Page 28 of Condemned to You

The girl smiled, “We just got a fresh batch of vanilla buns out of the oven.”

“That sounds delicious. I’ll take one of those. Anything I should try? It’s my first time in Iceland.”

“If you want to be really Icelandic, a blueberry and licorice bun.”

I laughed to myself watching the person scrunch their face.

“Hjónabandssælais really good,” I suggested attempting my best to say it correctly. “It’s basically oats filled with jam. Or Pönnukökur.” I pointed to it for reference after butchering the name. “It’s almost like a crepe.”

“Thank you,” the person smiled, “I’ll take what she suggested.”

“Ah! I thought it was Sunday for a moment,” the owner came out of the back with a smile as he placed a fresh tray on the rack.

“It’s a special day today,” I smiled from ear to ear.

“I created a new coffee flavor to try. It’s a twist on ávaxtafrappó but hot! You must try it. Go have a seat and I’ll bring it to you with the rest of your order.”

“Thank you,” I laughed unsure exactly what that meant. Ávaxtafrappó is a fruit Frappuccinoif I wasn’t mistaken.

It was nice having people treat you with kindness when they didn’t know who you were. It was always hard to tell when someone was being genuine. The café hummed with the soft chatter of early morning patrons, the air thick with the rich aroma of fresh pastries. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow on the wooden tables and illuminating the faces of those gathered. I sat at a small table in the corner waiting for my coffee.

“Enjoy!”

The girl startled me. I may not be in immediate danger but I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder.

“I’m so sorry! Are you okay?”

I forgot I go by Freya now. Something I still needed to get used to. “I was just lost in thought. Thank you.”

Taking a sip, the perfectly temperate coffee coated my mouth filling it with flavors of berries which only got better as it went down my throat. Looking at my watch, I knew I had some time to spare. Emilio said he would be gone for about an hour. My fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of the coffee cup and watching the steam rise as my mind drifted to my family back home. As much as I was enjoying this bit of freedom, I missed everyone terribly – even Luca. My mind began to wonder if I missed my brother because Emilio was still alive. Did my relationship with Luca really depend on Emilio’s life? Would anything have changed between us if I knew Emilio was still alive?

The sound of the door chiming caught my attention causing me to look up and watch a woman walk in, cheeks flushed from the cold outside. We make eye contact and she nodded her head to me. Did I know her or was I just being paranoid? Everyone here was so nice it made me feel out of touch with reality. Out of politeness, I nodded in return. Unable to take my eyes off of her, she looked like a Viking goddess. Her long hair braided and left over her shoulder to cascade down to her hip. Wearing a brown leather trench coat with sheep fur lining and boots, she was clearly a local.

After placing an order at the counter, she made her way toward me.

“Mind if I sit?” She asked me.

Without giving an answer, the woman plopped herself onto the chair. She didn’t even bother removing her jacket.

“Do I know you?” I asked.

“No,” she smiled. “I’ve noticed you frequent this bakery. Are you on holiday?”

“Just moved here,” I smiled. “I’m Freya”

I watched her extend her arm to shake my hand while carrying a sly smile, “I’m Athena.”

Chapter Sixteen

Athena’s sly smile gave me an odd feeling.

“I’ve seen you before.” It was coming back to me. Her familiar face from last night that looked different when her hair was down. “Last night at Sjávargrillið. You’ve been watching me and not just because you’re looking for friendly conversation.”

“We have a lot more in common than the same dress in our closet.”

I felt my face burning up. “Is there something you need to tell me or are you a bitter ex?”

She was stunned by my forward remark. The barista brought her drink, and she wrapped her hands around the warm cup, seeking comfort in its heat.