Page 33 of The Hidden Daughter (The Lost Daughters #7)

PRESENT DAY

Charlotte sat with her hand in Amalie’s, watching her as she slept.

Her heart had broken listening to her talk, but it was as if all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle were coming together.

She only wished her grandmother had been there to listen to her today, but Charlotte had made an impromptu call to see Amalie after dropping Harrison back at his apartment.

Amalie’s eyes fluttered then, and Charlotte leaned forward, pressing her cheek to Amalie’s warm hand.

‘I’ve met someone,’ she said. ‘And I think he might be as lovely as your Oskar.’

Charlotte closed her eyes then, thinking about the weekend they’d shared and wishing that he had another project in Norway to keep him here; that they’d had longer to be together.

‘How did you know he was the one, Amalie?’ she whispered. ‘How did you know that it was worth sacrificing everything for him?’

‘I just knew,’ came a shaky whisper in reply.

Charlotte lifted her head and looked into Amalie’s kind, tired eyes.

But there was still life there, still love shining from them.

Charlotte moved so that she was lying on the bed with her as Amalie’s eyes fluttered shut again, pressing her body gently against hers and holding her hand again.

When she’d been younger, she’d missed her mum so much that she’d sometimes forgotten how fortunate she was for the women who were still part of her life, but she certainly cherished it now.

‘Thank you for sharing your story with me,’ Charlotte whispered. ‘You’re so brave, Amalie. Braver than I’ll ever be.’

On the night of the hotel grand opening, Charlotte had arranged to meet Harrison outside the hotel, and she was so pleased she had so that she didn’t have to walk in alone.

Huge arches of fresh flowers filled the entrance and there was security checking the tickets of each person arriving, but it was Harrison who caught her eye among all the festivities.

He was standing slightly away from the door, dressed in a black tuxedo and white shirt, and she’d never seen any man look so effortlessly handsome.

His thick dark hair was brushed to one side, and instead of his usual worn leather boots, he was wearing highly polished black shoes.

‘You look great,’ she said, looking him up and down. He always looked good, but this was something else, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

‘Well, you look beautiful,’ he said, holding his hand so that he could give her a little twirl. ‘Absolutely beautiful.’

Charlotte was wearing a mid-calf black slip dress that flared out when she spun round, with an oversized coat slung over her shoulders for warmth.

She’d been in the kitchen since first thing that morning and had barely had a chance to catch her breath, so she still felt that it was a miracle she’d managed to get home, change and dress in time for the opening.

But it had been nice to have an excuse to dress up for an evening out, and she’d been thankful that her grandmother had forced her to go shopping the day before.

Otherwise she’d have found herself woefully underdressed compared to the impeccably well-heeled man in front of her.

‘Shall we go in?’ he asked, letting go of her so she could slide her hand through the crook of his arm.

Charlotte smiled up at him and pressed a light kiss to his lips, before quickly smudging away the little trace of lipstick she’d left there.

‘We shall,’ she said. ‘But be warned, I’m going to want to head up to your room, curl up in bed and order room service by nine. I’m already feeling dead on my feet.’

‘That’s absolutely fine by me,’ he said with a sigh. ‘This is all part and parcel of the job, but it’s the part I like the least. I’d much rather be quietly in the wings and let someone else handle the whole public-facing part of my job.’

‘You don’t like the praise?’ she teased. ‘What was it that the news article said? London’s trendiest young architect takes Oslo by storm. That can’t feel half bad, reading something like that.’

He groaned. ‘I hate that kind of publicity, but it’s being around so many people that I find the hardest. I’m a small group kind of guy, and by the looks of it, half the city has been invited tonight.’ Harrison laughed. ‘Take me back to the Sognefjord any time.’

‘Let’s just try to enjoy ourselves,’ she said. ‘We can whirl around the room, meet everyone and do our duty, and then sneak away without anyone even knowing we’re gone. We’ll be ensconced in your hotel room before you know it.’

‘You really do look beautiful tonight, Charlotte,’ he said, his eyes searching her face.

‘You’re being far too kind, but thank you,’ she said, knowing she was blushing.

‘You don’t believe me?’

‘Let’s just say that I’m used to praise about my food, not my appearance. The former I’m well versed at accepting, the latter not so much.’

He just shook his head at her before leading her away and through the door, as she looked around in wonder at the enormous wall of balloons that led them through into the foyer of the hotel. It was beyond stunning—someone had put so much effort into making it feel like an incredibly special event.

When they got inside, Charlotte let go of his arm and exchanged it for a glass of champagne, clinking hers against Harrison’s as they both took a deep breath.

They had a lot on the line tonight; they were both wanting to make the very best impression to everyone in attendance, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a good time.

And Charlotte was determined to enjoy herself, no matter how tired she felt.

‘Shall we divide and conquer?’ Harrison asked. ‘I think we might get round everyone quicker that way, and we can meet up later?’

‘I agree. How about we work the room in opposite directions? Just promise me you’ll come and meet my family when they get here.’

‘Agreed,’ he said, giving her a conspiratorial smile before draining half his champagne and walking away from her.

Charlotte took a moment to watch him, indulging in the sight of his broad shoulders in his smart black tuxedo, and she vowed to find another event for them to go to together where he could wear it again.

But in the meantime, she followed his lead and sipped a healthy amount of champagne before squaring her shoulders and heading towards a group of well-dressed couples who she could already hear were raving about whatever it was the waiter had brought them to sample.

Charlotte had barely spoken to more than a handful of people before she looked up and saw her family standing near the door, and she excused herself to go and see them.

She took two champagne flutes from a waiter on her way, giving one to her grandmother and then her father when she reached them.

But it was Amalie to whom she spoke first, after passing her grandmother and father their glasses, bending to greet her so that she was close to eye level with her wheelchair.

She still couldn’t believe that they’d been able to bring her; or convince the respite facility to give her a two-hour pass, for that matter, and Charlotte felt emotional seeing that Amalie was clutching the little wooden box in her hand, wearing the diamond ring.

Without that little box, Charlotte knew for a fact that she wouldn’t be standing there with her family.

‘Amalie, thank you so much for coming tonight,’ she said. ‘I know it’s probably the last thing you felt like doing, but it’s wonderful to have you here.’

Amalie’s grip on her hand was firm, and Charlotte welled up as she realised that they had four generations of her family in the room, which felt more than special.

‘Dad, Grandma, thank you for coming too,’ she said as she straightened. ‘It means a lot to have you all here.’ She only wished her brother had been able to attend, too.

‘Of course we’re here, we’re your family,’ her grandmother said.

Charlotte felt a touch to her lower back, and she turned to find Harrison standing there.

She beamed at him, so pleased that he’d chosen to come over, especially when they hadn’t exactly known each other for long.

But she’d talked so much about her family to him, including Amalie, that she imagined he was curious to meet them all.

‘Everyone, this is Harrison Reynolds. He’s the architect of the building, and he’s also one of the first friends I made when I returned to Oslo,’ she said.

Charlotte was careful to keep things friendly rather than make it obvious they’d been seeing each other romantically, but from the raised eyebrow her grandmother gave her, she hadn’t fooled her.

‘It’s a stunning building, Harrison,’ Charlotte’s father said. ‘A true work of art, and very fitting for the location.’

‘Thank you, sir. The praise means a lot, and everyone tonight has been very generous with their kind words.’

‘This is Harrison?’ Amalie asked, her eyes cloudy in the light as she looked up at Harrison.

Charlotte watched as he crouched down beside her so that it was easier for her to talk to him, her voice fainter than it had been earlier in the week and hard to hear.

But she surprised them all when she reached for his hand.

‘You’re the boy Charlotte keeps talking about. ’

Harrison laughed and looked up at her, and Charlotte felt her cheeks burn, but she just smiled. Amalie was only telling the truth—she had talked about him to her. A lot! She just hadn’t expected Amalie to remember—or say anything.

‘Well, I hope she’s only said good things,’ Harrison said. ‘To say that Charlotte has been the highlight of my time in Oslo would be an understatement.’

Charlotte’s cheeks burnt all the more then, but it was a welcome warmth, especially given the way he was looking up at her.

‘My husband and I built hotels, you know,’ Amalie said, her voice barely audible among the crowd of people. ‘I’m pleased I lived long enough to see this one.’