Had either one of them or both hit their heads? He frowned at them. ‘I work here. Today I am on the airport run. You know this.’
‘And we also know that we cannot stand one more second of your sadness about Chloe leaving. Isn’t that right, Magnús?’ Hildur stated.
‘It is right,’ Magnús agreed. ‘So, here is your bag.’ He took the rucksack he was carrying off his shoulder and pressed it on to Gunnar.
‘What is this?’ Gunnar asked.
‘This is an opportunity,’ Hildur told him. ‘Because it is the right thing to let people make their own decisions. But it is the wrong thing to let people make their own decisions based on inaccurate, or lack of, information.’
‘I do not understand,’ Gunnar said, swallowing nervously as he hugged the bag to him.
‘You were not honest with Chloe,’ Magnús told him.
‘I do not know what you mean.’
‘Like you are not being honest with that sentence!’ Hildur exclaimed. ‘Gunnar! You did not tell Chloe how you feel about her.’
‘I am uncomfortable having this conversation.’
‘I heard you,’ Magnús said. ‘You told Chloe you did not believe she was coming back for my show.’
His stomach dropped. He hadn’t said that, had he? And Magnús had heard? ‘I do not believe I said that. And Magnús, she made you a promise and?—’
‘And I believe her,’ Magnús stated, pushing forward a defiant chin. ‘Unless you have messed things up by pretending that you do not care.’
Had he done that? In his heart, he knew he had done that. Why? Now, when it was the most important time, had he self-sabotaged something that felt so good? So right.
‘Take that look of pity off your face,’ Hildur ordered, using Magnús’s arm to keep her balance as she waddled forward a little. ‘It is not too late to do something about it.’
‘No?’ Gunnar said, nervousness and dread bubbling inside him.
‘No,’ Hildur and Magnús said at exactly the same time.
‘I should call her,’ Gunnar said, putting the rucksack down on the ground and slipping a hand into the pocket of his coat for his phone.
‘No!’ Hildur and Magnús said together again.
‘What?’
‘No calling,’ Hildur said. ‘No texting or miscommunication. This has to happen in person. And that is why we have booked you a flight to the UK.’
‘What?’ Gunnar’s heart almost stopped. This had to be a joke, didn’t it?
‘You should have an email with the boarding pass. It leaves in two hours so you have time to get a coffee,’ Magnús told him.
‘When you have picked your jaw off the floor,’ Hildur added.
‘Your passport is in the bag,’ Magnús said. ‘And some of your OK clothes. The best of bad choices.’
‘You can go to Chloe. You can tell her how you feel and make certain that her decisions will be made with the knowledge she needs,’ Hildur said firmly.
He didn’t know what to say. His mind was racing as fast as his heart. Could he do this? Should he do this?
‘What about my job? I feel Erik already wants to fire me.’
‘Erik has arranged for Wolfgang to cover,’ Hildur said. ‘I have known Erik’s grandmother for many years, Gunnar. And when a grandmother, or a grandmother figure, insists on something, you have to listen.’
His family were interfering. His family. He couldn’t have felt more love for them in this moment. He stepped forward and drew both of them into his body for the kind of hug they had never had before. As mismatched as their heights and shapes were, it felt like the perfect blend and Gunnar became suddenly acutely aware of how extremely fortunate he was.
