The House by the Fjord (16 page)

After tucking the college letters back in their envelopes, she opened the door of her stove and thrust them into the flames.

From then onwards her social routine began again with pleasant gatherings and – at first – much talk of how they had all spent Christmas and New Year. Then, soon, the favourite topic was the party they were to hold, and there were various discussions about the decorations for the mess and the food to be served; some of the girls planned to make their own special recipes that everybody would like. It would still be an expensive evening, but enough had been collected to cover everything – even a band of air force musicians, who would play during the meal and for the dancing afterwards.

Recently there had been a movie at the airfield cinema starring Betty Grable, which had been set exotically in Havana with plenty of palm trees, music and dancing. All had enjoyed it and at a meeting the next day the suggestion had been put forward by one of the Norwegian wives that there should be a tropical theme to the party. The idea met with everybody's approval, being particularly welcome when outside the snow was halfway up the windows.

From the start it was agreed that everyone at the party should have a garland of flowers to wear as in the movie, although these would be made of paper. Anna and Molly were to make the table decorations, and others were already pondering how they could create a few palm trees and what colours should be chosen for the garlands, lots of yellow and orange being the favourites. The money already collected and held by Sally as treasurer would cover everything, including the band. At first it seemed as if there might be a problem for those wanting babysitters, because normally the mothers took turns with one another. Yet even that was solved eventually by the young local girl, who had been hired some while ago by Sally to be a nursemaid for Tom. She organized her friends into becoming babysitters for the evening. Everything seemed set for a perfect party.

Then the afternoon came when Anna could be sure of nobody calling or any other interruptions. She took up Ingrid's journal and settled back in her chair against the cushion that Molly had given her for Christmas. On the coffee table beside her she had placed a notebook and a fountain pen in case she wanted to make any notes. Yet before she could read a word there came a frantic knocking on her door. In exasperation Anna put the journal in a drawer, not wanting to be questioned about it. Normally, books in English were willingly loaned, but this one was not to be seen by other eyes.

The desperate knocking had increased. Anna reached the door and opened it to find Sally looking distraught and frantic. ‘You have to help me, Anna! I'm in terrible trouble!' she cried, thrusting past into the room and throwing off her coat and scarf before dropping down into the nearest chair.

‘Whatever is the matter?' Anna was extremely concerned. There was a wild, untidy look about Sally that she had never seen before. Then, even more distressing, Sally began to sob noisily, her words tumbling from her.

‘Before Christmas I received a private word from the owner of the little shop in Oslo where I bought that beautiful coat,' she managed to say between sobs. ‘She had had some more lovely stock delivered. Naturally, I went into Oslo that same morning and bought well, but not wisely. Oh, what a fool I was!'

Anna stooped down by the chair to be on a level with her, impatiently seizing her wrists and shaking her into attention. ‘You're not making sense! Are you owing her money? Is she threatening you with a summons?'

‘No, it's worse than that! The only ready money I had that day was what I had been entrusted with as treasurer for the party and I took it with me.' She looked up now, her eyes stark. ‘There were two beautiful and terribly expensive designer dresses that I just had to have or else they would have been snapped up by somebody else! I only meant to borrow from that party fund and repay the amount from my allowance, but the Canadian money still hasn't come through this month and at the next meeting I'm due to show my party fund receipts. I've just enough in my purse to reimburse those who have paid out for a few little things, but that is all! It is bad enough that I shall have to confess what I have done to our friends, but whatever will the Norwegian wives think of me! They will condemn all of us as thieves! That must not happen! That is why I've come to you.'

‘I can't help you, Sally!' Anna exclaimed in dismay. ‘I spent out in the run-up to Christmas.'

‘But everybody knows you have a rich father-in-law. One of the Norwegian wives told us that he was once head of a shipping company. You could telephone him and ask him to send you the amount we need. Then I'll repay the loan when my allowance arrives, as it must do soon.'

Anna straightened up and stood back from her. ‘You are asking for the impossible. He is the last person I would ask for anything, especially since I cannot agree to his wishes in a family matter. You must return the dresses to the shop and get a refund.'

‘I tried, but the woman refused. She said if I had only had them for two or three days, she would have returned my money, but I have had them since before Christmas and I wore them at various parties during the festive season at my in-laws' home.' Her expression became pathetic. ‘How could I not when they were so lovely?' Then her tone became wheedling. ‘I'm sure your father-in-law would oblige if only you would ask him.'

‘No,' Anna stated firmly. ‘My relationship with him is still on a tentative footing, and as yet I've no idea what the eventual outcome will be. Surely Arvid would back you financially until your allowance comes through? After all, he is your husband for better or worse.'

Sally groaned aloud, raising her stricken face. ‘I would not dare to ask him! We have had so many rows about my so-called extravagance, because my allowance always seems to run though my fingers and then I get into debt with ordinary things.' She threw up her hands. ‘I can't help it! I've always had money to spend and I can't manage on a budget. Arvid is always wanting me to save!' She repeated the word scornfully. ‘
Save!
As if anybody could do that on our income!'

Anna thought to herself that the other wives whose husbands held the same rank seemed to manage very well. Sally's complaining voice followed her as she went into the kitchenette to make a pot of tea. As Sally continued to moan and groan, Anna shook her head despairingly. It was as Sally had said: all the British wives would be tainted by her theft. It was that thought that made her determined to find a way out of this trouble.

She returned with the tea. She poured a cup for Sally before sitting down with one for herself. ‘I don't want your action to spoil things for others, and so I have a suggestion to make.'

‘What is it?' Sally demanded sullenly, still furious that Anna had disappointed her.

‘The most important expense other than the drinks is the food, and the caterer has stipulated that he wants to be paid on delivery. But I think we could get what we need from another source that would extend the time of payment. You cannot ask any of the Norwegian chefs to collude with you, but there is one who I'm sure would be glad of a chance to win your favour by doing everything in his power to get you out of this trouble.'

Sally paused after sipping her tea and frowned. ‘Whom do you mean?' Then understanding dawned and she looked horrified. ‘Not that lecherous Frenchman!'

Anna nodded. ‘He is your only hope. Go and see him. Tell him what has happened and how your allowance has been temporarily delayed. Ask him to provide the same food as we have on order with the Oslo caterer, which can then be cancelled, and tell him that payment will come to him just as soon as you're in the money again. The barman will keep account of what is drunk at the bar, but I'm sure Jacques could find a way to get settlement for the drinks delayed by a few days. Your allowance will probably have come by then.'

Sally was torn between relief at Anna's solution and abhorrence at having to humble herself to the Frenchman, who undressed her with his eyes whenever he saw her. Yet she realized that Anna had presented the only solution. Most important of all – both for Arvid's sake as much for her own – was the protection of her good name. Otherwise, it could go against his promotion if a whiff of a money scandal hung about them both. Then their income would never improve and that mattered a great deal to her.

‘I'll do it,' she said reluctantly.

Anna sighed with relief as Sally departed, but the interview had distressed her and she was in no mood to start reading Ingrid's book.

She thought later that if it had not been for that interruption by Sally, she would have been reading and might never have thought of inviting Alex to the party. Yet the idea came to her as she was picking up the teacups to take them into the kitchenette and her glance fell on the book of Norwegian photographs that he had given her and which she kept displayed on the coffee table. After the upsetting time with Sally, she was reminded of his powerful presence, which seemed to her at this moment to have the calmness of those same mountains in the book. Yet there was most certainly the fierceness of those mountains too. She had found his kiss of farewell at the railway station impossible to put from her mind. Maybe that was what had been intended. She doubted that he would come such a long way for one evening, but she would ask him anyway.

The letter was sent the next day and a reply of acceptance came back by return of post. Molly offered her small spare bedroom for his accommodation overnight if he would not mind the storage boxes now housed there. Anna accepted on his behalf.

Anna did not see Sally again until the next meeting. She supposed all had gone well as she had heard nothing more from her. This was confirmed by Sally's sharp and serious nod as Anna entered the room and took a chair beside her.

‘I've seen Jacques and he is going to deal with everything,' Sally said stiffly and low-voiced in order not to be overheard, although there was such a babble of voices in the room among the other women that even normal conversation was difficult to hear. ‘He is even going to settle the drinks bill temporarily until my allowance arrives.'

‘He is being more helpful than I ever dared hope he would be,' Anna said with relief. ‘Another bonus is that his food will be better than that of the caterer. So it is a case of all's well that ends well.'

‘Not for me.' Sally spoke icily to her. ‘I had to give him something on account.'

Anna stared at her in growing understanding, meeting the frantically distressed look in Sally's eyes. ‘How could he have dared to make such a demand on you!'

Sally's lips twisted wryly. ‘Because he saw as soon as I arrived at his lodgings that I was at my wits' end and desperate for his help. When he stated his demand that I go to bed with him, I nearly went mad with rage, but he remained adamant and made a final ultimatum, saying that otherwise he would report my visit to Arvid. I could not risk that happening and I consoled myself with the thought that it would be a matter of a few quick awful minutes.' She took a deep breath as if it were a struggle to go on. ‘But I soon discovered that he prides himself on being an artist in other matters beside food. That was the dreadful part of it. I have never had so much sexual pleasure in all my life!'

‘Sally!' Anna gasped. Then she was at a loss for words, having caught an undercurrent in her friend's voice that she did not trust. Sally seemed to guess at Anna's thoughts.

‘No, I don't intend to go to him again, but if fate ever threw me in his path at some other time, I cannot vouch for what I would do.'

Anna, dismayed by what had happened, reluctantly turned her attention across the room to Molly, who was on her feet ready to open the meeting. After welcoming everybody to what was to be the final gathering before the party, she commenced with a happy announcement.

‘Chef Jacques has volunteered to provide the food at cost price, giving his time and his skill free of charge!'

There was enthusiastic applause from all but two in the room.

Twelve

It was late afternoon when Alex arrived in Gardermoen on the day of the party. He had driven all the way from Molde in falling snow and was glad to enter the welcoming warmth of the Anna's apartment, where she had coffee and
smorrebrod
waiting for him. Most of all he was pleased to see her again and it showed in his eyes. He had good news of Steffan and Gudrun in that they were both well.

‘They sent greetings to you,' he said, comfortably settled in a chair, his cup of coffee in his hand. ‘What have you been doing since I last saw you?'

‘Mostly it has been making paper flowers and doing other things for the party. Incidentally, I have been giving thought to when I go back to England and I have come to the conclusion that I should wait for the Spring. It's not just for the purpose of viewing the old house, although I would do that when I'm in Molde, but because everyone tells me that the Spring is so beautiful here.'

‘That must mean you'll be taking a trip to Molde to view the Spring and not just to visit your father-in-law.'

She smiled. ‘Are you saying that the Spring is more spectacular there than anywhere else?'

He looked seriously at her. ‘Yes, I am. All over the country wild flowers appear everywhere and there's a small windflower that makes a white carpet on every forest floor, but in addition on the west coast every waterfall bursts through its ice, many creating a fantastic torrent with clouds of spray. There's a spectacular one not far from the old house that you have yet to see.'

She was sharply interested. ‘You say the waterfall is not far from that house? Can it be seen from the windows?'

‘Yes, of course, and – except when it is frozen – it can also be heard by night and day.'