I looked back and forth from one to the other, unable to comprehend the bond between them. “I thought this was about the falls,” I said. “About Eidesdalen.”

Magnus and Mom held each other’s gazes. They stood there so calmly, so balanced. Almost in unison they turned toward me and stared at me with the same amazement I had previously seen on Magnus’s face. All at once I felt stupid, with all my strong words, my loud voice—like an outsider. The two of them were the same and I was completely different. This difference they tried to understand, with the best intentions, even though they would never be able to deal with it. Because the pragmatic human being doesn’t understand passion.

“I don’t think you should be up here, especially not now,” Mommy said.

I turned to face Magnus and now I no longer managed to hold back the tears. He had told her.

“I’m staying,” I say to Magnus. “Do you understand? Put down the damn tent peg—I’m staying up here.”

Magnus threw down what he was holding and reached out for me. Whether he was despondent or wanted to make peace, I didn’t know, but I didn’t care either. I just wanted to escape the sight of him, his calm demeanor, escape hearing any more of that calm voice. But it wasn’t over. I still couldn’t get away, because he had even more he had to say.

“Svein has arranged a job for me, Signe—I wanted to tell you before, but then all this happened. Your mother and Svein want to hire me at Ringfallene. They need engineers and we can move back. The salary is much better than what I could hope for anywhere else, so you won’t need to work—we’ll be able to afford to take care of the child. You can write, sail, do the things you love; we can live here and it will be a good life, Signe. A good life.”