Authors: EMME CROSS
Astrid faced his contempt and his blue eyes, hard as sapphires. Bliss realized something was wrong and reached up. “Dada?”
Astrid could see the effort it took for him to tear his eyes away from her face to look down at his daughter, to unclench his fist and stroke her cheek.
“It’s okay, sweetie. Grown up talk. How about I put you in the playpen and you can dress Barbie?”
He took a cookie from the jar on the counter, filled the sippy cup and settled his daughter. Astrid watched his carefully controlled movements, ruffling the little girl’s hair, opening the door to the back yard to let out the dog before carefully refilling his coffee cup, measuring out the milk and sugar and then taking his seat back at the counter. She watched as he took a deep breath and could see how he was struggling to remain calm.
All the while, Astrid was looking around the room. Drawings on the fridge. A grocery list scrawled on a blackboard. Glass containers on the counter full of cookies. It was a family room, the place where they ate and gathered together and laughed. She was now jeopardizing all of this. She wished she had her heartburn medication but didn’t think now was the time to go hunting for her purse. She stood silently, waiting for Sven to resume their conversation.
His first thought was of Sunny, his first utterance was about his beloved wife. “Sunny knows! That’s why she left, so you could tell me.”
“Sunny! Everyone’s always thinking about Sunny, how she’ll feel, how she’ll react. ‘Mustn’t hurt Sunny.’ What about me?” The question came out in a wail. “What about how I feel? How I felt two years ago when I found out Nils wasn’t Liam’s father? How worried and scared I’ve been at the thought of telling you?”
“I think it’s quite natural that I am upset that firstly you’ve kept this a secret, and then that you told my wife, my
pregnant
wife, before you told me.”
“I didn’t want to tell her. It was the storm. I came looking for you and there was the storm and a tree branch came down on my car and it was raining and you weren’t here . . . and I told her. I shouldn’t have, but I told her first.” Astrid bunched the long sleeves of her jacket up to her elbow, exposing the claw marks on her inner arms, which were red and raw, the delicate flesh cratered.
Sven flinched at the sight. He took a moment to really look at her, focussing on something other than his own emotions. “How did that happen? Not the dog?” Sponge was sprawled next to the playpen, looking about as dangerous as a stuffed toy.
“No. What? No. Not the dog.” Astrid looked down at the marks as if she’d never seen them before. “I guess I did that last night.” The realization made her laugh, almost hysterically. “That’s why Sunny drugged me. She was worried I’d hurt myself. Or her, or the baby. God,” she said, flopping onto a stool and placing her head in her arms on the counter, “she was afraid of me. What a mess.”
“Sunny drugged you?”
“I can’t blame her. She told me about Clyde.” A bitter laugh. “She must think all your old classmates are psychopaths.”
“She told you about Clyde? You told her about Liam. What else did you and my wife do? Braid each other’s hair? Fuck!”
Bliss laughed from the playpen. “Dada said a bad word. Fuck Sponge! Fuck!”
The dog wagged her tail.
What a horrible father he was, he thought, swearing like that in front of his child.
One of his children.
Now he had a son. He recalled Sunny’s final words. ‘Be kind’, she’d said. And he hadn’t been. He would try now.
Sven got up and hugged Astrid, while she wept bitter tears onto his shirtfront. He kissed the top of her head, that perfect flaxen blonde hair he’d once thought the most beautiful he’d ever seen. She was like moonlight. Now he preferred the warmth of unruly curls the colour of sunrise.
“Tell me everything. I won’t shout, I promise. I’m listening.” He held her hand as Astrid, sobbing, told him about how she’d found out that he was Liam’s father, and why she had waited to tell him. Why she couldn’t wait any longer.
By the time she had finished, she was emptied of all emotion. Bliss was flaked out in her playpen, a half dressed Barbie in her fist. The coffee pot stood empty. Sven almost jumped out of his skin when he heard the front door open.
“Mom! Where’s your car? I got your text about the branch coming down and you spending the night here.” Liam looked at her red swollen eyes and the Band-Aid on her forehead. “You weren’t hurt were you? Have you seen a doctor?”
Astrid pulled herself together. “I’m fine. I was just shaken up and then I got to telling Sven about the night and the scare and — that’s all. It’s nothing.”
“Good. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”
Fatima picked up the sleeping toddler. “I’m going to change this one and maybe take the dog for a walk.” Her brown eyes darted from face to face, conscious of the atmosphere in the room. “We will probably be a while.”
Liam was oblivious to the tension, relieved his mother was okay.
“I can call a tow truck to get your car but it may take a while. They’re going to be busy all over the city. I heard one of the ferries smashed into the dock and some areas still don’t have power. They said on television that it could be the end of the week before everything’s back to normal.”
Fatima shouted, “See you later!” and left with the dog.
Liam finally sensed that something was not right. “It’s weird not to hear music. When Sunny’s here there’s always music. Where is she anyway? Did she go to Judith’s?”
“Mother’s up north visiting relatives.”
He’d have to tell his mother she had a grown up grandson. But first, somebody had to tell Liam.
The boy chattered on, trying to fill the silence and trying not to stare at the sadness on his mother’s face and Sven’s unreadable expression.
“We have something to tell you, Liam.” Sven tried to sound neutral, to avoid scaring the boy even though he was quaking inside.
“What? Mother? Mamma?” He hadn’t called her that since he was a toddler.
“It’s something about Sven and I,” she started.
“No!” Liam shouted. “You’re not having sex again. I know you had sex before. Kids at school, they would talk about it; you and the movie star. I fought with the boys and then Grandma said it too. I read the stories in the papers and online. Everybody knew.”
Liam’s face was bright red.
“You can’t have sex again. Not now. He’s married. He has a wife and a daughter and a baby on the way. You can’t do that, Mamma. I know you’ve been lonely. But you can’t do that to Sven, or to Bliss or to the baby or to Sunny. You can’t do that to Sunny!” he shouted, turning to Sven, braced for a fight.
“I would never do that to my wife.” Sven ignored Astrid’s wince. “I love her. I’ve made mistakes in the past but I’ve learned from them. This isn’t about your mother and me now. This is about us years ago, seventeen years ago. It’s about you.”
Get it over with. Rip the plaster off.
“Liam, you’re my son.”
Should he have said it? He’d been waiting for Astrid, but she’d had two years, long enough to tell her son about his father. Sven looked at her face, frozen in fear at his words, at her son’s reaction.
“How? Why?” Liam’s eyes darted between the two of them. “Mamma?”
“I didn’t know till the city finals, two years ago. You got hurt, Nils offered to donate blood and it didn’t match. And . . .” Astrid stumbled, “then I knew. I was shocked, just as you are now.”
“That’s the last game dad — Nils — came to watch. That’s why he hasn’t been around. That’s why he disappeared. I thought you’d had a fight. I never realized . . .”
Liam brushed away a tear. “He’s not my dad. He doesn’t want to be my dad any more, not since he found out. How could you? How could he?”
Sven moved towards him, while Astrid clutched her stomach with one hand, the counter with the other.
He stood next to the boy, trying not to crowd him, but close, hoping it might bring some comfort.
“Liam, it’s his loss, cutting you out of his life. He’s the one who’s wrong. Not you or your mother. I was wrong too, because I haven’t been there for you all these years. I’m sorrier about that than I can say.” He looked down at his younger self.
“I am here now. I want to be your father, but I won’t push. You have a lot to deal with. Just understand; I am here for you now. I will do anything I can to make this up to you and to your mother.”
Astrid’s chin jerked up and her eyes locked with Sven’s over their son’s bent head and heaving shoulders. “I think about what she must have gone through when she found out. She kept it from both of us to protect us, because she loves us. And because she loves you.”
Liam lifted his tear-stained face, angry again. “Then why tell me now? Why did I have to find out? I got used to dad — Nils — not being around. Why did you have to say anything?”
Astrid looked up, her eyes bleak, and finally spoke in a voice so quiet and dead it startled both men. “I had no choice. Nils hasn’t left me any choice. He’s going to tell.”
“But why? I don’t understand. He hasn’t been around. He doesn’t want me anymore. Why would he say anything? It’s not as if anyone in Hollywood would care.”
“Money. With Nils everything comes down to money.”
The audience in the Grand Ballroom erupted in applause. Sunny looked over at Stellan, who was clapping and beaming. She hadn’t understood much of what Linus had said about third world debt and cap and trades and margin calls, but everyone else had, apparently.
They clapped as though he was a rock star. Sunny had known Linus was rich and successful but to see him stride across the stage, commanding attention and expounding his vision of the global economy was a revelation.
He’s like Sven in many ways, she thought. Both were charismatic and very good at what they did; able to sway opinion and rouse emotions. She hadn’t known until this moment just how much alike they actually were. She didn’t think the comparison would please either man.
Linus was shaking hands, signing books and papers. Off to one side of the stage a young man was watching. As Stellan got in line for an autograph and a word with the keynote speaker, Sunny approached the stranger. He was tall and lean with well-defined features and a shock of black hair that fell into his brown eyes. He was wearing a beautifully tailored blue pin stripe suit that even she could tell was expensive. His silk tie was adorned with what looked like a school crest. He radiated a confidence that was not arrogant. He had a serious expression on his face but there was a slight mocking glint in his eyes as he watched Linus greet his admirers.
“You rowed crew.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You rowed crew.” Sunny drew her eyebrows together as she tried to remember. “Your first girlfriend was unsuitable. A babysitter or something? Your wife’s name is Rachel and your younger brother broke your collarbone when you were eight. I think you were playing a game called statues. It took all summer to heal.”
The brown eyes widened.
“Some of those things you could have found out online and others by paying people for information. But the unsuitable girlfriend is a deep, dark family secret. Never spoken of in polite company.”
She grinned and held out her hand. “I’m not polite company. I’m a friend of your father, Sunny Larsen.”
The man blinked and took her hand in a firm grasp. “Barry Craig. How on earth did you get all that out of dad? He is as quiet as the grave when it comes to his family.”
“We spent a couple of days stranded on an island and had a lot of time to kill. He’d hurt his ankle . . .”
“Sunny! The last name threw me off. You’re the Sunny from the tsunami. He told me about you, how you kept him from losing consciousness until help came. You swam and got the boat.”
“Linus is very chivalrous. He gives me too much credit.”
“I doubt that. You were pregnant then?”
“And now. It seems I’m always running into your father when I’m knocked up.”
She could feel him assessing her and was glad she’d taken the time to dress nicely, though she could see a smear of some kind of breakfast shrapnel on the lapel of her jacket and the waistband of her skirt was biting into her pregnant belly.
“If I found you on a deserted island, I would imagine I’d met a mermaid. He talked about your hair.”
Her hand went to the curls that had already escaped her attempt at a bun.
“Sunny! I can’t believe it.”
His strong arms swung her around and she was swept up in his embrace. It made her think that maybe a day that had begun so badly might end all right after all.
Linus bent and kissed her lightly on the lips. His son Barry raised an eyebrow and Stellan looked as though he was gazing on one of the seven wonders of the world.
“I told you we were friends,” she said to Stellan, making the proper introductions.
“What on earth are you doing here? Surely you aren’t interested in fiscal policy.”
“Not a bit. It might as well have been in Zulu for all I understood of your speech but everyone else enjoyed it.”
Barry interjected. “It went over well. We should get good press coverage across Scandinavia and the rest of Europe.”
“Good,” said Linus. “The trip was worth it if I can get these fools to understand they must not gamble away the assets of future generations.”
Sunny was puzzled by the comment but kept silent as Barry and Stellan made small talk. She turned to Linus.
“I’d appreciate it, if you have a few minutes. I have a business proposition for you.”
“Is that why you’re carrying a briefcase and — my God, are those heels?” he teased. “Don’t worry. You look professional, if extremely pregnant. How far along are you?”
“Eight months but it feels like eight years. I’ve gained a lot more weight this time.”
“That’s why you haven’t called. You didn’t need me to take you sailing to cure your morning sickness. Come on up to the suite and we’ll talk. Barry,” Linus said turning to his son, “that other matter can wait until tomorrow. I don’t have the stomach for it now. Besides, he’s not going anywhere.”
Sunny caught an undertone of anger and the two men exchanged a glance. Barry and Stellan went off in search of lunch.
“So,” he said, once they were sitting in his suite, coffee and tea delivered, “tell me about yourself. How’s my godchild? Did she get the doll I found her in China? They said it was an antique but I had the feeling some guy made them by the thousands in the back of the shop.”
“Bliss loves her present but you have to stop spoiling her.”
“I’m practising. Barry’s about to make me a grandfather.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“I thought I’d feel old but I’m just excited. It will be fun to have a second chance. I remember you telling me so during one of our sails or some sweaty walk on St. Barts.”
“I think I was referring to you having a second family yourself.”
“No such luck. But I took your advice and I’ve been dating. No one’s caught my fancy . . .” He caught her wary look and changed the subject.
“How’s the golden boy? Excited about being a father again?”
“Of course. Why would you even ask? You’ve seen how he is with Bliss.”
Linus had never told Sunny about the first time he’d seen Sven on St. Barts. It was the day of the memorial service for the twin that never was, and Sven had got drunk, terrified of becoming a father and growing old. Admittedly, he did seem to have matured since then.
“Is it another girl? Do I have to get another bracelet? Diamonds and sapphires this time?”
“It’s a boy,” she said, rubbing her belly which had felt queerly taut all morning. Must be a sleepless night and too much emotion.
“Golden boy is going to have a male heir! How about that? He must be strutting about.”
Sunny ignored this and plunged ahead.
“It’s not his first male heir. He has another son.” His eyes narrowed and she saw him make an effort to bite back a nasty remark.
“Sven didn’t know. He doesn’t. Well . . .” She glanced at her watch. “He’s finding out now. The mother kept it secret for years. The boy, Liam, is seventeen now. She thought her regular boyfriend at the time was the father. Then there was a blood test that didn’t match and it turns out he’s Sven’s. Liam is Sven’s son.”
Sunny realized this was the first time she’d said those words out loud. She’d danced around it during her talk with Stellan. The statement made her slightly faint.
“Is that why you came to see me? Do you need help with a divorce? Are you finally seeing sense and leaving Sven?”
“I’m not telling this well. The man who thought he was Liam’s father for fifteen years is blackmailing the mother and now Sven. He’s going to make the whole thing public.”
“Sounds like a real asshole. The boy’s well rid of him.”
“It’s not that.”
“What? Don’t tell me golden boy is worried about his reputation? I would have thought he lived for more evidence of his cockmanship.”
“Linus, listen,” she said urgently. “The man is Nils Van Dries.”
She saw the shock on his face.
“How do you know Nils Van Dries?” he asked.
“I don’t. I’ve never met him but he’s Liam’s father and he’s threatening to cause a huge scandal if we don’t pay him a lot of money. Money I think he stole from you.”
“Not from me,” said Linus bitterly. “I never would have been so foolish as to trust that slimy son of a bitch. He stole from Barry. Barry is in charge of The Daemon Group. It was investing with training wheels, a chance for him to be independent of me and build his own reputation. But that bastard wants to ruin his reputation and make everyone think Barry is a patsy. Well I’m going to ruin Nils instead. Nobody messes with my boy.”
Sunny sat back and absentmindedly rubbed her belly. Linus was as protective of his family as she was of hers. She should have expected that. While it made her love and admire him even more, she also realized with a sinking, slightly sickish feeling that this would make her plan even less likely to succeed. She forced herself to focus on what Linus was saying:
“My advice to you is to stay away from Nils Van Dries. If I have my way he’s going to jail for a very long time. That’s part of the reason I’m in Oslo. I’m going to deal with him once and for all.
His fury spent, he looked down at her pale, drawn face. “You didn’t give Nils any money to invest did you? He didn’t steal from you?” he asked.
“Linus you aren’t listening. He’s going to make the whole paternity thing public.”
“So what? Nobody cares in this day and age.”
“The boy will. This isn’t about me or Sven. It won’t hurt his career. There will be gossip but I don’t care. It’s not even about Liam’s mother. This is about a seventeen-year-old boy who is about to be publicly betrayed by the man he thought was his father for almost his entire life. And can you imagine how this will poison his relationship with his real parents? With Sven?”
“What do I care about a woman and a boy I never even met? What do I care about . . . ?” His voice trailed off. He didn’t have the heart to finish the sentence. He couldn’t meet Sunny’s eyes.
“I know you don’t care about Sven. The two of you are some kind of silly rivals. But I do. I love him. I want him to have a chance to get to know Liam and for them to build a relationship. They won’t be able to if it’s all scandal and people are pointing and tweeting and laughing all the time. It’s not fair. Liam’s innocent and he shouldn’t be made to pay the price for his father’s sins.”
“What am I supposed to do about it?”
“I thought maybe if Nils paid back all the money he stole he wouldn’t be so desperate and we could convince him to go away quietly and not make any trouble.”
Linus laughed scornfully. “Where the hell do you think he’s going to come up with eight million euros?”
“That much?”
“He was very clever. I have a feeling he’d been embezzling and stealing from different companies for years.”
She didn’t think now was the time to explain how Astrid had been an accomplice in his earlier schemes.
“I have the money. I can reimburse you.”
“What?”
“Well, it’s not in cash, but,” she reached across her bulging belly for her briefcase, “here are the latest stock portfolio quotes and the up-to-date assessment on the villas on St. Barts.”
“You want me to take your property? Your children’s legacy?”
“Linus, it’s not like that. It would be me paying off a debt someone else owed you.”
“How dare you think I would be that low!” His eyes blazed with wounded pride.
Sunny could see she had approached this in entirely the wrong way. She was suddenly very tired. She had made a bad situation worse and lost a dear friend along the way. She closed her eyes and started to cry.
“I wish Mimi were here.” Linus groaned and she felt him flop down beside her on the couch. He drew her head into the crook of his arm, while the other hand massaged his own temple. As her tears subsided to an occasional sob he offered her a crisp linen handkerchief.
“I don’t look very businesslike now.” Sunny looked down at the tear stains on her silk blouse. Two buttons had come undone, her nose was running and no doubt her eyes were red, her make-up smeared.
Sunny knew she was an ugly crier. She tugged her shoes off her pregnancy-swollen feet. Curling her legs up onto the couch, she spotted a run in her nylons.
“I think they come that way,” she grumbled. Sunny tugged at her hair and it came tumbling down, covering her shoulders and his.
They sat in silence for a moment, catching their breath.
He stroked her hair.
“How are you handling all of this? I know you’re the eternal optimist but it must have been hard to hear that Sven had a son.”
“It shouldn’t bother me. Maybe it wouldn’t if it hadn’t happened this way, if I had known about Liam when we met. But now I’m trying not to feel a little cheated. I wanted to be the one to give him a son.”
“You are.” His hand touched her bulging belly.
“But not his first.” She shook herself. “I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s incredible there’s only one child out there.”
“I guess he was careful.”
Sunny reflected on how impractical Sven was in the grip of lust. “More likely he was lucky. It’s silly to be upset about the past, you can’t change it. When I heard about Nils, I thought I’d found a way to make the future better. I went about it all the wrong way.”