Page 95 of Jace 4Ever
“Even though it was dangerous as all hell, Mom would take us behind the water and let us watch the sun set. She’d have a lantern so we could get back to the car in the dark that crept up fast after the last of the sun. But I always remember the fire and the ice.” I laughed. “God, she hated the cold. So much. And yet, there she was, bundled up and helping us hike behind the water.”
We headed for the path to the waterfall, and Jace laced his fingers in mine. “How did you lose her?”
“Aneurysm.” The word still hurt. “I was just out of boot camp for three days and I was home on a short leave before Ranger school. She died in the middle of the night. It’s the only thing I was grateful for. She was completely asleep and didn’t suffer at all. Quiet, quick. Devastating to the rest of us. Dad couldn’t get back to Iceland fast enough. Helene had moved back a couple of years before to go to medical school, so Dad had a place to stay after the funeral. Heath was still young, so he had to go with Dad. I put off Ranger school for three months to handle the estate.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said with a squeeze of his hand.
And then Seljalandfoss was in front of us with all the power and majesty I remembered from years ago. Jace actually stopped on the path and stared.
“Wow…” He blinked a few times. “It’s…amazing.”
I pulled him along and headed closer. “Come on, we can hike behind the falls.”
“There’s no railings…”
A little laugh escaped me. “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. People are trusted to not do anything dumb and fall in or fall over.”
Jace was like a little kid in a candy store. He was so excited to be walking behind a waterfall that I knew I had to bring him behind Niagara when I had a chance as well. And watching him, I had a flash of brilliance.
Helene held out the box,looking behind us. “You're sure?”
“I wouldn’t have asked Dad if I wasn’t.”
She smiled. “Nils, I haven’t seen you this happy in years. I just want you to keep this smile on your face and share it with Jace.”
“It’s going to be perfect,” I said. “I have a room at the Skógar hotel. And the forecast tonight has hours of auroras.”
She pressed the box into my hand. “I’m not talking about tonight or tomorrow, or even a month from now. I’m talking forever. I want to see the two of you this happy always.”
Pressing a kiss to her cheek, I whispered, “We will be. He’s everything I want.”
“Good. But can you also promise me something?”
“What’s that?”
She punched me in the arm. “Don’t forget to come and visit us! Jesus Christ, Nils! I know you’re big and important in Hollywood, and I love bragging that my brother is one of the Silver Screen’s hottest stars, but I’d like to freakin’ see you once in a while.”
I rubbed my arm where she hit me and narrowed my eyes. “I have my own plane, and I live in NYC. I promise I’ll be here more often.”
“Good.” She nodded. “I approve then.”
“I’m so glad.” I made sure she could hear the sarcasm as I rolled my eyes.
“Come on, let’s go feed the masses.”
Gunnar, Ólafur, Móeiðr, and Freya were all at the table with Jace and he was laughing. I was so pleased that he had fit right in with my family. Even Freya had, which really hadn’t shocked me all that much once she had started talking to Helene about medical school.
My brother-in-law, Ólafur, had cooked up some lamb soup and we were all having a bowl before I took Jace back to the other waterfall I wanted to show him.
“This is traditional? I thought that all you ate was sheep’s face and rotting shark.”
“Oh, the shark is awful,” Gunnar said. “It tastes like you were licking an ammonia bottle.”
“Delightful,” Ólafur said. “The sheep’s head is actually really good.”
“Old people have no taste,” Gunnar grumbled.
“No,” I said, “that’s not true. I have taste and I hate sheep’s head. I always have.” I leaned a bit closer to him and Jace. “I almost became a vegetarian because of that thing. Dad never made it again after I threw up on the table.”
