Page 16 of Meet Me Under the Northern Lights

REYKJAVIK

‘So, is your location accurate now, on the maps?’

It was Kat on the phone, it was almost lunchtime and Chloe had taken the short walk from the apartment into downtown Reykjavik.

There were brightly painted buildings, shops selling all manner of Nordic knitwear, Christmas decorations hanging from arches, huts with wares in baskets outside. It was a festive shopping paradise.

‘I presume so,’ Chloe answered. ‘But I haven’t checked. Where does it say I am?’

‘I don’t know the name of the street but you’re quite near something called Rok.’

Chloe looked to her left and there was the building. With its wooden facade, it seemed like a high-end restaurant, and peering through the window, Chloe could see the tables were set for service, presumably for the evening. ‘Yes.’

‘And it’s not open, that’s annoying. Because I’m starving.’

It took several seconds for what Kat had said to sink in. And still, how did she know…

‘Surprise!’

Kat’s voice was no longer coming out of Chloe’s phone; it was closer, very close. And when Chloe turned around there was her friend on the street, right in front of her. Chloe’s mouth hung open in absolute shock.

‘Oh, Chlo! I know! A shock, right? But a good shock? Please say it’s a good shock, because I can absolutely get in a taxi, go back to the airport and go home again if this is too much and?—’

Chloe stole the rest of her friend’s words as she embraced her hard, hugging her tight. ‘I can’t believe you’re here! How are you here?’ She let her go to look at her again.

‘Well, there’s this thing called “air travel”, I’m pretty sure you’re familiar with it and used it yourself very recently… God, I got on a plane early this morning and flew to Iceland without telling anyone!’ Kat slapped her gloved hands to either side of her face. ‘I’m a maniac!’

‘You didn’t tell anyone? What about work?’

‘Oh my God! What time is it? Should I be there right now?’

Chloe knew Kat could be erratic in nature, but usually that involved spontaneous evening plans, not leaving the country without booking annual leave. ‘Kat!’

‘I’m kidding! Well, not really, I sent an email.

I just thought I am under an incredible amount of stress and my mother is going to give me even more stress and I haven’t been out of the country since we all booked with Ryanair vouchers after Covid and, I don’t know, Iceland sounded so cool and you said you had a sofa, right?

Please tell me I wasn’t wrong about that because otherwise I’ll be trying to find a coach driver who can help me find somewhere to stay!

’ She suddenly inhaled and it sounded like it had come from the very depths of her.

She put her hands to her woollen hat. ‘I’m crazy, aren’t I? I’m actually crazy!’

‘No!’ Chloe said fast. She bundled Kat up in another big hug, holding her tight and rocking her from side to side. ‘Not at all. I can’t believe you’re here.’

‘You keep saying that,’ Kat said. ‘You don’t keep saying you’re pleased I’m here.’

‘Of course I’m pleased!’ She was pleased, it was just so unexpected and she couldn’t help thinking that it was quite the quick decision and was there more to it than just Iceland sounding like a cool place for her friend to visit.

But, she was overthinking now so she smiled at her friend.

‘Kat, if I had even thought it would be something that could have happened I would have invited you myself but your work is always so busy and your mother?—’

‘Please, I can’t talk about that woman right now. Not without something strong sat in front of me. The Icelandic equivalent of vodka or a Viking, I don’t mind which.’

‘O-K.’

‘But, I don’t want to get in the way of your work stuff, obviously, because I know Michelle will have you running around like an events fairy godmother, jumping through festive hoops while she incubates “Prada” or whatever name they settled on.’

‘It was never Prada,’ Chloe said, shaking her head. ‘You know that.’

‘Balenciaga?’

‘No.’

‘Kendrick?’

‘Kat.’

‘Lamar?’

‘Stop it.’

‘OK, OK.’ Kat inhaled again and spread her arms wide. ‘Wow, I’m in Iceland!’

‘Yes, you are,’ Chloe said, smiling. ‘Let’s go and get a coffee.’