Time for New Beginnings

by Mette Barfelt

  Back inside, she showered and brushed her teeth, and got dressed. She dried her black, curly hair with the hairdryer. Her long, dark eyelashes didn’t need mascara, but she was used to wearing it, so she applied some. Dark red lipstick followed, she simply couldn’t live without it. Her skin was silky smooth and golden brown and didn’t need anything else.

  She biked the short way to the bakery to buy bread.

  “Bettina, good to see you.”

  “Hi, Sara. I need breakfast for our guest. Let me try your rosemary bread today, a six-grain bread and a baguette.”

  Sara laughed. “That’s quite an order. Don’t you just have one guest?”

  “Yes, but I don’t know how much we’ll need. Besides, she’s pregnant. Perhaps she’s famished. I can’t remember anything from when I was pregnant. It feels like an eternity ago.”

  Sara laughed even more. “I can help you, then. We’re ravenous and eat for two.”

  Bettina looked at her with a bewildered face. “Are you serious?”

  Sara had to dry off some tears of joy. “I am. It’s my biggest dream, and I’m overjoyed. You’d think I found out today, from the way I’m acting, but I knew a few weeks ago. I just can’t keep it a secret any longer.”

  “Congrats!” Bettina went behind the counter to hug her. “You do look happy. There’s a baby boom in town. Everyone is pregnant. I wish I were. Is it contagious?”

  “Seems like it. It’s like my mother-in-law is pregnant, too. She’s knitting baby clothes for all it’s worth, as if it will be born tomorrow.”

  “She’s as excited as you are,” Bettina said while paying. “I’ll have to hurry up and get started. Breakfast won’t make itself.”

  She biked home and got eggs and bacon from the fridge. Anneli came wandering into the kitchen.

  “It smells good. What did you get?”

  “A few things. You can open the bags and help yourself.” She pointed at the kitchen counter. “We’ll have to try it and see what we like best and what the guest seems to prefer. I’m preparing breakfast for Mathilde, to get it over with. I’ll fry an egg for her today. And a slice of rosemary bread with smoked salmon. Maybe she would like some brie.”

  “Mom, she has a better life here than at a hotel. With this kind of service, she’s never going to get out of bed.”

  Bettina was afraid she was right. “You have a point; I didn’t think of that. She might be too comfortable.”

  “Good morning.” Christel was in front of them, and in the mood for breakfast.

  “Morning. Did you sleep well?”

  Christel tousled her short hair. “Very well, what a snug and soft bed. I haven’t felt so rested in a long time, and I’ve only been here one night. This is promising.”

  Anneli finished eating and went upstairs with Mathilde’s food and juice.

  “Perfect, then it’s time to get you some breakfast. Would you like egg and bacon? Or something else?” She poured cold water and ice into a pitcher. Then she started slicing a lemon.

  “An egg and a slice of bread is fine. And a glass of water, please.”

  “How would you like the egg?”

  “I prefer it over easy. Is there anything I can help you with?”

  Bettina smiled and shook her head. “Would you like some orange juice? I’ve become an expert on this new juicer.”

  “Thanks, that sounds lovely.” She sat on a kitchen chair.

  Bettina hadn’t imagined that her guest would sit in the kitchen, but why not. It was nice that she felt comfortable enough to sit here. She made a glass of juice for both of them.

  “You’re spoiling me,” Christel said and looked like she was enjoying every second of it. “I could get used to this.”

  Bettina was pleased with the day so far. How hard could it be to fry an egg? She’d done it a million times before. She made one for herself while she was at it.

  “Sounds good. I’ll get to practice on you since you’re my first guest. Would you like six-grain bread or rosemary bread? Or baguette?” Bettina showed her the selection but realized it may be impolite to ask. So she cut a few slices of each and put them in a breadbasket. “We’ll try some of each.”

  “What an appetizing aroma.”

  “I can’t take credit for the bread. It comes from the bakery.” She got butter and cheese, and several cold cuts from the fridge.

  “We could eat together in the kitchen,” Christel suggested. “It’s better than sitting in two separate rooms eating.”

  Bettina hadn’t thought about that but agreed. As long as they were eating at the same time, they could enjoy each other’s company. It had to get lonely being all alone for so long. Maybe Christel was planning on having visitors while she was here. Would her boyfriend or husband show up? Bettina hoped so.

  “Sure we can.” Nothing was easier than setting the food straight onto the kitchen table. She’d have to make the most of it while it lasted. When she was fully booked with guests, it wouldn’t be possible to make it this simple.

  It turned into a long breakfast. They had nothing important to do. Bettina was not used to having so much spare time. As a physiotherapist, her days were divided into therapy sessions. She rarely had free moments in between, so it could get exhausting at times. She usually worked nonstop, with the only interruption being a half-hour lunch break.

  Christel also worked in healthcare. She was a nurse at Ahus and had a busy job. There was always plenty to do at such a big hospital. There’d be heavy lifting involved, and she was tired after work. So it was good to take it easy now.

  They cleared the table together, and Bettina wiped off the kitchen counter.

  “What a nice meal,” Christel said. “It’s been some time since I had such a long breakfast. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Now it’s time for another visit to Mathilde, so she won’t start ringing.”

  “And I’m going for a stroll to explore the stores. It’s so idyllic in Solvik, with the charming boardwalk and the marina. It’s rare to see a completely white town. Do the inhabitants have to paint their houses the same color?”

  Bettina shook her head. “It turned out that way. I assume no one wants to stand out when all the other houses are white. But I agree that it’s pretty.”

  She made another cup of chamomile tea for Mathilde and put a snickerdoodle on the saucer before going up to her. It seemed to be the only type of tea she liked, which was just as well, so she didn’t have to ask what she wanted every time. Chamomile tea was known for having a calming effect, so it may not be the smartest move. Mathilde was drowsy enough as it was, and ought to have something more invigorating. A cup of strong coffee would have been better.

  Bettina opened the door to the bedroom.

  “Ah, finally, there you are. I was about to call you. I was afraid you’d forgotten about me.”

  It wasn’t that easy to forget Mathilde. But Bettina appreciated that she had refrained from calling. It was progress.

  “Of course I didn’t forget you. I’ve been having breakfast with our guest until now. She’s staying here alone and likes to have company. It’s important the guests enjoy their stay. Then it’s more likely they’ll recommend us to others.”

  “I guess that’s how it works.” Mathilde took a bite of the cookie. “This isn’t half bad. I’ve never tasted it before.”

  Bettina looked at her, surprised. She’d never heard her this positive before. Perhaps more attention was all it took.

  “It’s a snickerdoodle.”

  “A what?”

  “I’ve been making them for years, but the cookie isn’t common in Norway. I think it originated from Germany or the US.”

  “What a silly name. They should give the cookie a decent name.”

  Bettina smiled to herself. Mathilde was definitely not easy to please. She always found something to complain about and had too much time on her hands.

  “I’ll bring you lunch later.”

  “Don’t forget about me.”


  As if that was possible. Her aunt’s unreasonable expectations had no limits. Not only did she demand four meals to be brought to her apartment every day, she also required several cups of tea and juice, and preferably a few glasses of sherry, outside mealtimes. What she needed was a full-time nurse. Come to think of it, they worked with people who were sick and needed help badly.

  Bettina’s phone started ringing, so she left the room.

  “How’s it going in the countryside?”

  “Preben, good to hear your voice. I’ve made our guest breakfast, and my aunt’s just had her second visit of the day.”

  “Already? Is she still as bad?”

  “Yes, there’s no change. But she’s managed to keep her hands off the bell, so that’s an improvement.”

  “Great. How’s the new guest?”

  “Friendly and cheerful. She’s pregnant, and on sick leave, that’s why she’s here. She needs to watch her blood pressure. We had breakfast together this morning. It was her suggestion.”

  “You’ll have different kinds of guests. You probably won’t want to eat with most of them. I’m on my way to a meeting that will last all day, but I’ll call you tonight, as usual. I miss you, Bettina. Love you, and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

  “Love you, too.”

  ***

  They had both breakfast and lunch together the next day. Christel was so easy to like, it was a joy. She had decided to go to the doctor in town to check her blood pressure. Better to be on the safe side, she’d said. Bettina was back from Mathilde’s apartment after having taken her lunch, when Christel returned. She heard her guest in the hall and saw her jacket was soaking wet.

  “Ugh, I got stuck in a shower. But it seems to have cleared up now.”

  “It’s windy. Did you find the doctor?”

  Christel shook her wet jacket outside. “Oh yes, no problem. And my blood pressure has dropped a little. He was pleased. But you could’ve warned me.”

  Bettina took her jacket and hung it in the wardrobe to dry. “What do you mean?”

  “Doctor Oppheim is incredibly handsome. Light, blond hair, and ice-blue eyes. Tall, slim, and toned. Do you want me to continue?”

  Bettina laughed. “No, I get it. I don’t know who he is. I thought the doctor in Solvik was an older man.”

  “In that case, he must have been reincarnated.” Christel rumpled her short hair to remove the raindrops.

  “Come, I’ll make you some hot chocolate. It’s so cold outside today.” She knew that Christel didn’t drink tea or coffee now she was pregnant. She was afraid something might happen to the baby and took all kinds of precautions. But she allowed herself chocolate.

  “Thanks.” Christel tasted a brown stick topped with granulated sugar. “Oh, these are way too good. I’m going to put on more weight than I should. But maybe it doesn’t matter. It would mean more visits to the handsome doctor.”

  Bettina smiled encouragingly. She’d understood that there was no man in the picture. Was Christel thinking of raising the child on her own? She hadn’t said anything, and Bettina hadn’t asked.

  They sat, each with a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream. “You may be wondering where the father of my child is,” Christel said. She pushed the whipped cream with her spoon, so it nearly went over the edge. “I have no idea who he is.”

  Bettina choked on a cookie and coughed several times. She hadn’t expected that answer. Did Christel have so many partners that she didn’t know who the father of the baby was? Ouch, that didn’t sound good. But everyone can be unlucky at times. It wasn’t her job to judge others.

  Christel started laughing. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. Except for my parents. Sadly, I’ve lost touch with them, which is very upsetting. Especially since I’m an only child and they only have me.” She drank some of the hot beverage.

  “I was married for many years,” she continued. “But I never got pregnant, and eventually the marriage ended. But my biological clock was ticking and I didn’t have time to wait for years for another Prince Charming. He was my true love, after all. Therefore, I had to take care of the matter myself. So I went to a fertility clinic in Denmark, and was inseminated.”

  Bettina didn’t say anything, keeping her thoughts to herself. She had no prejudices and was open to unconventional ways to have children. But it had a price. “I feel for you,” she said, “it must’ve been hard.” She couldn’t imagine what Christel must have gone through, doing this all on her own.

  “It’s been tough. Particularly when I didn’t get pregnant on the first attempt. It reminded me of all the disappointments I’ve had over the years. But I succeeded the second time, and I’m so grateful. Not everyone is that lucky.”

  “Amazing,” Bettina said and dried a tear off her cheek. The story touched her. “So you don’t know who the father is?”

  Christel shook her head. “I didn’t want to know, so I went for an anonymous donor. But the baby will have blond hair and blue eyes, like my new doctor.”

  “You’ll have to schedule a new appointment soon, so you can get to know him better. This is so exciting for you.” She looked at her watch and got up. “I have to get started on dinner.”

  “I’ll help you. It’s been a quiet day, and I feel rested.”

  “Do you like Mexican?” Bettina took it for granted that the guest would eat with them. They’d become friends over the last few days. She got the meat out of the fridge, along with avocado and the other ingredients she needed.

  “Sounds good. I can cut the meat and fry the strips.”

  “Then I’ll get started on the guacamole, and make the salsa after. But I have to let my aunt know that dinner is on its way.” She ran up the stairs to tell her and was annoyed that it was necessary to play along with her like this. Couldn’t she be patient, since she didn’t make an effort to come down for dinner? Out of fear for the gong, it became yet one more thing to keep in mind. She didn’t know what was best, but they couldn’t continue like this. When she came down to the kitchen she saw that Anneli was home.

  “Mmm, it smells heavenly in here,” Anneli said and sniffed the air. “I love quesadillas.”

  Bettina smiled while squeezing lime over the avocados. “You like everything Mexican.” She turned toward Christel. “My mother is from Mexico, so we cook lots of this kind of food.”

  “So that’s why you look so exotic. You could be a model with your golden skin and beautiful face.”

  Bettina turned red, her face no longer golden. “Thanks, that’s kind of you.” She changed the subject. “How was school, Anneli?”

  “Fine. We have a Spanish test next Wednesday, so I have to start practicing. And there’s a handball match tomorrow.” Anneli began to set the table, before changing her mind. “I’d better feed Mathilde first.”

  Bettina started laughing. “Yes. Then we can enjoy our food in peace. Just give her a little of everything.”

  Anneli filled a plate and went upstairs.

  “It’s demanding to have your sulky aunt living in the same house as you. And so frustrating that she doesn’t want to do anything,” Christel said. “So much of your time is spent taking care of her.”

  She nodded. “But she owns half the house, so I can’t kick her out. It’s an impossible situation.”

  “She’ll get tired of lying there, no matter how comfortable it is. Who wants to be in bed all day?”

  Bettina set the food on the table. “Let’s hope you’re right. My fiancé is arriving tonight. He’s usually good at helping out.”

  “Have you started planning the wedding?” Christel asked.

  “No, we only recently got engaged. We’ll marry in the spring. We’ve been so busy with the renovation, it hasn’t been prioritized. But now I have time to start planning.”

  “I can help you, if you want. I’ve plenty of time the next few weeks.”

  They had another long meal. Anneli disappeared to her room after having served Mathilde some sherry. They cleaned up, a
nd Christel went to her room for the night. Shortly after, Preben was in the doorway.

  “You’re finally here.” Bettina snuggled into his arms. “I didn’t hear you.”

  “No, the bike has to be trundled, you know, so as not to upset Mrs. Fredriksen.” He smiled and kissed her, but she knew he was dissatisfied with all the considerations he had to show because of Mathilde.

  “Well, there’s an advantage. Now she doesn’t know that you’re here and spending the night.” She looked at him. “Have you eaten? I have leftover quesadillas if you want some.” They went over to the wardrobe, where he took off his bike clothes.

  “No, thanks, I ate before I left. But I’d like a beer. The week has been busy, and I’m glad it’s the weekend.”

  She got a beer from the fridge and poured a glass of rosé for herself. Preben lit the fire in the fireplace, then sat on the sofa. She curled up in the crook of his arm.

  “It was awful driving in this weather. But it was only cloudy when I left. Otherwise, I would’ve taken the car.”

  “The weather is supposed to improve tomorrow. And we have two full days to ourselves.” She smiled at him.

  “Not all to ourselves. We have a guest to take care of. I hope to get along with her since she eats with you.” He kissed her dark red lips, and shortly after they were both lost in another world.

  7

  Bettina had already been to the bakery to get bread and gotten a fine start on the breakfast preparations when Christel appeared in the kitchen.

  “Good morning, did you sleep well?”

  “No. The little chap has been playing soccer all night. He’s never been this active before.” Christel yawned loudly and hurried to cover her mouth.

  “That’s a pity. Maybe it was too much hot salsa for him last night.”

  Christel giggled. “I doubt it. He hasn’t reacted to anything else I’ve eaten. Besides, it wasn’t that spicy.”