It May Rain

Chapter Twenty One

Apart from the first night we slept with each other, Hugo has always woken up earlier than me. He's definitely a morning person, and I'm definitely a night owl.

It's a bit like how he could talk for hours about one topic, whereas I'm happy to summarise something in a few sentences. He loves nothing more than spending time with other people, and I'm much happier getting on with things on my own. We've got different personalities and vastly different interests, but we get on like a house on fire in our own unique way. We are the definition of opposites attracting.

When it came to working out the costs and logistics of moving into our new flat in London, he was in his element. He took all of our requirements into account and researched all the desirable areas in London we should concentrate on. When it came to the practical aspects like going on all the numerous viewings, keeping in regular contact with the estate agent and confronting the agent when he tried to overcharge us, I was in my element.

Hugo doesn't like confrontation and will try his best to avoid it, but what he calls confrontation I call standing up for myself and not letting people take advantage of me, because they will if they know they can get away with it. I get the feeling Hugo has never had to experience such behaviour in his personal life, and his mum has always been there to fight his corner when necessary.

But now he's about to move into his own place for the first time in his life, he's going to have to grow a pair, because I'm not going to mother him.

It's our final day here in Copenhagen and we're due to go back to London later today. It's been a short three day visit because we need to get back to work, but I've enjoyed every minute of it. Not just the cultural experiences and meeting his godparents, but also getting out of London and breathing in the fresh country air has invigorated me. It reminds me of the village I grew up in, where fields and trees were always within walking distance; something that's been lacking from my life since moving to London.

I drop out of bed and look out the window at the springtime scene before me. I really miss living at home with my parents and being in the countryside. I sigh at the realisation that that period of my life is over.

Once showered and dressed I go on the hunt for Hugo. He said we should leave early so we can spend more time exploring Copenhagen, before catching our evening flight back to London.

I know Magnus and Dagmar have gone to work today so it should just be Hugo, and possibly Konrad, at home. Yesterday I only saw Konrad in the sauna and at dinnertime because he apparently has a lot of work to catch up on, so has been locked away in the underground study most of the time conducting video calls. I search the whole top floor and ground floor, but cannot find Hugo for the life of me. When I message him I receive no reply.

After doing a round of the house again, I check the time and see it's almost midday. If we leave now we'll have about five hours to spend in the city, and the later we leave the less time we'll have to explore. Perhaps Hugo nipped out somewhere and hasn't come back yet because he thinks I'm still asleep? Konrad might know where Hugo is, but that would involve going to see him, and that would involve keeping my nerves at bay in front of him.

But I don't see what other viable option I have.

I tiptoe down the basement stairs and up to the study door, but then begin to hear voices from within the closer I get. It's Hugo's voice! I found him, so I no longer need to have a restless conversation with Konrad.

"You are punching with her," Konrad's voice booms playfully.

"Do you know what punching means?" Hugo laughs.

"Of course I do! I think you forget I went to university in London. I am well aware of the phrase 'punching above your weight'."

"Well, thank you for the compliment. She obviously finds me charming and simply irresistible. What can I say?"