Time for New Beginnings

by Mette Barfelt

  “I’ll make you some juice to calm him down.” She poured a small glass of grapefruit juice for Mathilde first. Along with a cup of tea, she ran up to deliver it. It would be a while until breakfast, so she’d better have something to start off with.

  “What would you like today?” she asked Christel when she returned.

  “I’ll skip the egg. The ciabatta looks tasty, with some of that raspberry jam of yours.”

  Anneli sat down at the table and chose the same as Christel.

  “Morning, everyone.” Preben was standing in the kitchen, newly showered. His blond hair was wet, and a two-day stubble had turned into a three-day beard. She liked him clean-shaven, but this was the style he preferred. He was usually tired in the morning, but he seemed refreshed.

  “This is Christel,” she said. “And this is my fiancé, Preben.”

  He went over to shake her hand, but suddenly stopped and looked at her with a startled expression. “Wow… is it really you?”

  Christel had gotten up to shake his hand but remained standing, just as confused. “I think I’m hallucinating.”

  They were standing there, measuring each other, and Bettina didn’t understand a thing. Did they know each other?

  Preben gave Christel a heartfelt hug, but the big belly was in the way, so it looked pretty funny.

  “What on earth…! Are you pregnant?” He stood gaping, staring at her. It didn’t look smart, and he could have closed his mouth.

  Christel nodded and sat down.

  “Do you two know each other?” Bettina had to ask, even though it was obvious.

  “I’d say.” Preben scratched the back of his head. “This is the woman I was married to for eight years.”

  Bettina felt like she would faint. Of course, she’d heard her first name from Preben, but it was a long time ago. And Christel had taken back her maiden name. Furthermore, they never talked about his past. They had enough with themselves and their future.

  They all looked at each other, baffled. Anneli must have wished she was somewhere else, because she abruptly finished and hurried up to Mathilde with her breakfast.

  Bettina tried to focus on something else. “Would you like fried eggs and bacon, Preben?”

  “Yes, please.” He sat across from Christel and stared at her again. “Congrats. I had no idea you were pregnant or married. We haven’t talked in two years. Where’s your new husband?”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t have one.”

  “What do you mean? Apparently, you’re pregnant.” Preben buttered a slice of rye bread.

  “There’s more than one way to have a child. The baby’s father is an anonymous donor.”

  Preben looked even more puzzled. “Gosh. I have to say; you really took care of the matter yourself.”

  Christel smiled. “Yes, I did. It’s controversial. But I didn’t have time to find a new man. It was impossible to know how long that would take, and I simply didn’t have the time.” She helped herself to a glass of water.

  Bettina felt like an outsider. She listened to their conversation without interrupting. She didn’t know how their marriage had been and felt uneasy. They’d clearly had a close relationship. She had only known Preben a few years herself. They had met at the physiotherapy institute and had gotten to know each other there. His marriage was recently over, and the stress had resulted in tense muscles and a stiff neck. She’d been reluctant to start a relationship so shortly after their breakup. They had started off as friends and taken it step by step, but now she was wondering if it had gone too fast. Maybe he wasn’t over Christel?

  She put the eggs and bacon on his plate and sat down to eat. “This is quite a coincidence.”

  Christel helped herself to a strawberry yogurt. “So odd. Imagine meeting here after not being in touch at all in years. And now you’re getting married.” She looked at Preben with anticipation.

  His face lit up. “This coming spring. We’re about to start the planning.”

  “I offered to help Bettina.” Christel looked at the hostess. “It might seem weird, everything considered, but I’d be happy to help. It sounds exciting. And I know your preferences, Preben.”

  He nodded and kept on chewing.

  Bettina felt this was more than weird. Was his ex-wife going to organize his new wedding? How strange would that be? The whole thing was ridiculous and contrary to all common sense. She felt doubtful.

  It turned into a shorter breakfast than normal for her. It felt like she was playing a part in a comedy. She left them sitting in the kitchen while she went down to the basement to do some laundry.

  ***

  Preben was still more or less in shock over seeing his ex-wife at the guesthouse, expecting a child soon. It had been their biggest dream to become parents, but it had never happened. He knew this was the reason Christel had left him in the end. She’d tried to get pregnant for years, and the disappointment when it didn’t happen had been a tremendous strain. It had put an end to their marriage. It was sad but true. And now she was sitting here, pregnant and happy. It felt bitter that she was pregnant, without him.

  “I can’t understand that you’re finally pregnant, Christel. After all the struggles we had.”

  She gave him a knowing look. “I guess it’s not that strange. Have you talked to Bettina about this?”

  He squirmed in the kitchen chair. This wasn’t his favorite topic. He had millions of other things he’d rather talk about. “You know my biggest wish is to have children. And Bettina wants siblings for Anneli.”

  Christel started clearing the table. “Then it’s about time you talked to her. You can’t leave your fiancée unaware.”

  He knew she was right, but didn’t answer. It was such a sensitive subject, and not one he was willing to talk about.

  “Do you know the gender?”

  “Boy.”

  He sighed quietly. Just what he’d wanted more than anything. And now his ex-wife was about to get his wish fulfilled. How unfair. He let the old bitterness surface. It had been hidden for a long time now. It wouldn’t be easy to be around Christel. Luckily, it was only two days until he was back in Oslo. But next weekend she’d be here. And even more weekends, for all he knew.

  “See you later,” said Christel.

  ***

  Bettina was back in the kitchen, cleaning up the rest of the dishes. “Where’s Christel?”

  “She went upstairs to rest.” Preben was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, fiddling with the spoon. She made Earl Grey tea with sugar and milk and sat down next to him.

  He kissed her on the cheek. “You look upset. What’s on your mind?”

  She had to laugh at the question. “What do you think? It won’t be easy to live under the same roof after this. We’re going to be like one big family.”

  “Well, perhaps we are. We’re getting married, and Christel is glowing with happiness. This baby is longed for.”

  She pondered this. They’d never talked about his married life. She’d never felt like she needed to know details but was curious now she had met Christel.

  “Why didn’t you have children? If you both desired it so much…”

  Preben’s face took on a deep red color, and he looked out the window. It didn’t seem like a topic he was fond of discussing.

  “You don’t always get what you want in life. It just never worked out.” He got up. “Do you want to go for a walk around town?”

  She would have liked to ask some more, but the conversation was over for his part. Was he the one who couldn’t have children? Or was it a combination of them both? Maybe it was a coincidence? She knew it could be due to many factors, both physical and mental. They had to have a serious conversation when they had more time, and he was willing to talk.

  She let her fingers slide through her long hair, like she used to do when she was frustrated. Her curls remained on top of each other and looked like they were ready for a shampoo commercial.

  “Sure we can. But I have to be back
in time to serve Mathilde lunch. Anneli is leaving to play a match soon.”

  They got dressed and strolled along the boardwalk toward the town center, hand in hand. The clouds were all gone.

  “Should we skip lunch and eat something at the bakery?” She looked at him.

  “Sure, I’d like that. It might be nice enough to sit outside.”

  They went inside the amusing bakery. Both Sara and Lillian were behind the counter, and there was a line to order. Saturday was a busy day. Many had the day off and had extra time to spare.

  They took in the cake counter. “What do you fancy?” she asked.

  “I don’t know, it’s all so tempting. The Boston cake over there?” He pointed at a tall and elegant cake.

  “Let’s buy some cinnamon buns, so we have something for tomorrow when the bakery is closed. We can warm them up in the microwave. I got extra bread this morning.”

  They arrived at the counter. “Hi, Sara, it sure is busy today.”

  “Yes, Saturdays are usually pretty hectic. People have all the time in the world. What would you like?”

  “Preben, I can see an empty table over there. Go get it; all the seats are taken outside.”

  Bettina looked at Sara. “A slice of Boston cake and a doughnut. And two espressos. Oh, and ten cinnamon buns, please.”

  Sara laughed. “That should do.”

  Bettina smiled back. “We need something for tomorrow when you’re closed.”

  “I love cakes, so I agree,” Sara said. “You can freeze the buns if you don’t eat them all. They’re right out of the oven.”

  “That’s smart. I didn’t think of that.” She paid and went over to Preben by the window. Sara came with the coffee and the cakes. The square outside was crowded with people.

  “It’s so lively here today,” he said and tasted the cake. “This is yummy.”

  She took a bite of his cake. “It is.”

  They stayed and watched the people bustling between the market stalls with their hands full of bags.

  “Did you sleep any better last night?”

  “Not really. I’m not used to the silence.”

  She nodded.

  “I was astonished to see Christel this morning. It was the last thing I expected. She’s like she’s always been, except for the belly,” he said.

  Bettina didn’t know if this was good or bad. She had still not gotten used to the thought of having his ex-wife in the house. “What are your thoughts on all of this?”

  He gave her a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know. Isn’t it awkward to see her again?” She took a bite of the doughnut with vanilla custard. Some sugar fell onto her plate.

  He gave it some thought. “I guess it is. We were together for a few years before we got married, so we’ve known each other for ten years. That’s a long time.”

  It struck her how long a time that was. It was as long as she’d been alone with Anneli. She almost couldn’t remember life before Anneli was born, that was how long it was.

  “Yes, it’s a small eternity.”

  “We should get going so Mrs. Fredriksen doesn’t starve to death,” he said and got his coat.

  She looked at her watch. “You’re right.”

  They were lost in their thoughts on the way back to the guesthouse. She was reflecting on their conversation earlier in the day and his reluctance to talk about it, but she was none the wiser.

  When she got home, she checked her email and saw that she’d received a booking from Vera’s relatives. Mrs. Holm and Mrs. Olufsen would arrive with their husbands the third week of October for a weeklong stay. They requested the rooms with the best view. She smiled to herself. Windflower and Hepatica with their private bathrooms were, as expected, the most popular rooms.

  She went to make food for the patient. A chicken sandwich would have to make do today. She gathered all the ingredients and made chamomile tea and a glass of sherry. On second thought, it might be a little early for sherry. She was about to change her mind but decided against it. Better to cheer her aunt up as early as possible.

  “Should I take it up to her?” Preben asked.

  “I’d better do it. Let’s hope she doesn’t know you spent the night.”

  He grinned. “I’ll go sit on the porch. The weather is nice.”

  ***

  Christel had been lying on her bed since breakfast. It had been a surprise to see Preben again, and she was afraid her blood pressure was rising. She had to take it easy. The baby was her number one priority. It was the most important thing in her life now. She was impatient and was getting tired of being pregnant with such a heavy tummy. She wished for him to be born soon, even if she knew it was way too early. He had to stay put for a while longer.

  She hadn’t had the energy to go for a walk today. What a strange breakfast it had been. The joy of seeing each other again had been genuine, although it had been more of a surprise than anything else. Two years had passed, but it was easier now that she had some distance. It hadn’t been easy when they were in the middle of the chaos of the divorce. Far from it. What were her feelings for Preben now? Friendship, maybe, or love. No, not love. They’d been through too much for there to be any love left. It struck her that she knew him considerably better than Bettina did. How well could you know a person that you hadn’t lived with over a long period? It was impossible to say. She liked Bettina and hoped they’d be happy together. But she couldn’t picture Preben living in the countryside. He was a typical city person who liked having something going on all the time. She strongly doubted that he would enjoy the leisurely pace of life in Solvik. Life here on the coast was completely different. She liked it, but she also appreciated the opportunities the city offered. She hoped that he’d had a proper talk with Bettina. It wasn’t right she didn’t know what was going on. She didn’t deserve that. She needed to know what she was signing up for.

  ***

  Bettina found Preben on the porch with a beer, and a bowl of peanuts balanced on his thigh. She grabbed the bowl to save it from hitting the floor and took some nuts. Shortly after, Christel came and sat in the rocking chair, with her belly bulging.

  “How are you, Christel?” she asked.

  “I’m fine, but it was a shock to see Preben here.”

  “I’m feeling the same way. Are you still working at the hospital?” He looked at Christel.

  She nodded. “I was working until last week when the doctor advised me to take it easy. My blood pressure was too high for his liking.”

  “And you’re living in the apartment you bought when you left me?”

  She nodded again. “I like it there. But I’m looking for a place with a small garden before the baby gets big enough to move around.”

  Bettina felt like the third wheel again. And insecure. It was an unusual feeling, and she didn’t like it at all. She felt slightly threatened by the woman she’d gotten to know over the last three days. How stupid was that? After all, it was Christel who had left Preben, not the other way around. So it was her fiancé she should be watching. But right now, she felt unsure about everyone and everything. And that was not a good feeling. She had to pull herself together. She was the hostess and had to set her own issues aside. Now she’d lost track of the conversation between them.

  “Did you have an ultrasound, since you know it’s a boy?” Preben asked, eating the rest of the nuts.

  “Yes, there’s no doubt I’m expecting a boy.” Christel had a mint green ball of yarn in her hands and was knitting enthusiastically while talking.

  “Is that for the baby?”

  She nodded. “I’m knitting a jacket.”

  “Isn’t it a bit small?” He took a gulp of his beer.

  Christel laughed. “No, it’s the right size. Newborns are tiny.”

  Bettina couldn’t believe her ears. Preben was completely caught up in the details of the baby. She had never seen this side of him before. Why on earth didn’t they have a big family, if he was so fo
cused on children? They’d had enough years to try for it. She would have to ask him later. It was time to get started on dinner now.

  “You’re probably hungry. How about Chinese today?”

  “Oh yes,” they said simultaneously and started laughing.

  “Do you need help?” Preben was attentive as always, something she usually appreciated.

  “It’s ok. You two have fun outside in the meantime.” She needed some time to herself to process everything.

  “I’ll clean up after, then,” Christel said and stroked her belly.

  Bettina went inside and got the rice cooker out. Then she poured a glass of rosé. She deserved it. What a day it had been. Her thoughts went to the two on the porch. Better give them time to catch up. They obviously had much to talk about.

  ***

  The next day was sunny with no clouds. “Have you ever seen anything this beautiful?” Christel asked after lunch. She was standing by the living room window, gazing at the smooth sea.

  “It sure is gorgeous in Solvik,” Bettina said. “Have you seen the koi?”

  “Yes, they’re so lively. I’ll go sit on the bench.”

  They went out in the garden and Preben came running after them. “Christel, don’t you miss my bike?”

  She smiled. “Yes, I miss your bike more than I miss you. Sorry.”

  He didn’t look offended. It was easy to tell that they were used to teasing each other like this. “Come, I’ll show you. I’ve hidden it in the garage so that Mrs. Fredriksen doesn’t see it from her apartment.” He opened the garage door, and the three of them went inside.

  “Wow, it’s as red and shiny as it’s always been.” Christel was standing there wide-eyed, and was just as impressed as he’d hoped she would be.

  He soaked up her admiration. “Can I tempt you with a test drive?”

  Christel looked genuinely sad. It was evident the offer was alluring. “Sorry, but I can’t take the risk. I’m scared something might happen to this one.” She patted her belly.