Page 62 of Snug in Iceland
Stella and Rachel had never really done anything together outside of work before, mainly because marketing didn’t tend to get involved on-site for store launches until the opening and even then they were not often there at the same time so they didn’t know each other that well. Plus, Stella had only been at Snug for a year and a half so there hadn’t been many chances to socialise together.
Having a swimming buddy was a welcome distraction for Rachel and she was looking forward to seeing what Stella thought of the whole Icelandic swimming ritual. She was pretty fashionable and well put-together which made Rachel think she’d probably baulk at the idea of showering naked even more than she had. As it was, she was a little wide-eyed when Rachel told her but she took it in her stride as they purposely averted their eyes from each other until they’d got their cossies on. Rachel took her into the sitting pool first so they’d be warm while she pointed out the various options then Rachel went into the big pool to swim a few lengths. When she padded quickly across to the saltwater pool Stella was already relaxing in there so Rachel waded across to sit next to her.
“This is amazing, Rachel. How did you find out about it?” she asked lazily.
“The guy that picked me up from the airport told me. I was coming most evenings while we were doing the building work. It’s so relaxing and I love swimming outside.”
“I keep thinking I am glimpsing a flash of the Northern Lights,” Stella said staring at the sky.
“I know. I always look for them but apparently, it’s unusual to see them in the city because of the light pollution.”
“Hmm. It’s a shame we won’t have time to go on a trip or something.”
“I went on a Northern Lights trip when I first got here but the weather turned and we got caught in a snowstorm so I never did see them.”
She thought back in fondness at that night with Jonas. A disaster that turned out to be anything but.
“Really? What happened? Did you all make it back to the city?”
“Well, it was just me and the tour guide because it was a private tour, I mean Adam was meant to be with us but… had missed his flight.” Stella didn’t need to know all the facts. “Luckily the guide knew somewhere we could stay and ride out the storm.”
“Adam that was there today? I didn’t know he was your boyfriend.”
“Well, he’s not now.”
“Because he stood you up and left you to get stranded in a snowstorm?” said Stella playfully. “Sorry. That isn’t why, is it?”
“No, not really. There were lots of reasons.”
“So, what happened in the storm? God, what was the tour guide like? What a nightmare to be stranded with a virtual stranger.”
Rachel smiled at Stella’s stream-of-consciousness way of talking.
“It was okay. We just hunkered down in the cabin, lit a fire and waited until we could leave the next day.”
“Ooh, Rachel, that’s romantic! Was he nice, the tour guide?”
“Yes, he’s lovely. We’re friends now, actually.”
“I should think you are,” she said with a glint in her eye.
“Not like that,” Rachel smiled, although ithadbeen like that in the end… no-one needed to know about her and Jonas.
“Rachel! God, I could do with a bit of luck like that. My love life is a dearth of eligible men, you’ve got a lovely man at home and then that happens as well.”
“I was cheesed off with Adam for not coming over, so I was happy to spend a cosy night with someone who didn’t mind being with me. But he was too much of a gentleman to take advantage of that.”
“I suppose a holiday fling isn’t the best thing to do just because you’re pissed off,” Stella said. “You’re probably relieved now that nothing happened.”
“Mmm,” Rachel said closing her eyes and sinking further into the water.
Later that evening after they had eaten at the fish and chip place, which was a huge hit with everyone, they strolled along to the harbour. Stella and Luisa both thought the same as Rachel had when Jonas took her there: there’s nothing there. Then they turned the corner and saw the lit doorway and Stella practically broke into a run shouting, “Oh my God, Rachel, it looks so cool!” and “Wow! I didn’t think there’d be anywhere like this!” when they hadn’t even set foot in the place yet. Luckily, Rachel knew that the inside was not going to let them down.
They found a booth underneath the mezzanine and Rachel left them there while she and Gudrun went to the bar. They had decided on gin cocktails to begin with which seemed to be very labour intensive to make so she began gazing around while she was waiting, half expecting, hoping, to see Jonas, even though she knew it was wishful thinking.
“Did you really get stuck in a snowstorm with some hunk of an Icelandic tour guide?” asked Luisa when Rachel got back to the table, leaving Gudrun to wait for the rest of the drinks.
She shouldn’t have left them alone. Clearly, Stella was not a natural confidant having taken less than five minutes to tell Luisa. Rachel knew they should have had straight gin and tonics, then she would have been quicker at the bar.
