Friday morning, Frankie was packed and ready to go. She’d managed to get all of her new clothing into the rucksack Freya had suggested she purchase after they’d had lunch, and although it was heavy, she could manage it more easily than her Versace suitcase. The latter wouldn’t have been at all practical for an expedition.
She walked through the hotel lobby, then through the automatic doors. Outside, the morning air was chilly so she pulled the feather-filled jacket closed over her chest and stuffed her hands into the deep pockets. Jonas had told her that he’d collect her in his car then they’d head to the airport.
The thought of seeing him again was exciting, even at six in the morning. He’d sent her a text yesterday, telling her to rest as much as possible, because the next three days would be busy. She’d tried to take his advice, flicking through her ereader and trying to lose herself in a fictional world, but her mind was too restless to focus for long. So she’d tried to watch a movie but that hadn’t worked either. She just hoped that getting away from everything as she headed to the largest city of northern Norway would be what she needed to clear her head.
A dark grey Volvo pulled up in front of the hotel then Jonas got out, so she hurried towards the vehicle. He took her rucksack and hefted it into the boot.
‘Morning, Frankie. You OK?’ he said once they were sitting in the front seats.
‘Yes, thank you. Are you?’
‘All good, yes. Looking forward to the tour?’
‘Very much.’
He started the engine then drove them through the quiet streets.
‘We just need to stop and collect Freya.’
‘She mentioned she was hoping to come along but she wasn’t sure. I take it she was able to get her friend who occasionally works at the gallery to step in for a few days?’
Jonas nodded but kept his eyes on the road.
So her mother was definitely coming on the trip too, which meant she’d get to spend more time with her and with Jonas. It just got better and better.
They picked Freya up from the gallery then Jonas drove them to the airport.
‘Who’s looking after Luna this weekend?’ Frankie asked.
‘My mother. She loves Luna and the feeling’s mutual.’ He laughed.
‘I’d have loved a dog growing up.’ The words slipped out before Frankie had really thought about them.
‘Would you?’ Freya asked from behind her; she’d insisted on taking the back seat.
‘I was away a lot though, so it wouldn’t have been fair, I guess.’
‘Away?’
‘At boarding school.’
‘Boarding school?’ Freya’s voice had hardened.
‘Yes. I went from the age of six to eighteen.’
‘Your father… sent you away?’
Frankie turned so she could see Freya. ‘It wasn’t just my father. It was more my grandmother. She said it was character building… and for the best.’
‘Oh, Frankie. Didn’t you get homesick?’
‘Sometimes, but to be honest, because my mother wasn’t around, it was kind of easier to be away. Then I could pretend that she was at home waiting for me to return.’
Freya broke eye contact and stared out of the window, so Frankie turned back around.
‘That’s… very sad.’ Freya’s voice was almost a whisper now. ‘I’m sorry for what you went through.’
Frankie nodded but didn’t trust herself to speak. Freya might be sorry now but where was she when Frankie had needed her? She hadn’t cared then if Frankie was sent away to school or if she’d been missing the presence of her mother in her life. And why had the comment affected Freya so much that she’d had to look away?
She knows who I am…
Of course she did.
Frankie spent the rest of the car journey fiddling with her nails, picking at what remained of her bridal manicure, fighting the urge to tell Jonas to stop the car so she could confront Freya for what she’d done. Now wasn’t the time; she needed to wait until the moment was right.
At the airport, Jonas took care of everything and soon they were seated on the flight. They had two seats together and one three rows behind, so Frankie insisted that Jonas and Freya sit together, telling them that she’d snooze for the short flight anyway.
She had closed her eyes but hadn’t been able to sleep. Instead, she’d played Freya’s words over and over in her mind, wondering if her mother had any idea at all of what she’d done by leaving. And now she would have the chance to find out, because once they were out there in the wilderness of Norway, Freya wouldn’t be able to run away.
But the same went for Frankie too, because she wouldn’t be able to run away if she didn’t like the answers. It was time for both of them to face the truth.
However painful it might be.
Freya was quiet for the duration of the flight and Jonas knew why. He’d been glad that Frankie had suggested that she take the other seat, as he wanted to keep an eye on Freya and wondered if she might need to talk. Finding out that Frankie had been sent to boarding school as a child must have been difficult for her. And it was something unimaginable for him because his own mother would’ve fought tooth and nail to keep him home with her. His upbringing had been so warm and loving, he just couldn’t fathom how it would feel to be sent away to school.
The fine lines around Freya’s eyes seemed deeper and she was staring out of the window as if searching for the answers to the questions that haunted her.
Jonas wanted to hug her and make her smile, to see the pain leave her face and find the Freya he’d known for so long. Yet he also knew that Freya had never been free of pain and that, in fact, she had suffered every day since arriving in Norway. Things had a way of coming full circle and it seemed that Freya’s past had caught up with her now, so it would be better for her to deal with the situation. Nothing could be avoided for ever but he hoped the outcome would be one that would make her happy. Her heartache was etched on her lovely face and deep in her eyes, and it hurt him to see it.
As for Frankie, he felt for her too. Being sent off to school as a little girl, never knowing a mother’s love, that must have been very hard. Freya had reasons for walking away from her life in England and she had told him all of them just a few days ago but Frankie didn’t know those reasons and she needed to hear them. There could be no proper healing for either woman until they’d spoken honestly about their pasts and their pain – it was always better to get things out in the open – and Jonas hoped that this weekend would be a good opportunity for them to do so.
In comparison, his life had been relatively uncomplicated. His father had died when he was a toddler, so he’d missed having him around but known that his mother and both sets of grandparents loved him. They’d all gathered around to ensure that Jonas enjoyed a good childhood and he’d grown into a contented and secure young man. They hadn’t had a lot of money but Jonas knew that money wasn’t the answer to everything. After all, Frankie’s father must have money if he’d sent her to what sounded like a prestigious boarding school, but look how Frankie felt about that. Jonas would be fine as long as he could pay his bills and help his mother out whenever she needed a bit extra. He’d never felt the urge to settle down or thought about having children, it had just never been on his agenda, so he couldn’t see a time when he’d need to earn more money to buy a house or support a family. If it ever arose, then of course he would make some changes; he would always look out for his loved ones. He just couldn’t foresee a wife and family in his future.
As the plane descended, though, he couldn’t help wondering what Frankie wanted from life. Did she have dreams of creating a family of her own, or had her experience with her mother leaving left her scarred?
He hoped that the weekend would give him the chance to find out more about her, as well as to ease some of the sadness that hung around her and Freya. That was his priority; helping the women to heal and hopefully to get to know each other. As for him and what he wanted, he had yet to find out what that might be.