Page 59 of Entwined in Norway

‘I love random food like this,’ Thea said, opening the crisps.

Erik looked at Ida as if “random” was not how he’d describe his shopping.

‘So Ida says you have a family connection to my brother’s island?’

Erik nodded as he munched on a handful of crisps.

‘Have you managed to find out any more?’

‘I think my great-grandfather may have known someone in your family.’

‘How do you know that?’ Thea asked the question Ida wished she’d thought of. ‘You must have something that led you to the island in the first place?’ Thea said.

Ida looked at Erik, interested in his answer. It was something that hadn’t occurred to her until now.

‘I have a letter. And the story was passed down through the family.’

‘What story?’ Ida asked. Was it odd that he hadn’t mentioned this before?

‘About how my great-grandpa came to Canada from Norway.’

‘So you’re actually a little bit Norwegian?’ Thea said. ‘Ida says you were a snowboarder. Maybe that’s why.’

‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘I think being Canadian helped with that too.’

Thea laughed, while Ida looked on, wondering what she was missing. Because there was something.

The three of them ploughed through Erik’s food and then Thea cooked the food she’d brought with her, giving Erik part of it since he was apparently still hungry.

With more wine, and good conversation, Ida forgot all about Erik’s research.

Later that night they were in bed together. Thea was in the bedroom in the bed that had been mysteriously made up already. Not so mysterious now.

‘It’s nice to catch up with your sister?’ he asked.

‘Yes,’ Ida said snuggling into his chest. ‘She’s made my mind up about the house. We need to sell it. I know Mats and Fredrik thought the same but now that I know it’s keeping Thea from visiting, it’s more important.’

‘You’re going to look for somewhere new?’

‘Yes. Although I have no idea what I’m looking for. I can’t picture myself anywhere other than that house.’

‘But you lived away from home before?’

‘I did. But I moved around for work, so just rented places for a few months. I haven’t had a home of my own before, and that’s what I want it to be.’

‘We could look at some places together.’

‘You don’t want to spend your holiday doing that.’

‘We can start right now,’ he said, grabbing his phone.

Ida shifted so that her head rested on his biceps while he tapped away.

‘House or apartment?’

‘Apartment. I can’t afford a house.’

‘Nuh uh. We’re not worried about that. We’re doing a deep dive into what you want, not what you can afford.’