Twenty-Five
Tuesday 6th October
‘Do you go everywhere in this thing?’ I asked, looking out at the vast snowscape as Henrik hurtled along in the twelve-seater minibus. ‘It’s a bit big for the two of us.’
‘I very rarely have just one person in here with me. It’s usually a busload for the retreat programme. But to answer your question – yes, I do. Unfortunately, there isn’t a Maserati in the underground garage that I drive at the weekends.’
‘I didn’t know you had an underground garage?’
‘We don’t.’
‘Oh. Ooo, can we get some peanut M&Ms?’ I asked, spying a petrol station.
‘I’d rather not stop unless it’s urgent,’ Henrik said, staring straight ahead. ‘This isn’t a minibreak.’
‘Fair enough,’ I said, staring longingly at the shop as we whizzed by.
‘Sorry, I just want to get there.’
I couldn’t blame the guy for being tense. ‘How about some music?’
He sighed, then clicked the radio on, filling the car with The Weekend, which seemed to shift his mood.
‘I love this guy!’ I said, singing along. ‘I went to one of his gigs in Hyde Park last summer. Have you ever seen him?’
He half raised an eyebrow. ‘I have as a matter of fact. A couple of times. Madison Square Gardens – a few years back now.’
‘With the New York girlfriend?’
‘God no, she hated him. On my own.’
‘That’s a shame. I’d have gone with you.’
I was trying to make nice, but he was still a bit twitchy. I didn’t want to bring Mark up again, but he clearly didn’t believe that nothing had happened.
‘So… have Bjorn and Nina always been your godparents?’ Henrik looked at me like I’d totally lost it and I laughed. ‘Sorry. All this silence is making me nervous! I’m just trying to make conversation.’
‘Yes. They havealwaysbeen my godparents. Is that not how it works in the UK? Do you switch them up every now and then?’
I giggled. ‘No, it’s the same. It just seems crazy to me that your actual godparents would whip the carpet out from underneath you all like this when they’re supposed to protect and guide you.’
‘That’s why we need to find out what they’ve been told.’
‘Presumably they’re invited to the wedding?’ Henrik nodded. ‘And they will know about your special trees. They were probably there when your dad planted them.’ My heart broke for him. What an awful situation. ‘Are they your mum’s friends, or dad’s?’
‘Both. They all went to school together. But asPappasaid, he and Bjorn are also very distant cousins – four times removed, or something like that.’
‘Wow, OK.’ I was dreading meeting these people. What kind of godparents-best-friends-cousins would even consider doing this? I tried to focus on the view and tune out my thoughts. What would be would be and I wouldn’t see landscapes like this again once I was back in London. But it would have been nice to have some M&Ms at the same time. Then Henrik pinched me.
‘Ow! What was that for?’
‘Yellow car,’ he said, as if that made sense. He rolled his eyes. ‘Whoever sees the yellow car first can pinch whoever they’re with.’
‘Is this how you vegans amuse yourselves?’
‘Yes. Pinching. It’s the only thing that brings us any pleasure as a collective – you should try it.’
‘Hmm… I think I’ll stick with cheese, thanks.’
