Dead of Winter

39 Winter 1987

The phone rang out so slowly that Laura felt as if she could hear her own heartbeat echoing down the line.

‘Källegården, Christian speaking.’

‘Hi, it’s Laura – is Iben there?’

She was aware of the nervousness in her voice. Christian either didn’t notice, or didn’t care.

‘Ibeeen! Phone!’

A thud as the receiver hit the table. Then footsteps walking away, followed by others approaching.

Laura pressed Hedda’s office phone closer to her ear. Milla gave her an encouraging nod.

‘Hello?’

‘Hi, it’s Laura.’

‘Hi!’

Iben sounded wary, but pleased. At least Laura thought so. Oddly enough, it made her feel a little tearful.

‘I . . . I’ve missed you.’

There was a brief silence.

‘Have you?’ Iben said in a small voice.

Laura swallowed, tried to force out the sentence she’d practised, but to no avail. Milla elbowed her in the side.

‘I’m sorry we fell out.’

‘Me too.’

A soft warmth spread through Laura’s chest, a warmth that made her want to forget the whole thing. The party, Tomas and Peter, Milla’s plan. She just wanted life to go back to the way it used to be.

‘Jack’s sorry too. We really didn’t mean to hurt you, Laura.’

The warmth was gone just as quickly as it had come.

We really didn’t mean to hurt you.

We REALLY didn’t mean . . .

She realised that Milla was watching her. Made a huge effort to pull herself together.

‘We were thinking of having a Lucia party,’ she said, involuntarily grimacing as she spoke. ‘Tomas, Peter, Milla and me. It would be great if you could come. Both of you . . .’

She had to pause, take a deep breath before she could finish.

‘You can tell your dad that you and I are going to the cinema if you want.’

‘Sounds fantastic. Where are you having the party?’

‘At the dance hall.’