Chapter 28 #2
‘You really came here because I didn’t answer my phone?’ It seemed odd that they’d spent days without contacting each other, then she’d make a special trip just because she couldn’t get hold of him. And then he realised she looked cross rather than worried.
‘Yes. And because of this.’ She took out her phone, tapped a couple of times, and then handed it to him.
It took him a minute to realise what he was looking at.
‘I didn’t do this,’ he said quickly. He was looking at an Instagram account that the agency he’d briefed had set up.
And Lotta was angry enough about that to have made an unscheduled trip to Bergen, apparently bringing her sister for moral support.
‘Well, someone’s done it. Has your account been hacked?’ Her sarcasm was cutting.
‘No, I mean, I asked someone to come up with some concepts, but I certainly didn’t sign off on any of this. Did you think I had done this behind your back?’
‘Of course I did, Mats. Even if someone posted this without you knowing, you didn’t mention at all that you had gone to someone else to get this work done. I wanted to help you find a name, come up with the launch campaign, all of that. That’s what I do, and you went to someone else.’
He took a deep breath. He’d never seen Lotta this upset before, and although he was acutely aware that he had to say exactly the right thing to avoid making things any worse, his instinct to defend himself kicked in.
She hadn’t offered to help, not in so many words, and it was hard not to throw that back at her.
‘I wanted you to do the work, but honestly, I didn’t get the feeling you wanted to do it. You’ve been keeping me at a distance, Lotta. I know it’s because you’re busy with work, but I didn’t feel as if I could ask you to help, so I went to someone else.’
She slumped over her knees, her head in her hands.
He waited, not sure what to do, but sensing that comforting her wouldn’t be the right move.
When she sat up again, there was hurt in her eyes. ‘I’m sorry. You should be able to ask me things like that.’
‘It doesn’t matter now. The project is about to come to a standstill because I’ve run out of money.’ It was easier to say it now that he’d practised on Ida and Fredrik.
‘Oh, Mats. I’m so sorry.’
He shrugged. ‘I knew it was coming, I just didn’t want to believe it. Until the apartment sells, there’s nothing else I can do.’
‘I had no idea it could come to that. How far off are you?’
‘The kitchen will go in and most of the internal structure is done, it’s the bedrooms, bathrooms and everything else that will have to wait.’
She reached out and took his hands in hers. ‘I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do to help.’
‘I’m glad you’re here.’
‘Well, I feel like a total idiot for overreacting about the stupid Instagram account now.’
He managed a small laugh. ‘It’s just as well they’ve made a mess of it because I can’t afford to pay them anyway.’
Neither of them spoke while Ida came outside, leaving their coffees wordlessly on the table between them.
‘I was so angry with you when I saw that post, Mats. And then I was angry with myself because I knew in my heart that you wouldn’t have gone to someone else if you didn’t think you had to.
And I had to come here because I don’t want to be angry about anything, especially not this.
This is the start of your business and we should have been in it together. ’
‘Maybe it’s for the best to keep work stuff separate?’
‘Your marketing isn’t work for me. If we’re going to have a future together, this is our family business now.’ She paused, looking at him to see whether he agreed.
‘It means everything to me that you feel like that.’
‘Well, I can’t stand by and watch you pay someone for rubbish like that.’ She said with a glint in her eye. She came around the table and sat on his lap, burying her head in his shoulder. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘You don’t need to apologise. We just need to be clear with each other about what the plan is.’
Her giggle reverberated into his chest. ‘You always want a plan, Mats.’
‘See what happens when you don’t have one?’
She laughed, rubbing her fingers under her eyes to wipe away the tears. ‘You end up calling your luxury hotel Rooyah.’
He threw his head back and laughed. ‘I did not choose that name!’ It felt good to laugh given the situation he found himself in. Having Lotta here reminded him that there was more to life than the island.
‘Good! Oh my god, Mats.’ She shook her head. ‘Please let me help you. Wait a second.’
She disappeared back into the house and came out with her laptop.
‘I’ve done this as a starting point.’ She watched him as he took in the campaign she’d put together. ‘Now we need a name so I can refine it.’
‘It’s wonderful.’ He had tears in his eyes. She’d done all of this for him without him asking. It was so much more than a marketing campaign; it was a sign that she loved him. And a sign that she understood and believed in his dream.
‘We’re in this together,’ she said, squeezing his hand. ‘I want to live my dream with you beside me. All of the time. And I want to be part of yours.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘I came here because I’m ready for the next step.’