FOR THE LAST WEEK, since the day he’d taken her back to her rental after the accident, Axel had managed to avoid Betty. He’d been able to largely avoid his father as well, with the notable exception of their confrontation after the surgery when the old man had lit into him about bringing Betty back to work against his wishes.
But Betty was clearly fine, her laceration was on the mend and she hadn’t had a concussion. She was running the surgical resident program and working with the residents well.
Better than he ever had.
And his father was clearly happy that she was doing so well.
His father had remarked that Betty was a chip off the old block, just as talented as her late father had been.
Mr. Bjorn was on the mend and Axel was overseeing his care. It was good enough for Axel. He was able to melt back into the background and just do his work. Even though it was hard to keep his distance from Betty. He missed her and it was difficult having to see that paramedic, Stellan, showing his interest her.
The night that Betty had watched Eira, he’d seen Stellan and Betty leave the hospital together. He’d seen the way she smiled when she talked to Stellan. Knew that Stellan had a bigger personality. He was charming and several doctors in the hospital spoke highly of him.
It was no wonder that he seemed to be sweeping Betty off her feet.
Stellan could offer her more than he could.
Axel was tied to Iceland and Stellan probably didn’t have the same ties as Axel did.
Betty deserved to have someone who could make her smile, the way she smiled when she was around Stellan.
Axel scrubbed his hand over his face and took another sip of his now cold coffee. He’d been working at catching up on his charts for several hours, but he wasn’t getting far. Not when his mind kept wandering.
Eira had been so displeased with him when he’d returned home only to take Betty back to her place. She was angry that he’d sent Betty away. She didn’t understand why he wasn’t trying and Axel didn’t have the capacity to explain to her why he wasn’t trying.
Why he didn’t deserve a chance. If he explained it, it would just bring back all those painful memories for Eira. Getting Eira to this point, where she was opening up and becoming a bit more mature, was a step forward. He didn’t need to take a step back and he didn’t want to open old wounds with her.
So he gladly bore the cold shoulder at home.
He closed his eyes.
“You okay?”
He opened his eyes to see Betty standing on the other side of the nursing station where he’d been working.
“Tired,” he said quickly.
“I haven’t seen you around.”
“You’ve been busy with the residents, doing the job you were brought here to do, and I’ve been busy with patients.”
She smiled warmly at him. “I know, but you looked—”
“How did I look?” Axel snapped. “I’m tired. Nothing more.”
“Fine. You’re tired. I’m sorry for asking, I thought we were friends and I had a feeling you were avoiding me. I guess I wasn’t wrong about that.”
“What makes you think I’m avoiding you?”
“For one thing, you didn’t offer to carry me up to my house when you dropped me off.” There was a twinkle of humor in her eyes and he couldn’t help but crack a smile.
“You made it to the top of the cathedral despite your fear of heights. I think you’re now capable of safely walking the icy Reykjavik streets.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Are you referring to me as a street walker?”
“Does that mean something else in America?”
“It’s a colloquial term for prostitute.”
Good job.
“I’m sorry,” he said, chuckling a bit. “That’s not what I meant at all.”
“I know. How’s Eira?”
“She’s fine,” he answered tightly.
“Oh, that bad, huh?”
“She’s mad that you left and that I didn’t make you stay. She thinks it’s as bad as me kicking you out.”
“Do you want me to have a talk with her?” Betty asked.
“No, it’s fine. She’ll get over it. I just think...” He trailed off because he didn’t want to tell Betty what he thought, that Eira was trying to reclaim some kind of semblance of happy family. Calder and their mother were the two in the family who always knew how to make a house feel like a home. They were the glue that held the family together.
Axel and his father, they just couldn’t seem to make a connection. To keep that sense of family. To make a house a home.
Calder always said Axel and their father were the same. Axel didn’t see it, because he was trying and his father wasn’t.
“I get it,” Betty said. There was a flush of pink in her cheek. “Well, I’ll let you get back to work.”
He felt so bad for brushing her off.
What was wrong with him?
“Betty, wait.”
She turned around.
“I wouldn’t mind if you talk to Eira. I think she needs a woman’s input.”
Betty’s expression softened. “Okay. I can do that.”
Axel sank down in his seat and finished the rest of his cold coffee. Angry at himself for everything he had done wrong.
He was a surgeon. Mechanical and cold-hearted.
And he would never be anything else. Calder had been right. He was just like his father.
* * *
Axel finished the rest of his surgical and post-operative notes. It took him most of the day because he would often get interrupted by residents who were working the trauma floor, especially if Betty was busy with another patient. But he didn’t mind.
He also made several visits to check on Mr. Bjorn and monitor his blood pressure. He was glad to see that his patient was taking to the blood-pressure-medicine protocol well.
“You saved his life,” Mrs. Bjorn said as Axel finished checking the incision sight and changing the bandage.
“He’s got a strong will to live,” Axel said, not taking the compliment.
“But you were there. If you weren’t there he...” Mrs. Bjorn looked away, brushing the tears from her eyes.
He wanted to tell her that even if he hadn’t been there, paramedics still would’ve come and someone else here would’ve done the surgery.
“Well, I’m glad I was there that day too.”
Mr. Bjorn smiled weakly at him, in thanks.
“Do you know when we’ll be able to go home?” she asked.
“Not for some time. I want to make sure he’s fully healed and that he’ll be able to take the cabin-pressure changes on the flight. He’s also at a risk for a pulmonary embolus. I promise you, Mrs. Bjorn, we’re doing all we can to get you both home safely and healthy as quickly as possible. I have contacted your family physician in Sweden. He’s up to date on everything and once we get your husband strong enough to travel, I’m confident your family doctor can take it from there.”
“Oh, good,” Mrs. Bjorn said in relief.
Axel pulled off the rubber gloves and disposed of everything. He cleaned his hands with hand sanitizer and then left the room. As soon as he stepped out of the door his phone went off. Eira was texting him.
She wanted to meet for dinner in Old Town. She wanted to talk to him.
Axel responded that he’d be there at seven. He slipped his phone into his pocket and then ran smack dab into the last person he wanted to see.
His father.
His father appeared flustered and annoyed. “How is your aortic dissection patient progressing?”
“He’s doing well,” Axel said.
“And your delinquent post-operative reports?”
“All done. Have you reconsidered my request to join the cardiothoracic team now? I want to learn more under the head of Cardio. He is more than willing to take me on. I’ve learned the basics as a trauma surgeon.”
“Why would I do that? You’re a trauma doctor.”
Axel’s jaw clenched. Of course. His father was never going to see him for who he was. He didn’t even know why he was bothering to try. His father was going to hold him back and keep him down just to keep punishing him.
“This is me trying to improve, Father.”
“You’re a trauma doctor. I don’t need you on the cardio team.”
“Of course. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have to finish my rounds and then I’m meeting Eira for dinner. You could join us, if you’d like?”
“What?” his father asked, as if he’d been slapped.
“Your granddaughter. When was the last time you saw her, Father?”
“I see her during the holidays,” his father snapped.
“You can see her more than that. I know she would like it.”
“Don’t speak to me about Eira,” his father said under his breath. “You have no right to talk to me about her.”
“I only thought that you might like to have dinner with us. That’s all.”
“I’m busy,” his father said, nodding curtly before storming away.
Axel shook his head. He wished Calder and his mother were here. They would be able to reach out to his father and help them bridge the gap. His mother had had a way of softening their father; without her his father just lived in this perpetual cloud of anger and bitterness.
Aren’t you doing just the same?
Axel shook that thought away. He didn’t have time to think about this. He had his rounds to finish and then he’d meet Eira for dinner. Maybe they could talk about what had happened with Betty. Maybe he could be the one to try to bridge the gap, but he was afraid he just didn’t know how.
* * *
“Betty, I’m so glad I found you.”
Betty looked up from where she was going over a chart to see Eira standing in front of her. The girl had a big smile on her face and looked a lot better than she had when they’d first met.
“Eira, what’re you doing here?”
“Well, I’m here to get my stitches out.” Eira held up her arm. “It’s been two weeks.”
Betty smiled. “Of course. Let’s get you settled into an exam room.”
“Great.”
Eira fell into step beside Betty. They found an empty exam room and Eira set her stuff down in one of the chairs before climbing up into the larger chair that was used for triage, blood work and assessments of patients.
Betty found what she needed to remove the sutures in the cupboards.
“I thought you would’ve gone to your family doctor or had your uncle remove the stitches,” Betty said as she set down all the things she would need to do the job.
“No, I wanted you to do them. I hope you don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” Betty pulled on a pair of rubber gloves and dabbed alcohol on a cotton ball before cleaning the incision.
Eira winced. “That’s cold.”
“This won’t hurt very much or for very long.” Betty examined the healed wound, glad to see all signs of infection were gone.
“Are you sure?” Eira asked nervously.
“Positive. I got stitches in my leg when I was about your age and I had a lot more than you have here. I was so worried that it was going to hurt, but it was fine. The sensation was a bit weird, but, really, it doesn’t hurt much at all.”
“Okay.” Eira closed her eyes and Betty could see that her other hand was clenched.
“Relax, it’s going to be all right.”
Betty started to do her work and it didn’t take long before the stitches were out and she was cleaning up the remnants.
“Is it over?” Eira asked in surprise.
“It is.” Betty disposed of everything and placed the surgical instruments in a bucket to be sent off to be sterilized.
“Oh, I’m so glad and you’re right—it didn’t hurt.”
“See, I told you.”
Eira bit her lip and Betty instantly suspected there was something else she wanted to say to her, but it was clear the younger girl was nervous.
“Eira, you know that you can talk to me if you need to. Your uncle doesn’t mind us talking.”
She looked relieved. “Well, I was actually hoping that we could go out for dinner and talk about something that’s bothering me.”
“Sure. When were you thinking?”
“Are you available now?”
Betty glanced at her watch. It was almost six-thirty and her shift was supposed to be over at five-thirty.
“Yeah, I’m done for the night. I’ll just change and we can walk into Old Town together?”
Eira nodded, grinning. “Yes and I know a perfect place.”
“Sounds great.”
Betty changed quickly and then returned to the emergency room to find Eira loitering around the nurses’ station. Eira appeared nervous, almost jumpy, looking around as if she was afraid that her uncle or possibly her grandfather was going to see her.
Maybe Axel really isn’t okay with it.
And if Axel wasn’t okay with it, she shouldn’t go.
Eira turned and smiled at Betty. “Are you ready?”
“Eira, are you sure your uncle is okay with this? I mean, he told me that he was okay if you turned to me to talk but...”
“But what? If he said it’s okay, then it’s fine.”
“You look like you’re ready to bolt,” Betty teased as she slipped on her winter jacket and wound her infinity scarf around her neck.
“I don’t want to run into my grandfather,” Eira admitted sheepishly. “He doesn’t like children lingering in his emergency room.”
Betty was stunned. “Oh, okay, well, let’s go so that he doesn’t get the chance to get angry with you for being here.”
Eira smiled and nodded.
They chatted about weather and school as they took the short walk through lightly falling snow to Old Town, Eira leading them toward a cozy café that was in an older building just off the main street.
Inside it was all wood and stone, with a roaring fireplace in the center. They found a booth near the back and Eira ordered a couple of coffees for them.
“Usually fourteen-year-olds don’t drink coffee.”
Eira looked at her in disbelief. “I find that hard to believe. Besides, I’ll be fifteen soon and most of us drink coffee. Or at least in my circle of friends.”
Betty tried not to laugh. Eira was so cute. There were flashes of confidence, though they were rare, but that confidence completely suited her.
“So what did you want to talk about?” Betty asked, folding her hands on the table in front of her.
Eira smiled at her hands. “I feel like I’m in an interview.”
“You’re not.” Betty chuckled. “Sorry, it’s just usually how I sit. I don’t have many dinners that are not business related.”
“You live in New York City and you’re a young, single woman. Shouldn’t you be out there dating? Like on all the American TV shows set in New York City.”
Betty’s mouth dropped open and now she was embarrassed. “A surgeon doesn’t have much time for dating. And what’re you doing watching those shows?”
Eira ignored her question. “I guess that’s why doctors marry other doctors. Their dating pool is very small.”
“Was your mother a doctor?” Betty asked gently. She didn’t want to bring up a topic that might be sore for Eira, but Eira wanted to speak to her about something that was obviously bothering her.
“She was a nurse practitioner for the tactical navy,” Eira said. There was no hint of sadness in her voice, just pride. “She died of cancer.”
“She had cancer when she was pregnant with you?” Betty asked, shocked.
“She did. She refused treatment. I always used to worry that my father resented me, but then...” Eira trailed off. There were tears in her eyes. “He loved me. And he made sure that I knew how much my mother loved me.”
“And how about your uncle?” Betty asked.
“He loves me.” Eira smiled brightly at her. “He just...he blames himself for my father’s death. I don’t think that he thinks he’s good enough and he pushes people away.”
Betty knew that feeling all too well. Thomas had made her feel not good enough so many times and every time she tried to find her confidence again, he was right there, pulling her back into the toxic cycle of their relationship and she let him. Why did she let him?
“He didn’t mean to send you away, Betty,” Eira said quickly, interrupting Betty’s train of thought.
“He didn’t send me away, Eira. I didn’t have a concussion. I was cleared to work so he took me back to my place. I wasn’t supposed to move in with you.”
“But what if you did?” Eira asked.
“Eira, I don’t think...” Betty trailed off as she saw a familiar figure move through the crowded little bistro toward the back booth.
Axel.
Her heart skipped a beat and she was suddenly very nervous. Their gazes locked and his expression was unreadable, but she could tell by the way his posture straightened that he wasn’t too pleased to see her.
“Betty,” he said curtly, nodding, and then he turned to Eira. “I thought it was going to be just us tonight?”
Eira grinned and blushed. “I thought that you two had a bit of a falling-out and I wanted to make things right.”
“Eira, we didn’t have a falling out,” Betty said.
Only they had.
They had both put up walls after that aortic dissection surgery a week ago.
And apparently they weren’t the only ones who saw this.
“Uncle Axel, you need to enjoy life and I know that you two get along so well. It was so nice when Betty was around and I think you both miss each other.”
Betty was completely stunned and Axel said nothing.
“My friends are waiting for me,” Eira said brightly, nodding toward a group of teenage girls standing by the door, and then slipping out of the booth. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her uncle on the cheek. “I’m going over to Janetje’s tonight. Please, you two, just talk. For me?”
Betty was too stunned to say anything else.
Axel didn’t say anything as he watched his niece disappear off with a couple of girlfriends. He stood there for a few minutes more and then slipped into the booth across from Betty.
“I’m sorry,” he said, clearing his throat.
“For what?” she asked, still stunned by Eira’s manipulation of them both.
“For Eira.” A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “She was always pushy when she was young. She always wanted to get her way and my brother would usually let her get away with murder.”
She laughed. “I can see that. She’s a very charming young woman.”
The waitress came and set down the coffee and looked confused by the change in occupants to the booth. “Will this be all?”
Betty looked at Axel. “I can go for a bite to eat. What about you?”
He didn’t say anything and for a moment she thought he was going to get up and leave.
“I can definitely eat.” He turned to the waitress and ordered some food.
When the waitress left Betty leaned over the table. “What did you just order for us?”
Axel chuckled and there was that twinkle in his eyes again. “Hangikjöt. It’s lamb. It’s quite tasty.”
“Okay, well, if it’s not I’m totally blaming you.”
He smiled. It was rare to see him smile so brightly, and she enjoyed the reappearance of the delicious dimples he had, which she just wanted to eat up. Axel was the most handsome man she’d ever seen, but it wasn’t just his physical looks. There was something about Axel that made her weak in the knees.
Something that made her forget that he was totally off limits.
“That’s all right. You know, I should’ve known Eira would pull something like this. As I told you before, she was angry when you left our house.”
“I thought she was being jumpy in the emergency room because she didn’t want her grandfather to catch her loitering, but it’s obvious now that she was on the lookout for you.”
Axel’s smile disappeared. “It was probably a combination of both. My father doesn’t like children hanging out in the hospital. With patients it’s fine, but physicians’ and nurses’ children should be at home in his opinion. He’s always enforced that. And, unfortunately, Eira and I have borne the brunt of his lectures. No visiting at the workplace. At all.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Your father is just so nice to me and—”
“He respected your father,” Axel said, gently cutting her off. “But when my brother Calder first died, Eira was afraid of losing any more of her family so I brought her to work with me one day. She had been crying and clinging to me, frightened. I only had to stop at the hospital to do a quick consult and I saw no problem bringing her. My father felt otherwise.”
Betty’s heart sank. “I’m sorry to hear that. It’s usually not a problem anywhere else.”
“I’ve tried to get my father more interested in Eira, but he’s not the best with children.”
“Or you,” Betty said quickly and Axel shot her a look that made her instantly regret what she’d said.
“You’re not wrong there,” Axel said, sighing. “My father and I never had the best relationship when I was younger, but when my mother died and then my brother the following year, our relationship combusted.”
“He’s grieving. People grieve in very different ways. I threw myself into a destructive relationship that I can’t seem to escape from when my father died.”
Axel cocked his head to one side. “With Thomas Welling?”
“Yes. My father told me, right before he died and when I started my surgical residency, to not get involved with another doctor until I was established. He told me to focus on becoming the best damn surgeon I could be. After my internship, he passed away so suddenly and it destroyed my world. It was an aortic dissection and the best team of cardiothoracic surgeons were right at his doorstep at Mayo, but he was in his office, working, and he died before they could find him.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks.”
“And so when did you start seeing Thomas?”
“About a year after the funeral. I was done with my first year of residency and I was a promising general surgeon. I was the ‘one to watch’ and then Thomas walked into my life and I let him walk all over me. He got all the accolades for our work. Suddenly, I wasn’t the one to watch, he was, but I didn’t care because I was in love.”
“I understand that. My last relationship also ended in heartbreak.”
“Oh?” Betty asked, just slightly jealous. Although she shouldn’t be surprised—a handsome, caring, strong man like Axel wouldn’t be single for long.
“Freya and I were together for three years and then after my brother died and I had to take care of Eira she was angry. She felt my father should take care of Eira, and she wasn’t completely thrilled about my post-traumatic stress or my grief. So she left. She said it wasn’t fair for me to expect her to bear that burden.”
“Wow. She sounds like a real piece of work.”
Axel chuckled. “And your Thomas sounds like a right jerk.”
“He was. I let him control my life for far too long. So long that I faded into the background and every time I tried to move forward, he reeled me back in. So that’s why I’m here. In Reykjavik. About to eat...hangikjöt?”
Axel chuckled. “Yes and that is the correct pronunciation.”
“At least I’m learning something.”
“You’re still one to watch.” His eyes were so intense, so serious, and it made her heart beat a bit faster. The compliment caught her off guard. She could feel the heat blooming in her cheeks.
She didn’t know how to respond to that and luckily she didn’t have to as the waitress chose that moment to bring them their food.
Betty appreciated the compliment, even if it wasn’t really true.
She wasn’t one to watch.
She didn’t want to be watched. She just wanted to disappear for a while. To mend herself so that maybe then she could move on with her life.
* * *
Axel couldn’t believe that Eira had been so devious and had set this up. This reminded him of the mischievous things his brother used to do. At first he’d thought about walking away and not sitting down to have dinner, but he couldn’t hurt Betty like that.
And he missed her.
There was still pink in her cheeks from his comment that she was still one to watch. She looked embarrassed, but not flattered as he’d hoped.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Betty,” he said gently, and he reached out and took her hand. “I’m sorry I’ve been being such a...”
“Doofus,” Betty mumbled.
“What’s a doofus?”
“A jerk.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, that. I’m sorry, I just thought it might be better for your reputation at the hospital if you weren’t associated with me so I’ve kept my distance. I’m the black sheep. They either see me as a threat because I’m the son of Dr. Sturla Sturlusson and resent me, or they feel pity for me because they know about Calder. Either way, I’m not well liked at the hospital.”
“I’m sorry that they’re so jealous,” Betty said, squeezing his hand back. “You are talented, but I do have one question.”
“Sure.”
“Can you explain the surname thing to me? Your father is Sturla Sturlusson. I knew he was S. Sturlusson, but Sturla?”
Axel grinned. “His father was Sturla as well. That is how last names are derived. The last name forms the father’s name. My mother thought there should be a break in the name and called me Axel and my brother Calder. So Eira is actually Calderdóttir, because she is a female. My sons will be Axelsson and my daughters Axeldóttir.”
“In the States we just take on our parents’ surnames. Jacinth is French, or something. My father never knew. Whoever they were, they settled in Tennessee.”
“Do you miss home?”
She cocked her head to one side. “No, since my father died and my grandmother before him, I don’t really have a place to call home. I do miss New York, sometimes, but I didn’t really do much outside the hospital after...”
He could tell she was thinking about Thomas and he felt bad.
“Don’t think about him,” Axel said gently.
“I’m not thinking about him,” she said stiffly.
“Let’s talk about something else. Why did you want to go into trauma and laparoscopic surgery?”
“Why did you want to do trauma and cardiothoracic?” she asked, turning the table on him.
“I asked you first!” he teased.
She smiled, those beautiful eyes of hers twinkling. “I just liked the fast pace of the emergency room, but I do like doing laparoscopic surgeries, when I need a break from the gritty world of the trauma room. It’s a delicate surgery, slow and methodical. Less invasive compared to trauma. Now it’s your turn.”
“I wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon since I left medical school, but my brother joined the tactical navy as a surgeon and I idolized my brother. So I joined too. I learned everything I could and was able to work with an amazing cardiothoracic surgeon out in the field. If I had my choice I would be doing cardiothoracic work every day. There’s a beauty to the heart. Not many people can see that.”
“Why didn’t you take a job on the cardiothoracic team, then, after your time in the tactical navy?”
“Because my father is punishing me.” He couldn’t believe he’d admitted to it.
“He’s punishing you?”
“When the helicopter started to go down, there was an explosion and my brother grabbed me and threw me into the water first. He took the blast of shrapnel to his back. He was injured, probably paralyzed and he died. And I came out of it unscathed. Calder was my father’s favorite. Calder could calm him, much like my mother could. My father blamed me for living instead of Calder, so, he’s punishing me.”
“Are you sure?”
“He told me so,” Axel said.
“That’s cruel,” she said gently.
“He’s only this way with me and Eira, if I’m honest. Eira reminds him of my mother and of Calder. So he pushes her away.”
“He’s afraid to let her in because he might lose her, perhaps?”
Axel nodded. “So am I. I promised my brother I would watch her. That I would take care of her. I don’t feel like I’m doing good enough for her.”
“You are,” Betty said and she touched his hand again. “You really are.”
He wanted to take her hand and kiss it, but the waitress came over to their table and placed the beer he’d ordered in front of them.
“You ordered beer?”
“Who said I did?” he teased.
“I know Eira didn’t, so don’t play coy with me.”
“I owe you a meal. We were going to have this the day of the cathedral.”
“Good thing I don’t have to work tomorrow.” She took a sip. “That is strong!”
“You really are a lightweight, aren’t you?”
“I told you I was. I was a studious student in college. All I ever wanted to do was save lives.” She turned to her meal while Axel’s heart skipped a beat.
That was how he felt.
That was all he’d ever wanted to do. He’d focused so hard on school and walking the same path as his brother in hopes that his father would like him.
That he would make his father proud.
He realized that he and Betty were the same.
She took a bite of the lamb. “That’s really good!”
“I’m glad you like it,” he said, trying to find his voice.
“You know what, your father likes me, perhaps I can—”
He held up his hand to cut her off. “I don’t want you getting involved with this.”
“But you want to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. You have the skills, the knowledge, so you should be one. You should make your father listen.”
“No, Betty. Don’t.”
“I won’t, but you should do what you love, Axel. Life is too short.”
He fell silent. That was so true. Life was too short.
He knew first-hand how short it could be.
* * *
They finished their meal, chatting about everyday things at the hospital. It was nice. Betty enjoyed every time they got together because it helped her to feel like herself again, to remember who she was before Thomas, before the loss of her father.
She was smiling and laughing a lot, but that was because of the beer she’d drunk. At least the hangikjöt had been served with potatoes so she definitely wasn’t drinking on an empty stomach.
“Are you okay?” he asked, grinning, those blue eyes twinkling.
“Fine.” She was a bit buzzed, but she knew what was going on.
“I’d better take you home.” He paid the bill and they slipped out of the booth. And as they maneuvered through the crowds of people who were escaping the cold on a Friday night, his arm went around her. His strong hand against the small of her back as he guided her to the exit.
It was cold and crisper than it had been when she had left the hospital. She shivered.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“A bit.”
He slipped off his jacket and put it around her shoulders as she protested, because she didn’t want him to freeze.
“I’m wearing a thick sweater and my car is just over there.”
He put his arm back around her and guided her to his SUV, which had been fixed from the crash. As they walked, Betty looked up at the sky and could see the faint green lights to the north of the city.
“Oh! They’re back out.”
Axel craned his neck. “Yes. I heard they were going to be particularly strong tonight.”
“Too bad the city is drowning them out,” she said.
“Would you like to see them better?” he asked.
“Sure, but how?”
“I know a place. About an hour outside the city. Eira is safe at her friend’s house for the night and you don’t have work tomorrow. I can take you, if you’d like?”
“Sure.”
Even though she knew she shouldn’t go on a dark drive with him an hour outside the city, she couldn’t help but say yes. It was a once in a lifetime chance to see the aurora borealis. She had to take it.
Axel helped her into the SUV and then climbed in the driver’s side.
He drove away from the old town of Reykjavik and stopped at his place.
“I thought we were going to see the northern lights?” she asked.
“Yes, you stay put. I’m going to grab you a warmer jacket.”
He was in and out of his house within minutes and was carrying not only a jacket, but an ugly knitted cap and a blanket.
“Here,” he said, tossing her the pile of stuff he’d collected as he got back into his SUV.
“Thanks,” she said dryly.
“Ready to see the aurora?”
“Ready.”
He grinned and nodded. They drove out of Reykjavik north-west along the coast. Soon the lights of Reykjavik and then a few other small towns were behind them. The rest of the world was dark and restricted to the headlights of Axel’s SUV and the other vehicles and trucks that were heading south toward Reykjavik.
After a while he pulled off in a lay-by, by the water, and parked. He turned off the lights and got out. Betty followed him.
It was dark and she could hear waves hitting the shore; she just couldn’t see the water because there was no moon.
“I can’t see them,” Betty whispered.
“Why are you whispering?” Axel asked, whispering back.
“I don’t know.” She chuckled.
“Just be patient and let your eyes adjust. And you’ll be rewarded. Just keep your eyes focused above you.”
“Don’t you mean north?”
“No, I can see the ribbon—it’s above us. Iceland is above the sixtieth parallel, which means we can see them above us and extending across the sky to the north.”
Betty closed her eyes and then opened them. As her eyes began to get used to the darkness she saw the first burst of color, in a green and purple ribbon, rippling and dancing across the sky.
“Oh!” she gasped.
“Aren’t they something? I could watch them for hours.”
“Me too,” she whispered in awe. Tears stung her eyes at the beauty of the dancing lights in the darkened sky.
“You’re crying?” Axel asked.
“It’s kind of moving.”
“I think it’s sweet that you’re crying.”
“You do? Surgeons don’t cry, though. That’s what I was told by my father.”
Axel touched her cheek, wiping a tear away with his thumb. “I think it shows more humanity when a surgeon cries.”
Her heart was pounding like a jackhammer, her pulse thundering in her ears as she stared into his eyes, the aurora dancing above them. It was just the two of them in the cold darkness. Usually that would freak her out, but for some reason in this moment with his arms around her she felt safe.
She felt at peace.
She felt like herself.
And before she could react, Axel cupped her face and leaned in, kissing her. Tenderly at first, before it deepened. His mouth on hers, his hand cupping the back of her head as he kissed her with passion she’d never felt before.
It scared her, but thrilled her too.
“I’m sorry,” he said breathlessly as he broke the kiss off.
“Don’t be sorry,” she said breathlessly. “Oh, the lights are gone.”
He looked up. “Ah, that’s the thing about auroras. You need a clear sky and there’s clouds rolling in. Could be a storm. I think we’d better head back to Reykjavik.”
“Good idea.”
She wanted to talk more about what had happened just now. To tell him that it was okay that he had kissed her, that she didn’t want things to be weird between them again.
That she wanted more than just a kiss under the Northern Lights, but her time here was limited and she had to find herself again before she got caught in another life that wasn’t hers.