Chapter Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Seven
‘In short, it is legally binding, and there’s nothing they can do about it,’ Oliver said, delighted with the outcome. ‘Any decisions to do with Firefly Forest have to be jointly agreed between Tore and the Bakkens. Fifty percent to each half, not fifty-fifty between Bjorn and Nina.’
‘Yesss!’ Henrik punched the air, then high-fived me.
Jonas was stood with his arms around Greta and squeezed her tight. Once we’d found the covenant, he’d updated her on the situation.
Tore let out a huge sigh of relief. ‘Thank God. Thank God. And thank you, of course, Oliver. And Sara for bringing you to us.’
‘It was nothing,’ I said, beaming. My record was still unbeaten.
‘And very much my pleasure,’ Oliver added.
‘Firefly Forest is a special, protected place, and it didn’t take long to formalise an objection, once we had proof of covenant.
Certified copies have been sent to Mr Pearson and Mr Bakken, along with a cease-and-desist order.
I’ve also made it clear that should they decide to reopen negotiations, Mr Nilsen, senior – Tore – you would need to be part of those conversations. ’
‘How can we ever repay you?’ Tore said, his voice cracking. ‘I thought we’d lost it all. I haven’t slept for days with all the worry.’
‘No payment necessary. Sara is a friend and I’ve been happy to help. Perhaps I’ll come and visit sometime and experience the magic for myself?’
‘Please! You must! Consider it an open invitation for anytime you’d like to come. Bring your family and friends. Anyone you like! Just let us know.’
‘Greta and I would also like to invite you to our wedding,’ Jonas added. ‘As our honoured guest.’
‘Oh no, no. That’s too much…’
‘We insist!’ Greta said. ‘You don’t need to decide right now – we’ll send you an invite. We want to thank you properly. In person.’
‘OK, well that’s very kind of you both. I’ll leave you to celebrate the good news. Sara – call me when you’re back in London. I’m thinking of opening a satellite office there and would love to pick your brains.’
I laughed. ‘Will do! Thanks, Oliver.’
Tore hung up and we all jumped around screaming.
That winning feeling of pure elation – there was nothing like it.
But it felt different this time. I wasn’t getting a master criminal off on a technicality.
We’d done a good thing for good people and stopped the baddies for once.
There was no big fat bonus waiting for me post-win, just a warm glow inside.
‘Time to celebrate,’ Tore shouted. ‘On the boat!’
‘Yesss! To the boat!’ Greta said, grabbing some champagne flutes and following Tore and Jonas through the patio doors. I prayed he wouldn’t fill them up with sparkling apple, like he did at dinner.
‘Will we all fit on the dinghy?’ I whispered to Henrik.
‘Not the dinghy,’ he chuckled. ‘Pappa’s boat.’
‘You’ve got two boats?’
‘Pappa bought it when we were small,’ Henrik whispered. ‘He’s been doing it up for years. We had a party for our Norwegian national day in May, and he finally let us see it, but he’s yet to officially take it out.’
‘Somewhere to hide from the guests,’ I said with a smile.
‘Or to take them,’ he quipped, putting his arm around me. I could just about make out his smile in the dark and it made my insides melt. I was so relieved to be back in his good books.
‘It’s a shame I’ve only got two days left,’ I said, lacing my fingers through his.
‘We’ll make it count,’ he said, kissing me on the head as we walked down to the water.
Tore and Jonas were already popping corks when we got there, next to a beautiful speedboat shored up on their private jetty.
Greta had disappeared downstairs and I hopped onboard behind Henrik.
The stars were out in force and the air felt clear and calm.
It was still freezing cold, but I was dressed for the weather in my Firefly jacket, all bundled up and cosy.
Greta had switched on the lamps and was lighting candles to hygge up the lounge, while the champagne glasses waited to be filled. I felt like an A-lister arriving at a private party as I sat on the cream leather sofa, surrounded by stripy, knitted cushions.
‘Your handiwork I presume?’
Greta smiled. ‘I’ve obviously got a “style”. I can’t help myself. I’d crochet the whole boat if Tore would let me.’
‘You’re keeping everyone warm – it’s important!’
‘Speaking of which – that jacket looks great on you. Henrik is such a sweetie, isn’t he?’
I looked down at it. ‘Oh yeah, it does the job. He ordered a load for the staff and managed to bag me one.’
Greta smiled. ‘Is that what he said? He’s too shy to admit his massive love bomb. Those jackets are handmade in Trondheim and they cost a fortune. A friend of mine weaves them on a loom.’
‘Does she? I thought it was a nice finish for a uniform.’
‘They are designer coats by Ildflue and the firefly is her logo. Henrik bought one for you as you were so cold those first few days and didn’t have any proper clothes to wear.’
‘What?’ I was stunned. ‘He didn’t say. I’d have been happy to pay for it.’
Greta rolled her eyes. ‘It was obviously an under-the-radar gift. And it worked – you’ve worn it every day since.’
Henrik reappeared with Jonas and Tore and a bottle of champagne in each hand. ‘Who wants a drink?’ He filled up the glasses and Jonas handed them out. No doubt it was sham-pagne, but I’d have to get on with it.
Tore cleared his throat to speak. ‘First of all, I want to say thank you and cheers to all of you – we had a few scary days there, but we all pulled together and got through it and I’m so proud of you all.’
‘Cheers!’ we chorused, clinking our glasses together.
The champagne tasted… real. It was dry and delicious and expensive.
Had it always been this good or was it because I hadn’t had any in a while?
I nudged Henrik and held it up with a silent frown and he nodded.
I was immediately giddy with excitement.
Maybe champagne was better kept for special occasions after all.
‘Henrik, Jonas, my boys, I have something to show you, but I’ve been waiting for the right moment. And I can’t think of a better day or moment than right now.’
That piqued their interest.
‘What is it, Pappa?’ Jonas asked.
‘I finally got round to naming the boat,’ Tore said. ‘Come and see…’ He walked back upstairs, and we followed him out into the cold air with our champagne.
‘Aurora is trying her best tonight,’ Henrik said, pointing to a blur of green on the horizon.
‘Allow me to present…’ Tore ripped a sticker off the side of the boat, revealing intricate gold lettering underneath. ‘Audhilda. Our beautiful family boat. Your mother would have loved zipping along the water in this baby, and I couldn’t call her anything else.’
Jonas nodded quietly and Henrik slapped Tore on the back.
‘Love it, Pappa.’
‘Greta – I thought you could act as ceremonial godmother while we bless the boat,’ Tore said. ‘We don’t want to risk the wrath of Poseidon.’
‘I’d be honoured,’ she said. ‘To the sailors of old! To Audhilda!’
‘Audhilda!’ Tore repeated and drank, and we all followed.
‘To the sea! To the sailors of old! To the sea!’ Greta continued.
‘The sea!’ Henrik said and drank, and we all followed.
‘To the sea! To the sailors before us! To Audhilda!’
‘Audhilda!’ Jonas shouted and drank, and we all followed.
Tore took a third bottle of champagne, shook it violently and smashed it against the bow of the boat; it exploded with fizz and foam as we all cheered into the night sky.