Time for Surprises

by Mette Barfelt

  "How independent she is," Isabella said.

  Celine agreed. "It's always been only my mother and us, so we've had to help each other. Patricia's had duties to do at home from an early age and has always given me a helping hand."

  "Now I see where we went wrong," Miranda said with a frown. "I wish I could say the same about my children. Although they can when they want to, there's usually a lack of will."

  "Typical of teens," Isabella said, without any knowledge of the subject.

  "I hope you're right."

  "What about Patricia's father? If you don't mind me asking." Isabella was outspoken.

  "Not at all. We were planning our wedding when he left. Haven't seen or heard from him ever since. Don't think he was ready to become a father." Celine took a bite of cake.

  "What a pity. He has no clue what he's missing out on. Patricia is a little charmer. Who wouldn't want her in their lives?" Miranda looked at them questioningly.

  "Thanks. Patricia has never met her father."

  "We have to find you a new boyfriend," Isabella said in a determined voice.

  Miranda looked at her. "Says you? You don't want a man in your life."

  Isabella laughed. "That's true. I love living alone. But it's good for a child to have a father figure."

  Celine looked disconcerted. "I don't have time for men."

  "Look at Patricia," Miranda said. "She's next."

  They watched her jump across the yard to the finishing line in an oversized sack. She didn't win but got back in line to have another try.

  Miranda told them about her busy morning and the delayed flag hoisting.

  "Well, I never!" Isabella exclaimed. "Vidar isn't overly motivated for the job. How could he not care at all?"

  Miranda was ashamed on behalf of her husband. "I don't get how he thinks any longer. It's as if problems keep piling up."

  Celine squeezed her hand. "I wish I could help you, but my experience with men isn't entirely positive."

  They were lost in thought while watching Patricia. "It's embarrassing that we didn't run up the flags according to regulations," Miranda said. "The first Independence Day at the new hotel and we didn't even get the flags up on time. What will people say? Let's hope no one noticed our blunder, but I have my doubts. The folks of Solvik pay attention to every detail."

  "Not much we can do about it now," Isabella comforted. "Let's look ahead instead and make sure it never happens again."

  "You're right, but I feel guilty. It's my responsibility as the hotel manager to ensure the job gets done. I should've set the alarm myself and dragged Vidar out of bed." Miranda looked at them regretfully.

  They both shook their heads. "You must trust the employees to do their job. It's impossible for you to follow up on everything," Isabella said.

  "It's not your fault nor your responsibility, Miranda." Celine caught her daughter, who came running over. "You were great. We watched you."

  "Can I throw balls on cans?"

  "Sure. You know where to find us."

  Suddenly Vera from the café stood by their table. Without greeting them, she exclaimed indignantly, "You forgot to raise the flags this morning!" She was wearing a beautiful national costume, making her appear even bigger than she was.

  Miranda flinched on the hard wooden bench where she sat. How to respond to that? Tell the truth? It would be the smartest thing, and she could hope for forgiveness.

  "I do apologize. The janitor was going to raise them but had problems with his alarm clock. The flags were pulled up once we became aware of the situation. I take full responsibility, and I wish we'd discovered it earlier."

  Vera wasn't impressed. "Hmm, ten o'clock isn't good enough when you own such a large and important business like the town's sole hotel. Who raises their flags that late? It's never happened in the history of Solvik."

  Dumbfounded, Miranda realized how few worries they had in this small town. Vera was a snoop, minding everyone's business.

  "As I said, I'm sorry. I promise it'll never happen again."

  Vera wasn't ready to forget the slip-up. "When I hoisted our flag at eight on the dot, every other flag in town went up. It was a magnificent sight, if I may say so myself. Yours were the only ones missing. Let's hope the citizens are willing to forgive you." Vera looked at her sternly and nodded her goodbye.

  "Gosh, how upset she was. I've always heard she's sweet toward everyone. We must be the exception." Isabella rolled her eyes.

  Miranda was just as surprised. "She was friendly with me when I was at her knitting café last Sunday. But evidently, there are certain things not to be trifled with."

  "It was a mistake, but it wasn't that serious. Some might be offended, but no one got hurt by the oversight," Celine noted.

  Miranda felt lighter at heart. "You're right. We mustn't make a bigger deal of it than it is." She got up. "I have to get back to the hotel. The lunch service has started, and we're expecting a rush of guests. I hope many will find their way. Remy has prepared a tempting menu for the day."

  "I'll join you." Isabella put the last piece of cake in her palm.

  "See you later," Celine said. "I'll stay here as long as Patricia is enjoying herself."

  "What a beautiful coastal town," Isabella said as they were driving along the seafront. "Picture yourself at the beach here at summer time. It will be full of people sunbathing and swimming."

  "Yes, I don't regret moving. Out here life has a slower pace than in the capital. It's calm and leisurely. People have time to talk with one another." They passed the marina, which was quiet on a day like this.

  "Gossip, you mean. There's a lot of it here where everyone knows each other, don't you think?"

  "Probably. But it's the same with all small towns. It's the downside of living in a place where you can't be anonymous."

  They parked and took the elevator up to the lobby. "Who are you expecting to see here today?" Isabella looked at her.

  "Not families with small kids. They're busy with the activities in the schoolyard, although it'll be over in an hour or two. But retirees and people with grown children."

  "Have there been any reservations in the restaurant?"

  "I don't think so. Remy mentioned it was more flexible to let people eat when it suited them. Let's check with him."

  They went into the Flying Fish and found the restaurant almost empty. A couple of tables were taken, but that was it. She asked one of the waiters to fetch the chef. He disappeared and returned with Remy a moment later. He was a man of authority. Cool and very ambitious.

  "How are we doing?" She looked at the tall man standing before her. He had broad shoulders and was attractive, with a mischievous twinkle in his hazel eyes. His hairstyle was as unusual as the man himself. Long corkscrews reached below his ears, with a tendency of falling into his eyes when he didn't wear his chef's hat.

  "Not as expected. I'd counted on a full restaurant today." His eyes became a shade darker as he eyed her somberly.

  She felt dejected. Hopefully, it didn't have anything to do with this morning's incident. Surely that wasn't possible, was it? She told him about meeting Vera.

  "I see. There's nothing we can do about it. We'll see how it progresses throughout the day." He nodded at them and went into the kitchen again.

  "Let's sit down," Miranda said and picked a table with an ocean view.

  "Is he arrogant, or is it just his appearance?" Isabella wondered.

  She grinned. "I haven't got a clue. Perhaps he's simply shy."

  "Awe-inspiring, if you ask me. And secretive." Thoughtful, Isabella looked at her.

  "But handsome. Don't you agree?"

  Isabella nodded. "He's fascinating. But not my type, mind you."

  "No?"

  Her sister started laughing. "Definitely not."

  They sat talking while savoring the delicious food until lunch service was over. The waiters didn't have much to do, and the chefs even less. Once Isabella left, Miranda went up to her office. She was re
luctant to go home, and suspected Vidar was lounging on the sofa, watching a movie. They should talk things through. And discuss what had happened and how to relate to each other. Figure out how they could move on from here. She was uncertain; many elements played a part, and the children were in the middle of it all. She couldn't do as she pleased. And what did she want? She didn't even have the answer to that question.

  Her thoughts went to Olivia, who she'd fired. The days were busy now, and to make things run smoothly, Celine and Isabella helped a lot. She'd pitched in when necessary, but a new employee was soon to arrive, and the housekeeping department would work properly again.

  She poured another bag of sour toads into the bowl. Mmm, lovely. Chewing them was not allowed, they had to be sucked to last as long as possible. She remained seated, watching the marina. People wearing their best clothing filled the streets. They should be here, eating. The bakery was closed today, but the café and Lombardi's were open. How Vera had managed to pop out for a while to watch the activities at the schoolyard was a mystery.

  Miranda finished the toads and discovered it was evening. Time to go home, but first she wanted to stop by Kitty to see how she was doing. She wondered what Jasmine had done all day. Her sister was no doubt in Oslo. She had probably sat in her apartment hoping that Hugo could spare a few minutes. Imagine how awful it must be, to sit and wait. What kind of life was that? Miranda felt contempt for Jasmine. There was no denying it after what had happened. How could she let herself be tempted by Vidar when she knew he was married to her sister? On second thoughts, it might just as well be Jasmine who'd deliberately seduced Vidar. On the outside, she seemed petite and delicate. Many men loved to rescue a damsel in distress, especially when they so obviously yearned company. Maybe they were both equally as guilty. She realized it would be extremely hard to forgive them, if not impossible. How could one forgive such an enormous betrayal?

  Miranda rang Kitty's doorbell. The door opened instantly. "Are you on your way out?"

  Kitty beamed, dressed in a red skirt, white blouse, and a blue silk scarf. "Yes. I'm having dinner with Elvira and Neil. They've invited me."

  "How nice. I'll accompany you downstairs."

  Kitty placed King in the spacious bag and locked the door. He had a May 17 bow in his bangs. His head popped out through the opening of her purse, but it was so small one hardly noticed. Miranda cuddled him and thought it was a good thing he didn't show because it was unlikely that Remy would accept a dog in the restaurant.

  They went inside, where Elvira and Neil had already found a table. She felt her stomach rumbling at the sight of the freshly baked rolls in the bread basket in front of them. Miranda felt bad for having stayed away from home all day. She should have been there trying to mend her relationship with Vidar. Especially today when they had the entire day to themselves, and no children to eavesdrop. She'd head home and make something tasty for dinner at least.

  "Would you like to join us?" Elvira smiled amiably.

  "Some other time. I've been here most of the day. Sofie and Noah will be back from Oslo shortly." She noticed no more tables were taken now than for lunch. It worried her. Why wasn't the restaurant full of guests? She'd check it tomorrow and hear what Remy made of the day.

  Miranda went to the car and headed for home. The house was completely dark when she arrived. Vidar was nowhere in sight. She didn't want to think about where he could be or what he was doing. She stared at the empty living room. So much for trying to save their marriage.

  23

  "What an amazing mansion." Miranda and Sofie stood outside Solvik's guesthouse and admired the grand house.

  "A bit larger than ours," Sofie commented, with a certain amount of irony in her voice. "I miss our house in Oslo."

  "Me too. We might look for a house with more room. Let's go inside." Miranda went up the steps and rang the bell.

  "Welcome." Bettina opened the door while Anneli stood in the background, eagerly waiting.

  "Hi, Sofie. Come up to my room."

  Miranda watched as the girls disappeared up the stairs to the second floor. She hoped they would become friends. Sofie sorely needed to get to know someone her age in town.

  "Let me show you around." Bettina started walking from one room to the other while telling the history of the house, and how she came to take over the guesthouse from her uncle. When the tour finished, they sat in the light, elegant living room.

  "It really is a unique house," Miranda said. She was mightily impressed by the classic, tasteful guest rooms. "The rooms are exquisite and can't compare to what we have to offer at the hotel."

  "It's a completely different concept," Bettina said. "But we can complement each other."

  "Without a doubt." Miranda helped herself to a cookie. "Mmm, and you can bake."

  Bettina smiled modestly. "I make a lot of those. Try the others as well. "

  Miranda did as she suggested. "How many guests do you have? Is it difficult to fill the rooms?"

  "It's been much better than expected. Last fall people booked shortly before arrival, but not now at springtime. Solvik is a typical summer town and livens up this time of year. Most of the summer is fully booked. But I guess it'll die down again come fall, and winter likewise."

  "I guess it'll be the opposite with us. There are few conferences in the summer when the companies go on vacation. I'm unsure about the spa market. That's something I have to examine further. But I imagine it will be quiet during summer when people spend so much time outdoors."

  "You have gorgeous outdoor areas, with the swimming pool and several jacuzzies. And the beach house on the pier is tempting," Bettina added. "Are they used mostly by overnight guests?"

  "The hotel's only been open for three weeks, so it's too soon to tell. The spa stays haven't started fully yet."

  "Marketing takes a lot of work with a hotel your size," Bettina said. "Luckily, I don't need to worry much about that. My website works fine, and word of mouth can be a powerful tool. Vera still tips off her customers about my guest house."

  Miranda remembered the incident from the previous day. "That's more than she does for me." She told her about the blunder with the flags.

  "What a pity she reacted like that. It's nothing to get upset about. I don't have a flagpole myself." Bettina mulled it over while eating a snickerdoodle. "But it sounds kind of strange, as Vera has always welcomed outsiders and made them feel at home. Sara told me so when I moved here."

  "How odd." Miranda looked at her watch and stood up. "Time to go home, it's getting late."

  They went upstairs to Anneli's room and found the girls lying on the bed, chatting while listening to music. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, and Miranda was touched.

  "Are we leaving already?" Sofie got up reluctantly.

  "You can come back another day," Anneli suggested. "Then you can meet my friend Jane too. You'll like her."

  Sofie brightened. "I'd like that."

  They got their coats and went outside. Bettina turned toward Miranda. "Emmelin and I are having lunch with Sara at the bakery on Thursday. Would you like to join us?"

  "That sounds lovely."

  ***

  Miranda sat in a meeting with Gabriel. They'd already discussed marketing and economics for two hours, talking about everything they'd done, hadn't done, and should have done. She was determined to make the hotel a success. They'd had a few challenges since the opening, but there was no reason to be distressed. Problems were meant to be solved. It was precisely what she'd been doing in her previous job as a consultant. She would use her experience for all it was worth in her current job.

  However, her domestic problems were new. Miranda hadn't taken Vidar's antics into account. She was always focused on everything she did, she put her heart and soul into her work. But she found it difficult now not to think of Vidar and Jasmine's betrayal. It kept popping into her mind, demanding full attention.

  "Miranda, you're far away." Gabriel placed his hand on her arm, and she
sensed the heat from his touch through her thin blouse. They sat on the sofa with a view of the marina, but at this moment his blue eyes were far more beautiful than the sea outside.

  "How are you holding up?"

  She knew he meant on a personal level and not work-wise. But how to reply to that? She wished she had a solution in sight, but she couldn't control her feelings. Maybe it would have helped if Vidar had begged her and asked for a second chance. Oh yes, he'd done so when his affairs with Olivia and Jasmine were disclosed. But he didn't exactly go down on his knees begging for forgiveness at bedtime. Instead, he took off on his bike and avoided discussing their issues. He still hadn't apologized for his indifference regarding the flags and the trouble he'd caused the hotel's reputation. It was as if it didn't concern him whatsoever. She felt alone and wished she could share her thoughts with Vidar as she'd done before. But those times were gone.

  "Miranda?"

  She looked at him. She'd had to tell Gabriel about the potential fathers and all the misery. Their personal lives had become entwined with their work life in some invisible way. She was a firm believer in receptiveness. It felt as if difficulties became more manageable when sharing them, and she trusted him one hundred percent. He was thoughtful and wise and never based his advice on simple solutions.

  "Sorry. I've got way too many thoughts in my head." She looked at him, apologetic. What lousy company she was nowadays.

  "That's understandable. I'm sorry I can't be of much help." He moved a few strands of hair from her face, and their eyes met. Her heart started beating faster, and she couldn't avert her eyes. Slowly, their heads drew closer. The next moment she felt his soft lips on hers and couldn't resist him. She indulged herself in a passionate kiss like it would be her last.

  "Yip-yip." King jumped onto Miranda's lap and wanted to join in the fun. She startled and stared wide-eyed at Kitty, who was watching them innocently.

  "Will you ever learn to knock, Kitty?" The room felt hot, and she knew she was blushing. How embarrassing. Busted by her grandma! How was that possible? And what on earth had she been thinking when she'd thrown herself at Gabriel? She peered at him. His cheeks were red, and he was feeling ill at ease.