Because of Lauren: A Love Story

by Vivi Underwood

  “I know.” He knew two weeks was a long shot and not fair to her.

  “Could you give me four weeks? I can do it in four weeks.” She would hand Peter her resignation tomorrow.

  He nodded silently. He could wait two extra weeks for Lauren if he could have her for a lifetime. Then it hit him. A lifetime wouldn’t be long enough. He wanted her forever.

  “Jonas?”

  “Mmm?”

  “It won’t work.”

  “What won’t.”

  “Marrying in four weeks. I don’t have a residence visa for Norway yet.”

  “You will,” he said complacently. “They are working on it. We’ll visit the consulate while I am here.”

  “I’ve already done that and filed an application, just in case. They said it could take three to four months.”

  “They are expediting it.”

  “They usually don’t give preferential treatment.”

  “I am a Norwegian national, and your mother was born there. That works in your favor. Also, you speak fluent Norwegian, have a clean record, are educated, and have a healthy bank account. If they need proof of employment, I can supply that by offering you a job, but I don’t think they care because they know I can support you.”

  She looked astounded. “Where did you get your information?”

  “I called my step-uncle. He’s the Norwegian ambassador to the U.S.”

  Lauren shot up. “Holy cow, Jonas!” she breathed. “That too? I’m inclined to repeat something I said once before. I still don’t know you, do I? I wonder if we should put off the wedding till we know more about each other.”

  He ignored her comment and calmly said, “The ambassador is in New York this weekend and has asked to meet you.”

  Her eyes opened wide. “You’re joking!”

  “Not at all. He’s a nice man, very family-oriented.”

  Lauren took a deep breath. “I’m afraid my family is not as illustrious as yours, Jonas. My father is a civil engineer. My parents live in an ordinary house on an ordinary street. They’re comfortable, but certainly not wealthy.”

  “You are also the granddaughter of the late, celebrated Erik Hjellestad,” he reminded her gently, “though I don’t remember your pedigree being the reason I fell in love with you.” He caught her face in his hands and looked at her. “But this I do know. Ordinary people could never have produced a daughter as extraordinary as you. You hold your own in every situation and seem comfortable with people from all walks of life. I could look the whole world over and not find anyone better suited to me than you.” He kissed her very gently. “I love you, Lauren. You are the only woman I have ever wanted to marry.”

  “Wow.” Lauren looked at him. She knew he loved her. She didn’t know he felt all that about her.

  He stroked her face gently and smiled. “Any questions?”

  “Hold me, please? I think I’m going to cry.”

  “No, you’re not.” They were so perfect together, he thought, as he slipped an arm around her and held her close. So absolutely right for each other.

  “Lauren.”

  “Mmm?”

  “I think you should bring me to meet your family. Could you manage next weekend? What if we flew out Friday and spent the weekend?”

  “I can probably arrange that. I’ll call them and shock them at the same time,” Lauren added calmly. “They should be used to that by now.”

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Our desserts,” said Jonas. “We’ll celebrate.”

  A smiling Leonard entered the room. “Sorry for the delay,” he apologized. “We had some late diners tonight.”

  “Perfect timing,” Jonas assured him, taking the small tray from him. “Thank you, Leonard.”

  “Oh, my,” exclaimed Lauren when she saw the content on the tray. Two large, elegant éclairs rested on delicate china plates. “I’ll never be able to eat a whole one.”

  “I’ll help you,” Jonas offered with a grin and placed the plates before her. “Personally, I love pastries. May I offer you something to drink?”

  “Depends. What have you got?”

  He went to the mini fridge and peeked inside. “Let’s see. I can offer you Pepsi, 7Up, Fanta, and a mixed fruit juice. Oh, and bottled water. Or . . .” he looked at her with a teasing grin, “if you want to be really daring, there is also a small selection of alcoholic beverages.”

  She grinned right back. “Too daring for me, I’m afraid. I’ll go with bottled water.”

  “Good choice. I’ll join you.”

  While he poured the water into glasses, Lauren said, “Speaking of drinks, may I ask you a question?”

  “Of course.”

  “You once told me you and Jake became friends because neither of you had any of the bad habits. Does that mean you never drink alcohol or are you just being considerate because I don’t drink?”

  Jonas brought their glasses to the coffee table and sat down beside her. Resting his arm on the back of the sofa, he turned and faced her. “I would have ordered something non-alcoholic with dinner no matter who was with me,” he assured her. “When I was eighteen, I attended a party celebrating the end of the school year. There was alcohol available, and I was foolish and inexperienced enough to drink more than I should have.” He smiled wryly. “Word reached my grandfather, of course. I was leaving for the States and university in a few weeks, and when I arrived on the island for the summer, he took me aside. He said he hoped I would take over Juul Enterprises one day and suggested I come home and work with him during the summers to learn the business. I felt overwhelmed at the prospect but also honored that he had that much faith in me. There was no pressure. He left the final decision entirely up to me. But he gave me some advice I’ve never forgotten. He said that business and alcohol are not a good mix and if I wanted to run a successful business, it was essential to keep a clear head. I never had another drink.”

  Lauren looked at him, impressed. “You were that obedient?”

  He shook his head. “It was my choice to make.”

  “Did your grandfather drink?”

  “He accepted a glass of wine at social gatherings, but I never saw him take more than a sip or two. He didn’t drink beer, and he never touched the hard stuff.”

  Impressed, Lauren asked, “Did he smoke?”

  “No. He was an avid outdoors-man and claimed smoking would hinder his lung capacity.”

  Even more impressed, she just had to ask, “Did you ever try smoking? When you were a teenager?”

  “No, never. No one in my family smoked, so I found the smell of cigarette smoke particularly unpleasant. I saw no reason to start a habit that not only was unhealthy but reeked as well.”

  “You were wiser than a lot of young people. I’ll never stop being impressed by you, Jonas. Can I ask one more question?”

  “Only one?”

  Her lips curved slightly. “For now. I have wondered why you don’t drink coffee. Norwegians generally do.”

  Jonas shrugged. “No big mystery. I never acquired a taste for it. It may have had something to do with my grandmother drilling into me that coffee wasn’t good for me, but I can’t swear to that.” He smiled. “I seem to remember she also covered tea, tobacco, and alcohol. In fact, knowing what I now know, I’m pretty sure she covered the whole LDS ‘Word of Wisdom’ thing except she didn’t give it a name.”

  Lauren decided she was very impressed by Jonas’ grandmother. “When did you learn about it?”

  “Jake told me about it a long time ago. But, of course, I never equated it with my grandmother’s teachings until very recently.”

  “You were being raised an LDS kid and didn’t know it.”

  Jonas laughed. “Not exactly. My mother sent me to Lutheran Sunday school when I was a boy.”

  Lauren smiled. “Ah! So, not an
LDS kid.”

  “Afraid not.” A soft look came into his eyes. “But I’ve been thinking for a while now that it’s time for me to adjust my way of life a little.”

  “Because you think that’s what I want?”

  Jonas tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Because it’s what I want. I think I have wanted it for a long time, but it took you to make me realize it.” He shook his head. “Do you know how long Jake’s been telling me I should find a nice LDS girl to date?”

  “He said that?”

  He nodded. “A nice LDS girl. He has been telling me for years, and I’ve been brushing it aside. How could I have been so stupid?”

  When Lauren didn’t comment, he said, “Remember that Saturday on the island when you said you couldn’t stay overnight because of church?”

  “Vividly. You got the strangest look on your face, and then suddenly you smiled. And I asked if . . .”

  “You’d missed something,” he finished for her.

  “And you said someday you’d tell me.”

  “I was stunned to realize I had fallen in love with an LDS girl, and I was smiling because I could clearly picture Jake’s face when I told him.” Something else had happened to him in those moments as well, something so unusual he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet. Someday he would share it with her, but not tonight.

  Lauren laughed softly. “And what did he say when you told him?”

  “He doesn’t know yet. I want to see his face when I tell him.”

  “Let’s hope he approves of me.”

  “He’ll welcome you with open arms.”

  “You really are like family, aren’t you?”

  “We have been for a long time,” he acknowledged.

  “Lauren.”

  “Mmm?”

  “Let’s try to think of a way to bring Jake and his father together. Their estrangement has weighed heavily on Jake’s mind as long as I have known him.”

  “On his father’s, too.” She leaned her head against Jonas and said a silent little prayer, asking for guidance. Then she asked, “What time is the baptism on Saturday?”

  “Not till four, I believe.”

  “Hmm! I wonder . . .”

  “Yes,” he encouraged mildly.

  “Peter and his wife were planning a quiet weekend at home,” she mused. “I know because they invited me to come and swim Saturday. That’s how Peter found out about you.”

  “When you declined their invitation?”

  “Yes.”

  She remained quiet, thinking. After a while, she said, “I have an idea. Tell me what you think.”

  “Alright.”

  “I know we’ve never met, but do you think Jake and Allison would let me borrow Leah Saturday morning? If you vouch for me?”

  “For what purpose?”

  “To meet her grandfather,” she said softly, “on her baptism day.”

  Jonas hesitated. One of the few things he knew about Peter Andrews was that he had rejected his own son. He felt protective of Leah and didn’t want her to be hurt the way her father had been. On the other hand, Lauren seemed to think the years had mellowed Peter. “A very bold move,” he said.

  “I would call first and tell them I’d like to bring someone to meet them.”

  “They’ll assume it’s me,” he cautioned her.

  “Possibly, but I think it could work.”

  “Is Peter a mild-mannered man or a temperamental one?”

  “The Peter I know is even-tempered and very pleasant.”

  “If Leah’s parents give their permission—and that’s a big if—let’s give it a try. Leah is such a little charmer, they won’t be able to resist her.”

  “Will you tell her parents I’ll take the greatest care of her?”

  “Of course,” he assured her. “But I have one condition: I go with you. I’ll stay in the car while you and Leah approach the house. If there are problems, I’ll be there.”

  “I’d like that. The worst he can do is shout at me and shut the door in our faces. I’ll prepare Leah for every eventuality.”

  “I’m sure Jake and Allison will want to have a hand in that as well,” he warned her. “They are very conscientious parents.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” Suddenly her eyes sparkled. “Wouldn’t it be something if little Leah could heal the pain between father and son? Oh, I hope it works, Jonas.”

  “If it does, you’ll have wrought a miracle.”

  “When will you talk to them?”

  “Tomorrow. I meant to tell you, they’re expecting us for the weekend if you can make that work.”

  “They don’t mind you bringing an overnight guest?”

  “No, they have plenty of room and are anxious to meet you,” Jonas assured her. “They live by a lake, so I’m hoping to get in a little sailing while we are there. Not the kind of sailing I’m used to, but still very enjoyable. Interested?”

  Lauren’s face lit up. “I haven’t been on the water since Lasse took me my last evening in Norway, so yes. And I am very excited to meet your friends.”

  Jonas looked down at her animated face. She was irresistible. Then he remembered his admonition of no more proposals, plane rides or guys getting fresh. He said, “Lasse didn’t get fresh, did he?”

  Her laughing eyes sought his, open, honest, without guile. “No, not Lasse. But he did wonder what you had that he didn’t. He used to be in love with me,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “And were you in love with him?”

  “I thought I was. For a short while. But Lasse spoiled it by suggesting—no, demanding—I move in with him. We had a big fight about it. It destroyed any illusions I might have had.”

  Ah! Jonas thought and remembered young Anne Jansen’s remark the first time he met the family. “When was that?”

  “The summer I was twenty. Ages ago, nine years to be exact.”

  “He didn’t know you, did he?” Jonas said slowly and wondered how Lasse could have missed the most basic thing about Lauren, the thing that set her apart and made her the person she was.

  “Not the way you do. It was a summer romance.”

  “But not for him.”

  She shook her head. “How did you know?”

  “He is still in love with you, Lauren,” he said gently. “I knew that the evening we had dinner with the family.”

  “He only thinks he is,” she insisted, “but I persuaded him he is mistaken. At least I hope I did.”

  Jonas shook his head and smiled. He’d have loved to have been there.

  “He is a really nice man when he forgets to score off me.” A half grin appeared. “I introduced him to Annie and told him to get a life.”

  “You care about him.”

  “I always have. We agreed that we love each other, but not in a romantic way.”

  Jonas’ eyes crinkled. “Must have been quite a trip.”

  Lauren threw her arms around him, and her voice sang with joy. “Oh, it was. In the end, he promised no more jokes at my expense and no cracks about you. Life is good, Jonas! I am going to celebrate us by eating that yummy éclair after all.”

  She felt rumbling in his chest as he released her. “You made a good bargain,” he said.

  “I’m clearing up the last of my old life. I am marrying you with no loose ends dangling anywhere. I know you said no more proposals, but some things are impossible to predict.”

  “Good heavens, that too? It’s not safe to leave you alone, is it?” His chest started rumbling all over again. He imagined some men might get a little testy if the woman they loved and planned to marry was still receiving marriage proposals from other men, but with Lauren’s track record of zany proposals, he took it in stride.

  “I was a perfectly innocent bystander to this one,” Lauren insisted. “When I
lived in Taiwan, I was introduced to an American businessman from Houston named Thomas Park. I attended a dinner with him, and before returning to the States, he offered me a job.”

  “Which you didn’t accept,” Jonas concluded.

  “No. It was a good offer, but I suspected his interest in me was more than business, so I declined it. A few years ago, he became a client, and the last two years I’ve seen him on business a couple of times, but that’s all. This week he insisted on taking me to dinner. He is an important client, and we had business to finalize, so I saw no harm in it.” She looked at Jonas intently and said, “Are you ready for this? During dinner, without warning, he presented me with a marriage proposal and a ring. Jonas,” she said with awe, “he is twenty years older than me, there has never been anything personal between us, and the dinner in Taiwan was years ago. I told you strange things happen to me.”

  She didn’t see the expression on his face as she reached for her plate and cut off a small piece of the pastry with her fork. “Mmm, this is so yummy,” she said as she savored the taste.

  “Lauren.”

  She looked at him but didn’t answer. She was eating éclair!

  “Tomorrow after breakfast, we are going to buy you the biggest ring we can find. I don’t want there to be any doubt about your availability again. Ever.”

  “I don’t want a big gaudy ring, Jonas,” she said between bites. “I’ll be happy with a simple little gold band like the Norwegians wear.”

  “You can have that, too,” he agreed. “But I want my ring on your finger. We’ll choose a tasteful one,” he promised. “Humor me on this, Lauren. Please?”

  Lauren put her plate down and gave him her full attention. “I didn’t go on any more airplane rides,” she volunteered, hoping to placate him, “and I have never encouraged Thomas in any way. I don’t know what came over him.”

  “I believe you,” said Jonas. He knew Lauren was not a tease and didn’t play those sorts of games. It was one of the many reasons he loved her so much. He stood up and reaching for her hand pulled her to her feet.

  Lauren looked longingly at her éclair. “What are you doing?”