Helsinki Sunrise by Marion Ueckermann

things could make this feeling complete—being in Adam’s arms, and hearing what he’d been about to tell her. Was it possible to have one of those things happen tonight?
    As Eveliina opened her laptop, a note slid out and floated to the floor. She bent to pick it up. The handwriting was unfamiliar.
    Good morning, beautiful lady. It’s Sunday. I’ve gone for a row, and to spend time with God. Have a restful day. I look forward to seeing you later. Adam.
    She read the note again. Strange her insides didn’t churn at his mention of God. But they did flutter. He called her beautiful. He looked forward to seeing her. If only she’d decided to work this morning instead of choosing to paint the cottage—she would have found the note hours before and could have reveled in its contents all day. If she read between the lines, could it be Adam was falling for her? Is this what he’d wanted to tell her?
    One way or the other, she’d get him to talk.
     
    ****
     
    While Eveliina took her turn in the sauna, Adam relaxed on the daybed and read his Bible. He would’ve loved to have spent his quiet time down at the water’s edge, but the mosquitoes were fierce tonight.
    He avoided getting too comfortable. A repeat of last night was not an option. Tonight the mattress would be hauled to the sauna. But with both of them needing to wash and dress behind closed doors, it could take a while for it to cool in there.
    His reading complete, Adam closed his Bible and set it on the floor. He rose and crossed to the table, and Eveliina’s open laptop. Blondie and the pirate adorned the screen again. Was this Joel? Or someone else? Someone special? Adam had to get answers. Tonight.
    Dressed in her nightshirt, Eveliina stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
    “I hope you don’t mind,” she said as she rubbed her hair dry with a towel. “You said you needed an early night, so I decided to put on my pajamas. Didn’t seem any point to dress in clothes, just to undress in a short while.”
    “That’s OK.” Perturbed about whether the long shirt belonged to Joel, Adam tried to ignore how good Eveliina looked. “Did you remember to leave the sauna door open?”
    “I did. I only hope the mosquitoes don’t move inside before you do. You’d better remember the repellant tonight.” She brushed past him and clasped her hand on the USB mouse. With a wiggle, Blondie and the pirate disappeared, leaving a digital nail and string type pattern on the laptop screen.
    Adam’s eyes widened. “What is that?” He’d never seen such a mish-mash of complicated lines before.
    “My work.”
    “Really? That looks difficult.”
    “It’s not so bad once you get used to it.”
    “So what is that?”
    “An abandoned boat.” She hit a few buttons and the screen went black.
    “No way, that’s not an abandoned boat.” He pointed to the motorboat outside. “That’s an abandoned boat. It hasn’t moved since you got here.”
    “I meant to tell you. When I arrived, it wouldn’t start. I had to row across to the island.”
    “No wonder your sudden appearance surprised me on Friday night.”
    “You were in such a deep sleep, I could have arrived in a helicopter and you wouldn’t have woken.”
    Adam grinned. “Three days without sleep will do that to you. I’m used to sleeping in darkness. But with the blinds raised and the midnight sun…”
    “Is it because you come from darkest Africa, Adam?”
    He roared with laughter. Sweet Eveliina. Her question had been so innocent. He wouldn’t correct her. Not tonight. Perhaps one day he’d be able to show her what Africa was really like—at least the part he hailed from. Glorious sunshine. Modern, bustling cities. A place where you have to visit a zoo or game reserve to see wild animals, not walk about fearing you’d bump into one on the street.
    “No, it’s not because of that. It’s just a simple fact—darkness equals sleep.” Adam glanced at the screen. Pixel by pixel, the image