Thirteen, Fourteen... Little Boy Unseen (16 page)

Sune left and I walked to the door to listen in if something happened to him. I knew Tobias had a baseball bat in his room in case I needed it. Sune stumbled around downstairs before he came back up again.

“Like I said, there’s no one there.”

“Did you check the front door? Was it locked?” I asked.

Was it just a dream? No, he was there. I saw him. I did. I know I did.

“Yes, it was locked. So was the back door. No windows were open. No one could have come in here. Now, can we please just go back to sleep?”

“He was here, Sune. I’m not making it up. I swear. He was standing right in the corner. The door was open. It was him, Sune. It really was.”

I could tell he didn’t believe me. He shook his head and we walked back into the bedroom. “It was a dream, Rebekka. I’m sure it felt very real in the moment, but it wasn’t. Trust me. Why would Jeppe come into our bedroom and look at us? Give me one reason?”

“Because he’s creepy?” I said.

Sune laughed. “You think Jeppe is creepy?”

“A little. I mean, the whole look-alike thing is kind of creepy.”

Sune put his arm around my shoulder and laughed again. “You’ve been working on too many murder cases, my dear. Jeppe is just a nice guy, trying hard to be our friend. That’s all. Now, can we get some sleep? I’m beat.”

We went back to bed, but it took a long time before I finally fell asleep. I kept looking at the door and wondering if he would come back. I still wasn’t convinced that it was just a dream. How could it be? He was there.

Finally, I gave in and dozed off. A few hours later, I woke to the sound of William crying. I rushed into his room and picked him up. He needed a clean diaper. I changed him, then walked downstairs to make him breakfast. It was still dark outside at six o’clock, and I felt like I was the only one awake in the entire nation.

After his breakfast, I took William to the living room, where he played with blocks for an hour or so, while I dozed off on the couch. Then, Julie and Tobias woke up and came downstairs. My dad followed them, holding onto his cane.

“I’ll fix you all some breakfast,” I said, and got up from the couch.

“You look awful,” Julie said, as I put bread in the toaster.

My dad nodded. “Yes, you do look terrible, Rebekka. Have you slept at all?”

“Well, not much, I have to admit.” The toast popped up, and I buttered it.

My dad looked at Julie and Tobias. “What do you say we give your mom some sleep, huh? We can take care of William for a few hours, can’t we?”

“Yup,” Julie said.

Tobias nodded.

My dad chuckled. “Go, dear. Go get your beauty sleep.”

Needless to say, he didn’t have to say that twice.

45

T
HE WEEKEND
ended up being good for all of us. We spend both Saturday and Sunday in the comfort of our living room, playing board games and even the X-box. I finally gave in and let the kids show me how to play. To my surprise, I ended up liking it. Jens-Ole was happy with my articles in Saturday’s paper, and didn’t even call me once during the entire weekend.

I couldn’t quite shake the experience of seeing Jeppe in our bedroom, but decided it wasn’t something I wanted to argue with Sune about. I decided he was right, and to let it go. It had to have been a dream. Anything else would be too strange. And, yes, Jeppe was a little odd, but not that odd.

On Sunday afternoon, Sune asked me if it would be all right if he invited Jeppe over to play with us. At first, I wasn’t sure I liked the idea, mainly because I really enjoyed being just us, but then I gave in. Jeppe came over and he and Sune watched a soccer game, while the kids and I played Monopoly. My dad had been with us most of the day, but now he decided to go back to bed.

I stared at Jeppe, while he and Sune chatted amicably and drank their beers. They talked about soccer and players, and all that stuff that didn’t interest me one bit. I tried to imagine him standing in our bedroom staring at me, but it somehow felt wrong now. It couldn’t have been real, could it? He didn’t seem so creepy, now that I was looking at him. He seemed so sweet all of a sudden. Plus, he made Sune happy. I had to learn to accept him as a part of his life.

“It’s your turn, Mom,” Julie said.

I grabbed the dice and threw it, when I heard William cry. I got up. “William is awake from his nap,” I said. “I have to go and get him.”

I walked up the stairs and into William’s bedroom. He was standing up in his bed and crying. I grabbed him in my arms and hugged him, then took him to the changing table and put him down.

“Now there…no more need to cry. Let’s get this dirty diaper off, shall we?”

I looked at my son and wondered when he was going to speak. He made sounds like he was trying to, but no real words yet. At this age, Julie had spoken like a waterfall. Mostly stuff only I understood, but she wouldn’t shut up. Whereas, William could be quiet for hours. I had wondered if something was wrong, but the doctor had told me William probably was a late bloomer.

“And boys do tend to be a little slower than girls. That’s just the way it is,” he had said.

“You’ll start talking to me soon, won’t you?” I said, and tickled his tummy, when I suddenly sensed that someone was behind me. I turned to look into Jeppe’s eyes. Everything inside of me froze.

Is he following me?

He smiled. “I’m sorry. I was looking for the bathroom.”

The bathroom. He just took the wrong door. Got to stop being so paranoid, Rebekka.

“It’s across the hallway,” I said, and continued to look at my son.

“Oh, thank you,” Jeppe said.

I put William’s clean diaper on, then put a pair of clean pants on, and had him stand up while holding him.

“Oh, you’re a big boy, now, huh?”

William laughed and grabbed my hair. I kissed him and took him in my arms. When I turned, Jeppe was still there, but he had moved even closer.

I gasped.

“Oh, my God. You startled me,” I said, my heart beating like a drum.

What is he still doing here? Why hasn’t he gone to the restroom?

I felt uncomfortable with him so close to me, and I tried to walk past him, but he blocked my way. Then he leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“I like that shirt, Rebekka. Red is my favorite color.”

46

“
T
HAT WAS YOU?
You sent me those texts?”

I felt my face turn red in anger. Who the hell did he think he was?

Jeppe smirked.

“Answer me!” I yelled. “Did you send me those texts?”

He still didn’t answer. The way he stared at me freaked me out. “It was you, wasn’t it? And what about yesterday? I saw you in our bedroom. It was you, wasn’t it? You were watching us. You were staring at us in our sleep, weren’t you? You creep!”

Steps on the stairs came closer. Sune came inside William’s bedroom. “What’s going on here?”

Jeppe shrugged. “I don’t know. I tell you, man. That girlfriend of yours is nuts. She suddenly attacked me with all these questions. She’s apparently accusing me of staring at you in your sleep?”

“That again, Rebekka? Really? I thought we agreed it was just a dream.”

I looked at Jeppe. I couldn’t believe him. “I want you out of my house,” I said. “I want you out of here now. You hear me? And don’t you dare to ever come back here. I don’t want you near me or my children again.”

“Rebekka!?” Sune said.

Jeppe turned to him. “It’s okay, bro. I told you she was jealous of us. It’s all right. I’ll back out. I’ll leave. No hard feelings. I’ll see you around.”

“No, you won’t,” I said, but he had already left.

Sune looked angrily at me. “What the hell are you doing, Rebekka? I didn’t think you’d stoop this low. You really hit rock bottom with this. I can’t believe you. I finally have a friend. I finally have someone I like to hang out with, and then you do this to me? I’m beginning to think he is right. You are jealous. You have been jealous of him and me this whole time. Just because you don’t have any friends. What else is he right about, huh? He keeps telling me I should keep a closer eye on you and that David guy. You’re probably cheating on me. Are you, Rebekka? Are you cheating on me?”

I shook my head. “Sune…Would you please listen to me?”

“No. No. I’m done listening to you. I’m done hearing you say all this crap about Jeppe and talking to me like I’m a baby.”

“Sune, would you just listen?…I…”

Sune shook his head in anger. “No. I’m done here, Rebekka. We’re done here. I’m gonna stay at Jeppe’s tonight, and tomorrow I’ll start looking for a new place for me and Tobias.”

On the last word, Sune turned around before I could say anything, and stormed down the stairs.

“Sune!” I yelled, trying to run after him, but it was too late. When I reached the stairs, I heard the front door slam.

Tobias and Julie came out from the living room and looked at me. “What happened?” Julie asked. “First Jeppe left, now Sune?”

“Yeah,” Tobias said. “Where did my dad go?”

I swallowed my emotions and forced a smile. “They just went out for a little bit. They’ll be back later. No worries, kids.”

Of course, my daughter didn’t buy that. She always saw right through me. “You look sad, Mommy. Did something happen? Did you and Sune fight again?”

I held on to William and hugged him tight, while fighting the tears. I sniffled and wiped my nose. “It’s nothing. I’m fine,” I said, my voice cracking. “Go ahead and finish the game without me. I’ll be down a little later.”

47

M
ONDAY MORNING
came, and I still hadn’t heard anything from Sune. I knew he was staying with Jeppe next door, but wanted to give him the space to think, so I didn’t even try and call him. Even though it was devastating, since he clearly didn’t want to listen to anything I had to say, and I wasn’t very comfortable with him spending time with that creep. What was his agenda anyway? What did he want from us? Why was he spying on us at night? Why was he texting me? Did he have a thing for me? Or was he trying to split us up?

I drove the kids to school and headed off to work, while trying not to worry about Sune and our future. He had to come around somehow, and then I would be able to explain everything to him.

“Whoa. Someone either partied all weekend or the kids kept you up all night? Did William get sick or something?” Sara asked, when she saw me.

I sighed and sat at my desk. I was exhausted. Emotionally, completely shattered.

“Let me get you some coffee,” Sara said, and disappeared into the kitchen. She came back with a steaming hot cup. The best sight I had seen all morning.

“You’re a doll, thank you so much,” I said.

“With milk, just the way you like it,” she chirped. How she was always in such a good mood on Monday mornings was beyond my comprehension. Even on the good days, I wasn’t as cheerful as her. A plate with a pastry landed next to the coffee. Our eyes met, and Sara winked.

“You deserve it,” she said. “I put a little honey in your coffee to sweeten you up a little,” she whispered, then tiptoed back to her desk with a giggle.

She made me smile. The way she loved taking care of me was wonderful. The morning had been rough, having to take care of all three kids on my own, so I guess I did deserve it. And I had no time to get breakfast, so I was actually pretty hungry.

I grabbed the pastry and started eating. It was crisp on the outside and moist on the inside, just the way freshly baked pastry was supposed to be. A little jelly inside of it made it just perfect. I closed my eyes and enjoyed it, along with the sweet coffee. The combination of sugar and caffeine soon sparked life into me, and I felt more alive. I was ready for whatever this day had in store for me. I turned on my computer and a picture of Sune, the kids, and I screamed at me, and the knot in my stomach returned. Were we going to get through this? Did Julie have to go through yet another bad break-up? Why was I so terrible at relationships? Was Sune right? Was I too controlling?

“So, David called and said he was going to stop by this morning,” Sara said. “He told me to let you know. He didn’t want to call you on your cell, he said. Probably afraid of what Sune might think, huh? Does Sune have reason to be jealous, I wonder?”

I shook my head and sipped some more coffee. “I think I’m done with men for a little while,” I said.

“So, you and Sune…?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. He didn’t come home last night. It’s a long story.”

Sara looked terrified. “Don’t tell me you’re splitting up?”

I wanted to be honest with Sara, but also knew she adored Sune and me, and it would almost be as hard on her as on the kids if we split up.

“No. No,” I said, sounding exactly like I had when trying to convince the kids that everything would be fine. “Just a little trouble, that’s all. Nothing we can’t fix. We just need a little time. You know how it is.”

Sara hardly breathed. She had a hand on her chest and gasped as she spoke. “You’re not…you and that David fellow, you’re not…are you?”

“No. No. Not at all. We’re just friends, that’s all.”

Sara breathed again. “Phew. ‘Cause, I mean, the guy is handsome and all…but still. You and Sune. That’s special.”

My phone rang and I picked it up, happy to escape this conversation. It was Jens-Ole.

“I want you to follow up on that lawyer story, that girl that was killed. I was thinking you could go to the law firm and speak with her co-workers. Paint a picture of this girl. Who was she? Was she liked? Was she kinky and got herself into trouble? What’s her story? Did Sune manage to find the autopsy report yet?”

“Sune? Well…No…He’s…” I looked at Sara, who was signaling me, putting a hand to her forehead and pretending to lie down. “Sick. He’s sick. Yes. Sune hasn’t been well.”

“I hope it’s nothing serious?” Jens-Ole asked.

“No. Just the flu. You know how these things take a few days…sometimes a week. He’ll do it as soon as he’s better.”