‘Should I… say something to him?’ Chloe wanted to know. ‘Suggest something?’
‘Yes!’ Kat said. ‘Where’s that itinerary you’ve been curating that could fix Sinclairz Chairs up for a whole fortnight here instead of a couple of days?’
Kat began patting her down like she might be carrying actual ancient scrolls of parchment rather than most of it being on her notes app.
‘Stop,’ she said in a whisper. ‘But I was thinking, something casual, just a coffee or?—’
‘Oh, no, no, no, absolutely not. You have to have an activity!’
‘What? Why?’
‘Because there is nothing less casual than a “casual” cup of coffee,’ Kat continued. ‘Think about all the “casual” coffee dates you’ve been on and tell me I’m wrong.’
Chloe really hadn’t got that much experience but she didn’t need to recall at all as Kat was already ploughing on…
‘You need a date with substance. You don’t even need to call it a date but there definitely needs to be activity. Otherwise you’re there stirring sugar you don’t want into an Americano you also don’t want, wondering what small talk is going to see you through until you get to the end of the date and the will-we-won’t-we kissing crunch down.’
Now there was so much spinning through Chloe’s mind she was beginning to wonder why she had mentioned it or whether it was really a good idea to go from hearing Michael’s news to jumping into a new situation…
‘Itinerary!’ Kat demanded. ‘Where is it?’ She wiggled her fingers like she was about to turn into Mr Tickle fromMr Men.
‘It’s on my notes app.’
‘Good,’ Kat said. ‘So share it with me and I will have a suggested evening’s activity shaped up in no time.’
It didn’t seem like Chloe had given herself any other choice.
29
SELJALANDSFOSS WATERFALL
‘…now remember that the staircase is wet. You should take care. And if you want a photograph through the waterfall you must also be careful because the rocks are…’ Gunnar stopped talking as most of his passengers raced off to start up the incline. ‘I do not know why I give the warnings. As soon as I tell people the waterfall appeared in a Justin Bieber music video they are already getting ready to run.’
‘Did it really?’ Kat piped up. ‘I thought you were lying about that to get the two teenagers to stop yawning.’
‘No,’ Gunnar said. ‘I do not tell lies as part of the trip.’
He swallowed. Except recounting folk tales about thehuldufólk. Except telling Chloe that Magnús was his friend’s son on work experience.
‘Can you really walk behind the waterfall?’ Chloe asked him.
‘Yes. Again, not a lie.’
‘Good. So, what are we waiting for?’ Kat asked. ‘We don’t have to run, but I don’t want to get in a queue for a photo and find we have to leg it back to the coach before I’ve got my turn.’
‘Magnús, do you want to lead the way?’ Gunnar suggested.
‘OK,’ Magnús agreed, stepping forward.
‘Great,’ Kat said. ‘A fit young man to catch me if I fall.’
‘You will not fall if I am leading the way,’ Magnús stated.
‘I like your confidence,’ Kat answered. ‘I have less confidence in my shoes however.’
‘Magnús,’ Gunnar called. ‘The tourist way. Not the other way.’
The boy raised his hand in acknowledgement and headed off with Kat at his heels.
