘It’s because kids see everything through such a bright lens anyway,’ he said. ‘Adults are largely disillusioned with the world and appreciate the wonder of natural beauty.’
She’d never heard truer words, and as they continued to paddle, slowly, she realised that she didn’t spend anywhere near enough time in nature, especially for a girl who’d grown up surrounded by it.
‘May I ask you something?’ Charlotte said.
‘Of course.’
They were paddling in time with each other, and the fjord was so peaceful they didn’t even need to raise their voices. It was almost as if they echoed back to them on the water.
‘Is it hard experiencing new things like this, and realising that you don’t have your wife to share it with?’ she asked, hoping she wasn’t overstepping. ‘Is it weird to be experiencing it with me?’
He was silent for so long that she began to wish she hadn’t asked.
