Time for Surprises

by Mette Barfelt

  "Poor Jasmine," said Isabella. "She gets mixed up in all kinds of trouble. I'm happy I don't have anyone but myself to worry about."

  "Don't you miss someone to curl up with at night?"

  Isabella started laughing. "When you put it like that. But no, I'm fully content living alone in my new apartment. Can't think of anything better. I'm in no rush to find a husband. And I don't even know if I want kids."

  Miranda got up. "You just reminded me of my own children, starving while staring at the fridge back home. I'd better get going. I'll do a quick round first, to check if everything looks fine after yesterday. It looks tidy, so I guess everyone's done their job."

  "We can walk home together. You don't live far from me."

  ***

  Jasmine fumbled around in the dark apartment. She must have lit ten candles by now to create the romantic atmosphere she wanted, but had barely started. It was a spacious apartment. Hugo was generous and wanted her to live like a princess, as he put it. He made her feel like a princess, too, when they were alone. She wished they could spend more time together. And do things outside her home, eat at restaurants, watch movies or stroll in the magnificent Vigeland Park, holding hands. But Hugo wouldn't hear of it. He was a partner in a law firm and discretion went before pleasure. Thus, they were tied to the apartment, unless she accompanied him on one of his business trips. She had done so every so often, both domestic and abroad. On these trips, it was only the two of them, and she loved it. They could do as they pleased and show the whole world they were meant for each other. But it had been a while since the last one.

  She replaced a couple of burned down candles. How convenient it was that she didn't have a job. It had meant being flexible to join Hugo on short notice. Abruptly, she stopped and stood thinking, a frown on her forehead. There would be no more traveling from now on. Not because of the child she was carrying, but due to her working for the first time since she received the nail designer certificate. She couldn't take time off and leave for a few days. Or could she? Miranda would most likely allow her these trips once a month or so.

  Jasmine sighed, wishing her father hadn't dictated things that didn't concern him. If she didn't take this job, she wouldn't get her share of the inheritance. It would go to her siblings, and that was out of the question. She needed her share. Not having any income, it was a comfort to have something to fall back on, even if it wasn't cash. It wasn't easy being dependent on Hugo. She prayed he wouldn't be too upset by her news.

  The doorbell rang, and Jasmine went to answer the door. Hugo had let himself in before she got there. She threw herself into his arms, and he accepted her willingly.

  "I've missed you so much, Hugo." She showered his face with kisses.

  "Me too, princess." He carried her into the living room, and they sank onto a sofa covered with soft pillows. "How was the opening of the hotel? I heard on the local news it was a tremendous success. Sorry I couldn't be there, but you know..."

  She nodded, wistful. It was annoying they couldn't be together in public. She would have loved to have Hugo by her side, showing him off. His appearance was ordinary, but he exuded power and maturity. He had short, thick gray hair, but then he was twenty years older than her. And yet it was young to be fully gray. But when she looked into his green-brown eyes, she melted entirely, forgetting everything else.

  One of the advantages with Hugo was that he never expected her to prepare dinner when visiting. His wife, Britt, took care of that. They had Sander, a seven-year-old son, and regrettably, his family always came first. They waited for him back home, and dinner was ready when he arrived. So all Jasmine had to do was offer snacks, champagne, and herself. Normally, she had no issues with any of this; she looked forward to every visit with pleasure. But today, the champagne would cause a challenge. It was in the cooler, ready to be consumed before and after their limited time in the bedroom, while passionately making love. She never declined champagne; it was her favorite drink. If she did, he'd think she was sick, which she wasn't, only pregnant. So, what was she supposed to do? She would have to tell him about the pregnancy.

  "We had a great turnout at the opening," she said. "I missed you."

  She knew he liked to hear this and would reward her with kisses. And sure enough, he took her into his arms once more and let himself get carried away in a familiar and passionate kiss. "You mean everything to me, Jasmine. I love you as I've never loved anyone. As soon as Britt has had her surgery, I'll tell her about us. You know I will, darling. Then we'll be together forever, just you and I."

  Jasmine had heard this a thousand times before, but it felt terrific every time. She didn't doubt him for a second. They'd been together for four incredible years, and she had never regretted it. But it seemed like his wife continued being sick. She was a stay-at-home mom like Hugo wanted. Why couldn't he get a move on and tell her everything? Jasmine was fed up with waiting for the right moment, which was why she'd allowed herself a small affair. And she had the right to have another lover, too, didn't she?

  "I know, Hugo. I wish we could be together every day. There's always something with Britt, or Sander, or both of them."

  He interrupted her with another long kiss, and she forgot what they had been discussing. He sat up and started opening the champagne. She felt herself getting nervous. How should she disclose the news?

  He handed her the glass and pulled her closer. "Here's to us."

  "Hugo, there's something I have to tell you." She put the glass on the table and pushed her bosom forward the way she knew he loved. The short dress was new for the occasion and had a low-cut neckline. Jasmine was more slender than her sisters but felt confident that Hugo liked what he saw.

  "Hugo, I've some fantastic news. I'm pregnant! We're going to have a baby." She looked into his bright eyes and was alarmed at how dark they'd become.

  "Huh? I hope you're kidding." He gulped down the rest of his champagne and put the glass on the table with a bang. "How could this happen? You're using the pill."

  "Accidents do happen." She felt her cheeks getting hot and didn't like his expression. He should be thrilled at the prospect of becoming a father with the woman he adored. Now he had even more reason to leave his wife.

  "Aren't you happy?" She looked at him, disappointed.

  "Eh, well. It would've been better if we waited until I'd filed for divorce. It'll be most unfortunate if this gets out now, professionally and privately. Think how much Britt will demand if she finds out about you and the baby. She'll take everything, the house, cottages, and cars. And the boat. I'll have nothing left. What are we going to live off, Jasmine?"

  She looked at him, worried. She hadn't considered any of this, but remembered reading that it was what women did when they discovered their husband had a mistress. They went for the kill. But there was no way back. What had been done, had been done, and there were no ways to undo it. They'd have to deal with it. She made a swift decision. She'd planned on telling Hugo about the other man she'd been with but thought better of it. It would be foolish to make Hugo even more upset. Besides, there was no rush. She had the entire pregnancy to inform him. It was Hugo she wanted to be with, no matter who the father was, so what difference did it make?

  "We'll be fine, Hugo. If we love each other, material benefits are insignificant."

  "I don't know." He looked at her, hesitantly.

  "Anyway, it's too late for regrets. I want this baby." She slowly started stroking his thigh, knowing exactly how to make him forget his troubles. The bedroom awaited.

  8

  Monday morning was busier than usual. It was the first day of school for the children after moving to Solvik. They were taking the bus together to Oslo, and Sofie wasn't happy.

  "I don't get why I should bother," she complained at breakfast. "Just because you want to change jobs, we're the ones to suffer. No one else has such a stressful commute to school."

  "Summer vacation is only a couple of months away. You'll be starting at a new school
in the fall anyway. And you did agree it wasn't smart to switch schools before the exams, remember?" Miranda put the dirty plates in the dishwasher but was tired of having the same conversation over and over.

  "We never should have moved."

  "Try it today and see how it goes. We'll take one day at a time. There are many new things for all of us. Vidar and I are starting our new jobs today."

  Vidar folded his newspaper. Typically, he let Miranda deal with these conversations. "You're right. We better get moving. That's a pretty dress, by the way. Blue suits you."

  "Thanks." She wiped the kitchen table and rinsed the cloth. The teens were slower than usual, and she was fed up nagging them about everything. "Run upstairs and brush your teeth. The bus leaves shortly."

  Miranda opened the door to her new office. The room was pale, like every other office at the hotel, but she'd added some color here and there. The sofas had soft throw cushions in lavender, the same shade as the flowerpots with green plants. William had built the big room with himself in mind and was never one to settle for mediocrity. She'd assigned the room next door to Gabriel Knutsen, the new finance manager. They would be working closely together, so it was practical to have him near. She sat on her desk chair and started swirling.

  "Miranda?"

  She jumped and stopped at once. How embarrassing. The finance manager stood in the doorway, trying to keep a straight face.

  "You might want to close the door if you're playing merry-go-round."

  She broke into a smile. "You're right. It's a bad habit. I'm no better than the youngsters, it's what they do."

  "If you don't have worse habits than that, there's no need to worry. I promise I won't reveal your secret."

  "Appreciate it. Are you all set in your office?"

  Gabriel nodded. "My coffee cup is in place. That's all I need."

  "Sounds familiar. You guys are not demanding. But won't it feel empty in the bare room?" She got up and walked over to the window.

  "Possibly." He thought for a moment. "You've made it nice."

  "I need something to decorate the walls. A couple of paintings would help."

  "The view of the harbor and town is magnificent," he said, following her. "And you've got a sea view as well."

  "Thanks to my father. My siblings and I never intended to work here." She went to the sideboard to make tea.

  "I didn't know that."

  "Do you prefer coffee or tea?"

  "It doesn't matter as long as you add milk and sugar."

  She made tea, and they sat on the sofa. "My father was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago and was forced to make numerous decisions. He owned several other hotels which he chose to sell. This hotel is the only one remaining."

  "Interesting," he said, looking pensive. "You have a colorful family. I met them at the opening."

  She gave him a lopsided smile. "Yes, there are a few characters. Some of them are not pleased with their assignments, to put it mildly. I can't fathom what father was thinking. Evidently, he didn't know any of us."

  "I guess he wanted you to work here together. If not, he would have given the jobs to strangers."

  "I just don't get it." She tasted the tea in her lavender mug. "He's never shown any interest in working with us previously."

  "Things often seem different when faced with death. I believe one reflects on life in other ways then. Could it be he regretted the way he'd treated you? Maybe he wanted to make amends?"

  "You might be right. Anyway, it's too late to tell. He never informed anyone about his cancer until he was gone."

  "It's sad, but regretfully, there's nothing you can do about it," Gabriel said. "You need to focus on the future."

  "Yeah, there's a lot to do. You may have the most important job at the hotel. You're not only in charge of the finances, but you supervise the florist, the front desk, and the janitor." She gazed into his blue eyes that made her feel secure and calm. Imagine having such comforting eyes.

  "I've held the same position at other hotels. The difference here is that the janitor is unlike the others."

  Miranda knew what he meant and started laughing. Gabriel only knew she was married to Vidar. It was time to fill him in on the rest. "I know, and it's my husband who'll prove to be your biggest challenge. He was the finance manager at a medium-sized company but lost his job a while ago. So, it's your position he feels entitled to or, most of all, mine."

  Gabriel's eyes widened, and he frowned. "I'll say. Your father must've had his reasons, some kind of plan."

  "Any idea?"

  "No."

  "Me neither." She got up and produced a candy bag with hard sour toads that she poured into a bowl on the table. "My favorite."

  He smiled and helped himself to one.

  So did Miranda. "Vidar's challenge is that he can be slipshod and inaccurate. It's not the nicest thing to say, but I prefer to be honest."

  Gabriel looked at her. "Accuracy is imperative when working in finance, but hopefully it's less vital when being a janitor."

  "You mean it doesn't matter if he uses a forty-watt bulb instead of a sixty? Ouch, I shouldn't have said that. It's become sort of a joke between us. Fact is, the job is essential, ensuring that everything at the hotel works without a hitch. The job consists of many invisible details no one notices."

  There was a knock on the door.

  "Come in."

  Vidar appeared in the doorway, dressed in working clothes with the hotel logo on the back.

  "So, this is where you're enjoying yourself, Miranda." He nodded at Gabriel in a cool manner. "Where are the light bulbs?"

  "Can't you find them?" She looked at him, confused.

  "If I could, I wouldn't have asked."

  Miranda pulled her hand through her long, dark hair. "They're in one of the storage rooms. I saw them the other day."

  "Then why don't you find them for me?"

  "Vidar, I'm in a meeting. I suggest you have another look."

  "I bet you do." He slammed the door as he left.

  Miranda covered her red cheeks. How embarrassing that Gabriel had witnessed one of their confrontations. Talk about getting a bad impression of his workplace on day one.

  "Speaking of light bulbs," Gabriel said, "they're in the largest storeroom."

  Miranda saw the comical in this and guffawed. "I'm sure he's still searching, but it's about time he familiarizes himself with everything. He'll come a long way with a slightly better attitude."

  "It must be trying to feel downgraded to a janitor position."

  "I can well imagine. I do feel sorry for Vidar. But why not make the best of it? It's not like he has to keep this job forever. It's only temporary while he applies for other positions."

  Miranda found Isabella with Pernille, her new assistant, surrounded by flowers in Anemone. "The shop's turned out nicely. How are you doing?"

  Her sister smiled, satisfied. "It's so much fun. I've just started, but I love it already."

  "What an intriguing shop." Kitty's voice made them turn.

  "Hang on to King in here. It'll be a disaster if he jumps among the vases."

  "But of course, Isabella. I always carry the dog. Otherwise, he'd be trampled on." Kitty moved through the shop. "Such exquisite jewelry. And how creative to place it in between the flowers." Kitty knew her jewelry and studied it intently.

  "I've got space for yours too."

  "I know, but I can't decide if I want to sell them." She touched the large necklace she was wearing. "Every one I've made is unique to me. Letting go of them isn't easy."

  "I get how you feel, but please consider it." Isabella hugged Kitty.

  "See you later. I'm off to check on the spa." Miranda had a few words with Rebecca in reception before going down to the spa department. Strange how her body filled with calmness every time she entered this area. It must be the peacefulness. It resembled a library, where you felt whispering was the appropriate form of communication.

  Annabel Lien was Tony's most
valuable support. She was in her late twenties and sweet looking with shoulder length, dark-brown hair and nut-brown eyes. Miranda liked her and suspected she already had a better overview than Tony of the department's many treatments.

  "Has it been a quiet start?"

  Annabel looked up from the PC she was working on. "Luckily. There are so many new things to learn for everyone."

  "Yes, it's a big department. Have you seen Jasmine and Tony?"

  "Neither of them is easy to keep track of. But I saw them both not long ago."

  Miranda smiled. "I hear you. I'll check around and see if I can find them."

  "You do that."

  She found Tony sitting in a yoga position in a large training room and was amazed to see him there. He could lose himself completely to meditation. Shouldn't he be available for the guests? There was a fine line between being superior and being a sister. She wanted to keep a good relationship with her brother, so it wasn't a simple balance. And yet, he spent his spare time doing exercises. She'd try to be delicate about it.

  "Tony."

  "Ah, you broke my inner calm. I was in the middle of something gargantuan..."

  Miranda had no idea what he was talking about. "Besides that, I mean."

  He curled his legs in a strange position she'd never be able to copy. "Annabel has control."

  Her sentiment precisely. "Have you seen Jasmine?"

  He shook his head and closed his eyes. End of discussion.

  Miranda went into the pool area and eventually found her sister submerged in one of the pools, the hot spring water Watsu. She was floating weightlessly while a therapist slowly moved her through the water. Miranda watched her, speechless. Jasmine's belly was visible, but fortunately, she couldn't tell it was growing bigger. To think there was a tiny baby inside, whose paternity was unknown. Miranda felt sweaty just thinking about it, or it could be the hot room making wet drops run down her back.

  The therapist continued to stretch and bend Jasmine's body and perform pressure point massage. Miranda tore her thoughts away from the baby to come. What on earth was her sister doing here? Jasmine was an employee, who should be in the beauty parlor working on their guests' manicures. Instead, she was lying here relaxing, like any other hotel guest, as if life was a long journey of pleasure. The woman finished at long last, and Jasmine returned to life again. She squeezed the water from her long curls and shook her hair.