Page 33 of Appointing

“Shocked, but fine.” Elin shrugged a shoulder and sipped her tea. “You need coffee,” she said. “I’ve got it.”

“Ma’am, do you even know how to use that machine?” Ingrid asked, laughing.

“No, but I have a law degree; I think I can figure out a coffee machine, Ingrid.” She approached the machine and stared it down. “Why are there so many buttons?”

Ingrid laughed and moved to stand next to her.

“For regular coffee, just press this one.” She pointed. “The rest are for the fancier drinks.”

“Do you want a fancy drink?” Elin asked.

“No, Ma’am. Just a coffee for me,” she replied.

“Does this thing add the sugar for you, too?” Elin asked after pressing the button.

“The button on the right.”

“For two, do I press it twice?” Elin asked.

She turned to Ingrid when Ingrid didn’t answer right away.

“Yes,” Ingrid said after a moment. “Sorry, sometimes I forget that you know how I take my coffee.”

“Why?” Elin asked after the coffee cup filled and she moved it to the side, pressing the button twice and watching sugar drop into the cup.

“Because I’m you’re employee, Ma’am. How many employers know how their employees take their coffee?”

Elin passed Ingrid the cup and said, “I pay attention.” They stared at one another for a long moment before Elin needed to do something to pull her attention from Ingrid’s amazing eyes. “Has it been five minutes yet?”

Ingrid laughed, placed her cup on the counter, and walked to the chiller. She removed the tray and returned with it.

“Can you stop at just one?”

“I’d be lying if I said yes,” Elin replied with a smile.

“I’ll do them all up for you then, but take the rest to your rooms and put them away there, or the staff will think they’re leftovers from tonight and fair game.”

“No problem,” Elin said, watching as Ingrid coated the first one in the coconut and passed it to her. Elin couldn’t wait and instantly took a bite. Not only was it delicious, but it tasted oddly familiar. “Ingrid, this is amazing! It tastes just like Henri’s.”

Ingrid just smiled at her as she continued with the coconut.

“No, they’re notjust likeHenri’s; theyareHenri’s.” Elin took another bite and knew it now. “Ingrid, I haven’t been eating Henri’s, have I?”

“No, Ma’am,” she replied, looking up at Elin now. “When I first started, I’d made a batch of these and brought them to my office to give away.”

“And I saw them,” Elin nodded.

“Yes, when you came in, you saw them and just assumed they were made by Henri and the staff to welcome me to my new position. I didn’t correct you.”

“Ingrid, have you been making these for me this whole time?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” she replied.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Elin asked.

“I don’t know. Does it really matterwhomakes them if it’s something you like?”

“Yes,” Elin stated. “Ingrid, seeing these at dinner tonight… I don’t know… made me feel safe. I’m sitting in my father’s chair, about to take on a job I was never meant to have, when I see a plate of Skolebrød, and I’m warmed inside because it makes me think about all the other times I’ve had them, how good they are, and how something so simple can just make you feel safe and at home. And now, I find out you’ve been making them for me this whole time.”

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