Greta smiled. ‘I’ve obviously got a “style”. I can’t help myself. I’d crochet the whole boat if Tore would let me.’
‘You’re keeping everyone warm – it’s important!’
‘Speaking of which – that jacket looks great on you. Henrik is such a sweetie, isn’t he?’
I looked down at it. ‘Oh yeah, it does the job. He ordered a load for the staff and managed to bag me one.’
Greta smiled. ‘Is that what he said? He’s too shy to admit his massive love bomb. Those jackets are handmade in Trondheim and they cost a fortune. A friend of mine weaves them on a loom.’
‘Does she? I thought it was a nice finish for a uniform.’
‘They are designer coats byIldflueand the firefly is her logo. Henrik bought one for you as you were so cold those first few days and didn’t have any proper clothes to wear.’
‘What?’ I was stunned. ‘He didn’t say. I’d have been happy to pay for it.’
Greta rolled her eyes. ‘It was obviously an under-the-radar gift. And it worked – you’ve worn it every day since.’
Henrik reappeared with Jonas and Tore and a bottle of champagne in each hand. ‘Who wants a drink?’ He filled up the glasses and Jonas handed them out. No doubt it was sham-pagne, but I’d have to get on with it.
Tore cleared his throat to speak. ‘First of all, I want to say thank you and cheers to all of you – we had a few scary days there, but we all pulled together and got through it and I’m so proud of you all.’
‘Cheers!’ we chorused, clinking our glasses together. The champagne tasted… real. It was dry and delicious and expensive. Had it always been this good or was it because I hadn’t had any in a while? I nudged Henrik and held it up with a silent frown and he nodded. I was immediately giddy with excitement. Maybe champagne was better kept for special occasions after all.
‘Henrik, Jonas, my boys, I have something to show you, but I’ve been waiting for the right moment. And I can’t think of a better day or moment than right now.’
That piqued their interest.
‘What is it,Pappa?’ Jonas asked.
‘I finally got round to naming the boat,’ Tore said. ‘Come and see…’ He walked back upstairs, and we followed him out into the cold air with our champagne.
‘Aurora is trying her best tonight,’ Henrik said, pointing to a blur of green on the horizon.
‘Allow me to present…’ Tore ripped a sticker off the side of the boat, revealing intricate gold lettering underneath. ‘Audhilda.Our beautiful family boat. Your mother would have loved zipping along the water in this baby, and I couldn’t call her anything else.’
Jonas nodded quietly and Henrik slapped Tore on the back.
‘Love it,Pappa.’
‘Greta – I thought you could act as ceremonial godmother while we bless the boat,’ Tore said. ‘We don’t want to risk the wrath of Poseidon.’
‘I’d be honoured,’ she said. ‘To the sailors of old! To Audhilda!’
‘Audhilda!’ Tore repeated and drank, and we all followed.
‘To the sea! To the sailors of old! To the sea!’ Greta continued.
‘The sea!’ Henrik said and drank, and we all followed.
‘To the sea! To the sailors before us! To Audhilda!’
‘Audhilda!’ Jonas shouted and drank, and we all followed.
Tore took a third bottle of champagne, shook it violently and smashed it against the bow of the boat; it exploded with fizz and foam as we all cheered into the night sky.
