Page 69 of Meet Me Under the Northern Lights

MAGNúS’S SCHOOL

Two days later

The school hall was magnificently decorated, sparkling and shining with Christmas décor as all the children took to the stage to perform the musical theatre piece about puffins taking on the role of Santa Clauses and Yule Lads and delivering gifts to everybody in time for Christmas Eve despite challenges of shipwrecks, pirates, bad weather and unseaworthy boats.

‘Look at Magnús,’ Hildur whispered to Chloe. ‘He is the finest puffin of them all, isn’t he?’

‘He is,’ Chloe agreed, taking photographs.

‘You two are biased,’ Gunnar replied. ‘Everyone is doing an excellent job.’

‘But Magnús is the best,’ Hildur stated again.

Chloe slipped her hand into Gunnar’s and connected their fingers.

She loved holding his strong hands. If she could hold his hands for twenty-four hours a day and still be able to function as a normal human then she would do it.

When she was holding his hand it felt like she connected with the world a little differently, she relaxed more, loved life more, remembered how special it felt to be part of something, part of someone else’s life.

And that’s how it had been since she’d arrived back in Reykjavik.

She was staying in a wood and stone house with the man she had fallen hard for, the most independent older woman she had ever met and an ice-hockey obsessed pre-teen who ate like a hungry wolf every hour of the day.

And she was now a partner of Michelle’s events business – their business.

What she wanted in her life was new beginnings but also stability.

Her fledgling relationship with Gunnar was a brand-new start and her work was her stability.

The same foundation but with an added bonus, the promotion she had reached hard for.

She had also set some important ground rules with Michelle.

She had terms that were make or break when it came to her accepting the role.

She was going to work hard, however she was not going be on call all hours of the day or night and she was going to work remotely as much as she could.

And, right now, remotely was just a different word for ‘Iceland’.

‘Bravo!’ Hildur exclaimed as the performance came to an end in a flurry of feathers, orange bills, exploding confetti canons and a crescendo of music. The old woman leapt to her feet and Chloe had to let go of Gunnar’s hand to reach out and steady Hildur before she toppled into the aisle.

‘Hildur,’ Gunnar admonished. ‘If you do not sit down you will be in that boot until after the New Year.’

‘They can advise me,’ Hildur answered. ‘I will not listen.’

Chloe and Gunnar stood too, clapping the children and taking photographs of Magnús as he flapped his wings and turned in a circular dance and they made their way back off the stage.

Chloe’s phone began to rumble in the pocket of her jeans. She pulled it out. Michelle.

‘It’s Michelle,’ Chloe said to Gunnar. ‘Do you mind if?—’

‘Go, krúttio mitt ,’ Gunnar said. ‘Magnús has to get out of a bird costume and I believe the children are eating KFC before we leave.’

Chloe moved into the aisle, down to the exit and outside where light snow was starting to fall. Only then did she answer the FaceTime call.

‘Hello.’

There was no response and Chloe tried to see what was going on on the screen. It wasn’t Michelle’s face, but what was it? There was a curtain… and some cloths and… then…

‘Chloe, are you there?’

Michelle was almost whispering, a light, gentle tone that Chloe had never heard coming from her before.

But it wasn’t Michelle’s face on the screen now, it was the face of a sleeping newborn baby, all pink and wrinkled and so tiny in a pale blue bodysuit and matching cotton beanie.

Tears were in Chloe’s eyes as she gazed at the cute bundle of perfection.

‘Chloe?’

‘I’m here,’ Chloe replied quickly, her voice breaking a little.

‘Surprise,’ Michelle said, laughing. ‘Actually, I don’t know why I’m laughing, it’s probably still all the drugs they had to give me to get through labour. I’m pretty sure some of my insides are on my outsides and I don’t just mean Henry.’

‘Aww,’ Chloe said. ‘You named him Henry. That’s a lovely name.’

‘It’s Milo’s dad’s name. Believe me, if his dad was called Albert we would not be having this same discussion.’ Michelle inhaled. ‘But… he’s perfect. Everything is OK with him despite being a little bit early and, you know, I am sure I will be fine too, once I’ve learned how to sit down again.’

‘Congratulations, Michelle. I am so, so happy for you and for Milo.’

‘Thank you, Chloe. I know it can’t have been easy for you all these months.’

‘No,’ Chloe agreed. It hadn’t been easy but, in some ways, having to face the facts of reproduction in such close quarters had been a baptism of fire and one that she had survived.

‘But, honestly, I have no other thoughts or feelings other than I’m overjoyed for you.

A brand-new little boy coming into the world is something so special to celebrate. ’

‘Oh and that’s not the only thing we’re going to celebrate,’ Michelle continued.

The camera turned around and there was Michelle in a hospital bed, already somehow surrounded by lush blooms of flowers and cards, not a scrap of make-up on her face but looking as radiant as Chloe had ever seen her despite having just gone through a labour.

Michelle took a deep breath, eyes alive. ‘We got the Sinclairz Chairs job.’

Chloe squealed and punched the air. ‘Yes!’

Her yell drew attention from some people who were now leaving the school hall and coming out into the parking area, children still in costume.

‘Did you doubt it, Chloe? Really? I mean, I know I wanted you back in the UK to do it but, what was I thinking, pitching it from Iceland, at the very heart of where Lincoln’s wanting to take his team to celebrate the anniversary. It was perfect.’

Chloe smiled. It had been perfect. She had gone back with Gunnar to all the places she had put in the itinerary and filmed video clips describing everything she had written about so Sinclairz could see first-hand the beauty of the country and have a taste of the activities she had suggested.

She had ended the pitch with a short live stream from the Sun Voyager statue near the water, the lights twinkling, the snow on the ground, a group of people singing traditional folk songs.

‘Another success for the team,’ Michelle said. ‘And here’s to many more of them.’

‘I will definitely raise a glass to that and to the arrival of little Henry.’

‘Chloe, there is one more thing I wanted to ask.’

Chloe’s stomach dropped. Here came the test. Michelle had just given birth.

She might feel on top of the world and be enthused about their new green-lit project but any second now she was going to realise exactly how much work there was to do and she was going to need every bit of help she could get.

Chloe knew the ‘one more thing I wanted to ask’ was going to be ‘when are you coming back’.

She pre-empted. ‘I… don’t know yet.’

‘You don’t know yet? What does that mean?’ Michelle asked.

‘Michelle, you shouldn’t be thinking about this yet.’

‘Of course I should be thinking about it! It’s important!’

‘I know it is, but we have Helene to cover the physical admin side of things and co-ordinate with the hosts, and I told you, I am going to make working remotely work. It’s my priority to ensure that service levels don’t slip and prove that freedom and flexibility can actually bring greater reliability. ’

‘Chloe, what the hell are you talking about?’

‘The business,’ Chloe said. ‘Our empire.’

‘Chloe,’ Michelle said. ‘I’ve given birth half a day ago. I know I’m the ultimate workaholic but even I draw the line somewhere.’

‘Oh?’

‘This isn’t about work. I’m asking you if you will be Henry’s godmother.’