Page 136 of Top Shelf

“Yes. You are the wife from America. To Hugo, everything across the ocean is America or possibly the moon.”

I laugh as two girls hover near the porch steps, one with a missing front tooth and the other holding a flower crown that looks half-finished and slightly mangled.

“I am Alice,” the older one says in careful English. “This is Vera.”

Vera looks at my ring, then at Viktor, then at me. “Did he ask you nicely?”

Freja closes her eyes. “Vera.”

Viktor shifts Hugo higher in his arms and says something in Swedish that makes Alice giggle.

I look at Vera solemnly. “He did ask very nicely. Very… formal.”

She smiles, satisfied, and gives a quick nod. “Good.”

“He can be grumpy,” Alice adds.

“Yes.” I grin. “I’ve noticed.”

Both girls laugh, and from the doorway, the elderly woman finally speaks. “Enough. Let the girl breathe before Astrid feeds her to death.”

Astrid waves a hand. “Mamma.”

“She is thin from the airplane,” the woman says, then points her cane at Viktor. “You did not feed her?”

“I fed her,” Viktor says.

“He gave me almonds,” I offer.

Every adult woman present looks at him as if he’s committed a crime.

Viktor sighs. “There was also pasta.”

“On an airplane,” Astrid says, horrified.

Ebba steps forward, and the children part around her without being told. Up close, she’s smaller than she seemed from the doorway, but only physically. Her white hair is twisted into a knot, her eyes are blue and sharp behind delicate glasses, and she looks at me as though she has no intention of being charmed.

“You are Heidi,” she says. “From the video.”

“Yes.”

“I am Ebba.”

“It’s lovely to meet you.”

She studies me for a second, then two, and I hold still because what the fuck else am I meant to do?

Then her gaze drops to my shoes. “They are bad for gravel.”

“Oh.” I look down at my sneakers. “They were chosen for airport survival.”

“Hm.” Her mouth curves, just slightly, and I get the distinct impression she is putting on a show. “Sensible enough.”

Viktor leans toward my ear. “High praise.”

“I heard that,” Ebba says.

“Incredible hearing,” I whisper with a grin.