Time for Surprises

by Mette Barfelt

"And you're not? You've got to start taking responsibility for your actions. No one can do it for you. You have to stand by the choices you make. Naturally, Hugo and this other guy are not without guilt, but it'll be at their expense."

  Jasmine's steel-blue eyes teared up, and she sniffled. Miranda felt sorry for her, but her sister needed to hear this.

  "By behaving the way you do, you're involved in ruining two marriages."

  "They were already broken."

  "You don't know that."

  "Of course I do."

  "You're too naive, Jasmine, and you believe everything they tell you."

  "I can't be bothered talking to you anymore. You don't get it." She turned swiftly and started running toward the stairs. Her long curly hair danced from side to side. Miranda couldn't resist thinking that her parents' weird marriage might have affected Jasmine's upbringing way too much. None of them appeared to take matrimony seriously, and the result would show in eight months' time.

  5

  Jasmine ran into the beauty parlor and through to the break room, where she fell onto a chair. Tears were streaming down her face, and she grabbed a tissue from the box on the table. It wasn't the first time she'd used it and wouldn't be the last. She'd never imagined being controlled like this by hormones and feelings. She was barely pregnant! How would the rest of the pregnancy be? She started sobbing but instantly knew she wasn't crying because of hormones. Sure, it had been an accident. No one dreamed of becoming pregnant without knowing who the father was. She'd never really wanted children. The idea of having children of her own had never crossed her mind. But now, she did indeed feel happy about it. This baby would be hers, and hers alone. No married man would be interested in it. She could always hope but remained doubtful. Thus, it was a comforting feeling to know this child would love her, as she would love it, wholeheartedly. Of that, there was no doubt.

  Jasmine pulled herself together and stood up to get a glass of water. Coffee and tea were out of the question now that she was pregnant. It might damage the little one, she'd read somewhere. Better take precautions; this wasn't the time for risk-taking. Because she definitely wanted this child, no matter who the father was. None of them would be overjoyed to learn what had happened. Fury was a more realistic reaction. She shuddered at the thought. One of these coming days, she would have to inform Hugo...

  ***

  Vidar glared at the formally dressed people sipping champagne and looking like they were attending the grand opening of the world's most luxurious hotel. He drank some of his own and thought of the upcoming dinner in the newly opened restaurant. He wouldn't mind eating there himself, but there was no table available. He would have to make do with the leftovers from yesterday's pasta. Miranda had made it clear she couldn't face cooking dinner tonight. He could see her side of it. She'd been working day and night lately to get it all sorted out, or so she'd said. But what needed sorting? William had employed everyone himself, so what more was there to do?

  Miranda had reportedly assigned the offices as best she could. So she had chosen the most exclusive one for herself, the corner office with a view of both the sea and the marina. His janitor's office was way down at the other end of the corridor. Granted, he could watch the boats, too, but it was next to the elevator and straight across from the Goldfish conference room, so he might expect nagging and noise all day. He felt his irritation rising to unknown levels. In reality, he didn't have a choice. To make a living, he needed a job, which had proven challenging to find. If only he hadn't lost the respectable position he'd held in Oslo. Those idiots didn't know what they were missing. They'd most likely pulled straws on whom to sack because they hadn't followed seniority as they claimed. If so, he'd still be working there, after all the years of being loyal to the company.

  Vidar noticed Tony approaching, and downed his glass. Oh no, there were no places to hide. Miranda's brother was not a favorite of his, but he'd play along with him for a while.

  "All well, Tony?"

  "I've given a tour of the spa. I experienced an incredible energy that I haven't felt for the longest time." Tony looked dreamy, and Vidar didn't comprehend a word. Energy? What did he mean by that?

  "An aura filled the entire department."

  "Aura?"

  "Positive vibes, if you like," Tony said helpfully.

  Vidar realized this was beyond his comprehension and thought it best to go looking for Miranda. "Good luck with the vibes."

  6

  "How are you doing?" Miranda found her children sprawling on Elvira's white sofa while eating popcorn and watching a movie.

  "Fine. It's almost finished." Noah didn't have time to look up.

  "You've been downstairs to the opening, Mom?" She looked at Elvira, who was sitting in her armchair, staring out at sea. The flowery hippie dress was in stark contrast to the snowy apartment, void of any color whatsoever. Her mother had insisted on keeping the entire place white, and she'd held a lengthy lecture on symbolism. It had to do with peace doves and purity, in high demand these days.

  Elvira gave her one of her customary smiles that rarely reflected in her eyes. Perhaps it was the result of constant searching for happiness but never finding it. "I have, but such large arrangements are not to my liking. I could find neither vegetarian canapés nor herbal tea."

  Miranda sighed silently. Making everyone happy wasn't easy. How similar her mother and brother were in so many ways. Tony hadn't complained, but he had the same opinion about the menu. She'd considered adding a vegetarian dish or two, but after discussing it with the chef, they had agreed the guests were not attending to fill up on canapés. They had probably eaten before they arrived and would be more interested in the champagne.

  The doorbell rang, and Elvira went to open. "Vidar, come in."

  "So, this is where everyone is. Are we going home?"

  "I'll just check if everything's under control in the restaurant, and make sure there are no more guests left in the spa. We can meet at the entrance in about fifteen minutes," Miranda said.

  The beauty and wellness department looked inviting, and Miranda wouldn't mind relaxing there for a while. Her feet were aching from wearing high heels, and her body felt stiff. But it would have to be some other time. Her family was waiting for her. She turned off the lights and went back upstairs to see if the guests were having a good time. She was excited to learn how the exclusive restaurant had been received. It wasn't the kind of place one visited several times a week, but more on special occasions. She knew the chef was an uncompromising man, and using anything but the very best ingredients was unthinkable.

  Miranda chatted with the guests and received nothing but high praise. She felt both relieved and proud. Heading for the exit, she spotted the owner of the Solvik Guesthouse, whom she'd met earlier in the evening. Miranda went over to the table where she was sitting with two other women.

  "Miranda, meet my friends," said Bettina.

  They greeted each other, and Bettina explained who they were. "Sara runs the Sweet Temptations bakery and had twins a few weeks ago. Emmelin has a travel agency. She has a four-month-old daughter and two older children."

  "Nice to meet you. Is there a baby boom in town?" She looked from one to the other.

  Sara laughed. "Quite possibly. But what a marvelous restaurant! The poached halibut with smoked potato and sage sauce is out of this world."

  "Same here," Emmelin said, smiling. "I chose steamed cod with parsley root purée, assorted beets and something called dukkah, in red wine sauce. Best I've ever tasted."

  "I'm delighted to hear this," said Miranda, a slight sigh escaping her. "It's nerve-racking to see how new things are received."

  "I assume there's a lot of novelties for you." Bettina had already finished her meal. "The location is fabulous. Sea view everywhere. The appealing terrace outside will be a favored meeting place once the weather heats up."

  The sweet, blonde Sara started laughing again. "We can practically sit with our feet dangling in the water. Th
e sea is outside."

  "You're right. The place is unique, and I'm excited about getting started on the task of running it. By the way, did you visit the beach house on the pier?" Miranda looked at them. From the beach, there was a two hundred-foot-long pier built in the water. At the end was a building with several saunas, a jacuzzi, and a cold plunge pool.

  "Yes, we have," Emmelin said. "What a smart construction."

  "I can't take credit for it," said Miranda. "My father decided on every detail before he passed away. But I'll let you eat in peace now."

  "There's a knitting café at Café Solside next Sunday at seven o'clock. Would you like to join us?" Sara asked, watching her expectantly.

  "I don't knit or sew. But I can do tatting, or could, that is. Haven't done it in years."

  "Bring it," Bettina suggested.

  "I might."

  Miranda said goodbye and popped into the kitchen to fill them in on the guests' feedback. She thanked Remy and his team for making this a successful evening.

  Her family was waiting impatiently for her when she left the restaurant.

  "Was it necessary to talk with the guests for so long?" Vidar was swinging his car keys. If not for her high heels, she could have walked home. She must remember to bring flats to use at the hotel. That way she'd have a change at hand for days with lots of walking the corridors.

  "Yes, it was."

  "I'm fed up with the hotel." Sofie frowned. "Can we leave now?"

  Not up to sulky teens, Miranda stepped outside into the fresh air. Lamp posts lined the property and the entrance area. They brightened the dark landscape. She could see the lights from the houses of Solvik center from here. One of them was theirs, as long as they paid rent. They'd decided not to sell their home in Oslo yet, and rent it out temporarily instead. No need to be hasty. If they didn't like living in the countryside, they could move back to the capital and commute to work. That hope kept the three of them going, but she was counting on them settling in eventually. Why give up before they'd even given it a shot?

  7

  The house in Solvik was by far as big as the one they'd vacated. Lots of boxes not emptied so far made for a chaotic new home. Miranda was an orderly person and couldn't stand untidiness. There was a logical explanation for things not being in their correct places yet. The hotel had demanded all her time to get ready for the opening. The few days they'd been living here hadn't been enough to get everything sorted, and she'd use this Sunday to get it done.

  The children were still asleep; they were no early birds. Vidar was up and waiting for breakfast to be served. She felt something simmering inside, and it wasn't hunger. Her husband could prepare a meal just as well as her but found it more satisfying to have it made for him. She wasn't especially fond of cooking herself either but didn't have a choice. None of her children showed any interest in preparing food, and she'd given up on persuading them to cook simple meals. The few times they had, it had been more nagging than pleasure, and not at all worth it.

  "You could've started on making breakfast. It looks like you've been here for a while." She gazed at Vidar, who was sipping coffee while reading the paper.

  "There's no rush. I've time to wait for you."

  Yeah, right. Miranda put the kettle on and got a bag of Earl Grey tea. "I'll fry some eggs. If you'd like something else, you can always make it yourself." She'd never tried that approach before and had to smile at her ingenuity.

  "Oh."

  She added sugar and milk to her tea and sat for a minute in the new kitchen. The room was okay, but nothing more. It was an old house with an impractical layout. The pro was its location in the middle of the center with short distances to everything. She could walk to work. Across the street was the Italian restaurant, Lombardi's, and had it not been morning and still closed, she'd be able to smell a hint of garlic if she opened the window.

  "I'll skip the bacon today then, even though it would've been tasty. It's not the same with only eggs."

  Miranda agreed but didn't feel like it today. Also, she was starting to get fed up with being everyone's servant.

  "We've got to sort out these boxes this morning. I'm heading over to the hotel for a short while in the afternoon." She handed Vidar the plate with the eggs.

  "I'll be gone most of the day. If I'm meeting the local bicycle club tomorrow, I must be prepared. I don't know what level they're at, but it takes a lot to surpass me."

  Miranda rolled her eyes. There was nothing wrong with his self-confidence when it came to biking either. Vidar had practiced back road biking for years; it was his great hobby. He hadn't been pleased about moving and changing club, but the fact that Solvik and the back roads were perfect for this kind of activity had helped ease his annoyance somewhat.

  Miranda started clearing the food. Shortly after, Vidar disappeared out the door, wearing tight black bike pants. His thighs resembled thin matches and were nothing like the shapely legs of top-level athletes on TV. He had no idea what time he'd be back, and the children minded themselves. The weekends were usually quiet days spent gaming on their PCs with friends. Weekdays were hectic with school and training, and they appreciated not having any chores once in a while.

  Miranda spent several hours emptying the rest of the moving boxes but was finally satisfied. She'd arranged to meet Isabella for a swim and decided to walk to the hotel. It was a nice spring day, albeit cloudy, but there was no wind and a pleasant temperature. She passed the long beach, then the marina, before reaching the cape where the hotel lay at the end. Her father had obtained a remarkable property, the very best in the area. How he'd managed to do so, she didn't know, but wasn't at all surprised. If anyone had an eye for business, it was indeed William. She wished he'd been more interested in working with her. When she studied hotel management, she dreamed of working with her father at one of his hotels. She wasn't sure why, because he'd never appreciated her choice of education. Deep down she'd never forgiven him for it. She'd heard that an absent father was better than none, but she wasn't at all convinced. Her thoughts went to her mother, who was equally preoccupied in many ways. Being mentally absent wasn't any better than physically.

  "Isabella, are you here already?" Miranda dived into the water and wiped her long chocolate-brown hair from her face. "This is wonderful."

  "I got here a short while ago," her sister said, swimming over to the edge of the pool. "The opening yesterday was a success. What a turnout!"

  "Everything went according to plan. When I checked with the restaurant before leaving, all I heard were enthusiastic guests. Incidentally, I met three girlfriends. They all live here in Solvik and were lovely. One of them runs the guesthouse."

  "Is that so? Our competitor, no less."

  Miranda smiled. "Yes, and the only one we have within miles. She seemed a little concerned about losing customers. I assured her we have completely different concepts, which she found comfort in."

  "Our guests will come because of the conferences and the spa," Isabella said. "It won't be to visit my florist."

  "Don't be so sure. Your shop is phenomenal. It's just as much a gift store. You'll be selling jewelry and other items."

  "Yes, it received a great reaction yesterday. A woman told me there wasn't anything like it in Solvik. Makes it all the more special to open a combined flower and gift shop."

  They swam in countercurrent before leaving the pool. "Which sauna should we try today?" Isabella looked at Miranda. "There are so many to choose from."

  "How about the Japanese steam bath?"

  Isabella nodded.

  They sat down in the hot room that held about one hundred and ten degrees and had a humidity of ninety percent. "Oh my goodness, I won't last long in here." Miranda wiped away the sweat in vain.

  "To think, Tony is now in charge of this important department," Isabella said. "I wonder how long it'll take before he cries for help."

  "The thought's occurred to me as well. Tony has several employees, but the responsibility is his. Have
you spoken with Jasmine lately?"

  Isabella shook her head. "I couldn't find her last night, there was such a crowd."

  "She's supposed to work in this department, but now I have to consider her maternity leave. She's managed to get herself pregnant without knowing who the father is."

  They left the sauna and headed over to the cold plunge pool.

  "You're kidding?" Isabella looked at her, shocked.

  "I wish I were."

  "Now I truly need to cool my head," she said and took a quick dip into the sixty-one-degree cold water. Then they showered and dressed.

  "Got time for a coffee?"

  "I do. The teens won't leave their PC for another couple of hours. And Vidar is doing some serious training."

  They walked into the Sea Star bar and ordered coffee and tea at the counter. Oscar smiled at them. He was young and outgoing and seemed like the right man for the job.

  "Tell me everything you know about Jasmine." Isabella eyed her curiously.

  "Sorry, there's not much to tell. Jasmine's started a relationship with another married man. She refuses to tell his name, other than it's someone we know."

  "Good grief, it could be anyone. How can she be so selfish?"

  Miranda sipped her tea. "I don't know. She lives on promises, promises. I thought she was head over heels in love with Hugo. She's waited for him to leave his wife for ages."

  "Is she trying to make Hugo jealous? It probably wasn't her intention to get pregnant."

  "You may be right. Anyway, it's a nightmare. She'll have to do a DNA test when the baby is born. It's a long time to wait, both for her and the potential fathers."

  "I thought it was possible to test for DNA at this stage."

  "Not in Norway. It hasn't been legal for several years, so she'll have to wait." Miranda watched Isabella's concerned expression, it was apparent she didn't like what she was hearing. "But she has to inform Hugo first. And her new lover."