‘A Nilsen in every room,’ Ethel said, raising her apple juice in a toast. ‘Thank you for a wonderful few weeks, Henrik. The retreat was as magical as ever and I’m already booked in for next year.’
‘A pleasure having you here,tante Eth, as always.’ He smiled around the table. ‘I hope you’ve all enjoyed it too?’
Celeste’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Yes,’ she managed.
‘We’re very emotional about leaving,’ Will said, putting his arm around her. ‘It’s been incredible.’
A loud humming drowned out the conversation as the igloo roofs slid back in unison, the glass panels folding in on themselves to reveal the October moon and a sky full of stars. More stars than I’d ever seen before.
‘The hunter’s moon,’ Ethel said, closing her eyes to bask in the lunar glow.
‘Almost full,’ Celeste added. ‘Make a wish at midnight, everyone.’
The cold air battled against the heat from the fire, the woody smoke homely and comforting. I took a sip of my fizzy lemon and lime. Ice-cold and delicious. It tasted just like the Sprite I’d had the day I’d seen Mark on his date with Millie. I was consumed with anxiety and sat around in my pyjamas all day, eating doughnuts for dinner; well, look how far I’d come.
‘I’ll be your waiter for the evening,’ Henrik said, standing up and tossing his napkin over his shoulder. We clapped and cheered, and he took a bow. ‘First things first. Starters.’
‘Starting with the starters makes sense,’ Will said.
‘Can we help?’ I asked, feeling bad he couldn’t relax.
‘No, no. Leave it to me. Henrik Nilsen at your service, one last time.’ He took my hand and gently kissed it, a look of pure longing on his face. The moment passed and off he went, my heart still racing. It was all becoming real. I was going home, and this was the final night. Our final night. My last chance to do something – but what?
‘That boy is an absolute marvel,’ Ethel said, dabbing her eyes. ‘He works so hard, always going above and beyond for his family. His mother would be so proud.’
‘Did you know her?’ Celeste asked.
‘You could say that. Audhilda was my little sister.’
‘What?! I didn’t know you were family?’
‘You’re Henrik’s aunt?’ Will said, looking into Ethel’s brown eyes. ‘Hmm, yeah, I can see it, actually.’
‘Guilty as charged. This is my annual pilgrimage to keep an eye on my nephews.’
‘Here we are…’ Henrik reappeared with four small plates, balanced on his arm. ‘Homemade hummus with carrots, cucumber, spinach and not to forget… the humble radish. Remember these?’
‘The seeds we planted on our first day,’ Celeste said, bursting into fresh tears.
‘Almost. These are from the group before you, and yours will be served to the next group in a few weeks’ time. Continuing the cycle.’
‘Will they be fully grown by then?’ I asked, surprised.
‘Oh yes,’ Henrik said. ‘Some will be ready before.’
‘Growth happens quickly in the right conditions,’ Ethel added.
The pink and white radish fanned out in front of me looked so dainty on the plate. Hard to believe it had been a tiny brown seed just a few weeks ago. I’d pushed handfuls of them deep down into the soil, thinking they’d take forever to grow. Yet here we were.
‘It feels mean to eat them,’ Celeste said as Will speared a forkful into his mouth.
‘Not at all,’ Henrik said. ‘That radish exists to be eaten, I promise you. And if you don’t eat it, someone else will.’
‘It’s a radish-eat-radish world,’ I said with a smile.
‘I have a leaving present for you all,’ Henrik announced while we munched our salads.
‘I’ve already had a lovely gift from Greta,’ I said, starting to feel overwhelmed.
