Time for New Beginnings

by Mette Barfelt

  He made a face that was far from pleasant and finished his bottle, before fetching another.

  “The Spanish market isn’t as lucrative as it used to be. The economy has been going downhill for some time. They’re not building as many houses as before.”

  What did he mean by that? Was he without a job? Or was it longer between construction jobs? There was only one way to find out. “Did you lose your job?”

  “Let’s put it this way; I’m staying here for as long as I want. Have you got anything stronger than this?”

  She sighed silently. “Aunt’s sherry is in the fridge, and there’s whiskey in the living room. Suitable glasses are in the cupboard.” She didn’t intend on lifting a finger more than was necessary.

  He came back with a glass of whiskey and gulped it down. She was frightened by his quick consumption. At this pace, he would be drunk in a short amount of time, and she would be broke. Alcohol cost a small fortune in Norway, as opposed to Spain. It must have slipped his mind.

  He grabbed a chocolate chip cookie. “So our aunt is still alive?”

  She was appalled at his way of talking. How much should she tell him? He would find out either way if he called their father. “She’s stayed in bed for a long time, but she’s been up today. It goes up and down. Some days she’s very tired.”

  He seemed to ponder this and swirled the whiskey in the glass, so that it almost spilled. This was something he was good at; he never spilled anything.

  “You’ve taken half of my inheritance.”

  She looked at him with a mix of uneasiness and fear for what he could do. “That’s not true, and you know it. Uncle Herman chose to make me the heiress. I didn’t influence his decision.”

  He let out coarse laughter. “Says you.”

  She turned around and focused on the cookies so he wouldn’t see how upset she was. What a jerk of a brother she had. She was still wondering what he was doing here but was starting to put the pieces together.

  “What do you want?” She put the cookies in jars so he wouldn’t eat them all.

  “To get my part of the inheritance.” He went to refill his whiskey glass.

  She pulled her fingers through her curls several times. This was precisely what she had been afraid of. Wasn’t this what her aunt had threatened to do before she agreed to take over management of the guesthouse? She could feel chills running down her back. What if Mathilde let herself be talked into leaving her inheritance to Lauritz? He could turn on his charm when he wanted to. It wasn’t for nothing that he had several lady acquaintances going on at the same time. He could both inspire confidence and be generous, and women were drawn to him.

  She could, in fact, end up living here with Lauritz on a permanent basis. And run the guesthouse with him, if he felt like doing anything. That couldn’t be taken for granted, and it remained to be seen. Her stomach was in knots just thinking about it. If Lauritz inherited from their aunt, she would leave this place. It was entirely out of the question to live and work with her brother. She knew him too well for that.

  “How are you planning to do that?” She needed to cool her head, and poured herself a glass of cold water, hoping it would help. She drank half the glass so fast that she got brain freeze, and wished her brother would disappear as quickly as he had arrived.

  “I guess I’ll have to ingratiate myself.” He looked at her with a sly smile. “Don’t you think I can persuade her? Wanna bet?”

  She didn’t know what to think and didn’t plan on sharing her thoughts with him.

  He stood, stretched his long body, and let out a yawn so wide she could see his fillings. “When is breakfast served?”

  “When I’ve picked up the bread from the bakery.” She was grumpy now, but couldn’t help it. The chances of him helping her with anything at all were minimal. If he stayed longer than one night, she would try to send him to the bakery. He had to do something to earn his room and board.

  Bettina had just had enough time to warn everyone the next morning when Lauritz came strolling into the kitchen wearing a wrinkled, checkered flannel shirt. She presented him, but his eyes were on Mathilde. He sat down next to her and hugged her.

  “Aunt, you’re looking well. It’s been too long.”

  Nearly fifteen years, Bettina estimated. They had met a few times, but Uncle Herman was the one he knew.

  “You can say that again,” Mathilde said and looked at him with curiosity. “Aren’t you living in Spain these days?”

  “Sure am, but of course I wanted to see the beautiful guesthouse now that it’s open. What an amazing place.”

  Mathilde warmed up a little. “Yes, it is, isn’t it?”

  Bettina let him continue the flattery; she wouldn’t be able to stop him anyway. She turned to Christel. “How is Ted doing? You look more energetic today.”

  “Thanks, I had a good night’s sleep. I’m lucky I can fall asleep again after breastfeeding.”

  Anneli had taken over the baby, who was wearing a cute, light-blue romper with a teddy bear. Christel ate heartily and looked like the perfect mother. No one would have known that she was a first-time mother, confident as she was about everything. It was a joy to watch, and it pleased Bettina that it was going so well. She was glad Christel was here now. It distracted her from Lauritz and allowed her to focus on things other than his cunning demeanor.

  “You’re lucky,” she said. “I remember it being hopeless to fall asleep again once I was awake. I was half asleep the first few months.”

  Anneli had to leave for school, and Mathilde wanted to hold Ted. That meant the focus was on the baby, and Lauritz had to settle for second place. He sat there looking dissatisfied, drumming his fingers like a little boy who couldn’t sit still.

  “Is the bacon done? Make me a double portion, I’m famished.”

  She could feel her pulse speed up in line with her irritation level. “Want to make it yourself?”

  He looked offended, and put his hands in the air as a defense mechanism. “No, no, it’s just taking so long.”

  It took time to make breakfast, but they weren’t in a hurry. And he wasn’t either. He was lazy. So what was his problem? She could tell it would be difficult to have him staying here. When she called her parents the night before, they had been full of empathy and advice. One piece of advice was to put him in his place, and not let him bully her. That’s exactly what she would try to do.

  Lauritz stood to refill his coffee. Soon he’d tried all the coffee types. He wasn’t a tea-drinker, and hot chocolate was for kids.

  “Cool coffee maker. Do you mind if I borrow it and take it to Spain? You like tea, and can use the kettle for that.”

  How rude. Was he stupid or something? She glared at him. “In your dreams.” She put the eggs and bacon on his plate. The others had finished, as she’d served them first. They were chatting. Mathilde livened up with Ted around, and it was good to see her more cheerful.

  There was nothing wrong with Lauritz’s appetite. He didn’t participate in the conversation, but baby-talk had never been his thing. Not due to lack of interest in women, but rather a lack of interest in toddlers. He was used to going out and preferred spending his nights at Spanish bars. What was he planning to do during the quiet nights in Solvik? And what would he do during the daytime? But if the plan was to ingratiate himself with Mathilde, he would have enough on his plate. It was impossible to know how long that would take. Bettina didn’t know her well enough to know the answer to it.

  When it was time to clear the table, Lauritz conveniently disappeared. Mathilde eventually went upstairs to her apartment to embroider and rest. She went into the living room where Christel had introduced Ted to the baby bouncer. As a newborn, he seemed way too small for the chair but calmed down.

  “Your brother is an interesting man,” Christel said and bobbed a little, so the toys in front of the child moved.

  “Not in a positive way, I hope.” She looked at her, uneasy. “Whatever you do in life, don’t get
involved with my brother.”

  Christel had to smile. “Don’t worry. I prefer men with slightly better manners.”

  “Good to hear.” She told her about Lauritz’s plans.

  “That doesn’t sound right. Let’s hope your aunt knows what she’s doing. She seems to have her head in the right place, even if her health is ailing.”

  Bettina agreed. “I wish I knew how long he’s planning to stay. But it might depend on Mathilde, and her will to cooperate.”

  Ted started getting antsy, and his mother lifted him up. “He’s hungry. I feel like that’s the only thing I’m doing.”

  “He’s so sweet,” Bettina said and stroked his cheek. “It’s wonderful when they’re newborn. All they want is food and sleep. Wait until he starts walking. That’s when it gets busy.”

  “I read somewhere that time goes by fast, so you have to cherish every moment when they’re small,” Christel said, picking up some toys from the floor.

  “That’s true. You seem to be doing well already.” She got up. It was time to clean the house. Dust, vacuum, and do the bathrooms on all three floors. Lauritz wouldn’t offer to help, so she just had to get on with it.

  ***

  Lauritz felt it was best to strike while the iron was hot, and right now the iron was red-hot. Aunt Mathilde was in a superb mood, thanks to the child that got everyone’s attention. She had probably rested now, so he knocked on her door.

  “Come in.”

  “Hi, Aunt. I wanted to check if you have everything you need. Here’s a glass of sherry.” He gave it to her on the sofa. She was embroidering flowers, which she would frame and eventually put up on the wall. As if she didn’t have enough of them already. The walls were covered in all sorts of colors and variants, but mostly with flowers.

  “What stunning embroideries, Aunt.” Fake admiration was the way to her heart. “No one can embroider like you.” He spent a long time admiring them, while he, in reality, used the time to take a closer look at the living room. The old woman had an attractive apartment. It consisted of two floors and had a sea view. The Tower itself was rounded, and the windows, therefore, offered a one-eighty-degree view. Not bad at all. The apartment needed redecorating but, considering his skill set, it was the least of his problems.

  “Thank you, that’s kind,” Mathilde said and looked pleased.

  “Aunt, you have a fabulous house. And a beautiful garden. Are you the landscaper behind it?”

  She smiled proudly. “Yes, it took me several years to form it the way it looks now. It was tedious work. But I love working in the garden, so I’m not complaining.”

  “It shows, Aunt, it shows.” He took one last look before turning toward her.

  “It’s a pity I wasn’t included in the will,” he said in a sad voice and with serious furrows on his sun-tanned forehead. “But that’s life. I’ll have to rush downstairs to see if Bettina needs any help. There must be tons of heavy work she could use my help with. You know, there’s way too much work for her to deal with alone on the property. And you have to rest, dear Aunt. You have to take care of your health. That’s the most important thing right now.” He kissed her on the cheek and walked out of what would soon be his new apartment.

  ***

  Mathilde was left behind, quite touched. How thoughtful he was. Not only did he want what was best for her, but he was also thinking of his sister, wanting to support and help her while he was visiting. Without even owning the house. Some people put others before their own needs, indeed.

  Furthermore, Lauritz appreciated her embroideries and men who did that were rare to find. And how nicely dressed he was. He had changed into a clean, white shirt.

  She suddenly remembered that Herman hadn’t been fond of Lauritz. That was why he hadn’t included him in his will. But he seemed so positive and friendly, and not at all like Herman had described him. Could her husband have been wrong about him? Everyone could be wrong, and Herman had been wrong several times. She thought it was unfair that Lauritz hadn’t inherited anything, while his sister had received this paradise of a property. What had Herman been thinking? She would have liked to know. If only he had at least consulted her about serious topics like this.

  ***

  When Bettina went downstairs to make scrambled eggs three hours later, she was both sweaty and tired. The house was incredibly big. And it was so much work to clean it. With yearning, she thought of her mid-sized apartment in Oslo. It had been easy to clean. However, she didn’t regret selling her apartment and moving here. The peaceful small-town life was appealing, and she missed neither the noise nor the pollution of the capital.

  She noticed Lauritz in the living room with a car magazine in his hand. He was lying spread out on the sofa, with his feet on the coffee table. To be fair, he had taken off his shoes, but still. There were limits to how comfortable he could make himself in a stranger’s house. “Get those smelly socks off the table.”

  Reluctantly he pulled his legs off. “Chill, Bettina. It’s all good. Especially now I’ve had a long chat with Mathilde. She’s promised me her part of the inheritance.” He laughed heartily. “You didn’t see that coming, now, did you?”

  Bettina felt unwell. This was the worst news she’d ever had. “Our aunt can live for another thirty years, and change her mind just as many times.” She thought about it. “But if I’d known, you could have helped me clean the house. It takes hours.”

  Lauritz didn’t seem impressed. “As you said, she might live another thirty years. So it’ll be some years until I need to contribute. By the way, is lunch ready? My stomach is screaming.”

  She felt like screaming herself. She was frustrated that her aunt had decided so spontaneously, without even knowing Lauritz. How on earth would she be able to live together with this sleazeball? Mathilde could live for many more years, but she could also pass away tomorrow. With such a weak heart, it was impossible to predict how much time she had left. That was the case no matter what kind of heart one had, she realized.

  She sighed and went to fix lunch. Lauritz continued reading, which was just as well. She wasn’t in the mood for more discussions at the moment.

  She got cold cuts and spread out of the fridge, and sliced bread and rolls. She started to scramble eggs and left the pan on a low heat. She pressed orange juice and opened another grapefruit juice. Shortly after, both her aunt and Christel appeared. Mathilde was carrying the baby bouncer so the baby could sit by himself while they were eating, and Lauritz came trotting along after them.

  “But what’s this? Did you forget what time it is? We’ve had breakfast. No hot meal?” He looked genuinely surprised, and it dawned on her how long he had been abroad. She gave him an irritated look. If he wanted something else, he could make it. She wasn’t running a restaurant.

  “You’re not in Spain now. You can buy a hot meal in the café next door. Other than that, you’re more than welcome to prepare lunch for all of us while you’re here.”

  He ignored her. “Uh, it’s so unusual. I’m used to eating all my meals at restaurants.” He got a cup of coffee, and cut a slice of brie and placed it on a cracker. He decorated it with two green grapes and stared at the delicacy in front of him. “This isn’t exactly how I’d pictured the meal.”

  “Too bad.”

  “Tell me about the nightlife in Solvik,” he said.

  This was a subject Bettina didn’t mind talking about. It would probably make him want to return to warmer regions right away. “Let’s see… We have Café Solside. It’s popular, but it closes early.”

  “What do you mean by early? Midnight?”

  She smiled sweetly. “No, seven.”

  “Wow, all-night cafés. I like that.”

  She tried not to laugh but was having trouble. “Seven in the evening.”

  “Oh.” He looked at her, disappointed. “What about the rest?”

  She poured some juice into her glass. “The Italian restaurant, Lombardi’s, is open in the evenings.”

 
; “That’s fine, but you’re making me dinner. I was thinking more in the line of bars and pubs. And nightclubs.”

  Bettina hadn’t been to a club since she was young, and had never missed it. Moreover, weren’t clubs for young people? “Sorry, you’ll have to open one yourself, then.” She immediately regretted saying it. Why had she given him that idea? It was better to send him out of the country as soon as possible.

  “What? Where am I going to spend the nights?” He was now pale and looked startled.

  “I suppose you’ll have to make do with us. I won’t decline a glass of sherry and a nice chat,” Mathilde said and patted his arm. “But I do get that a grown man with no wife or children would like to spend time with like-minded people.”

  Lauritz appeared to pull himself together, for whatever reason. “What a brilliant idea, Aunt. Should I make you a cup of tea? Or do you want sherry?”

  The lamb roast and root vegetables were in the oven, and the potatoes were boiling. It was almost time to take out the roast and let it rest on the counter. Lauritz had been restlessly walking around the house since lunch. He had finished all the coffee in the machine, and after much persuasion, she had made him refill it. The cookie tray was empty too, and she was wondering how he could be so slim if he ate cookies all day. Two of the cookie jars were set aside, waiting to be filled with new goodies. And this was after one day. She sighed. It was trying, having Lauritz here. This was not what she had in mind when she opened the guesthouse. She couldn’t throw him out, either, although she wanted to. It wouldn’t look good, and would not be a great advertisement for the Solvik Guesthouse.

  “I have quite a bit of laundry. Can you take care of it?” He had helped himself to a whiskey and was standing in the kitchen, smelling the dinner that was in the making.

  “Take care of what?” She didn’t get it.

  And he didn’t seem to get her question. “Wash it, of course.”