Page 31 of Entwined in Norway

‘It was nothing. I’m just glad you’re okay. Does that happen often?’

‘Not really, but my doctor tells me it’s still early days, which sounds crazy because it’s been months.’

‘My brother Fredrik broke his arm skiing. It was a while before it was back to normal. He used it as an excuse to get out of doing his jobs around the house for a long time.’

Erik grinned. ’I guess there’s always an upside.’

‘He’s lazy. Still is. Whereas I get the feeling it’s holding you back.’ She said it carefully, watching him for any emotion that might slip past the brave face he was putting on.

‘Sometimes I get scared that this is it and I’ll never be able to forget it and do what I want.’

Ida could see a flash of fear in his eyes.

‘I only hiked up a mountain. I mean, it’s not that different from regular walking.’

‘That is not true. As a person who is very happy to do regular walking, hiking up a mountain is not in the same category. You’re being too hard on yourself.’

‘That’s what my mom says.’ He smiled at her and took a bite of his sandwich.

‘Try looking at how far you’ve come instead of where you think you should be heading.’

He sighed. ‘Ida. That is the kind of sensible thinking that’s going to drag me out of my wallowing.’

‘You’re on holiday, Erik. There’s no time to wallow.’

He looked at her, and his face eventually broke into a smile. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry. So, in the spirit of that, can we go out again tonight? I promise not to ask you to call me when you get home.’

‘I can’t tonight. I have to pick my nephew up after work.’

‘Can I come with you?’

‘It’ll be boring. I’m just cooking dinner and putting him to bed.’ She wanted Erik to say, that was fine, he’d love that. But even if he did, the practicalities of how Erik would get back to the island from Loddefjord meant it couldn’t happen.

‘I mean, that sounds good to me.’

‘You won’t be able to get back here.’

He looked thoughtful for a moment, and Ida found herself holding her breath. She loved that he was thinking up a way for it to happen. Especially because it wasn’t dinner out together, it was hanging out with Emil.

‘I’ll kayak us over to your place. Would that work?’

Ida burst out laughing. ‘Both of us on a kayak? Across the fjord?’

‘Uh huh.’

‘I can’t kayak.’

‘You don’t need to kayak,’ he said, his eyes shining.

Well, at least he was feeling better. And it was hard not to get caught up in his idea when he was looking at her like that.

‘If we can both get on the kayak without falling in…’

‘Deal.’

They finished their lunch, and as they walked back to the entrance hall, Ida remembered Mats’ suggestion that Erik head out to find him at the cabin.

‘Mats is working on one of the cabins today. He wanted to show you some of the timber he’s had cut.’ Ida couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Looking at timber sounded so boring.