“When did you have time to shop for a present?” “On my way to the airport. It’s not god’s gift to presents,” I quickly add. “But I think it’ll do as a first offering of peace and friendship.” Wheeling the chair closer, I set my backpack on the edge of her bed with a flourish and make a show of unzipping it. “Can you tell me, Karolina, what’s your favorite color?” She chews her bottom lip, glancing from me to Karlsson. He says something in Swedish. “Lila,” she says in her sweet little baby-doll voice. I’m taking an educated guess here. “Is that like lilac? Purple?” Karlsson nods. Oh, thank god.
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