Helsinki Sunrise

by Marion Ueckermann

  The shaft moved ahead, luring him. But it remained out of his reach. He weaved his way on a path through the forest, and soon emerged on the other side. He was back at the cottage. The light was gone and his pre-boating frustration began to build once more.

  Heaven just didn’t want to connect.

  With nothing else to do but build his usual evening fire inside the sauna oven, Adam set about chopping more logs into burnable sizes. He’d sauna, and then take a dip in the lake, repeating the ritual several times as was customary.

  Mikko had gone to great lengths to explain the ins and outs of this important Finnish culture to Adam, and he had to admit, he was fast beginning to enjoy it. But, even though he was alone on the island, he doubted he’d ever be able to sauna in true Finnish style—dressed in nature’s garb. Later, after he was done subjecting his body to the extremes of hot and cold, he’d move the daybed mattress inside the small room with its one tiny window. There wasn’t a thing going to keep him from getting a decent night’s sleep tonight.

  ****

  It was nearly eight o’clock by the time Eveliina parked her car beneath the birch trees close to the jetty. Hoping to catch a glimpse of her favorite place on earth, she walked down the narrow wooden platform and peered across the lake. After all the years, she still hadn’t accepted that she couldn’t see her grandparents’ cottage from this angle. Further up, yes, but not from the jetty. Still, every time she came here, she tried. Perhaps it kept the little girl inside of her alive. And she desperately needed to do that. Lately she didn’t care much for the woman existing on the outside—the one who’d be in a relationship for her own personal comfort.

  Excitement bubbled inside her stomach like a fizzy drink.

  Almost there…

  Eveliina quickly loaded her belongings into the boat. Four bags of groceries, backpack of clothing, her bag of paints, and a new stretched canvas she’d saved for just such an occasion. It had been too long since she’d painted a Sahajärvi sunset. Finally, she slid her laptop into a waterproof bag, and placed it safely inside the boat.

  Before setting sail to the island, she grabbed a bucket and the berry comb from the shed, and headed into the forest in search of blueberries. Time for metsä, a walk in the forest. How she loved the peace and seclusion—the aloneness—it offered. With each step, the stress and fears of the past weeks faded.

  It wasn’t long until she returned to the boat, bucket laden with the darkest, plumpest blueberries. Mummo’s pie would be exceptionally good this year.

  Ensuring the bucket was safely wedged between her other belongings so it didn’t topple over, Eveliina lowered the motor and pulled the starter cord. The motor sputtered, and then stopped. She pulled again, but the engine refused to fire. After she lifted the cover housing the petrol tank, Eveliina unscrewed the tank’s lid. Full. There was nothing else she could do but use the oars and row. With her mechanical expertise limited to checking the fuel level, she realized she may be rowing a lot in the coming days. She could call Joel—he’d be at her service before the sun set—but that would open the door to all kinds of complications.

  If only Mikko were closer.

  ****

  Eveliina gazed across the mirrored surrounds as she pulled the wooden oars through the water, thankful she’d changed out of her corporate clothes into jeans and a T-shirt before leaving home. It would be good to be out of high-heels and makeup for a while. By bedtime her painted face would be gone, and she’d just be plain little Evie from Lapland—the girl who grew up believing this island was enchanted. Perhaps it was the fantasies she’d lived—the fiery dragons she’d slain, the wicked witches she’d hidden from, the handsome princes she’d kissed in this place—that had shaped her chosen career.

  She decided to call her brother once she’d unloaded the boat, got her cargo inside, and lit a fire in the sauna. He’d be able to offer some advice over the phone on what could be wrong with the motor and how she could fix it.

  Her breath caught in her throat as she rounded the corner of the island. It had been quite a while since she’d spent time at the summer cottage. The sight of that small wooden house with its twin patios on both sides and upstairs bedroom flooded her mind with childhood memories. How many times had Mummo caught her with her head out the bedroom window when they’d holidayed together with her parents?

  “Evie,” she’d say. “What are you doing up there, child?”

  “Can’t you see, Mummo? I’m Rapunzel.”

  Her grandmother would laugh. “Oh yes, I see. And what beautiful golden hair you have.”

  “It’s strawberry blonde, Mummo,” Eveliina would reply with a giggle. Then she’d prop her elbows on the windowsill and scan the forest for sight of her prince.

  But that was then. This was now. Although Joel was handsome, she wasn’t sure he was her prince.

  As she neared the cottage, Eveliina noticed that the red pigment on the wood had faded. When last had Mummo and Ukki given the place a coat of paint? Her grandparents were getting old. She and Mikko really needed to step up, take time out from their busy schedules—her long hours at the office, Mikko’s months in the mission field—for their grandparents. After all, they’d made themselves available for the last eleven years, rearing their two orphaned grandchildren.

  The white canvas sticking out behind the grocery packets caught her eye. Maybe she’d make the cottage her holiday project, leave the canvas untouched.

  Eveliina pulled the boat up against the small jetty. She threw the rope onto the wooden platform, grabbing it as she stepped out. After tying the boat to the post, she carried her belongings to the cottage.

  She breathed in deep as she stepped inside, allowing the familiar smells to pile on the memories. It felt good to be back. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed being here until now.

  But something was missing.

  The smell of blueberry pie cooling on the windowsill.

  Soon.

  With the last packet set down in the tiny kitchen, Eveliina walked to the woodpile outside and loaded up a couple of logs, noting the freshly chopped pile. Perhaps Mikko had been out here recently, after all.

  The moment she opened the sauna door and heat blasted her face, Eveliina knew she wasn’t alone. It took but a moment for her eyes to adjust to the subdued lighting. Stretched out against the wall at the back of the bottom bench, she saw him. A dark-haired stranger—here in her sauna, here on her island. Her shriek thudded against the wooden walls and the logs fell from her arms. One collided with Eveliina’s sandaled toes. She let out another yell.

  ****

  Adam bolted upright, hitting his head against the wooden bench above him. He fell back down and rubbed his forehead. The first shriek had woken him. He wondered if he’d been dreaming. The second shriek assured him he had not. He rolled out from under the bench. Remaining seated, Adam planted his feet on the ground and tried to adjust his eyes.

  Catlike orbs glowed from the open doorway before disappearing momentarily as a mane of blonde whooshed through the air. Heat swirled as the creature dropped to the ground before poising herself, branch in hand, ready to strike. Blood red lips spat out a string of words with far too many vowels and guttural sounds.

  Adam jumped up and took a step forward, holding his hands out toward the snarling woman. He had to calm her before he got belted on the head with a birch log, adding to the bump he already felt on his forehead. “Whoa, steady there. Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

  And people thought Africa had dangerous animals?

  She raised her weapon higher. “Stay where you are.”

  Adam took a step back, sweating.

  “Who are you?” she spat.

  Never mind who he was, who was she?

  “What are you doing here? What do you want?”

  Which question should he answer first? “I’m—”

  She pointed the log at him, menacingly. “And don’t lie to me.”

  Even if he wasn’t a Christi
an, Adam wouldn’t consider lying. Not under these circumstances.

  Without waiting for his answer, she fumbled in her pocket for her cellphone. With a frozen gaze, she pushed a single button and held the phone to her ear.

  Now would be a good time to answer her questions, or disarm her.

  Adam did neither. He understood nothing from her rambled conversation, except one word. Mikko.

  This had to be Mikko’s little sister.

  Remembering what his friend had told him about her, Adam feared he was now truly in the cannibal’s pot. He only hoped Mikko was able to talk him out of this heated situation.

  3

  “So you’re Mikko’s friend?” Eveliina clung to the birch log. She wasn’t about to let it go yet. “Adam?”

  He nodded. “You must be Mikko’s little sister, Evie.” Even in the dull light of the sauna, she could make out his grin. “Let me guess, this beautiful island is Eden?”

  Like water ladled onto the hot stones of a sauna oven, her sigh hissed. “Eveliina.” She dragged her name out, accentuating the double I. “My name is Eveliina, and I was Mikko’s little sister when I was eight years old.”

  He rubbed his neck. His grin faded fast. “My apologies, Eveliina.”

  She didn’t like the way he said it. He had the pronunciation all wrong. Foreigner. “Don’t presume to think because you’re my brother’s friend, you’ll be mine, too.” She stepped outside. The sauna wasn’t made for jeans.

  Adam followed her to the edge of the small wooden deck leading off the sauna. In his hand, he held his shirt. Leaning his elbows on the white railing, he gazed across the lake.

  She watched him closely. He was really good-looking with his dark hair and soft brown eyes that she’d caught a glimpse of as he exited the sauna. He had a rugged, unshaven look about him. Eveliina moved her gaze down his body. Muscles, too numerous to count, lay taut beneath his almond-colored skin. Damp shorts stuck to his thighs. Tiny beads of sweat covered his body. She wished he’d put his shirt back on. No, she didn’t.

  Their breathing consumed the tiny deck, as stifling as the air that had hung between them in the sauna.

  “So you’re a missionary?” she finally asked, her words tart.

  Adam’s grin returned.

  Eveliina felt a pang of regret that she’d missed its brilliance inside the sauna. He had a really nice smile…and a bump on his forehead. He must have banged his head hard. Served him right.

  “I am.” Adam slipped his arms into his sleeveless T-shirt and pulled it over his head. He looked as good in the shirt as he did out of it. “Your brother and I met two years ago when he came to Zambia on a three-month mission trip. What a great guy.”

  “Yes, he is.” She shoved her free hand into her pocket, a habit she’d picked up from Joel, and stared, intending to intimidate. “Besides my brother, I dislike missionaries. Intensely.” Harsh—but she’d never been known for her subtlety.

  “Why?” His gaze was intense, filled with so many expressions.

  After more than a decade, the reason was still difficult for her to talk about. “I just do.” She wasn’t about to bare her soul to a stranger.

  Adam turned from her.

  She didn’t care what arrangements Mikko had made with Adam or what he had promised—the missionary had to go. She’d vowed to give herself two weeks alone, and she fully intended getting it. “You’ll have to leave in the morning. There’s a bus stop a few miles down the road. Buses run into the city center on the hour.”

  Eveliina rubbed her throbbing temples. This was worse than being back with the Vikings.

  ****

  Adam had heard a lot from Mikko about his little sister during their time together in Zambia. Things like the games they’d played together as children on this island, that she was the right-brained child in the family—he the left, what a workaholic she was, how annoyingly obstinate she could be, and how much she’d struggled with their parents’ deaths—so much that it had driven her away from God.

  What Mikko hadn’t told him, was how attractive Eveliina was. Adam hadn’t imagined she’d be this beautiful, svelte woman. But bitterness tainted her beauty.

  Having met Eveliina, he began to understand Mikko’s fervent prayers for his sister. Her eyes revealed more pain and resentment than Mikko had been able to articulate. Tonight, Eveliina Mikkola’s name would move to the top of his prayer list.

  Without a word, Adam opened the door that led inside the cottage. He needed to get his things from the sleeping space upstairs. This was one time he was really grateful he was a neat freak. He hadn’t anticipated anyone’s arrival. Of course, not cooking had helped keep the place spotless. Zero food, zero dishes.

  Eveliina remained outside on the deck.

  He didn’t blame her. She was a woman alone out here with a stranger. If she thought he intended leaving, she might calm down and ditch the log. He didn’t trust her with it.

  Besides, he had to move. She would need the room, and he needed darkness and sleep.

  The steep wooden ladder reminded him of the bunk bed he’d had growing up, except this one was much longer. He climbed the ten rungs and crawled through the narrow entrance. There was no place to stand in the low-roofed room so Adam sat as he gathered his few belongings. He’d put them into his backpack when he got downstairs.

  He rolled up his sleeping bag and, knowing he was alone in the cottage, tossed it out the opening. It landed with a thud that didn’t sound like the floor. Floors didn’t cuss. Adam poked his head out the narrow door. Eveliina glared at him, hair disheveled, sleeping bag in one hand, birch log still grasped in the other. When would she trust him enough to relinquish her hold on that piece of wood?

  “Watch what you’re doing.” She threw the sleeping bag onto the daybed. It rolled off onto the floor.

  “Sorry.” A smile tugged his lips, no matter how tight he clamped his jaw. When last did she have a good night’s sleep? His grumpiness had nothing on her.

  He hurried down the ladder, clothing and pillow under his arm. He packed his clothes neatly inside his backpack that stood beside the daybed, which sufficed as a couch in the lounge that served as the kitchen and dining room.

  Eveliina cut him a look. Her gray eyes held no warmth. “You can’t sleep there.”

  Adam wouldn’t have wanted to. He’d fully intended sleeping inside the sauna tonight where it was darker, and definitely far warmer now than inside the cottage. The small house no longer felt cozy. Eveliina’s arrival had brought with it an iciness that sank deep into his bones.

  “I know. It wouldn’t be right. You, a beautiful, single woman, and me, a man of God…spending the night together in a cottage on a lake?” He chuckled. “What would people think?”

  The pale red colors of Finnish sunsets swept across her face. She narrowed her eyes, looking more catlike than before. He’d better be careful. Teasing seemed to rank among her many aversions.

  He pointed to the daybed. “Do you mind if I take the mattress to the sauna? I’ll sleep in there tonight.”

  Her head snapped from Adam, to the daybed, and then back to Adam. Would she show a smidgen of compassion? For a moment, Adam thought she’d deny him even that small comfort.

  “Fine.” She wagged her finger at him like a schoolmistress. “Just make sure you bring it back in the morning.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He bit his cheek. She’d not approve of a smile.

  Adam carried the narrow mattress in one hand and his backpack in the other. He slipped out of the same door he’d entered minutes ago.

  After standing his backpack in the corner of the sauna, Adam laid the mattress down on the bottom bench. It was darkest there. He sat for a while, to think and pray.

  By the time he returned to retrieve his sleeping bag, Eveliina had locked the cottage door. Looking through the glass door, he noticed she’d finally discarded the log on the floor beside the tiny fireplace. She busied herself inside packing away groceries—some in the tiny refrigerator, the r
est disappearing into the underground cooler beneath a hatch in the floor.

  He knocked lightly on the glass.

  Eveliina looked up from her kneeling position. Wiping her hair from her face, she stood and strode across the room. After unlocking, she spoke through the crack of the half-opened door. “What do you want?”

  “I’m sorry. I need to get my sleeping bag.”

  She nodded and let him inside. Was she in the habit of locking doors? Seemed doubtful on this isolated little island. Or was it his presence that made her feel the need to protect herself? Couldn’t she tell he was a nice guy?

  With his sleeping bag tucked beneath his arm, he stole his pillow from the daybed. At the door he turned. “Would you like some help with your groceries?”

  Her reply was swift. “No.”

  A mixture of relief and regret whirlpooled in his gut. Just as well she’d said no—the sight of all that food made him hungry. Still, he’d like the chance to change her opinion of him.

  After spending time in prayer on the jetty, Adam returned to the sauna and curled up on the mattress. He soon fell asleep with Eveliina’s name on his lips, another prayer in his heart for the Father to draw her back to Himself, and a decision he was certain she would not like.

  ****

  Eveliina surveyed the blinds. Mahogany, as she’d suggested when she offered to have them installed. Her grandparents struggled with them manually. They’d gladly accepted her recommendation to go remote-controlled. She couldn’t wait to see how the blinds looked once they’d covered the huge glass windows in the dining area, and the glass door.

  She thrust her hand into her handbag and pulled out a new remote. Steam had ruined the first one after Ukki walked into the sauna with it and laid it down beside the oven. The unit had literally fried.