Page 75 of Entwined in Norway

‘You could say that. Ida Larsen, she’s the great-granddaughter of the Larsen who signed the letter. We had a thing while I was there.’

‘What’s a thing?’

Erik sighed. ‘You know. We got together.’

‘Ah. And how did you leave things?’

‘Not great,’ Erik said. ‘I didn’t tell her why I was in Norway, so when she found out it was like I’d kept it a secret.’

His father didn’t say anything, which was almost as uncomfortable as a full-blown conversation about everything. The disapproval was radiating from him.

‘She’s different to the others, Dad.’

‘They’re always different, Erik. Don’t you think it’s about time you stopped with this casual dating and took life a little more seriously?’

For once, Erik bit his tongue. He didn’t want to get into a fight with his dad, but it felt as if life had been nothing but serious until he went to Norway. Dating Ida had been the best thing he’d done. It had given him a spark back. Was he kidding himself to think he was in love with her? Maybe. That she was the reason he should stay in Norway? Absolutely. But if he could find a way for them to have a second-chance, he was going to take it.

27

Fredrik came to Ida’s rescue in that he had to go to Oslo at very short notice for work. With Lotta in London for the week, the only person who could help him out with Emil was Ida. As much as she loved spending time with Emil, her mood was at an all-time low and she wouldn’t be much fun for him to hang out with. As a result, she over-compensated entirely and planned every minute of the time from when she picked him up to when he would go to bed so there was no time to think about anything else.

‘Is Erik coming round?’ Emil asked within a minute of Ida meeting him from school.

‘No. He was only here on holiday, so he’s gone home now.’

‘To Canada?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’d like to go to Canada one day. They have bears.’

‘They do. But you want to stay away from bears. They’re pretty dangerous.’

‘Do you think Erik has seen a bear?’

‘I don’t know. Do you have any homework?’

‘I need to write a story.’

‘Okay,’ Ida said with relief, already exhausted by Emil’s energy. The hours until bedtime seemed interminable, and her plans didn’t feel as if they’d be enough to see her through. Emil quietly writing a story while she prepared dinner sounded good. ‘Let’s stop at the shop for some fruit.’

‘Are we having waffle faces?’ He bounced beside her, and a small spark of joy fluttered out of her in the form of a smile.

‘Only if they’re still your favourite.’

‘They are!’

When Emil was small, Ida used to make faces on his waffles with blueberries for hair and a smile, and raspberries for eyes. The end of a banana made a good nose, and Emil loved it if she cut it long so it really stuck out.

They got back to the house, and Emil settled at the table to write his story. It seemed no time at all before he announced he’d finished and wanted to play his game with Ida.

They sat next to each other on the sofa and he handed her the game controller. The game loaded and the list of names came up. Ida paused for the briefest moment on Erik’s name before clicking to her own.

‘Are you missing Erik?’

‘No.’ She forced a smile. Her nephew was far too astute.

‘He was quite good at this game.’ High praise from the seven-year-old.