Pan followed Freya inside, along with Margette.
“Where’s Haakon? Out in the fields?”
“Where else?” Freya replied. “I only ever see him in the early morning and at night.”
Margette nodded. “That was my life once.”
Pan took his mother’s hand in his and they chatted while Freya made tea and prepared a small meal for Pan.
Later that evening, after a delicious dinner, Margette got up from the table. “I think I might go out for some air,” she said. “Pan, would you like to come with me?”
Pan knew his mother well enough to know that she expected an answer in the affirmative and of course he obliged.
“How are you?” she asked once they were out in the night, away from the house.
“I’m fine, Mother. How are you?”
“No, dear. I mean, how are you really? A mother can tell when there is something
