“Heya, Erik.” Sam offered Erik his hand, and Erik shook it.
“Heya, Sam. You’re looking well.”
“Thanks, Minste. You too.” Sam scratched his head, looking back and forth between his favorite cousin and his three burly brothers-in-law. He put his arm around Kristian’s shoulder, pulling him close. “Not going to help a damn thing hitting him. Would make Kat crazy. Ingrid and Jenny would hit the roof. You don’t want that. Kat’s happy now. Let it go.”
“I trusted him with my sister, and he hurt her. God only knows what his intentions are.” Kristian turned to Sam with a scathing look, trying to shrug off his arm. “You’re more Lindstrom than Gunderson now, huh?”
Gunderson was the maiden name of Sam and Kristian’s mothers, and a middle name the two men shared. Sam pulled Kristian closer and spoke low in his ear. “Nah, but me and Jenny have some news to share now that the whole family’s here, and I’m not letting you wreck it for her by getting into it with her brothers. You do that, she’ll be upset and then we have a problem. So, you’re going to let it go, cuz. Least for now.”
Kristian turned to Sam, nostrils flaring and nodded once curtly, then turned back to Erik.
“You’re not good enough for her,” Kristian said softly, before stalking away.
“I know,” said Erik to Kristian’s retreating form. But by the grace of God, she belonged to him now, and he aimed to keep it that way.
“Nice work, Erik.” Sam didn’t look pleased.
“Sam, I didn’t mean to hurt her. I lo—I mean, I care about her. More than—I mean, my intentions are—”
“Oh, Erik!” Sam stared at Erik, eyes widening as he snickered with understanding. “This isn’t a fling, huh? You got it bad, son.”
“Just here for your amusement, Sam.” He smirked dryly at his brother-in-law. “And no, this is not a fling.”
“You and Katrin, huh?”
Erik glanced over at her, and she looked up at the same time, her eyes catching his and dancing, dimples caving in as she winked at him. Without looking away from her, he murmured back to Sam.
“Yeah. Me and Katrin.” Us.
***
Katrin winked at Erik and then turned her attention back to the women that surrounded her. Sam’s mother, her aunt Margaret, was asking her about the clinic and she was telling them all about her job in broad strokes.
Her mother looked like she was about to cry, so pleased to see her daughter.
Ingrid looked a little worried, likely still trying to figure out if Erik and Katrin were a good idea, and how to convince Kristian of the same.
Jenny also looked a little worried, but a little wary too, which made sense since she was so close to Erik. He would be her first priority, whether there were tales of him making Katrin cry or not. Katrin watched as Jenny’s glance flicked nervously over to the men at one point, and she followed her gaze. She saw Sam put his arm around Kristian then watched Kristian stalk away, looking sour.
Aside from a brief brotherly nod when she and Erik arrived, Kristian hadn’t come over to say hello to her, which meant he was furious about her getting involved with Erik. She decided she wasn’t putting up with her brother’s moods this weekend. She’d speak to him later and make it clear that he needed to stay out of her business and leave her and Erik alone. And he’d better just mind her words.
“…up and running now, and it’s just wonderful to see town embrace the clinic,” she finished, smiling politely at her aunt Margaret.
“And you love it up there?” her aunt Margaret asked.
“Mom, show Aunt Margaret the postcard I sent you. It’s beautiful. You would love it.”
Katrin’s mother looked at her quizzically as Ingrid transferred Anna gently over to her farmor, and Lisabet kissed the baby’s sleeping face.
“You’ll have to show me, Lisabet,” Margaret reminded her sister.
“I didn’t get a postcard. Are you sure you sent it?” said Katrin’s mother.
“Pretty sure,” said Katrin. “You sure you didn’t get it?”
“Maybe it got stuck in a catalog or something. I’ll check when I get home.” Lisabet kissed Anna’s peach-fuzzed cheek again. “We haven’t heard a thing from Wade,” her mother blurted out. “Not a thing since he started at the rehab place.”
Katrin looked at Ingrid who confirmed, “I guess he’s there. At the treatment place. Been a week and five days now. We heard from Mrs. Doyle last Monday after he was admitted. I guess they had a devil of a time finding him. He took off with their car for hours and didn’t come home until almost morning.”
“Well, at least he’s there now.” Katrin was grim. “Erik’s worried about the security in those sorts of places.”
“Well, it’s an hour away. I think they keep a pretty good eye on the folks there. I don’t think you should worry, Kat. I think it’s finally over.” Her mother placed a gentle palm on Katrin’s face. “My strong girl. I’m so glad it’s over.” She glanced at Erik. “I’m so glad you’re moving on. You look happy, Katrin Marie.”
Margaret nudged her sister. “Oh, look, Lis. Sam’s talking to the boys and Carl’s all alone. We should keep him company, poor man. Let the young girls catch up.” She winked at Katrin, then ushered Lisabet away.
Katrin watched as her mother and aunt returned to the campfire, feeling a small measure of sympathy for poor Mr. Lindstrom as they sat down on either side of Erik’s father. The sisters could be overwhelming, and Mr. Lindstrom looked like sort of a soft-spoken gentleman. She turned to Ingrid. “Where’s Uncle Sean? You know, to even things up a little.”
“Up on Egg Mountain. He can’t resist it
