“You give me the shudders.”
Kierkegaard
…Europe is on the road to bankruptcy…
Hilde looked at her watch. It was already past four o’clock. She laid the ring
binder on her desk and ran downstairs to the kitchen. She had to get down to the
boathouse before her mother got tired of waiting for her. She glanced at the brass
mirror as she passed.
She quickly put the kettle on for tea and fixed some sandwiches.
She had made up her mind to play a few tricks on her father. Hilde was
beginning to feel more and more allied with Sophie and Alberto. Her plan would start
when he got to Copenhagen.
She went down to the boathouse with a large tray.
“Here’s our brunch,” she said.
Her mother was holding a block wrapped in sandpaper. She pushed a stray lock
of hair back from her forehead. There was sand in her hair too.
“Let’s drop dinner, then.”
They sat down outside on the dock and began to eat.
“When’s Dad arriving?” asked Hilde after a while.
“On Saturday. I thought you knew that.”
“But what time? Didn’t you say he was changing planes in Copenhagen?”
“That’s right.
Her mother took a bite of her sandwich.
“He gets to Copenhagen at about five. The plane to Kristiansand leaves at a
quarter to eight. He’ll probably land at Kjevik at half-past nine.”
“So he has a few hours at Kastrup ...”
“Yes, why?”
“Nothing. I was just wondering.”
When Hilde thought a suitable interval had elapsed, she said casually, “Have
you heard from Anne and Ole lately?”
“They call from time to time. They are coming home on vacation sometime in
July.”
“Not before?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“So they’ll be in Copenhagen this week... ?”
“Why all these questions, Hilde?”
“No reason. Just small talk.”
“You mentioned Copenhagen twice.”
“I did?”
“We talked about Dad touching down in ...”
“That’s probably why I thought of Anne and Ole.”
As soon as they finished eating, Hilde collected the mugs and plates on the tray.
“I have to get on with my reading, Mom.”
“I guess you must.”
Was there a touch of reproach in her voice? They had talked about fixing up the
boat together before Dad came home.
“Dad almost made me promise to finish the book before he got home.”
“It’s a little crazy. When he’s away, he doesn’t have to order us around back
home.”