Page 20 of Snug in Iceland
“Yes, the pattern is a chart, a bit like a picture of the stitches so you just follow that. I can show you how to start now if you would like?”
“Thanks, that would be great.” Ooh, she was quite excited now and could always watch some YouTube knitting videos if she got stuck.
“Do you like those colours or do you want to choose something else?” the knitting lady asked, pulling out a pair of knitting needles from a large pot of all different sizes.
“Yes, exactly like that one is perfect.” It probably wouldn’t look the same as that in the end, thought Rachel assuming her knitting skills were not quite up to that standard but it would be fun to try. Her mum would think it was great even if no-one else did.
Half an hour later Rachel was furnished with wool (a lot of wool but at least it was lightweight), needles, a pattern and a vague idea of what she was doing. She picked up a latte from Te & Kaffi around the corner and began to wander back to the hotel to start her knitting.
The sky had darkened since she’d left the hotel earlier and it seemed like dusk although it wasn’t late enough yet. As she strolled, looking over the sea towards the mountains, it began to snow, very heavily, reducing the visibility completely so that the only things she could make out were the very nearest buildings. Struggling with her bulky bags and trying not to drop her coffee, she pulled her hood up over her hat in a vain attempt to try and keep the driving snow out of her face. The snow was settling with surprising speed; the coloured roofs had already disappeared and the roads were covered in a perfect blanket of white with hardly any cars to spoil it. Despite the battle it was becoming to put one foot in front of the other, it was quite exciting. They hardly ever had snow in London so it was a few years since Rachel had seen any and she loved being the first to walk on the untouched powder that was paving the way in front of her.
She had made it onto Laugavegur and knew that the shop was just ahead. The thought of being able to take shelter now without having to haul her massive bags any further was overwhelming. She dug the keys out of her bag and let herself in, kicking the door shut firmly behind her.
Stamping her feet to get the worst of the snow off and shaking it off her coat before it could soak through, she sighed happily and sat on the floor sipping her lukewarm coffee watching the snow fall quietly outside. The fairy lights in the trees made it a perfect winter picture, one which she wanted to show someone. She pulled her phone out and Facetimed Adam. It took him a minute to answer by which time Rachel had positioned herself with her back to the window so that he could see the snow.
“Hey Rach,” he said in a sleepy voice.
“Look it’s snowing!”
“Oh, great. All I can see is a black you in front of a bright light.” He sounded less than enthusiastic but Rachel was undeterred.
“Wait a sec and I’ll take you outside.” She pulled her coat on again and went to open the door but it was latched. She put down the phone, all the while imagining Adam rolling his eyes in exasperation and flicked the door lock. Nothing.
“Shit. I can’t open the door.” She flicked the lock again and shook the door handle but it still didn’t open.
“Well don’t worry. Show me the next time it snows.”
“But I can’t get out! The door’s stuck or jammed or something.” Rachel picked the phone up again to see Adam looking remarkably calm given her plight.
“Can’t you ring someone to come and help you?”
“It’s Sunday, there’s a snowstorm and besides that, I don’t know anyone!”
“Alright, don’t panic. Show me the door.” She scanned her phone across the lock. “Hmm, I don’t know. Perhaps it’s jammed or something.”
“Oh thanks, Einstein. I think I’ve already established that!”
“Well, what do you expect me to do? You’ll have to call someone.”
“Great, thanks so much for your help.”
“No problem,” said Adam, her sarcasm completely passing him by. “Good luck, Rach. Let me know how you get on.”
Rachel sat for a moment contemplating her options. She could call a locksmith. It would cost a small fortune and she’d look like an idiot with her Snug colleagues when they inevitably found out that she’d managed to lock herself into the shop even though she had the keys. Anyway, maybe it wasn’t the lock, Nick had had no problems with it the other day. She could call the hotel to see if they had anyone who could come and help her. Unlikely given that it was a Sunday and when she had left it had looked like there was just one person on duty. Jonas. Could she ask him? They were kind of friends by now. Yes, it would be a bit embarrassing but she was sure he’d be nice about it, whatever the problem and at least he wasn’t a complete stranger.
Rachel scrolled through her contacts. She’d been given a mobile number by the tour company for the Blue Lagoon excursion in case she’d needed to contact the tour guide on the day. Obviously, on that day it had been Jonas who had the phone but maybe it wasn’t always him who would answer. But, she reasoned, they might be able to give her his personal number if she explained. It was worth a try.
She pressed the number in her contacts and held her breath.
“Iceland Adventures, Jonas speaking.” Thank God.
“Hi Jonas, it’s Rachel. I hope it was alright to call you on this number?”
“Of course, it’s nice to hear from you.” He sounded like he meant it.
“Well, I’m in a bit of a pickle. I’ve locked myself in the shop and I don’t know anyone else I can ask to help me. I mean, I don’t even know where you live and it’s a snowstorm and…”
“Rachel it’s alright.” He sounded so reassuring that Rachel instantly felt as if everything was going to be fine. “I am five minutes away. Don’t worry.”
