Page 82 of Entwined in Norway

‘You don’t want to sleep this way forever?’

‘No.’

He laughed, and the vibrations of it ran through her. ‘Okay, we’ll pick out an enormous bed.’

They showered and dressed, then went in search of Mats and Emil.

‘They’ve taken some food to the top of the island,’ Emilie said. ‘They’re making a campfire. Mats said to tell you there’s enough for everyone.’

Hand in hand, Ida and Erik wandered through the woods towards the top of the island. The grey clouds from earlier in the day had cleared, and the sun was high in the sky.

‘I can’t believe I get to live here now,’ Erik said, grinning at her.

‘You thought it was boring,’ Ida teased.

Mats and Emil already had a fire started. Emil ran over to Erik when he spotted them.

‘Erik!’

Erik crouched down and high-fived Emil, then almost toppled backwards when he flung himself onto Erik for a hug.

‘You two have talked then?’ Mats said as Emil dragged Erik over to the woods to collect pinecones for the fire. Ida went to sit next to Mats, who was supervising some sausages that were cooking on a makeshift griddle over the fire.

‘Yes. You knew about his plan?’

‘Not until yesterday. And it wasn’t my place to tell you. You look happy. Are things back to where they were?’

Ida sat in the chair next to Mats. ‘Should I be worried that all I want now is to move in with Erik and make babies with him? I thought I wanted to get my life back on track, but now I like the idea of doing it with him.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with that. Does it need to be one thing or the other?’

‘If I’m being sensible about it.’

‘You need someone to have fun with. I know me and Emil are a hard act to beat, but Erik can probably fill the gaps for some stuff.’ He grinned at her and she shoved herself into his arm.

‘I’m used to overthinking things. It’s hard for me to go with the flow.’

‘You’re used to putting all of us first, Ida. Put yourself first, and if Erik is what you want, take him. Follow your heart for a change. You deserve to.’

‘Thank you.’ Ida wrapped her arms around Mats’ arm and snuggled into his shoulder.

‘Hey, careful. We’re going to lose a sausage here.’

‘Erik’s going to build a cabin right across from ours!’ Emil announced when they came back with handfuls of pinecones for the fire.

‘Hopefully Erik’s cabin will be hidden in the woods,’ Ida said, smiling at Erik. ‘You don’t want him to spy on you.’

‘I can spy on you!’

‘I think the sausages are ready,’ said Mats. ‘Emil, hand out the bread.’

Emil handed out slices of brown bread to each of them, then Mats laid a sizzling sausage on each piece of bread, and they took them over to the jetty and ate with their feet dangling over the water.

‘This is as good as it gets,’ Erik whispered to Ida.

‘That’s true. Remember this moment when it’s raining and cold and we don’t see the sun for the rest of the year.’

‘I will and I’ll remember sitting here with you, on the first day of the rest of our lives.’