Authors: EMME CROSS
“How did you find out Sven was Liam’s father?”
“Liam was playing in a soccer game and he was accidentally kicked and knocked out. The doctor at the hospital said he’d lost some blood and wondered if we, his parents, would be donors? Nils offered. He’d come to town for the game. He was always there for big occasions, but not the little things that really mattered. The doctor took him out of the waiting room and when they came back Nils was furious and the doctor was embarrassed. The blood type didn’t match. He couldn’t be Liam’s father. A follow up paternity test confirmed it. I had no idea. The only other person it could have been was Sven.”
“Why didn’t you contact him? Surely Sven had a right to know?”
Astrid gestured at the baby monitor on the coffee table.
“The timing was rotten. You’d just gotten married and had a baby. I was shocked by both those things. I never would have imagined Sven as a doting husband or father.”
“Neither would he until a couple of years ago. But once you heard Sven had changed and settled down, why didn’t you contact him then? Liam had a right to know his father.” Sunny looked up suddenly. “You never told Liam! He doesn’t know Nils isn’t his father.”
“I couldn’t. He was fifteen when I learnt the truth. He worshipped Nils, the only father he’d ever known. I thought I would tell him later, when he was older. Now Nils is threatening to do the honours.”
Astrid couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“He’s been having money troubles. The recession hit hard in Europe and he couldn’t find as many investors or as many women to help him with his schemes.”
She nodded. “Yes, I wasn’t the first female accomplice and I won’t be the last. Nils has led any number of women astray. Two even went to jail for his crimes. In many ways, I got off lightly. Nils came back to town a few months ago, just after you visited in November.”
“Sven told me he met him when the two of you were out for lunch. I guess that was when you helped find us this house.”
“Nils recognized Sven and made a point of coming over to the table. He’d figured out right away that Sven must be Liam’s father. He knew we’d been lovers.”
Astrid twisted her hands. “He wants money. He threatened to tell Liam if I didn’t get him money. I don’t have what he’s asking for. He stole money again from some company and this time there’s no stupid, innocent woman to take the fall.”
“Knowing all this, why did you agree to let Liam work here?”
“I thought if you got to know him, if Sven could see what a good boy he is, I could find a way to break the news to both of them. That way, I thought it wouldn’t be such a shock. I bought some time with Nils and he promised not to say anything while you were pregnant. I convinced him Sven would pay more money if everything was kept hush-hush until after the baby was born.” Astrid still felt sick when she remembered what she’d had to do to convince him.
“But I don’t understand. Why are you here tonight? I’m still pregnant. The baby is still a month away. Why did you say you’re out of time?”
“Nils can’t wait any longer for the money. The head of the company he embezzled money from has come to Oslo demanding answers. Nils is threatening to sell his story to the tabloids or the gutter press or the bloggers, I don’t know. He says he will smear Sven and tell everyone he knew Liam was really his child but denied him all these years. He figured one way or another somebody will pay him, either for his silence or his story. He thought Sven would be the better bet, because he’d do anything to protect his reputation as a family man and to protect you. He figured an Oscar winner would have access to pots of cash.”
Sunny shook her head. “It always looks that way from the outside. You read about multi-million dollar salaries and private jets, but it’s not like that.”
She stopped for an instant, reading the dismay on Astrid’s face. “I know. Friends and family think movie stars all have this money tree and they’ll hand out cash whenever its asked for.”
“All that money from the wedding and baby pictures?”
“It went to the Chastelaine Foundation to fund scholarships for St. Barts children in memory of my friend who died in the tsunami.”
Astrid looked stunned. “I thought . . . I was sure . . . You know how you read about celebrities and charity and then later you find out no money was actually raised and it was just PR.”
“This was not publicity. My friend did not die for a headline.”
“That isn’t what I meant. I’m just surprised that there isn’t more money.”
“When you think about how most of the world lives, we are Pashas. But there’s money and then there’s cash flow. Most of my money is invested in real estate in St. Barts and in Venice Beach. There are stocks but Nils would tell you how much of a bath you take when you try to sell these days.”
“You don’t have to tell me all this.”
“You must understand that Sven’s money is in this house and in his production company. It’s also gone into his new movie, ‘The Scream.’ He hopes the movie will eventually covers its costs and make money. But until then, he won’t make a dime.”
“But the papers said . . .”
“Astrid, don’t believe the media. Sven’s not making money on this movie. It helps that I have money of my own.”
“You don’t mean he married you for your money?”
“It would never have occurred to him but it sure helps.”
“So Sven doesn’t have a lot of money.” Astrid slumped against the seat of the couch.
The two women sat in silence for a moment, while the sounds of the storm outside grew quiet.
“What about Liam?” Sunny’s thoughts kept coming back to the shy, teenage boy she’d come to love. “How could Nils do that to a boy, let alone one he once thought was his son?”
Astrid shrugged and yawned. “Nils will do anything to save his own skin. He’s not like Sven. He would never put his family or his child first.”
These last few words were slurred and Astrid snuggled into the corner of the couch, the mug slipping from her drooping fingers.
Sunny sat worried for a moment, staring at the white face. But when she felt Astrid’s wrist the pulse was strong and steady. The antihistamine had begun to work.
Sunny felt rather guilty as she tucked a throw over her sleeping guest. She shouldn’t have been so afraid. Astrid was just trying to protect her son. But her disquiet returned at the sight of those scratches on her arms. Mothers, she thought, will do almost anything to protect their children.
The doorbell startled her and she rushed to the front door, Sponge bounding by her side, to admit a sodden Stellan.
“Sorry I took so long,” he said taking off a soaked raincoat and shaking his umbrella out onto the porch. “There are trees down everywhere. I’ve never seen such a storm, not in the south. Where’s Astrid?”
Sunny kissed his cheek and beamed at him. “You are a wonderful friend, and the text was so clever. I knew I could count on you.”
His blush spread all the way to his temples and he blinked behind his glasses. “It’s kind of like being a spy with secret codes and hidden messages. But what’s going on? Are you okay? The baby isn’t coming?”
Stellan glanced down at her.
“I’m okay. Astrid’s asleep. The baby’s not coming. As for what’s going on, come into the kitchen and I’ll make some coffee. This is a long story.”
Over two cups of coffee and a slice of blueberry pie Sunny told Stellan in a hushed voice. He asked no questions, but listened and occasionally glanced over at Astrid who was snoring slightly in the corner of the couch. The blanket had fallen and the bloody scratch marks on her inner arms stood out.
“Did you do that?”
Sunny held up her hands showing him her fingernails which were short and blunt and incapable of scratching a mosquito bite.
“She did it to herself. That was why I got scared. She was so out of control I was afraid she’d hurt Bliss or the baby.”
“Astrid? Dangerous? You’re kidding. I’ve known her for years, ever since university. It’s not like I went to school with crazed murderers or sociopaths.”
Sunny sighed. “Actually you did.” Then she told him about Clyde. Stellan’s eyes widened with each revelation.
Finally he said, “Under the circumstances I can see why you’d be frightened. But I don’t think Astrid is much of a threat to anyone at the moment.”
“I put a night-time antihistamine in her tea.”
“You slipped Astrid a mickey?” Stellan started to laugh. “You look so sweet and innocent and you’ve beaten off rapists and slipped the mother of Sven’s illegitimate son a mickey.”
“When you put it like that . . .” Sunny started to giggle. The two of them laughed together for a while, happy to release the tension. Glancing at the clock she realized it wouldn’t be night for much longer.
“You can go back home if you want. It’s safe now. I think I just overreacted.”
“No, you didn’t. You were protecting your family, just as Astrid is trying to protect hers. I never liked Nils. I’ve heard whispers about his double dealing and warned my clients about getting involved with him. On one level, I’m glad he’s finally getting what he deserves. It’s too bad he will hurt Liam and Sven and Astrid in the process. But if he’s embezzled money from The Daemon Group, he’s screwed.”
“What did you say?”
“The Daemon Group. That’s who he was working with in Norway. It’s an offshoot of a giant conglomerate run by a billionaire called Linus Craig. His son Barry’s in charge. There’s no way Craig will let anyone steal from his son or his company. His reputation is sterling, actually better than gold. He will crush Nils like a bug.”
“He stole from Linus?”
“From his son, technically. I imagine that’s why he’s in town, to clean up this mess.”
“Linus is in Oslo?”
“He’s keynote speaker at a conference. Didn’t you see the big write up in the business section of the paper?”
Sunny only bothered with grocery store specials. “When and where is he speaking?”
“Tomorrow at the Esplanade. I have tickets. He’s amazing; he always seems to anticipate which way the market is going to go.”
“I could talk to him.”
“You know Linus Craig? I am impressed. I’d love an introduction.”
“You may not want one after we speak. He may not be in the mood for pleasant conversation. Can I come with you tomorrow to the speech?”
“Sure. Do you want me to stay the rest of the night so you can get some sleep? You look really tired.”
Sunny smiled. “Have I thanked you for being such a good friend?”
Stellan blushed. “That’s a ‘no’ then. Okay. I’ll pick you up at eight thirty. I don’t think your guest will give you much trouble in the meantime.”
Sunny saw him to the door. “Tomorrow morning.”
He leant forward and kissed her cheek, awkward and affectionate. “Tomorrow morning.”
Astrid woke to the scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon and the sound of a child’s laughter. It took a moment for her to figure out where she was. Memories of the previous night came flooding back — the storm, telling Sven’s wife about Liam and then, nothing. She couldn’t believe she’d fallen into such a deep sleep. She must have been more tired and upset than she realized.
She stretched and peered over the back of the couch. Sunny was playing some kind of game with her daughter. It came to Astrid that Bliss was Liam’s half-sister.
Her hostess looked a little tired but was fully dressed, wearing a suit of all things. Her hair had been tied up into a kind of bun and she was wearing make-up. Astrid blinked. She had never seen Sunny look so neat and professional, though there appeared to be some kind of smear on the lapel of her suit jacket.
“Good morning. I hope your back isn’t sore from sleeping on the couch but I didn’t want to wake you. Your clothes are dried and ironed. I’ve put them up on my bed. You’ll feel better once you shower and have breakfast.”
The little girl giggled something unintelligible, her mouth crammed full.
“Bliss says we’re having pancakes, her favourite.”
Astrid did feel better after a shower. Thoughtfully a wrapped toothbrush had been left beside the sink and the clothes on the bed were ironed. She doubted she would have been so generous, not to a woman who had just announced she’d born her husband’s child, whose transgressions would soon be public knowledge, hurting Sunny and Bliss and their unborn baby.
Astrid now doubted that Sven could come up with the kind of cash needed to buy Nils’s silence. Even if he did, she wondered if Nils would even want to be silenced. He would love the chance to go public with the scandal. He lusted for the chance to hurt her and Sven. With Nils it was all about money and image and it always had been. It’d taken her years to figure that out.
She went down to the kitchen and Sunny slid a plate under her nose.
“Eat. My dad always said that nothing ever looks as bad on a full stomach.”
The pancakes were moulded into shapes — stars and crescent moons and circles like happy faces with blueberries for eyes and mouths. She could tell by Bliss’s smeary face that she had already eaten her fill. The bacon was hot and crisp and the coffee scalding. The orange juice was freshly squeezed.
Astrid attempted a smile. “This is good. Liam says you’re a good cook. He’s always bringing Johan samples. And Sven seems to appreciate food all of a sudden. That must be your doing.”
“I just educated his palate, while he educated me in other ways.”
Astrid watched as her hostess moved around the kitchen, putting away the tea things from the previous night.
The sight of the tea pot gave Astrid an idea.
“Did you put something in the tea to help me sleep?”
Sunny couldn’t lie. “Just a night time antihistamine.” A slight blush coloured her cheeks. “I’m sorry, but you were so tired and upset. I didn’t have any of my herbal sleeping potion ready. I try not to take anything when I’m pregnant. I hope you aren’t too angry with me.”
“I should be, but I’m not. Maybe I’m past feeling angry at anyone.”
“Stop that! Feeling sorry for yourself doesn’t do any good. Be angry. Be angry at Nils for using you and deserting you, putting you in harm’s way and treating a child like some kind of pawn. You should be very angry at Nils for blackmailing you and Sven!”
“You’re defending me?”
“You shouldn’t have stolen files for him but that was long ago. You’ve been punished for that.”
“But what about Liam?”
“He’s your son.”
“And Sven’s.”
“Yes, and Sven’s,” Sunny answered giving her a level glance.
“Aren’t you furious?”
“At what?”
“At Sven having a . . .” Astrid stumbled over the word, “a bastard child. That’s what my mother calls both my children.”
“I don’t like that word. Liam may have been born out of wedlock but he was born out of love. And whatever his beginnings he certainly doesn’t deserve anyone’s contempt.”
“What will you tell Sven?”
“What do you mean?”
“Will you tell him to accept his son?”
“Of course. He’s Liam’s father. What else would he do?”
“You wouldn’t prevent that?”
“Astrid, what are you saying? Of course Sven should acknowledge Liam. He’s part of our family now.”
She smiled at her daughter.
“Bliss is going to have two brothers.”
“But I thought . . .” Astrid put down her mug and clenched her hands, “I was sure you’d hate me and Liam, and what we’ve done to your family.”
“How could I hate Sven’s child? You haven’t done anything to our family except enlarge it. As for hating you,” Sunny took a breath, trying to find the proper convincing words, “I’d like us to be friends. I wanted to be friends even before I knew about Liam. Even more so now. You’re part of Sven’s past. Because of Liam, you’re part of his future as well.”
Astrid felt dizzy and raked her hands through her hair.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Just think about it. Stellan is going to pick me up in a few minutes. We have a business appointment.”
“Something about stamps?”
“Something like that.”
She had just finished wiping Bliss’s highchair tray when she heard a key turn in the front door.
“Where are my two most favourite women on the planet?”
Sven dropped his computer bag and rushed into the Great Room taking Sunny in his arms and kissing her, only stopping when Bliss cried for her kiss too.
“You’ve grown! Are you dating yet?” He plucked his daughter out of her high chair and swung her up into the air.
Bliss giggled. “Daddy’s home! There was a storm,” she said anxious to impart her news. “I wasn’t scared. I’m a big girl. Sponge was scared but I wasn’t.” The words weren’t fully formed but her parents laughed, both fluent in Bliss-lish.
“What a storm!” He slipped off his jacket and dropped it onto a stool at the counter. “There are trees down all across the city but I didn’t see any damage to our yard.”
“We weathered that storm anyway. There are pancakes for breakfast.”
Sven leaned over for another lingering kiss. “I’m glad I didn’t eat on the plane.”
She busied herself preparing his plate and pouring him coffee while he dandled the toddler, talking nonsense about Stockholm.
“This looks good.” His mouth was half full of bacon. “So do you.”
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
“I am. You’re wearing a suit and make up. Nylons?” he asked, peering over the edge of the counter. “What’s going on? Has someone died?”
“I have a business appointment this morning.” She turned to the sink so he wouldn’t be able to see her face. “Stellan will be here in a minute.”
“What business do you have with Stellan?”
She deflected the question. “He came over last night to check on us during the storm.”
“That was good of him, with Mother away.”
“Stellan was here last night?” The question came from the kitchen staircase.
“Astrid! What are you doing here?”
Sunny answered for her guest. “She rode out the storm here too.”
“You had a full house. I shouldn’t have worried about you, but it’s a tough habit to break.”
A car door slammed in the driveway.
“There’s Stellan now. I’m going to leave Bliss with you. Fatima will be here around ten. Liam,” she said with a pointed glance at Astrid, “is picking her up. He took our car to drive her home in the storm.”
“He should have been here last night. That’s what I pay him for, to look after you,” Sven grumbled as he forked up half a pancake.
“As you can see, we are all fine. The baby was active. I think he liked the thunder.”
Sven pulled her to him, nuzzling her neck and placing a hand on her belly. “By rights you should get out of those clothes and greet me properly.”
“I will give you a proper homecoming this evening.”
“Are you going to be gone all day?”
“I hope not,” she said as she went to get her purse and a briefcase full of papers. “I’m not really certain of my plans. I’ll let you know.”
She stopped for a moment and took her husband’s face in her hands, staring deep into his blue eyes.
“I love you very much.” She kissed him gently and then added cryptically, “Be kind.”
With that she was off, dashing back when she realized she hadn’t switched her bunny slippers for a pair of high heels. Before heading out the door she gave Astrid what she hoped was an encouraging smile.
“What the hell is going on? Sunny’s all dressed up. A business meeting with Stellan. You’re here.” Sven pushed a mug of coffee in Astrid’s direction. “Care to fill me in? Did you come to check on them during the storm? Or were you here for Liam?”
“I was here because of Liam but not because of the storm.” She warmed her hands on the coffee, afraid to look him in the face. She had fantasized about his face when he went away to become a movie star and it haunted her dreams each time he came back and they renewed their love affair. Astrid now admitted to herself that she had been seeing his face in Liam’s ever since her son was born.
“Do you remember when you first said you were going to America to become an actor? Everyone, including your mother, said you were crazy.”
“She wanted me to stay here and study architecture, or become a teacher. But I wanted to see the world. Norway seemed too small, almost claustrophobic. But at the same time I was scared. You were one of the few people who supported me. You understood.”
“I remember we were having coffee. You said it was something you had to do. I said I’d wait for you. I did, in a fashion.”
“When I’d come home, you’d be here. You — and Mother — were the reason I came home so often, especially at first. You gave me roots even before I realized I needed any.”
Astrid turned away at these words. The last thing she deserved from him was kindness.
“Remember that time you came back and I was home from Stockholm? We went cross country skiing in the sculpture park.”
“Astrid, what’s going on? You’re not one for nostalgia. While this trip down memory lane is nice, I have a feeling it’s going somewhere.”
She ignored the question and continued getting round to the point in her own roundabout way. “I was involved with Nils then too. I’d met him at work. I thought I was in love.”
“Yet you made time for me.” He held up a hand. “I’m not judging; I’m grateful. At that point, I wasn’t ready to break all ties with my past.”
“That’s when I became pregnant with Liam.”
“I’d forgotten how young you were. You must have been scared but you never said anything. You never wrote me or asked for help. The next time I came home, God, it must have been three or four years later.”
“You got that job on the television show and then two movies back to back. I was so proud of you.”
“We were filming in Africa when I got your letter with the photo of you and Liam. I was pretty surprised you’d become a mom without telling me.”
“I thought about it, but my life was such a mess. Nils wasn’t . . .” she searched for the right words, “he wasn’t the same kind of father to Liam as you are to Bliss.”
Sven looked up from his daughter’s colouring book. “I’m the last one to condemn anyone when it comes to being a father. I was more than a little reluctant at first. Ask Sunny or Mother. But they never doubted that I would be happy about it eventually. And I am. It’s one of the best parts of my life. I never knew this kind of love.” He gave Bliss a kiss and a yellow crayon. The
petit prince
needed his hat.
“I can see that. When I read about Sunny and the baby, I wondered. You were in Hollywood and I didn’t know how much was for show.”
He looked up with mild rebuke. “You know me.”
“I
knew
you. But we haven’t spent a lot of time together in the past few years and the Sven I knew never wanted a family. I couldn’t piece together how you felt then and how you are now. It’s only in the past few weeks I’ve come to understand, thanks to Liam.”
“Liam fits in so well. Whatever Nils’s shortcomings, he should be proud of his son.”
Now or never, thought Astrid.
“Nils has no reason to be proud.”
“I don’t know why you’d say that. Liam’s much nicer than I was at his age. I was an arrogant S.O.B but Liam’s polite and friendly and outgoing and—”
“And yours. Liam’s your son.”
The only sounds came from crayon on paper, a dog snoring and one of the neighbours cutting the grass.
“What did you say?”
“Liam is your son.”
“You said Nils was his father. All these years . . .”
She could hear the anger mounting in his voice.
“You’re telling me that you’ve been lying for decades? That I had a son and you never told me?”