Time for Honesty: The Solvik Series, #1

1

Emmelin Johnsen steered her Kia Soul into the right lane, heading out of the city. Immediately her new lane stopped while the other moved ahead with gleeful speed. She sighed and opened the window, taking a breath of the chilly, September air. Perhaps it was good that she was stuck in traffic. Put off the inevitable. She’d finally decided to talk to her mother and get some advice. Certain matters were hard to discuss, especially after years of enforced silence. She had thought about it for ages, put it off way too long, but there was no turning back now.

Magically, a gap appeared in the traffic, and she moved back into the left lane, gradually picking up speed. Eventually, the city gave way to residential housing and then country. Green pines, mingled with the silver-black of birch, rolling green fields and the white, plastic-wrapped bales of hay that her husband jokingly referred to as ‘tractor eggs.’ She smiled.

Now that she was out of the city, she was looking forward to seeing her mother, and even more so, her childhood home. Solvik was the prettiest town on the Norwegian coast. She had been raised in the tiny town but had moved to Oslo, the capital of Norway, for her education. Emmelin’s thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone ringing. She groped about in her bag for her phone and the cord to put in her ear. Finally, she fished it out, keeping one eye on the traffic ahead.

‘Magda, I’m on my way. The traffic is heavy so –’ 

‘Emmelin, thank goodness!’ Magda took a deep breath then spurted out in a rush. ‘Please hurry. I went round to bring your mother some . . . Emmelin . . . I found her on the floor. She was unconscious.’

For a moment, it did not register. Emmelin frowned in confusion. ‘What?’ As the words sunk in, her hands gripped the steering wheel with such force that her knuckles turned white.

‘The ambulance is on its way, Emmelin. It’s probably not serious. I’m going with her to the hospital. You need to meet us there.’

‘Of course it’s serious, Magda. She’s had heart problems before. Anything could happen.’

‘Don’t worry unnecessarily, you always worry too much. It could be something else altogether. I can hear the ambulance now, see you in a bit.’

Emmelin took the first possible exit, driving back towards the city. She squinted, her eyes blurring with tears. Another rummage in her bag produced a tissue, and she wiped away the flood of tears that wouldn’t stop coming. Magda was right. She was an expert at worrying. She’d read somewhere that it was quite natural when growing up under unpredictable conditions.

Emmelin pulled herself together but soon ended up in another traffic jam, giving her time to think. It had only been two weeks since they last visited her mother. Irene loved spending time with Oliver. They had enjoyed the last few days of summer in the large apple orchard overlooking the ocean. Strolled along the harbor, watching the boats being brought ashore after the summer season. It was a long time since Leo had visited, though. It was even longer since her sister Julie, and her family had been there. Thinking of what they were missing out on made her feel even worse.

She’d better call him. She dialed the number, hoping he wasn’t in a meeting.

‘Leo, Magda just called. Mother is on her way to the hospital.’ She blew her nose vigorously.

‘Is it serious? Who’s going to get Oliver? I had to take time off to deliver him, and I can’t get away.’

She heard the rustle of papers and a drawer being slammed shut. ‘I know what we agreed, but surely you understand I have to be with my mother? I don’t have time to get him. You’re going to have to do it. Besides, it’s Friday and almost six o’clock. Most people have started their weekend by now.’

‘If you didn’t work, like your sister, you’d have plenty of time. And Oliver could have siblings.’

Emmelin sighed. This was not a new argument. Even though she was patience personified, it was wearing thin. Leo was dissatisfied, as usual. It was the same complaints over and over. Her mouth set in a hard line.

‘I enjoy my work,’ she snapped. ‘Look, let’s not fight. I’m sorry, but it’s not like I made mother sick. I’m almost at the hospital now. Got to go.’

She hung up. The traffic inched forward. She was a long way from the hospital, but if Leo was not going to be reasonable, there was no point in talking with him. She had enough to worry about with her mother. What could have happened? Had she regained consciousness? Perhaps she’d forgotten her meds or got them mixed up?

The hospital was large and modern. Emmelin parked and made her way to the front desk. A young lady explained which ward Irene Bergh had been admitted to and how to get there. Emmelin spotted Magda at the end of a long corridor and hurried towards her, engulfing the older woman with a hug. Magda cried silently.

‘I’m sorry, Emmelin. There was nothing they could do.’

Emmelin pulled back. What did she mean?

‘Your mother had a heart attack,’ Magda almost whispered. ‘She died in the ambulance.’ 

2

‘C up of green tea and coffee, please,’ Emmelin said, digging in her purse for some coins. As she paid, she glanced back at her mother’s friend. Magda was sitting at a table in the hospital Café, her face drawn and pale. Poor Magda, she thought. Irene’s passing hit her hard. She juggled the tray with hot drinks to the window table and sat down.

‘You have to call Julie,’ Magda said, looking up.

‘I’ll do it now.’ Emmelin blew her nose. Of course, her sister should know. She had to call, but it would be a wonder if she managed to talk at all, what with the lump in her throat. She always got it when she cried, and it was almost impossible to get rid of. Perhaps the tea would help. She put in some sugar, stirred, then added milk.

‘Green tea and milk.’ Magda smiled thinly. ‘Never heard of anyone else drinking tea like you do. I thought most people preferred it without.’

‘Mother always made tea. Once, she poured milk in by mistake. I think I was about fifteen. I liked it.’ She smiled and shook her head slightly. ‘And I’m still doing it.’

She pulled her phone from her bag and found her sister’s number. It rang for the longest time. She was about to hang up when she heard the familiar voice.

‘This is Moen, who’s calling, please?’

‘Julie, it’s Emmelin. Something terrible has happened. Mother had a heart attack. She died before the ambulance reached the hospital.’ Emmelin spoke in a rush, wanting to get it over with. There was no easy way to say it, so better to get it done quickly.

Julie said nothing. Emmelin could hear her breathing. ‘Did you listen to what I said?’

‘Yes. It’s very sad,’ Julie responded. ‘It’s been a while since I’d last seen her. But that’s how it is when you live in the countryside.’

For a moment Emmelin was stunned. How could she be so insensitive? Her face started to flush, getting red, angry. She bit her lip, trying to suppress her irritation.

‘You don’t live on the moon, Julie. You’re not that far away. Anyway, we have important things to discuss. You’re coming to the hospital, aren’t you? Don’t you want to see mother one last time?’

Again, there was a pause. After several seconds, Julie replied. ‘It’s not possible for me to leave now.’ Her tone was accusing. ‘Why did she have to die now? It’s simply not convenient. We’re having a dinner party. I’ve spent days planning this meal. The food’s already in the oven.’

Emmelin tuned out as her sister continued to explain just how difficult it was for her, their mother dying and all. Somehow the ‘conversation’ moved on to black grouse roulade.

She stared down at her tea. Tiny tea leaves were floating to the surface. Or were they drowning? She rubbed her temple with one hand, trying to stave off the headache she felt coming on. With an effort of will, she focused on the conversation.

Julie was in the middle of a lecture on the excellence of her apples. ‘You know those large apple trees of ours? Can you imagine anything better than using our produce? They are excellent quality and not chemically treated, naturally. No pun intended.’ She laughed at her wit. There was no mistaking the pride in her voice.

Emmelin’s eyes glistened. Her heart was racing. She was about to break down and knew she couldn’t take much more.

‘There’s a lot to discuss, and we have to make the funeral arrangements.’

‘It will have to wait until tomorrow. I can meet you at Café Solside at ten. We’ll figure it out somehow. Bye.’

Leo took the news about Irene’s passing very calmly, just as Emmelin had expected. He didn’t have a close relationship with his mother-in-law. There was nothing strange about that. He had never spent any real time getting to know her.

But Oliver was a different story altogether. He was very fond of his grandmother. There was no consoling him, and he cried himself to sleep, while tightly embracing his mother. Emmelin did not try to hide her tears. There was a time for grief. Who was she protecting if she held back the tears? It would help them both, especially as they were extremely close to Irene.

A pang of remorse stabbed her. If only she had been able to talk to her mother before she died. Whoever could help her now? No one, absolutely no one. Her mother had taken her secret to the grave.

The next morning, Leo took Oliver for a ride in Nordmarka, the vast forest and hiking area right outside the city, while Emmelin went to Solvik to see Julie. Leo loved kids, and he was ideal for camping trips or hiking in the woods on the weekends. If only they could have another child. That was Leo’s strongest wish, something he did nothing to hide. If things had gone differently in the past, then maybe.

It was ten o’clock by the time Emmelin parked in the driveway at her mother’s house. Her sister pulled in a moment later, skidding to a halt on the gravel. She jumped out and locked her shiny, new car. A BMW, Emmelin noted.

They shared a brief hug and set off down the road. Café Solside was as cozy as ever. It had been refurbished over the years, of course, but the sofas were the same as they had been when they were kids. The red chequered tablecloths had been traded in for clean, new linen. The greatest change was the so-called bar counter; a long pine board with matching barstools. It didn’t quite fit with the ambiance, but it provided additional seating, so it was an immediate success. The Café was the small town’s only diner and thus a natural meeting place that was always busy. Somehow there was room for everyone.

They sat down on a comfortable couch, and it didn’t take long before an elderly waitress hurried over.

‘Good morning,’ Vera said, one hand on her round belly. ‘I’m so sorry about Irene. She was like family. The town won’t be the same without her.’ There were tears in her eyes. ‘Oh, here I go again.’ She wiped her eyes. ‘What can I get you?’ Before they could reply, she turned on her heels and made her way to the kitchen. Over her shoulder, she said, ‘I’ll be back in a jiffy. Study the menus in the meantime.’

She disappeared. Emmelin suspected she was in search of a hankie. Vera was raised in Solvik. They had known her since they were young.

‘What kind of food is this?’ Julie asked, staring at the menu in disbelief. ‘Meatballs with gravy, pea stew, and boiled potatoes.’

Vera returned, her eyes puffy. She had clearly overheard Julie’s comment. ‘It’s been a long time since we last saw you, Julie,’ she said frostily. ‘If you’d visited more often, you’d know not even your mother’s cooking could match what Harriet conjures.’

Emmelin was used to Vera’s direct way of speaking, but Julie was clearly not. With a sniff, she finally decided on a baguette with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.

Emmelin did not need the menu. She looked up at Vera and smiled. ‘I’d like a bagel with cream cheese and salad, please. And sparkling water.’

As Vera put their order in, Emmelin tried to reach out to her sister. They were not as close as she would like, and the current circumstances would bring them together, surely. ‘There’s so much to be taken care of, Julie. I can’t believe mother’s gone, it’s so unreal.’ She felt fresh tears forming and blinked feverishly to keep them at bay.

‘You were much closer to her than I was,’ Julie replied. ‘I was rarely ever here. I couldn’t get away fast enough.’

‘I remember. You got married straight after school and moved. You didn’t even want to go to college.’

‘Education isn’t important,’ her sister said briskly, brushing an invisible hair from the lace collar of her cardigan. ‘I wanted to marry someone financially stable and focus on raising a family, and that’s what I did.’

When the food arrived, Julie tucked in enthusiastically. She devoured the baguette, not leaving a crumb. When she was done, she sat back, satisfied. ‘It wasn’t all that bad.’

‘The food’s as good as when we were kids.’ Emmelin took her time eating. They had lots to discuss. ‘Harriet doesn’t let anyone else near the kitchen.’

Vera and Harriet were sisters and had overseen Café Solside for as long as Emmelin could remember. Harriet was tall and slender, which was quite a feat, considering she was tasting her cooking, all day long. She was quiet and calm, not outspoken like her sister. As far as Emmelin knew, Harriet was unmarried, while Vera was a widow. They shared the apartment above the Café.

Despite the occasion, Emmelin was pleased to be back in Solvik. Still, there was a lot to deal with. She was about to speak when a shadow fell over the table.

‘My condolences,’ a solemn voice said.

Emmelin looked up, instantly recognizing the older man. ‘Oh, Mr. Henriksen. I didn’t know you were here.’

‘I saw you come in. I sat in the corner over there with a cup of coffee,’ he replied, gesturing to the quietest spot in the Café. ‘What time will it suit you to read your mother’s will?’

‘Her will?’ For a second, she was puzzled. Emmelin looked at her sister, but she was staring up at the attorney incredulously.

‘I have time now, even if it is Saturday. If you like, we can discuss it after you’ve finished eating. Just come by my office when you’re done here.’ He gave them a nod that was almost a bow, his polished head shining.

Emmelin hadn’t even thought about a will. She had been too consumed by sorrow and the overwhelming thought of the funeral arrangements. But she found that she was curious. They paid and started walking toward the attorney’s office, located on Solvik Street in the center of the small town.

‘I wonder if our mother had a fortune hidden somewhere,’ Julie said cheerfully. ‘Fat chance of that.’

Emmelin didn’t reply, and they continued the rest of the walk in silence. They arrived outside a cozy, white wooden house, bearing a brass plaque with the inscription, ‘Henriksen and Associates, Attorneys at Law.’

A young woman greeted them and then led them to a small room where they sat at an oval table. Henriksen entered briskly.

‘Irene gave very specific instructions about her belongings. She came to see me less than a year ago and asked me to prepare a testament.’ He cleared his throat as he pulled a sheaf of papers from a manila envelope. ‘As you know, she didn’t have many major assets. In short, she gives her house and its contents to you, Emmelin. You often visit Solvik and have ties to the town. The cabin at Sjusjöen and all its belongings she left for you, Julie, seeing as you have used it frequently over the years and enjoy the mountains. All cash assets will be divided equally between you both. You will receive the testament in writing of course, and can read it in full at your convenience.’

He stood, a clear sign the meeting was over.

‘Well, I have never! How unfair is that?’ Julie was distraught. ‘It goes without saying that the house is much more valuable than the cabin. Admittedly, I would never consider living here, but we could at least sell it.’

Her reaction didn’t surprise Emmelin one bit. Nonetheless, she couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

However, Henriksen was clearly used to demanding beneficiaries. ‘You should be satisfied with what you received,’ he said in an authoritative voice while opening the outer door. ‘This is what your mother wanted. The testament is final and cannot be altered.’

Julie gave Emmelin a glare as if it was all her fault. Then she got up and left without another word.

3

Julie did not say a word on their way back to their mother’s – no, her sister’s house. Why did the eldest always get the best? And why did her mother take it for granted that she didn’t want the house? Of course, Emmelin, the golden girl was prioritized, as usual. So what if Emmelin had kept visiting, while she had barely been back. Who could blame her? Their father was a drunk and had made any visit intolerable. And after he was gone, she had already been living in Holmenkollen, the posh suburb west of the capital.

Her mother should have understood. Naturally, she should have visited Solvik more often, but she had to travel almost twice the distance compared to Emmelin, to get there.

Julie tried to calm herself, casting a sly glance at her sister. Emmelin looked tired. There were crows’ feet at the corner of her eyes. She should take better care of herself. What Emmelin needed was some fresh, clean mountain air. Julie almost smiled. Too bad.

Come to think of it, maybe it wasn’t such a bad outcome, after all. Emmelin had no interest in the cabin, which Julie had practically owned for years. But now that it was hers officially, there were some changes she could make. Let Emmelin have the house. It was old and run down. It would be a money pit. Anyway, it was impossible to contest the will – the old man had been most adamant about that.

The house looked the same as always. Tidy but with lots of little trinkets everywhere. The walls were covered with pictures and paintings, neatly hung in rows with only a couple of centimeters in between.

Emmelin and Julie entered, neither speaking. It was quiet, eerily so. Only the sound of the grandfather clock tick-tocking could be heard. They hung up their coats and went inside. How anyone could live like this, engulfed by so many items, was a mystery to Julie. She liked things clean, tidy and simple. Not all this bric-a-brac.

Julie looked around, taking in all the pictures of Emmelin and Oliver. You had to be a genius to keep track of all the photos her mother had taken through the years. And they were all here. Her mouth turned down as she realized that they were almost all Emmelin and Oliver. Where were her kids?

There, above the fireplace. A few of Ben and Pia, in a nice golden frame, but there should have been a lot more, considering all the sports medals they had won. Apparently, it wasn’t just herself and Emmelin who were treated differently. It was no wonder that she hardly ever visited.

‘Whatever are we going to do with all of this? Mother kept everything!’ Emmelin said as she checked out the embroidered cushions on the couch.

Julie sighed. ‘It’s mostly old junk. I certainly don’t want anything.’

‘Don’t be so negative, Julie. Think of all the memories.’ She picked up a glass figurine; a burgundy swan with a white beak and three little cygnets.

‘Exactly, and none of them are good. You might want to keep the house, but if it were up to me, I’d sell it to the highest bidder.’

‘Oliver loves this place,’ Emmelin said as she looked out the window. She shook her head as if clearing out a thought. ‘Perhaps it’ll be too much for me anyhow. Old houses cost a lot to maintain, especially when it’s in need of refurbishment. And we have our lives in Oslo.’

‘You could always use it for vacations.’ Julie studied her crimson lacquered fingernails.

‘I’ll have to think about it and see if I can manage it moneywise. However, we have more important matters to discuss. There’s the funeral to organize and the memorial service afterward. I don’t know where to start.’

EMMELIN went through to the kitchen. The garden was looking a bit shaggy. The grass needed mowing, and there were weeds. She sighed. Another thing to take care of. But at least the rose beds did not seem to need any work. With the roses in full bloom, they were a beautiful sight, one much admired by the entire town.

Julie poked her head into the kitchen. ‘I think I’ll leave it all for you to deal with,’ she said, looking at her watch. ‘I don’t have any time to spare. Pia and Ben are due to start roller ski practice, in preparation for the winter season. They’re doing excellent in their classes, you know. We expect lots of medals this winter.’

Her decision to abandon her came as no surprise to Emmelin. Julie had always avoided responsibility. Ever since they were kids, she would run from anything that demanded hard work or might simply bore her.

This business with the kids was no different. You’d think they were at an elite level, the way Julie carried on.

Emmelin’s lips pursed in anger. Once again, her sister was going to cut and run. That was Julie in a nutshell, leaving everything to others. She felt her frustration rising. Just once she would like to see her sister take the harder path. Perhaps with a little nudge?

‘Are you serious? You can’t mean that I should do everything on my own? There’s so much to clear out, and the attic is full of old stuff. Not to mention the annex.’

‘Well, it’s your house, isn’t it? You’ll manage like you always do,’ Julie said with conviction. She patted her sister’s arm in a comforting manner. ‘Ask Magda to give you a hand; she doesn’t have the heart to say no. Now I must leave. It takes such a long time to get to the west side of Oslo from here.’

Julie retrieved her coat and made her way to the front door. She hesitated a moment, then turned back. ‘I’ll bake a cake for the memorial service – at least you don’t have to worry about that.’ She slammed the door on her way out.

With her sister gone, Emmelin could at least begin to make some plans. She sank onto the old sofa her parents had bought when they got married. It was large and brown; the leather cracked from wear and tear. The soft leather was comforting. It was like being hugged, something she certainly needed right now.

It was all too much, and she had no idea where to start. Well, the funeral, of course. She’d never made funeral arrangements before. When her father died, her mother and Magda had taken care of everything. She was nineteen at the time. Her job had been helping with practical things, like setting tables for the wake and clearing up afterward.

She called the churchwarden, an old friend of the family. He was expecting her call and informed her that it was possible to have the funeral on Wednesday, at eleven o’clock. That gave her less than four days to get everything prepared. How would she get it all done in so short a time? Her mother had died way too young. She was only sixty-two. Nowadays people routinely lived to be eighty or ninety or even older. Life was unfair, that’s for sure. She felt fresh tears pressing on and did nothing to stop them, letting them flow freely.

‘Emmelin, are you there?’

Magda’s voice. Her mother’s friend entered the house, stopping at the sight of the sobbing Emmelin.

‘I don’t think you heard me ringing the bell.’

Emmelin jumped up, wrapping Magda in her arms. Although still in her early seventies, Magda Eide had always been like a grandmother to her. She was a widow, like Emmelin’s mother, no doubt that was part of why they found comfort and companionship with each other.

‘Life can be difficult when you lose someone, but you learn to live with the grief. You have a lot on your mind, I know. Don’t worry; I’ll give you a hand.’

‘Thank you. I don’t think I could get through the next week without you. But I’ve made a start. The funeral is next Wednesday.’ Emmelin sniffled.

‘Irene wasn’t much of a churchgoer, so there’s no need for any special hymns at the funeral.’

‘No. But she adored roses. We could decorate the church with roses from the garden,’ Emmelin suggested.

Magda nodded approvingly. ‘Yes, I’m sure she would like that. Her garden is always a sight for sore eyes. We’ll have to organize a wake as well. We can have it here. It’ll be quite a turnout. Your mother was loved by everyone.’

Emmelin nodded, feeling a surge of pride for her mother. She smiled. ‘We could order sandwiches and cakes from Café Solside. Julie promised to bake a cake too. Incidentally, that was all she had time for.’

‘Ah well. Julie was never tied to the town,