by Kris Tualla
Teigen wondered if his father’s mind was weakening. “Like I’ve been doing for the last four-and-a-half years? Yes. Of course.” He paused. “I am the science department chairman, Pappa.”
Nikolai steepled his fingers and stared at his son. “Why do you teach?”
This was another conversation they’d had—many times. “Because I have a family to provide for. And I enjoy it.”
“Hansen Shipping makes enough to support you and them.”
“I know that, Pappa.” Teigen leaned forward. “But that’s your livelihood. I don’t expect to live a life of leisure at your expense.”
Nikolai watched him carefully. “I’m going to retire.”
The impact of those four unexpected words slammed into Teigen’s chest. “You are? When?”
“When you and I decide what to do with the company.”
Teigen and Selby had talked about this day and which path Teigen would eventually take, but he expected this conversation to be years in the future. And he still wasn’t sure of his answer.
Over the centuries, the nature of their shipping business had changed with the times. The most significant change came in the last seventy years with the expansion of the rail system. Ten hours in a freight car going across Norway beat ten days at sea sailing around it.
“What are you thinking, Pappa?” Teigen asked.
“I only see two choices. I either sell the business or pass it to you.”
Teigen pointed out the newly-arrived American glitch. “What about Tor’s son? Doesn’t he deserve some part?”
“He’s too young to run it, obviously, and I doubt his mother has any interest.” Nikolai sighed. “If we sell it, I’ll split the money between you and the boy. You’ll keep the Hall and all the land, of course.”
That was fair. “And if I decide to run it?”
“I guess you should buy him out. Or maybe send profit checks every year. I don’t know.” Nikolai looked like he was carrying the weight of a glacier on his sloping shoulders. “I don’t have the answer, Teig, and I never expected to face what we’re facing.”
None of us did.
“Is it my decision, then?” Teigen pressed. “Which route we choose depends on what I want to do?”
Nikolai nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on Teigen’s. “That makes the most sense, doesn’t it?”
Teigen was quiet for a minute. Then he asked the question that had to be asked.
“If I say sell it, will you be disappointed in me?”
Nikolai’s brows plunged. “Is that your answer?”
Teigen put up his hands. “No, not yet! I have to talk to Selby before I decide anything. And I need to think about the two choices from all different angles.”
His father looked confused. “Then why would you ask me such a question?”
“I need to know, Pappa.” Teigen drew a bracing breath. “If I tell you to sell Hansen Shipping, am I betraying the family’s legacy?”
Nikolai’s expression shifted. “Five hundred years of Hansen trade ships? That is quite a legacy, no question about it.”
“And if I end it—and I’m not saying I will—would that disappoint you?” Teigen’s palms were sweating. “Would you be disappointed in me?”
Nikolai’s eyes grew visibly wet. “After all you went through in the war and after losing Tor, you are the future of this family. Anything you decide will be fine with me, Teig. I don’t have the strength left in me to fight any more battles.”
“Oh, Pappa…” Teigen’s voice choked.
Nikolai leaned forward. “I love you, son. And I’m damned proud of you. Nothing will ever change that.”
Teigen nodded and cleared his tightened throat. “How soon do you want to know?”
“This month. Before Kyle and Thor leave.”
Of course. “You want to tell them what Thor will inherit.”
His father nodded again. “And I’d like to do it face to face in case she has questions.”
Teigen rose to his feet and held out his hand. He was startled by how tired his father suddenly looked.
“Thank you, Pappa.”
Nikolai gripped it and shook it. “No, thank you, son. I’ll go along with anything you say.”
*****
Dahl Holter steered the car south in the town of Tvedestrand to start the last ten mile leg on the nine hour road journey from Bergen to Arendal.
“I’m glad I don’t have to rush back to Bergen,” he said as he rubbed his stiffening neck. “It’ll be nice to spend time with Teigen and Selby.”
“Abandoning me is what you’re doing,” Olina grumbled. “I wish you’d come back to Bergen with me and save me from a lonely day on the train.”
Dahl flashed a tired smile. “I’ll be back before you have a chance to miss me.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Just don’t be sucked in by Selby’s charms and forget all about me.”
Dahl gave her another smile, this one strained by his annoyance. He regretted ever telling her that he fancied himself in love with Selby at one time and that Teigen swooped in and stole her out from under him.
Sort of.
Selby had actually never responded to Dahl’s gentlemanly advances no matter how patient he was with her.
Teigen won her without even trying to.
At first Dahl was crushed, though he denied it and hid his feelings away—until they eventually withered and died from neglect. After that he was able to truly be friends with the couple. Now he would name them the best friends he had.
And that was why he was asked, and agreed, to be young Jans’ godfather. It was a coincidence that Teigen’s cousin Olina Bakke, who was tapped for godmother, lived in Bergen where Dahl was involved in the production of a play.
As director and second lead, he’d been there for the last three months. After closing this production last weekend, he was asked to take the cast and crew to Oslo with opening day in eight weeks.
Originally it was four weeks, but Dahl held out in the negotiations until he’d secured himself a much needed break.
Meanwhile, he’d spent time over the last few months with twenty-nine-year-old Olina, eight years his junior and very pretty, wondering if it was time for him to think about settling down.
If I ever want to be a father, I better get on it.
“So who’s this other person who’ll be there?” Olina asked, breaking into his thoughts.
“Tor’s widow and her son,” he reminded her.
“Oh, that’s right. He married some American. Rather suddenly, if I remember correctly.” Olina sighed. “Can’t imagine what he was thinking.”
Dahl had no answer for that. He’d met Tor briefly several years ago and couldn’t say he knew the man at all.
Dahl drove in silence until he reached the turn toward Arendal. He drove down the hill into Arendal before turning right to drive up the bluff to where the ungainly Hansen Hall was perched.
“We made it!” he announced as he parked the car and climbed out. “And we have an hour to spare until supper.”
Olina opened her door. “I wonder if I’ll have time for a bath.”
As Dahl unloaded their two suitcases from the trunk, the door opened and Teigen bounded down the steps. He clasped Dahl’s hand and pulled him into a back-thumping hug.
“Good to see you, man!” he said.
“It’s good to be here,” Dahl responded. “Thanks for letting me stay a while. I need the break.”
Teigen turned his attention to his cousin as he grabbed the handle of her suitcase. “Olina, how’s life in Bergen?”
“More interesting now that I have such a handsome and charming escort,” she teased and looped her arm through Dahl’s. “This guy knows everybody!”
Dahl lifted his suitcase with his free arm and lowered his voice. “So? What do you think of the American so far?”
Teigen shrugged. “I haven’t had much time to talk with her myself yet, but Selby absolutely loves her.”
Dahl grunted. “That s
ays a lot. In all the time I’ve known her, Selby’s never had many female friends.”
“Still doesn’t. She’s picky.” Teigen grinned. “That’s why she picked me.”
Dahl was used to the ribbing by now and it no longer bothered him. “I’m picky, too. That’s why I’m still single.”
“Maybe not for long,” Olina trilled.
“Oh?” Teigen looked surprised. “Is there news?”
“No, no, no,” Dahl said quickly.
The last thing he wanted was for Olina to make premature assumptions. He felt her stiffen beside him and knew he needed to soften his rapid reaction.
He turned and smiled into her irritated expression. “But we are going to be godparents together, so who knows where that might take us, eh?”
“Right.” She was clearly trying to smile.
“Come on in, you two.” Teigen walked to the door. “And meet the newest members of the family.”
*****
Kyle dressed in a light green blouse that brought out the green in her gray-green eyes and paired it with a conservative navy blue skirt. She didn’t think wearing the slacks she’d adopted since being a WAC would be appropriate for her first supper with the Hansen family, especially with the addition of other guests.
She had her window open to catch the sea breeze and heard the car pull up. Car doors slammed as she brushed her shoulder-length hair and tied it out of her face with a silk scarf she’d had since she was in school—the first time. She added a light touch of lipstick and declared herself ready for whatever came her way.
Mentally as well.
“When’s supper, Mamma?” Thor whined as he draped dramatically across his bed. “I’m hungry.”
Kyle looked at her watch. Supper was still half an hour away. Making a nine hour time change in the last forty hours had messed up her system, so it was no wonder her son was grumpy.
Maybe Gjertrud will get him a snack.
“Kommer, Thor.” Kyle held out her hand. “La oss gå ned til kveldsmat. Let’s go down to supper.”
At the bottom of the stairs Gjertrud took Thor’s hand.
“Can you give him a little snack?” Kyle asked the girl. “He’s really hungry.”
“Of course.” She smiled at Thor. “Torhild is having some lefse and butter in the kitchen. Let’s go get you some.”
Thor nodded, though there was no way he understood Gjertrud’s words. But he understood her smile.
Kyle squared her shoulders, smoothed her hair, and walked toward the voices in the Great Hall.
It was still a shock to see Teigen; his resemblance to her memory of Tor was disturbing to put it mildly. At least this time the sight of him didn’t make her cry.
Teigen was talking to another man who was slightly shorter than he and wore his sandy hair longer than her brother-in-law.
That must be the actor.
A quick glance around the room showed no sign of his Hansen cousin counterpart, just Matilda and Nikolai sitting on the sofa and sipping glasses of wine.
“Here she is.” Teigen motioned Kyle forward. “Kyle, come meet our friend, Dahl Holter.”
The actor spun slowly, a pleasant smile on his very handsome face.
That’s him.
Tor’s voice was so clear in her head that Kyle turned to look for him. Realizing she was being ridiculous, she quickly turned back to Dahl and flashed her best cover-up smile.
The smile faltered when she saw his bright blue eyes.
“Kyle?” Selby said. “Are you all right?”
Kyle made a dismissive sound. “It’s the time change, I think. I didn’t sleep much last night and I’m all upside down.” She strode forward and held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dahl.”
The actor was staring at her as if he wasn’t sure what to think of her. He took hold of her hand but he didn’t shake it, he just held it.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”
Kyle glanced at Selby to break away from a gaze that seemed to reach down inside her and jab at long-dead emotions.
Selby was frowning a little at Dahl. “Are you all right?”
“He’s missing me of course!” a woman’s voice chirped behind Kyle. The source of the voice brushed past her and stood on tiptoes to plant a loud kiss on Dahl’s cheek. “Sorry I’m late. The bath was heavenly.”
Dahl still held Kyle’s hand and he hesitated before he let go. “This is Kyle Hansen, Olina.”
*****
Good God, man. Get a grip.
Dahl felt like someone had just put his life in a mixer, jumbled it all up, and dumped it back out onto the ancient stone floor of Hansen Hall. But he had no idea why.
Olina looped her arm through his in a common gesture that tonight inexplicably set his teeth on edge. “It’s nice to meet you, Kyle. Welcome to Norway.”
“Thank you.” Kyle looked around. “Could I have something to drink?”
“I’ll pour you a glass of wine,” Teigen offered before Dahl could. “Is white okay?”
“Sure.” Kyle turned back and gave Olina a faint polite smile.
Say something, you idiot.
Dahl cleared his throat. “I’ve been to America.”
That clearly captured the beautiful widow’s attention and her surprised eyes met his. “Oh? Where?”
“Iowa State University held a Nordic Theater Conference two years ago and I was asked to take part.” It was still one of Dahl’s prouder moments. “I directed a one-act play in Norsk.”
Kyle looked sincerely interested. “Isn’t that in Ames, Iowa?”
“It is. Where do you live?”
“Minneapolis. It’s about two hundred miles north of Ames, so not too far considering the size of the country.” She smiled shyly. “But I’m originally from a tiny town much farther north called Viking.”
Teigen handed Kyle her wine and grinned crookedly. “Your town is named Viking?”
Chapter
Three
Kyle sipped the wine to give herself a moment to try and hold on to her once-again threatened composure.
“I know. It’s a verb.” She waved a hand in a casual gesture that belied her quivering core. “Tor teased me mercilessly about it.”
“That sounds like my brother.” Teigen looked at Olina. “Would you also like a glass of wine?”
“Yes, please.” She nudged Dahl with her elbow. “I thought Dahl would ask me.”
“What?” The actor’s face flushed. “Oh, sorry.”
Kyle wanted to take her mind off Tor before her exhaustion caused her to start blubbering at the mention of his name. “Selby told me you’re a stage actor.”
Dahl nodded. “Guilty as charged.”
“Ooh!” Olina interrupted. “I just realized you both have men’s names!”
Selby looked at Kyle and, if she read the other woman’s expression correctly, then Selby was just as jarred by Olina’s non sequitur as she was.
“Yes we do,” Kyle said, facing Olina again. “But my name is actually a combination of my parents’ names, Kylli and Ole.”
Olina blinked. “Oh! The KY and the LE. How clever.”
“My mother simply loved the meaning of my name,” Selby offered. “It comes from combining the old Norse words selja and by which means willow by a farm. She didn’t think that was too masculine for a girl.”
“I love your name,” Kyle said honestly.
Selby smiled. “And I love yours.”
“Olina means light.”
Kyle looked at the pretty blonde. “That’s… nice.”
Selby’s responding cough sounded more like a laugh. Kyle slid her glance to Selby but her sister-in-law was looking the other way.
Kyle turned back to Dahl, who was standing still like an uncomfortable statue. “Tell me more about your acting. I’m fascinated.”
“Well… I have a theater degree from the University of Oslo, which was called the Royal Frederick University when I attended sixteen years ago,” he began. “I’d
been acting and working backstage…”
He flashed a charmingly crooked grin. “Anything to get experience, you know?—for five years when the Germans attacked us. Then I joined the resistance.”
“And he started the Royal Shakespearean Acting Troupe as a cover for our activities,” Selby injected. “We passed information and supplies up and down the coast while we traveled from town to town to perform.”
Kyle was impressed. “That’s brilliant.”
Selby smiled up at her tall husband. “That’s where Dahl and I met Teigen.”
“Tor told me about that.” Her heart clenched a little less this time when she said his name. “I’d love to hear—”
“Looks like it’s time to eat,” Olina interrupted. She pulled Dahl toward the door. “Ready?”
*****
Dahl sat next to Olina and across the table from Kyle and Tor’s son Thor, which suited him fine. The American was interesting and she asked interesting questions, which he loved answering when Olina didn’t interrupt.
“Your Norwegian is very good,” he complimented at one point.
“Thank you. That’s what Tor said, too.” She shrugged shyly. “My grandparents moved to Minnesota from Solbergelva. They took Solberg as their surname because it was easier for Americans to say and spell than Schjelderup.”
“So you grew up speaking both Norsk and English?”
“I did.”
When Thor’s head bobbed forward, Kyle excused herself to take the boy to bed.
“Do you need help getting him upstairs?” Dahl asked.
Kyle looked at him like she didn’t understand why he’d ask her that. “No. Thank you, though.”
Once she and Thor were gone, Olina kicked his foot under the table. “What was that about?”
Dahl stared at her. “What? Offering to help her?”
“Yes. You obviously offended her.” Olina’s lips pressed together in disapproval.
Did I?
He didn’t think so. But he’d make a point of asking her tomorrow just to be sure, and apologize if he’d violated some American bit of etiquette that he wasn’t aware of.
The last thing he wanted to do was upset Kyle further.
