They’re going to a counsellor, and they’ve even booked an appointment. And he’s so, so sorry. He came to her on his hands and knees to bring her a ring.

An engagement ring.

155

FRIDAY

64

Somewhere deep in Áróra’s chest a pain burned every time she thought of the tremor in her mother’s voice the evening before, when they had arrived at Daníel’s place. She appeared to allow herself to be overwhelmed only once she was safe in his little apartment, a mug of hot tea in her hands. Daníel obviously had experience of people in an emotional state. Áróra could clearly see his cautious encouragement, steering her mother’s thoughts towards the next stage, towards the details. Maybe it was a particular strategy, preventing the mind taking in the full picture – as the overview of Ísafold’s disappearance didn’t look positive.

It had been a wrench to leave the flat and walk out into the bright summer night. It was a struggle to leave her mother in the state she was in, her voice quavering and weak, her hands fidgeting constantly with the hem of her blouse; and it was also difficult to turn away from Daníel’s comforting voice, his presence that radiated security, like a heater in a cold room. But as soon as Áróra was outside, it was easier to catch her breath, her mother’s wellbeing now in Daníel’s hands, and Ísafold’s wellbeing in her mother’s. All the same, she had had to choke back the sob that rose in her throat. That had to be something to do with the way the mourning process worked – the tension relaxing as it was gradually replaced by a sorrow that took over the senses.

She was drinking her third coffee of the morning in her room when the cleaner knocked. She hadn’t been down to breakfast, unable to face either Hákon or any food, feeling that she was as drained physically as she was mentally. But when the girl called out ‘Room service!’ as she opened the door a couple of inches, 156and was about to close it again when she saw the room was occupied, Áróra came back to her senses.

‘It’s all right, come in,’ she called out to the girl, who looked at her enquiringly and repeated ‘room service’ in the same ringing tone.

‘Please come in,’ Áróra said, switching to English. ‘I’m going out, so it’s all right to clean now.’