Page 56 of Meet Me Under the Northern Lights

GUNNAR’S HOME, THE OUTSKIRTS OF REYKJAVIK

‘You are fussing,’ Hildur stated, knitting needles in her hands as she sat working diligently on whatever she was making out of wool.

‘I have not said a thing,’ Gunnar stated, sipping at his morning coffee.

He really couldn’t believe that Hildur was out of hospital and home so quickly. Even her broken ankle was no more broken than it had been before. A miracle.

‘I am allowed to discharge myself, you know,’ Hildur stated.

‘I know,’ Gunnar said. ‘I just did not expect the hospital to allow you to do that past midnight or for them to organise your transport.’

‘Did they forget to call you to let you know?’ Hildur asked, not even bothering to hide her wry grin. He knew she had most likely told them not to contact anyone.

‘I would have liked to have been here to help you, that is all,’ Gunnar said.

‘I am glad that you were not and that, instead, you were out with Chloe.’

He put down his cup before he dropped it. ‘I did not tell you I was with Chloe.’

‘But you were.’

‘What I should have told you, if I knew you were coming back, was that Magnús had rehearsals for the Christmas show. Lena said he could stay the night. That she would take him to school this morning.’

Gunnar had had offers of all kinds of things in relation to Magnús since the drama at the school. Usually it would be something he would actively avoid. He was always the helper not the one who wanted to accept assistance.

‘Good people want to help,’ Hildur said. ‘They just need a reminder sometimes.’ She put down her knitting. ‘And you are ignoring the “except”, Chloe.’

‘I am not ignoring her,’ Gunnar said, an involuntary smile growing on his lips.

‘Neither is your heart,’ Hildur stated with a knowing nod.

He was nervous of his feelings though, tentative still, yet wanting to feel his way forward no matter how scary that might be.

‘I would…’ he began.

‘Yes.’

Why did this feel so hard? His throat was dry and Hildur was looking at him like she might grade him on his conversational content. He just needed to get the words out of him and then it was done.

‘I would like to… introduce you to Chloe. And Magnús of course.’ He wet his lips. ‘I have invited her to dinner.’

Hildur smiled, arms on the sides of the chair, looking like she was about to haul herself up into a standing position. And for someone who had fallen off the top of a large building such a short time ago it was far from recommended. Gunnar dived towards her, stood in her way, halting the progress.

‘I did not ask the “yes” as a question,’ Hildur told him, ignoring his efforts to prevent her from standing and doing it anyway. ‘I said it because I knew this moment would arrive with Chloe.’

‘That is wonderful,’ Gunnar said mockingly. ‘It is nice to know that you knew something about my world that I had no idea about. Who told you before me? The huldufólk ?’

‘You did,’ Hildur informed him like it was a case of absolute fact. ‘In the way you smile when you talk about her, in how you are softer with Magnús, able to tune in to your emotions again. You have not been that same way before. You were not ever truly that way with Kirstin.’

Gunnar knew it was fact. Somehow, in the short time he had spent with Chloe so far, he had found a raw connection that had grown quickly and deeply, without either of them really acknowledging the extent of it until now.

‘Do not overthink it, Gunnar,’ Hildur told him.

‘Do not think that she has to get back on an aeroplane and fly to England. Do not think that Magnús is in a difficult time and perhaps this is something that can wait. Love does not wait. Love should not have to wait. Love, it comes through the door whether it is invited or not.’

He nodded and then Hildur leaned into him, putting her arms around him in the kind of warm embrace they didn’t share very often.

‘Gunnar Eriksson, it is time for you to live for you,’ Hildur told him. ‘The saving of the island and everyone else in it can be the responsibility of others for a while.’

‘It cannot be your responsibility, Hildur, I know that much. I do not watch you for a short time and you are kidnapping people.’

‘These are false accusations,’ Hildur insisted. ‘Bernard said he came willingly, the police have agreed it was so. Now, stop hugging me, we have a dinner menu to think about.’

‘Oh no,’ Gunnar said, making sure Hildur sat back down before he stepped away. ‘You are not cooking anything. You are resting. Besides, I am still uncertain of how Magnús will feel to have Chloe here for dinner.’

‘Magnús will be happy for you,’ Hildur reassured him. ‘He tells me sometimes that he wishes you were not so sad.’

‘I do not want him to worry about me,’ Gunnar stated. ‘That is the last thing I want him to be doing.’

‘Ah, Gunnar, whether you want him to worry or not, that is what comes when you are part of a family, no?’ Hildur reminded him.

As always, she made an excellent point.

‘However,’ Hildur said. ‘I am sure if you cook his favourite caramelised potatoes then he will be happy about anything. Food and ice hockey are what that boy lives for after all.’

‘You are right,’ Gunnar agreed. ‘So, when do you think I should invite Chloe?’

‘You are asking the wrong person,’ Hildur replied, picking up her knitting needles again. ‘I think that question should be asked of Chloe. Because do you still not know for how long she is staying in Iceland?’

Gunnar’s heart contracted then. He still didn’t know the answer. And as that realisation hit, he knew that whenever that time came it would be far too soon.