Time for New Beginnings

by Mette Barfelt

  She wished she didn’t have to tell her. “Sadly, she died at the hospital. She had another heart attack when she fell down the stairs.”

  “Gosh.” Shocked, Anneli covered her face. “How terrible.”

  Bettina drew her closer. “We knew she had a weak heart, but it’s sad.” She let her go, and Anneli sat slowly on a chair.

  Bettina took the frying pan out of the cupboard. “But I also have some good news. Your grandparents are here.”

  Just then, her parents entered the kitchen and fought to get to their grandchild first, talking at the same time. Bettina started making breakfast. She started thinking about her brother. He was supposed to leave later today and didn’t know that their aunt had passed away. What would he do now?

  “What are you doing here?” she heard behind her. Lauritz had showered but was unshaven, and he was staring suspiciously at his parents.

  “Good to see you, too,” Flemming said in his usual, calm voice. He didn’t allow his rude son to upset him.

  Lauritz ignored his father. “Mathilde?” He looked curiously at Bettina.

  “Sorry. She didn’t survive the fall.”

  The look on his face was a mix of a sleazy grin and a sad expression. “How unfortunate.”

  Her brother’s insensitiveness made her feel sick. He was a real scumbag.

  “When’s the funeral?” Lauritz helped himself to two eggs and bacon that were ready in the pan, without asking if anyone else wanted some.

  “They don’t plan funerals during the night. When were we supposed to have arranged it?” She looked annoyed at her uncomprehending brother, who thought everything would be taken care of while he was asleep.

  “There, there. It’s just that my flight is today.” He ate with a solid appetite. “And then there’s the will.”

  “Ah, so you thought the funeral and the will could be dealt with this morning so that you can make your flight?” She couldn’t believe her ears, and her parents also looked alarmed. Thankfully, Anneli had left the table and was in her room, packing her schoolbag.

  “That would be practical,” Lauritz said. “There aren’t that many folks in Solvik. It should be possible to squeeze an old lady in between the other funerals. As far as I know, she had neither many friends nor relatives. So how long do they need to plan it?” He looked from one to the other. “Besides, I’m leaving today. The ticket can’t be changed. So who’s going to pay for a new one?” He cut the bacon into pieces and kept going. “Moreover, is it possible to make an exception? Why not get the will over and done with first, and then the rest of you can plan the funeral on your own?”

  “Pull yourself together, son.” Flemming was not pleased and gave him a stern look. “The funeral will most likely be later this week, and the will even later. That’s how it works. You can decide whether you want to leave today, or stay.”

  Lauritz glanced at his father with a sour look and finished his meal. “Let me know what day it’ll be.”

  “How did we end up with a son like that?” Nita asked in a sorrowful voice when he had left the room.

  “I’ve wondered the same thing many times,” Flemming said. “It’s strange how two children who grew up together can turn out so different.”

  “How has it been these last few days with your brother here?” Nita collected the bread crumbs on the table. She loved being in the kitchen, cooking. She would serve Mexican treats over the next few days. Bettina was already excited.

  “It’s been an interesting experience. He’s a handful.” She got them all coffee, and they went into the living room. “He’s spent a good deal of time in Mathilde’s apartment. I don’t think he did it because he enjoyed the company.”

  “Did he make her change the will, you think?” Flemming sipped his coffee.

  “That’s what he claims. But he’s bored here in Solvik, so I don’t know what he has in mind.”

  “Yes, there’s a lack of both women and alcohol here, compared to what he’s used to.” Flemming frowned.

  “I’m not sure about that. He’s helped himself to Aunt’s sherry. She had several bottles last time I checked, but they’re disappearing rapidly. Same goes for the whiskey. It’s incredible, how much he can drink.”

  They chatted for a long time. Bettina hadn’t even had time to tell them about the engagement. They were surprised but supported her, as always.

  “What about the attractive doctor?” her mother asked with an encouraging smile. “There’s something about him, and it seemed like you knew each other well.”

  “We do. It’s Erik, who I took sciences classes with in high school.” And yes, he’s handsome. She didn’t say that aloud. No need to give her parents false hope. She had to figure out her feelings first.

  “I hope it turns into something serious. But now we’d like to see the rest of the house.”

  They went from room to room on both floors. Her parents had seen most of it when she moved in, except for the guest rooms and the bedrooms.

  Nita was impressed. “You have great taste, Bettina. The rooms are beautifully decorated. Look at the stunning paintings, Flemming. Who would have thought that she would become such a talented artist? Do you remember how engrossed she was in her paint and brushes when she was little?”

  “You’ve always been wonderful at painting,” he said, turning to her.

  “Come, let’s take a closer look at Aunt’s apartment. I don’t know it well. I was barely allowed to open the closet to get the new sets of linens she had bought.”

  They spent the next hours organizing and going through Mathilde’s things. She had stuff everywhere, in all the closets and rooms. The attic was the same. It was filled with belongings from several lives, it seemed. Tons of embroideries and tablecloths were stored in boxes.

  “I don’t think we should do more now,” Flemming said. “We can’t distribute her belongings or get rid of anything before the will has been read and accepted. Stuff may be willed to people she knew.”

  “You’re right. Let me make us some lunch,” Nita said and walked toward the door. “Then you can deal with the funeral and all of that in the meantime.”

  Her mother had a point. There was much to do, and they had to get started.

  Bettina was pleased they got everything sorted out in a week. When they sat down to eat, they had agreed on the most important things. Lauritz had a talent for smelling food and showed up in the kitchen the moment the food was placed on the table.

  “So the funeral will be held on Thursday at eleven, and attorney Henriksen will meet with us the same day at three,” Flemming said, reaching for the bowl of guacamole. “But I remember something Mathilde told me when Herman passed away. She wanted the same kind of funeral as him. That means a private one, with only close family present.”

  The others nodded. “We’ll have lunch here after the funeral,” Nita said. “Then we can commemorate Aunt Mathilde in her own house. She would have appreciated it.”

  Bettina wanted more time alone with her parents. “The weather is lovely. Should we go for a walk in the recreational area close by?”

  “I’d love to. It’s been a long time,” her father said. “Are you joining us, Lauritz?”

  Sourly, he shook his head.

  ***

  Lauritz disappeared up to his room with a cup of coffee in hand. He grinned to himself. It was perfect to only have relatives at the funeral. The fewer, the better. There would be nobody to split the inheritance with. Everything would go to him. So he had to survive four more days in the countryside. He was wondering what to do with all the money. It was about time to upgrade to a bigger house. There was so much on the market now the economy was bad in Spain. He would certainly take advantage of that. Now that he could get much more for his money, he would be able to afford a house by the sea, with a pool and his own bar in the garden. He might build a bar in the pool, while he was at it. He had noticed that it was popular these days, admittedly in big hotels with huge pools. But why not? Having a drink
in between swimming sessions would be grand. A little timeout, where he could sit on a barstool in the pool, and cool down both his body and throat. That would be something.

  He set down his coffee cup on the small table. He thought of his mother who wanted to commemorate their aunt in her own house. He laughed out loud. It was his house now, but they didn’t know that. He had neglected to say anything on purpose. He wanted to save the surprise for when the will was read. He’d laugh at their pale faces then.

  ***

  They put on warm coats and scarves and met outside on the porch. “Aunt designed this garden all on her own,” Bettina said, pushing her sunglasses up on her head. “How am I supposed to maintain it? It’s a huge job.”

  “Yes, that’s for sure,” Nita said. She wasn’t a fan of gardening, either.

  “Now I don’t have Preben to help me,” Bettina said while they walked around, admiring the garden. “I don’t know how I’ll find time for it all.”

  “Don’t worry about it. The frost will be here soon, and then you can’t do anything until spring.”

  She saw the logic in this. Right now it felt good to postpone the issue. She had enough to do with the guesthouse and running it the way her uncle intended. That was where she had to start.

  “How’s it going with the guesthouse?” her father wanted to know. “Have you received any bookings, or has it been tough getting started?”

  She happily told them that it was going above all expectations. “New reservations are coming in all the time,” she said while they walked along the boardwalk to the woods. “Many send e-mails, and some call. Most of October and November is already filled up. Next week, my neighbors’ relatives are coming. They’re staying a whole week. Do you know Vera and Harriet, Father?”

  “I don’t know them, but I remember them from previous visits. The sisters have run the café together for years. You know, the Italian restaurant and the new bakery came this year. Before that, Café Solside was the only meeting place in Solvik.”

  “Yes, I know, and soon there will be another competitor. The new hotel is getting bigger every day. But competition is healthy. Isn’t that what they say?”

  “You have a unique concept,” Nita said. “A special place where guests will love to stay.”

  “And by the time the hotel opens, everyone will know about the guesthouse,” her father added.

  When they came home, she noticed that Erik’s car from the night before had disappeared. She looked up at the unique mansion again. It really was a special place. She decided to be just as optimistic as her parents, but her heart dropped when she opened the main door and heard a woman’s laughter coming from the living room. It definitely wasn’t one of her daughter’s friends. She looked inside the living room, and couldn’t believe her eyes. Lauritz was sitting on the sofa with his arm wrapped around Veronica. The coffee table was set with a bowl of chips, red wine, and whiskey. They were sitting there, making a toast, with no intention of leaving anytime soon. He could at least have taken her up to his room. He knew their parents were visiting and that the living room was the place to gather. Where were they supposed to sit now?

  “Aren’t you working, Veronica?” Bettina didn’t know what else to say.

  “Does it look like I am? There’s something called shifts. All work and no play doesn’t work for me, you know.”

  No, that much was clear. She went over to her parents, who were in the process of hanging their clothes in the wardrobe.

  “Lauritz has a woman visiting. What about dinner at the café? Anneli can meet us there. She’ll be home in about half an hour.”

  ***

  Lauritz grinned widely when his sister disappeared. It served her right. She shouldn’t think that the living room was only for her to use. It was just as much his, and soon it would be only his. But no one knew yet.

  He had met Veronica at the bar at Lombardi’s the night before. She was the hottest lady around here, and he was pleased to have arranged another meeting. Oh yeah. And she was so gorgeous that he had started thinking about Bettina’s suggestion of opening a nightclub here after all. With all the money he was about to get his hands on, it may be lucrative to invest money in Solvik. The town had nothing to offer, so the locals would jump at the first opportunity that was presented to them. Sales would rocket immediately; there was no doubt about it. And with Veronica by his side at the bar, alcohol sales would go through the roof.

  He patted the divine beauty’s voluptuous curves and felt excited. It would be better to continue in his bedroom.

  ***

  Bettina was in the middle of emptying the dishwasher the next morning when she heard giggling in the hall. She stopped what she was doing so as to be sure. There was no way... Shortly after, Lauritz strolled into the dining room and took a seat at one of the window tables. Veronica tiptoed behind him in high heels.

  Bettina was rooted to the spot and stared at them.

  “What’s wrong? Isn’t this a guesthouse?” Veronica pulled out a chair and sat next to Lauritz, who was ready to have his meal served. “You’re not very attentive, to be frank,” she told him.

  Lauritz ignored her comment. So did Bettina.

  “Sure it is, but I can’t remember you booking a room.” It might have been slightly rude, but she couldn’t help it. Talk about making herself comfortable. Or letting herself be influenced by Lauritz, was more like it. Because that was the issue. Veronica grabbed the opportunities she was presented.

  Lauritz gave her a nasty look. “Come on, Bettina. I have just as much right to be here as you do. Who spends the night with me is none of your business. So let’s order. We’ll have eggs and bacon, right? Double portion?” He looked at Veronica, who shook her head.

  “A crispbread for me, please. It’s more than enough.”

  Bettina couldn’t start discussing things right now. At least she didn’t have to make breakfast for the new guest. The crispbread came ready-made in a pack, bought from the grocery store where Veronica worked. But she was getting immensely tired of dishing up meal after meal for her brother every day. It was about time he did something himself. And why hadn’t she followed through on her idea of making him buy bread in the mornings? He had to start taking responsibility, since he felt so at home in the house that he brought girls home.

  “Please, help yourself. There are eggs and bacon in the fridge.”

  He looked at her as if she was from another planet. “What are you talking about?”

  “It’s not my job to make you breakfast.” She was frustrated that he was sitting in the dining room like any other guest, waiting to be served. The chances of him settling the bill for Veronica were non-existent.

  Her parents and Anneli entered the dining room and looked at them, equally confused.

  “Mother, Bettina doesn’t want to make me breakfast,” he complained.

  She had to turn away so as not to laugh. What a whiner.

  Nita had a look inside the kitchen. “What’s the problem? The table is full of spreads and delicious food. Fresh bread and rolls. What more could you wish for?”

  His face turned lobster red and he scratched his neck. “Eggs and bacon.”

  Flemming frowned. “You’re forty years old. Aren’t you able to fry an egg?”

  “Well, hmm… I always eat out in Spain.”

  Veronica looked at him, dismayed. She stood up, resolutely. It must have dawned on her that he would be more work than fun. “Thanks for having me, I need to get to work.”

  Lauritz had enough manners to walk her out. Bettina stared at them as they left.

  “He never ceases to surprise me,” Nita said and started squeezing oranges. “There’s always something new.”

  “I doubt we’ll see her again,” Flemming commented dryly.

  23

  The funeral was a somber affair. Even though it had been private, it was just as much a funeral. Possibly, it was even sadder that they were the only grieving people present. The certainty that Mathilde
didn’t have any close friends made Bettina breathe a sigh of relief when they left Solvik church. It was nice to get outside in the crisp fall air. The sun tried to break through the clouds but didn’t make it. It was a gray day, which matched everyone’s mood, except Lauritz’s. He was so invigorated that even the pastor had noticed.

  “I know you were planning on making lunch,” Lauritz said to his mother when they parked. “But I insist on treating all of you. Let’s eat at the café.”

  Bettina was stunned, and she could tell that her parents were too.

  “Lovely,” Nita said and smiled. “Then we can have the cakes from the bakery after meeting the attorney.”

  Bettina heard a car behind her. Surprised, she saw the back of Preben’s car turning onto the property. What did he want? She hadn’t heard anything from him since he left five days ago. She was getting used to being alone and had no regrets. It had been the right decision. Erik had started calling her at night, and she looked forward to their long conversations. She lost the ability to concentrate on their conversation when talking to him. This was different from her experience with Preben. It couldn’t be compared. She was grateful that she had realized it before it was too late.

  ***

  Christel was in doubt if they were doing the right thing. Preben had convinced her to come with him to Solvik. It was important for Bettina to see how happy they were, he claimed. At the same time, he could make sure that everything was well with her. She was touched by Preben’s kindness and concern for others. It was one of his best qualities. She just hoped that Bettina would appreciate their visit and that she hadn’t changed her mind about Preben.

  Life had been filled with many thoughts after she left this place and even more feelings. Preben had visited her as much as he could, and she hadn’t minded. If it weren’t for his job, he would have been with them day and night. It was good to have someone to share things with. She hadn’t been this happy in a long time.