‘This is usually the OIP section.’ He smiled. ‘Only Icelandic Persons section. But, I am in charge of this side of the boat so I say it is OK.’
‘What are you actually in charge of here? Apart from stain removal from coats?’
‘Well, I do not do this trip often but there has to be the right number of crew for safety reasons and tonight I come here because a colleague has to be at the hospital.’
‘Oh, wow, he has been in an accident?’
‘No. It is his wife.’
‘She has been in an accident?’
‘No. She is having a baby.’
And there it was. That sucker punch Chloe didn’t always see coming. Suddenly she didn’t feel so recovered. It was like she had taken a blow to the chest but she immediately, hopefully subtly, drew in her core and took a sip of the wine. She could handle this. It was someone she didn’t know having a child like people all over the world had children every second of every day. Just like Michelle was and she had coped with watching her bump grow daily for months. But what to say? Did she need to say anything? Maybe change the subject…
‘Whales,’ Chloe blurted out.
‘What?’
‘Are there whales here, you know, that we might see tonight as well as the Northern Lights?’
‘It is best to look for whales in the daylight,’ Gunnar told her. ‘There are trips from Reykjavik but the best place to visit would be Husavik in the north of the island.’ He smiled. ‘Do you want to speak into your phone, so you remember?’
* * *
Chloe did as he had suggested and then she started taking some photos of the lights as they left the harbour behind and headed out into the real open water. He had noticed the change in her demeanour when he had mentioned the childbirth though. He had also picked up how she had tried her best to hide it, visibly, quietly setting her shoulders straight, sipping her drink, quietening. His mother had always said he had been born with a ‘sense of sense’, which made absolutely no sense to him growing up. But gradually, as he grew older and, after she had passed away, he had started to realise what she meant. It was tuning in to the conversation of body language, someone’s vibe, not what they were saying but what they were displaying, usually without knowing it.
‘You enjoy your work?’ he asked her. ‘Making the events.’
‘I do,’ she said, nodding. Genuine. Demeanour brightened.
‘And you travel often for this?’
She shook her head. ‘Not usually so much. Definitely not ever this last minute or without somewhere to stay, but this job could be the biggest chance the company has had to be recognised nationally and perhaps start to think about international opportunities.’
‘Wow, you are passionate about your business.’
‘Oh, well, it’s not my business.’
‘You would one day like it to be?’
He was watching her expression. She was stood side-on, half facing the water, half facing him, her breath visible in the air, appearing to think deeply.
‘Not the whole business,’ she said. ‘But a share of it, definitely. How about you?’
She looked directly at him then.
‘Me?’ he said. He was so surprised at her question the word came out half laugh, half shock.
‘What’s funny?’
‘I just drive coaches. That’s it.’
‘I don’t think you should be so dismissive. I mean, today you not only aided an English woman in need with somewhere to stay, you dealt with tourist questions and puking and now you’re crewing a Northern Lights boat and reminding me to be water savvy and helping with voice notes. I mean, that’s basically business boot camp.’
‘Krúttio mitt, you are making me sound like I have… what is it they say? Main character energy.’
‘Well, everyone should have main character energy in their own story, no?’
