‘Bit strong. BitLove Island.And I will probably never see him again.’
‘You mean you didn’t swap Instas?’
‘No but… he did give me his phone number.’
‘What? Now I have dropped the sushi!’
‘It was only in case something went wrong with this apartment.’ She breathed in the cold air until her nostrils burned from it and she wished she had brought her coat out with her. He had given her his number just in case, right? She would have noticed if he had been fully flirting with her in any way, wouldn’t she? Or was she so far removed from anything like that she possibly wouldn’t have been able to tell…
‘You’ve been in Iceland a few hours and you already have a guy’s number,’ Kat said. ‘Way to go.’
Way to go. Yes, she had a long way to go, and she needed to focus on what she had come here to do. It was time to research Reykjavik like it had never been researched before. And, as if the phone could read her thoughts, a vibration told her a message had come through. She took the phone away from her ear and saw it was from Michelle.
‘Kat, I have to go, I will?—’
‘Call me later and tell me everything? Console me about having to order three kinds of different stuffing because Mother can’t decide if she likes walnuts or not but definitely likes cranberries and, well, sage and onion is always a must.’
‘I will definitely call you later and console you. Bye, Kat.’
‘Bye!’
Chloe took a moment on the balcony, letting the chill embrace her for a minute longer and then she read Michelle’s text.
Weather in Iceland cloudy for the next few days. Have booked you on a boat trip to see the Northern Lights TONIGHT. Details in an email.
It seemed like some of her itinerary had already been decided.
9
GUNNAR’S HOME, THE OUTSKIRTS OF REYKJAVIK
‘Take care,’ Gunnar said. ‘Swing out your other leg first.’
He couldn’t believe this. Almost half past six in the evening and they were just getting home from the hospital with Hildur sporting a boot brace. Thankfully her damaged ankle was only a buckle break, but it still meant reduced mobility for weeks and, because of her age, it might take longer to heal.
‘It makes you look like a hockey goalkeeper,’ Magnús commented. He was already out of the vehicle, carrying his school bag, his sports kit and the oversized woollen handbag Hildur always seemed to have to have with her constantly.
‘Do you think?’ Hildur said, wiggling the injured leg.
‘Stop moving it unnecessarily, Hildur!’ Gunnar exclaimed. ‘How is it meant to heal if you do not help? Take my arm.’
‘Stop this fussing. I was able to walk from the hospital bed to the car. Why do you not think I can walk to our own front door?’ Hildur grabbed the side of the car, looking ready to haul herself out.
‘Because, only a few hours ago, you came out of our front door and fell down the steps,’ Gunnar reminded her.
‘Because of the ice. Not because I am old and incapable.’
‘And the ice is still here so, until it warms up, I will be helping you to and from the house.’
‘Gunnar, I?—’
‘And there will be no discussion about it,’ he interrupted boldly.
‘It sounds the same as my homework,’ Magnús said, sighing.
It took more grumbling and resistance to get Hildur from the car and inside but, finally, she was resting in her favourite chair with the footrest up and her bad leg elevated as they had been instructed at the hospital.
‘I will make you a coffee,’ Magnús announced, bounding from Hildur’s side to the kitchen worktop.
