Time for Surprises

by Mette Barfelt

  "Exactly. Sofie is very distressed, while Noah is calmer and keeps things to himself." She started making tea.

  "What about the janitor position?"

  She smiled lopsidedly. "I asked Vidar to look for another job. It'll be exhausting having him walk around here. I need to get some distance from it all."

  "Then I'll make an ad. It's not a hard position to fill. There are plenty of qualified people for that kind of job."

  She handed him a mug. "My only concern is the large conference starting today. It's impractical without a janitor, should they need help. But I'll be here a lot this weekend, so it'll work out."

  "No worries, just call me. I don't live far away and can quickly jump in the car."

  "Thanks."

  "Where is Vidar?"

  "I've no idea. It all happened so fast. He threw his suitcase into the trunk and sped off. But I assume he went to Oslo to find a place to rent. There are no jobs available here in Solvik." She thought for a moment. "The teens go to school in the capital, so it'll be easy for them to visit him there."

  Gabriel frowned and gave her a confused look. "Have you decided on that already?"

  "No, I'm just thinking aloud. Sofie proclaimed she wants to live with Vidar, so I risk losing them all." Her eyes were edged with tears, and she went over to the window to look at something pleasant instead. Despite the cloudy sky, the temperature was balmy, and people were outside already.

  "Don't cross your bridges before you come to them. Children often say things they don't mean when they're upset. It'll work out." Gabriel came up behind her and placed his arms around her waist, giving her a peck on her cheek. They watched the marina. It felt lovely standing there, letting her heart beat as fast as it wanted. At this moment, all she wanted was to enjoy the feeling of being cared for. As soon as his strong arms disappeared, she would be all alone again. She'd better appreciate the little things in life. If she were lucky, there would be more of them, in time. No one knew what the future would bring.

  ***

  The participants from the Swimming Association filled the entire lobby. Miranda had just greeted Mrs. Wilhelmsen and welcomed the group. She couldn't praise the outdoor area enough.

  "What an exquisite garden. The swimming pool, the jacuzzi, and everything. And a jetty with a beach house and saunas. I must say, this hotel was an excellent choice." The older woman nodded, satisfied.

  "Glad you like it. We have a large spa, which I think you'll like. Celine and Nadia will give you a tour."

  "Oh yes, I've met them already. Gorgeous girls."

  Celine came over to them and guided the group downstairs to show them the premises before their meetings commenced.

  Miranda stopped by Isabella in Anemone. "Got time for lunch?"

  Her sister smiled. "Sounds good. I've had a lot of work with this group, but I'm done now. Let's eat in the restaurant."

  They picked a table on the terrace and ordered food and beverages. "The day has barely started, but you look tired," Isabella noted.

  Miranda wanted to tell her what had happened. The chances of her changing her mind regarding Vidar were tiny. What he'd done to her was unforgivable. She didn't know if she would ever understand his reasoning. Thus, she might as well tell her sister about the painful breakup.

  Isabella became silent, before leaning over and hugging her. "I'm so sorry for you. Are Sofie and Noah okay?"

  She shook her head. "Everything happened so fast. We'll discuss it some more when they get home from school."

  "I guess Vidar will move back to the capital?" Isabella looked at her.

  "Not sure, but I assume he will. We haven't had time to discuss where the children will live or how to divide our belongings."

  "No wonder. It's not the first thing that comes to mind in such a situation."

  "You're right. We'll figure it out later." She drank some sparkling water but picked at her chicken salad. Her appetite had disappeared with Vidar.

  "By the way, I heard Jasmine has her eyes on a new man," Isabella said secretively. "And he's available, far as I know."

  Miranda felt herself blushing. Being overcast, she couldn't blame the sun either. "Do you mean Gabriel?"

  "You knew?"

  "Jasmine told me at Kitty's the other day when I popped in to check on her."

  "Ah. Good news, isn't it? She may finally come to her senses and drop Hugo."

  How was she to reply to that, without giving herself away? It was inappropriate to admit she was attracted to another man when Vidar had moved out the same morning.

  "Yes, I guess it is."

  "What's with you? Feeling unwell?" Isabella looked at her, concerned. "Are you running a fever, you look so warm?"

  She touched her cheeks, wondering if she did indeed have a fever. If so, it wasn't strange after the dreadful morning she'd had.

  "Just a bit hot."

  "It's not that warm on the terrace. Some sun would help. But back to Gabriel. What do you think of him?" Isabella eyed her curiously. "He's handsome, isn't he?"

  Miranda gaped. "You like him, too?"

  Isabella started laughing. "Not me. Jasmine, I just told you. I don't think you're paying attention at all today."

  Relieved, she looked at Isabella, but she had an odd expression on her face. "I don't believe it. You fancy him, too!"

  By now Miranda felt like an incandescent lamp and finished her sparkling water. How annoying to be busted like this. She didn't want to discuss this when she hadn't yet figured out her feelings. Until today, these thoughts had been off limits. Now she could allow herself to acknowledge the lively butterflies tickling her stomach whenever Gabriel was near. At the same time, she knew it was to no avail. It would be a long time before she was ready for anyone but herself and the children. But Isabella was still waiting for an answer, and she couldn't lie to her.

  "Maybe."

  "Does this have anything to do with Vidar moving out?"

  "Not really. I don't see a future with Vidar. Not after everything he's done to me."

  "I don't blame you."

  "But I'm not ready for a new relationship. I have enough challenges as it is. We like each other, so something might happen later. Who knows?"

  Isabella smiled at her encouragingly. "I'm happy to hear that. I'll cross my fingers and hope everything works out. Now I've got to get back to the shop so Pernille can have a break."

  "Don't mention this to anyone."

  Miranda went to her office to plan the impending marketing campaign. Her thoughts were everywhere else other than on the task at hand. In fact, they were in entirely different countries this time. She recalled previous vacations. They'd been on several trips as a family. The Amalfi coast in Italy and the idyllic island of Capri. The round trip to Corsica and the swimming in Portugal. They had picked wine grapes, visited castles and experienced other cultures. The memories came rushing back, and she was saddened by thinking of everything they'd done together throughout the years. It was like it no longer existed. She had no one to share her memories with. The children had been too small to remember much. How strenuous it had been, pulling the stroller in and out of cars, airplanes, and hotels. The restaurants had been way too small for strollers, making it complicated to find somewhere to eat. The wheels had collapsed in the narrow cobbled streets, leaving them overloaded with shopping bags and cranky children – on the lookout for a maxi taxi and a new stroller.

  It was sad to think of all that had been, and she felt so alone. She couldn't pinpoint what had gone wrong. Everything had been fine until Vidar lost his job last year. Was it too easy to blame it all on that? What if they hadn't spent enough time together? Vidar's biking took up much of his spare time, and she didn't share his hobby. She preferred to read or work on her manuscript. But different interests shouldn't make it all fall apart. There had to be other reasons as well, but she didn't know what they were.

  Instead of pondering things she didn't know the answers to, she decided to go home. She wanted to be there
when the children returned from school today. She'd be extra productive at the office tomorrow. Making a quick phone call to Celine, she learned that the meetings were running as planned. According to Mrs. Wilhelmsen, lunch had been fabulous, and they were looking forward to their next meal.

  Miranda started making dinner and decided tacos would do nicely today. The children never tired of them. She cut the avocados to make guacamole and squeezed lime on top of it. She chopped onions and took out the minced meat to fry it while she prepared the rest. Then the door opened, and the children were home.

  "Hey, how was school?"

  "Okay. Where's Dad?" Sofie looked at her as if she'd forgotten that her father had left with his suitcase the same morning.

  "I honestly don't know, but I'm sure he'll call soon."

  "Are we eating without him?"

  Miranda felt her spirits sink. Poor child, how hard this must be on them. "I guess we have to."

  "Then I'm not having any." Sofie marched out of the kitchen and up to her room.

  Miranda looked at Noah and wanted to hug him, which didn't go down well nowadays. "How are you?"

  "Fine. I'll eat with you." He went to clean up. "Anything I can do?"

  Miranda was on the verge of tears. Noah rarely offered to help but did so willingly when asked. "You can fry the meat over there." She pointed at the range, and he set to it.

  How she wished she could make life easier for them. The children were the innocent party in this mess, and she was unable to help them through this difficult time. She cursed Vidar and the way he'd behaved. If it hadn't been for him, their lives wouldn't have changed, and the children would be happy. Maybe not as happy as when they lived in Oslo and had their friends around, but they would at least be living under the same roof, like a proper family. Now uncertainty ruled, and that was probably worse. It was not a good feeling not knowing where they were going to live, or where their father had gone.

  "Have you tried calling Dad?" Looking at her son, she thought that she should have remembered to call him herself. That way she would have known by now where he was.

  "Sofie called him on the bus, but he didn't pick up. She texted him."

  "Did he answer?"

  "Don't think so."

  They ate dinner alone, just the two of them. Sofie still refused to eat, and Miranda left her in peace. It wouldn't be long before she came slinking down to the kitchen in search of something. She was far too fond of food to starve for an extended period.

  Noah disappeared to his room after the meal, and she sat in the living room with a cup of tea. It shouldn't feel strange sitting alone in the evening. She was used to Vidar training several times a week. She'd gotten used to the smell of sweat seeping from the hall when he opened the entrance door. And yet it felt different now when she knew he wouldn't be home in a couple of hours. She'd sit her by herself until she went to bed. It was unfamiliar and lonely, even if she knew the kids were upstairs. It would take a lot of getting used to in the future.

  Miranda sat lost in thought when her cell phone rang. It was evening, and she looked at her watch. Nine o'clock already. She yawned and answered the phone.

  "Hi, it's Rebecca from reception. Sorry to disturb you this late."

  "No problem."

  "I have Mrs. Wilhelmsen from the Swimming Association here with me. They'd like to use the saunas at the beach house, but it's locked. She's not able to open the door with her keycard. I don't know how they'll get in."

  "That's weird. The door is preset and locks automatically. But the beach house doesn't close until ten, and that's not for another hour. Let me check and get back to you. Send them down to the spa in the meanwhile, so they can swim there until I solve the problem."

  "Sure."

  Miranda hung up and wondered what to do next. It was the janitor who knew this stuff, but she couldn't call Vidar when she had fired him. Nor was he answering his phone, so she needed to find another solution. She wasn't practical and regretted not paying more attention to the technical details at the hotel. But Gabriel knew the key system. He'd helped her with this before. She didn't know who else to call, so she pressed his number on the phone.

  "Gabriel, it's Miranda. Sorry to call so late." She explained the situation.

  "Sounds odd. I'll drive over and check right away." He was about to hang up.

  "Stop outside my house, and I'll come with you." She couldn't leave this to others. She was the one in charge, and this was her responsibility.

  "What about the children? Can they be alone?"

  She started laughing. The teens were alone in their rooms for hours every evening, so what was the difference? "They're playing with their friends. I guess that's what teens do these days. They have each other, besides I won't be gone that long."

  Miranda informed Sofie and Noah she had to fix something at the hotel and put on her jacket while waiting for Gabriel. He came driving in his charcoal Volvo shortly after and stopped outside her door. She hurried inside, and he sped off. "Gabriel, there's a twenty-five mile per hour zone through the center. You should've had a sports car."

  He reduced his speed. "Uhum. I'm only thinking of the swimmers, waiting for us."

  "I don't understand how the beach house can be locked at this hour."

  "Neither do I. The key system worked as normal after the break-in at your office. Both the janitor and I have access to this through the computers and can monitor it from there."

  "But Vidar moved out of his office yesterday. All of his personal stuff was gone when I stopped by in the afternoon. It was cleared and tidy, ready for the next person to take over." She looked at him.

  "Maybe he's relieved he no longer has the job. Now he can spend his time on something he likes."

  "Could be."

  "Is he in Oslo?" Gabriel turned his car into the parking lot.

  "No idea. Sofie tried to call him without getting through."

  They took the elevator up to his office. He turned on his PC, and they waited for the correct program to wake up. Hopefully, it would be easy-peasy to fix the problem, so the hotel guests could enjoy themselves in the beach house.

  29

  Vidar had spent all day planning this evening. He couldn't face looking for a new job. It would have to wait until tomorrow. He deserved to have some fun after all he'd been through these last twenty-four hours. Imagine being kicked out of his own house! Talk about boundless impudence. Miranda took it for granted that she was the one to stay there living with the children. Well, she was sorely mistaken. Sofie had announced that she preferred him to her mother. Noah surely felt the same way. He usually followed his sister blindly when he couldn't make up his mind. So the children would be with Vidar most of the time. He only had to find an apartment first, seeing as he couldn't throw out the tenants. The children favored Oslo to Solvik, and so did he. That meant moving back to the capital again.

  For a moment he pictured Miranda, with a book on her lap, reading, at home in their living room, where he should have been sitting with today's newspaper. He didn't like this new situation whatsoever. But he had to admit it was mostly his own fault. He was the one feeling bored and ready for some excitement. And he got what he wished for, big time. It was way too much suspense, to be honest. He should have stopped earlier. But it was too late for regrets. Miranda had made up her mind, and he was free to do as he pleased.

  Vidar poured champagne into the glasses, eagerly waiting for his mistress to appear in her string bikini. He had pointed out that the bikini was superfluous. They had the beach house to themselves. She had insisted that it was more enticing with a bit of clothing, and had laughingly handed him a green Borat Mankini. He looked down at the ridiculous piece of cloth and felt like an idiot. It was uncomfortable wearing it. It had literally disappeared up his butt, and it was difficult to move without getting blisters. The only comfort was that it would come off shortly.

  Vidar picked up a chocolate covered strawberry and started getting seriously impatient. Where was s
he? They didn't have all night. Yes, they did. The night was theirs, and his hotel room was waiting for them afterward. What more could he want?

  Finally, she appeared in the doorway. Vidar's pulse hit the roof when he discovered the bright red bikini which was three numbers too small. It matched her curly red hair perfectly, and he let out a gasp. "You're gorgeous. And so very tempting."

  She laughed out loud. "You're not bad yourself in this." She pulled the Mankini and naughtily peeped inside. "Looks like you need to cool down. Let's try the cold plunge pool first."

  "Wait, you have to put out your cigarette. Smoking isn't allowed in the beach house."

  She made her long curls bounce. "Who cares? No one will know. We're all alone in here."

  He couldn't resist her any longer and pulled her close. They lost themselves in a passionate kiss, and he forgot both the cigarette and everything else while they took pleasure in each other.

  Suddenly he noticed a strange odor permeating through the cigarette smell, filling the entire room. The next second, he heard a gigantic bang. Everything went bright – then dark...

  30

  Miranda jumped and grabbed hold of Gabriel's arm. "What was that?"

  "Don't know. Sounded like an explosion." They hurried over to the window and looked out at the marina and Solvik center. Everything appeared to be normal.

  "It was awfully close, you'd think it was here at the hotel." She looked at him, anxious. "Let's go into my office and check the beach. Or should we go outside?"

  "No, we'll go to your room first." They unlocked the door to the adjoining room and went to the window facing the sea. Thick smoke blocked their view, and flames were coming from the beach house.

  Miranda gasped, stunned, and covered her mouth. Gabriel grabbed his cell phone to call the fire department. They'd already been notified and were on their way.

  He placed his arm around her. "There's no one in the beach house, Miranda. It's closed, you know."