Page 153 of Sin City Lights

“They didn’t until recently. You’ll never understand.” Jannie swung around and glared at Erik, who was absorbed in something on his phone. “Hey, slacker! Put that thing away.”

Grandma rounded on him.“Erik. What part of ‘no phones in this kitchen’ was unclear?”

Ian chuckled.“Runt’s in trouble again.”

Adam busied himself smoothing the surface of the oatmeal and sprinkling cinnamon, then adding walnuts and berries as a topping.

Grandma watched him with adoring eyes, nodding approvingly.“That’s perfect.” She patted his arm and turned to Mrs. Larssen.“Is the coffee ready, Frida?”

“Almost.”

“Where’s Olaf?”

“Out walking Rolf.”

“Someone text him and tell him breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes,” Frida said.

Erik smirked.“I would, but I had to put away my phone.”

Grandma smacked him with a dish towel.“Text your father.”

Erik cowered exaggeratedly, lips twitching.“Yes, Bestemor.”

The click of toenails on hardwood announced the German shepherd’s arrival even before he trotted into the kitchen.

Grandma smiled at the dog.“Never mind.” She pinched a piece ofsmoked salmon from the platter in the center of the table.“Sitte.”

Immediately, the dog’s rump hit the floor.“Good boy!” She beamed.“He knows Norwegian.”

Eve pressed her lips together to quash a smile.

Grandma tossed him the salmon. Rolf chomped down on the sliver of fish, gobbling it as if it were nothing, thick tail swishing on the floor.

“You’re spoiling him rotten,” Jannie admonished, but her grin belied her tone.

Grandma caressed Rolf’s soft, pointy ears.“He’s a sweet boy. Deserves some good salmon.”

Mr. Larssen strode in, bringing with him the scent of fresh spring air.“It got cold out there,” he announced.“We might even get snow tonight.”

Eve looked at Adam questioningly.“In May?”

“The weather in Drammen is unpredictable. All of Norway is like that. You can’t trust your own eyes. It can be warm outside, but by the time you’ve put on your jacket and tied your shoes, the weather may have changed for the worse. Or the sky may have cleared. You always need to have some warm clothes with you. As they say here, wool is cool.”

Erik muttered something under his breath about freezing and nuts, earning a warning look from Mrs. Larssen.

Eve placed the last cup on the table.“All set.”

For the next hour, Eve felt enveloped in their warmth. They teased, laughed, and caught up on their lives over scrambled eggs, salmon, and oatmeal.

“How are the courses going, Eve?” Jannie asked her.

“They’re going great. I plan to take more credits next semester.”

“That’s wonderful. What’s your goal after you earn your doctorate?”

“I’m hoping to join a practice and eventually start my own.”

“She’s going to have the best physical therapy practice in Las Vegas,” Adam said with conviction.

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