ease.
The microwave dinged, and Annika put the warm buns on a plate and then set two cups of coffee on the table as well.
‘All right now. Help yourself and then tell me what’s bothering you. I could see something was wrong earlier today, but I thought I’d let you talk about it in your own good time.’
‘It might not be anything, and I don’t want to bother you with my problems, but …’ Martin noticed with frustration that sobs were already rising in his throat.
‘Don’t be silly. That’s why I’m sitting here. Now tell me.’
Martin took a deep breath. ‘Pia is sick,’ he said at last, hearing how the words echoed off the walls in the kitchen.
He saw Annika’s face turn pale. This was probably not what she was expecting. He rotated the coffee cup between his hands and started over. Suddenly the words came pouring out.
‘She’s been feeling tired for a long time. Actually, ever since Tuva was born, but we thought nothing of it. It just seemed a normal response after having a baby. But Tuva is almost two now, and Pia hasn’t been feeling any better. In fact, it’s getting worse and worse. Then Pia noticed several lumps in her neck …’
Annika’s hand flew to her mouth, as if she understood where this conversation was going.
‘And a few weeks ago I went with her to see a doctor, and I could tell at once what he suspected. She got an immediate referral to see a specialist in Uddevalla, and we went there so she could have some tests. And now she has an appointment with an oncologist tomorrow afternoon to hear the results, but we already know what they’re going to say.’ Tears began rolling down his face, and he angrily wiped them away.
Annika handed him a paper napkin. ‘Go ahead and cry. It usually helps.’
‘It’s so unfair. Pia is only thirty-three, and Tuva is still a baby, and I’ve Googled the statistics, and if it’s what we think, the odds aren’t very good. Pia is being incredibly brave, but I’m such a bloody coward, and I can’t bear to talk to her about all this. I can hardly stand to see her with Tuva or even look her in the eye. I feel so damned useless!’ He could no longer hold back the tears. He leaned over the table, burying his head in his arms and sobbing so hard that his whole body shook.
Annika put her arm around his shoulders and pressed her cheek against his. She didn’t say a word, just kept stroking his back. After a while, he sat up, turned towards her, and crept into her arms. Annika gently rocked him, the way she would have rocked Leia if she’d hurt herself.
They had been lucky to find a table at the Café Bryggan. All of the outdoor seating was taken, and Leon watched as one shrimp sandwich after another was served. The location near Ingrid Bergman Square was perfect, with tables along the entire wharf, all the way out to the water.
‘I think we should buy the house,’ said Ia.
He turned to gape at his wife. ‘Ten million kronor isn’t exactly small change.’
‘Did I say it was?’ She leaned forward to straighten the blanket on his lap.
‘Leave the damn blanket alone. I’m sweating to death.’
‘You’re not supposed to catch cold. You know that.’
A waitress came over to their table, and Ia ordered a glass of wine for herself and mineral water for Leon. He glanced up at the young girl.
‘I’ll have a large beer,’ he said.
Ia gave him a reproachful look, but he merely nodded at the waitress. She reacted in the same way that everyone he met always did, making an exaggerated effort not to stare at the scars from the burns. When she left, he gazed out at the water.
‘It smells just the way I remember,’ said Leon. His hands, covered with thick scar tissue, rested in his lap.
‘I still don’t care for this place. But I’ll learn to like it if we buy the house,’ Ia said. ‘I have no intention of living in some hovel, and I don’t plan to be here all summer. A couple of weeks a year should be
The microwave dinged, and Annika put the warm buns on a plate and then set two cups of coffee on the table as well.
‘All right now. Help yourself and then tell me what’s bothering you. I could see something was wrong earlier today, but I thought I’d let you talk about it in your own good time.’
‘It might not be anything, and I don’t want to bother you with my problems, but …’ Martin noticed with frustration that sobs were already rising in his throat.
‘Don’t be silly. That’s why I’m sitting here. Now tell me.’
Martin took a deep breath. ‘Pia is sick,’ he said at last, hearing how the words echoed off the walls in the kitchen.
He saw Annika’s face turn pale. This was probably not what she was expecting. He rotated the coffee cup between his hands and started over. Suddenly the words came pouring out.
‘She’s been feeling tired for a long time. Actually, ever since Tuva was born, but we thought nothing of it. It just seemed a normal response after having a baby. But Tuva is almost two now, and Pia hasn’t been feeling any better. In fact, it’s getting worse and worse. Then Pia noticed several lumps in her neck …’
Annika’s hand flew to her mouth, as if she understood where this conversation was going.
‘And a few weeks ago I went with her to see a doctor, and I could tell at once what he suspected. She got an immediate referral to see a specialist in Uddevalla, and we went there so she could have some tests. And now she has an appointment with an oncologist tomorrow afternoon to hear the results, but we already know what they’re going to say.’ Tears began rolling down his face, and he angrily wiped them away.
Annika handed him a paper napkin. ‘Go ahead and cry. It usually helps.’
‘It’s so unfair. Pia is only thirty-three, and Tuva is still a baby, and I’ve Googled the statistics, and if it’s what we think, the odds aren’t very good. Pia is being incredibly brave, but I’m such a bloody coward, and I can’t bear to talk to her about all this. I can hardly stand to see her with Tuva or even look her in the eye. I feel so damned useless!’ He could no longer hold back the tears. He leaned over the table, burying his head in his arms and sobbing so hard that his whole body shook.
Annika put her arm around his shoulders and pressed her cheek against his. She didn’t say a word, just kept stroking his back. After a while, he sat up, turned towards her, and crept into her arms. Annika gently rocked him, the way she would have rocked Leia if she’d hurt herself.
They had been lucky to find a table at the Café Bryggan. All of the outdoor seating was taken, and Leon watched as one shrimp sandwich after another was served. The location near Ingrid Bergman Square was perfect, with tables along the entire wharf, all the way out to the water.
‘I think we should buy the house,’ said Ia.
He turned to gape at his wife. ‘Ten million kronor isn’t exactly small change.’
‘Did I say it was?’ She leaned forward to straighten the blanket on his lap.
‘Leave the damn blanket alone. I’m sweating to death.’
‘You’re not supposed to catch cold. You know that.’
A waitress came over to their table, and Ia ordered a glass of wine for herself and mineral water for Leon. He glanced up at the young girl.
‘I’ll have a large beer,’ he said.
Ia gave him a reproachful look, but he merely nodded at the waitress. She reacted in the same way that everyone he met always did, making an exaggerated effort not to stare at the scars from the burns. When she left, he gazed out at the water.
‘It smells just the way I remember,’ said Leon. His hands, covered with thick scar tissue, rested in his lap.
‘I still don’t care for this place. But I’ll learn to like it if we buy the house,’ Ia said. ‘I have no intention of living in some hovel, and I don’t plan to be here all summer. A couple of weeks a year should be
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