Victor saw she meant what she said.
“You can never claim this baby. Do you hear me?” she added.
Victor gulped in air and let it out through his mouth. “Vilho knew. He sent me here on purpose so you could tell me to stay away.”
She stood again, tall and straight. Her eyes were unwavering in their message: Victor was never to return.
“Why did you let me have sex with you just now?”
“I am not perfect. I will always love you, but it is ‘goodbye.’” Tears fell from her eyes.
Victor looked at the beautiful wife of his friend, the favorite son of Rauma. After years of adoration in the same community, he suddenly felt replaced. His eyes lingered for a few moments as he took another deep breath and let it out. He involuntarily shifted his gaze to the floor in a moment of shame, and then walked out the door. With that, he knew she was no longer “his.”
He raced around the corner of the blacksmith barn where no one could see, and vomited.
~~~
The discovery of a son shook Victor to the core. How could I have been so stupid to get Olga pregnant? We had been so careful for so long. As he drove to the dry goods store, Victor remembered how they would plan their trysts according to Olga's monthly cycles, avoiding those fertile times. He wanted to scream, but he had things to do. He had to quickly put his son out of his mind. He knew meeting Olga had been wrong, especially after he and Eva got married. But he had ended up not caring if it was wrong. Eva must never find out about the boy, he thought. How in the hell am I going to manage that? He looks like me—like Ellen.
Victor set his resolve and resumed his errands. In a matter of minutes, he was able to muster up some resemblance of the affable, smiling Victor Mattson. He took a breath and entered the dry goods store.
He got out the list that Eva, Liisa, and his mother had made and handed it to the pleasant store clerk. The clerk busied himself filling the order, placing things in the two wooden boxes that Victor had brought with him from the buckboard. Victor impulsively picked out a few peppermint sticks for Ellen who, he knew, would squeal with pleasure at receiving the sweet treats. His mind was still working its way away from Olga and the baby boy.
He forced his thoughts to Ellen while he waited.
It’s a wonder she is nearly three years old now. She is so much like her mother, bright and sassy. Such a ‘Villi Ruusu.’ She’s smart and sassy just like my Eva … She looks so much like a Mattson … I didn’t ask the baby boy’s name. Just as well. Victor, struggling, tried to shove that thought out of his mind. Vilho said “Peter.” Victor tried again, with frustration, to shut out the thoughts.
“Are you all right, Victor?” the clerk asked.
“Yes, thank you for asking. I was just remembering something important.”
Ellen Franciina has her mother’s blue eyes and strawberry blond hair—and my face. At least Eva likes my face, Victor thought with a feeble smile. He still wanted to scream.
The boxes were filled with supplies, ready to go. Victor took care of the bill and walked out by pushing the door open with his backside, one box in his arms. The clerk carried the other box to the buckboard, and then said a pleasant farewell.
Victor drove in a numb state to the city hall, tied the horse on the front post, and covered the box of goods in the back with a piece of canvas. The wind had started to blow a few flurries of snow around. He fixed his coat collar around his neck, pulled his wool cap from his pocket, and put it on. He had the papers in his upper coat pocket. He patted his chest to make sure they were still in his possession.
As he entered, his nose and cheeks burned in the warm building. Ahh, he thought, November in Finland. The building was quiet and the wooden floor made a loud creaking sound as he walked down the hall to the Registrar’s office. As he opened the office door, its old hinges made a similar creaking sound. He entered the office and closed the door behind him. Much to his dread, there stood Pastor Salmi at the counter, signing some papers. Victor paused momentarily, and then said to himself, I have nothing to hide. I don’t care what he thinks. The man’s a bastard and targets my family. How dare he?
Victor could feel himself tensing up in angry indignation. His day had already turned badly, and now this. He looked at the Registrar’s clerk who smiled at him. Good at presenting himself how he wanted to, Victor smiled back.
“I have these documents to file,” Victor said. “Some of them, well, all of them, are delinquent.” His voice trailed off. He could feel Salmi’s eyes boring into him, but Victor refused to acknowledge his presence. Victor’s face had thawed from the wind but was turning hot with increasing anger. He tried to control himself as he waited for the certificates.
“Mattson, what papers are you delinquent with?” the Pastor said.
Victor seethed, but kept a cool, outer demeanor. He couldn’t believe Salmi had the audacity to speak to him.
“None of your business.” He kept his eyes on the clerk who was filling out the certificates.
Victor saw out of the corner of his eye that Salmi went back to his work. He was certain Salmi was not satisfied with that answer, and he could see the pastor start his own slow burn. This was not over.
The clerk handed Victor Ellen’s birth certificate and the other copies. Victor paid the fees, thanked him, and walked out, hoping he was done with Salmi. He folded the papers and put them in his breast pocket for safekeeping. Once outside, he untied the horse and got into the wagon.
As he made his way back to the blacksmith’s, he was buffeted by the burgeoning northwesterly wind. When he arrived, he hopped down from his wagon, hoping to quickly retrieve his latch from Vilho. But, much to his surprise, he saw Salmi getting out of his own carriage nearby. Victor couldn't believe that the bastard had followed him! He tried to ignore him, but Salmi beat him to the door and blocked his entry.
“What do you mean, having another Pastor come to your house behind my back?” Salmi put a pasty white hand on Victor’s arm.
Victor smelled the older man’s stale sweat and beer breath. He was repulsed. “Take your hand off me. You have no hold over me or my family. You are delusional if you think you do.” Victor’s voice remained cool. He was so close to hitting Salmi, but refrained, feeling his body tremble with anger. “You have been drinking, Pastor,” Victor added, giving Salmi a steely, hard look. “Now, please move out of my way.”
Salmi flinched at the drinking accusation and backed off.
Bypassing the Pastor, Victor made his way into the shop.
“How dare you insult the Church!” Salmi, furious and sputtering saliva, followed Victor into the shop. “You are nothing but a bunch of hedonistic heathens out there. Your father—”
Victor stopped and turned around, facing the pastor square on. “I, or my family, have done no such thing. It is you who insult the church—insult God, for that matter. You are not a man of the cloth. You are as power hungry as the Church. Look how many people have left Finland. I’ll thank you kindly to leave me to my business. Maybe you should go and think about what you have been doing to this fine community with your meddling and control.” Victor stared at the infuriated Pastor.
“I’ll—I’ll—” the Pastor sputtered, then gasped violently for air. He reached to grab Victor but seemed unable to breathe. He started to claw desperately at his collar and tie, gurgling, his eyes bulging. He collapsed on the floor.
Victor stood in shock.
Vilho ran to the Pastor and tried to revive him. “I can’t feel his pulse,” he said. “I’m sure he’s dead.”
“Jesus, God! I’ll get the doctor,” Victor said and started for the door.
“No Victor, you go home. I’ll get the doctor and I’ll tell him that the pastor came into the shop and collapsed. I don’t want you to be accused of anything. We know how the church is.” Vilho handed Victor the new latch and bade him goodbye. The mess with Olga appeared to have been forgotten.
~~~
The wind and snow blew hard on V
ictor’s journey back from town. The wind was pushing him home, helping him to get back to Eva. He felt appalled at his behavior. Why did I have to get so angry at Salmi? And why the hell did he have to die? For Christ’s sake, what do I do now? His thoughts plagued him all the way home, not only about the pastor but about how Vilho Hautala knew who his second son’s blood father was and, in the end, still tried to help him.
~~~
Victor wasted no time in telling his family the awful news about Pastor Salmi. A staggering, dreadful pall fell over the Mattson-Maki family.
About a week later, the Constable came to the door of Victor and Eva’s cabin. He was a school friend of Victor’s. Eva poured him a cup of coffee and made him a cold ham sandwich. The Constable was sullen as he reported the news.
“The church officials in Turku want you arrested, Victor,” he explained. “They insist you are responsible for Salmi’s death. Even with Vilho’s eye-witness account, other people saw you arguing with the Pastor, and the church will make it what they want.”
“Christ almighty,” Victor said. He sat in horror.
“I told them I’d give you a week to turn yourself in. I also said they had a very weak case, but it was to no avail.” The Constable shrugged apologetically.
“Why a week’s time? Why don't you just take me now?”
“It’ll give you a small amount of time—to figure a way out.” The Constable paused, looking Victor in the eye. “Some people in a situation like this might choose to go to Sweden, or Russia, or America. Look, Victor, in my opinion, you did nothing legally wrong to warrant the church coming after you. But come after you they will, and if they win, you will end up in prison.”
Victor sat stunned. His throat was suddenly very dry. He looked at Eva. Her head was down on her arm, face hidden, on the table. He wasn’t going to get any answer from her at that moment.
Standing, the lawman said, “I’ll let myself out. I’m sorry Victor, Eva. Good luck, my friend.”
The Constable put on his coat and went on his way, leaving a stunned Victor and Eva sitting at the table.
~~~
Victor arranged a family meeting at the Mattson’s the next day to tell them that he and his family were going to have to leave the country.
“Why?!” Liisa cried. “Why do you have to go away? We will never see you again. We won’t have our babies together. Eva …” Liisa fell off the kitchen chair, losing her ability to maintain control. Yuri had to carry her, nearly eight months along, to the settee as she wailed in grief.
Eva’s mother sat there looking dumbfounded, and Victor’s mother started to hyperventilate, then cry. Victor’s father looked like he was about to cry himself.
With everyone crying around him, Victor felt consumed by his secrets. He knew this was his fault. What the hell have I done? He looked at everyone but couldn’t find any of the usual solace they gave him. Eva was devastated, sitting with Liisa on the settee. Aili, crying audibly, was being comforted by Hannes, who held her in his arms. There’s the future of Mattson Farm, Victor thought. Perhaps that’s my solace.
His father put a hand on his shoulder. “I think you’re right. The only solution that will keep you out of prison is for you three to leave. It’s not every day the Constable gives this kind of opportunity. We must all understand that.”
There was dead silence.
“Eva,” Victor spoke to her from across the room. “It has to be America.”
Eva would not look at him, but she did not disagree.
~~~
Eva felt heartbroken for her loved ones. She knew it was like another hard death for the Makis and the Mattsons. Plans that had been assumed for years were now torn to shreds. No longer would the farm be Victor’s. No longer would Eva’s children grow up in the beautiful country she loved with all her heart. Her heart was breaking and no one could fix it, especially not Victor.
~~~
Three days later, the Makis and Mattsons were standing outside the lake cabin. With two steamer trunks of bare-bones possessions, money from Jacob, and a two and a half year-old, a bewildered and angst-ridden Eva and Victor were ready to drive away forever.
“I love you all,” Eva choked on her words. She kissed each and every one she was leaving behind.
Neither Victor nor Eva could speak, but each embraced their loved ones fiercely.
“Eva, I love you,” her mother said, tears falling from her sightless eyes. Eva’s sisters sobbed. Liisa, in her overwhelming grief, could not stand without Yuri’s support.
In anger, Jacob snapped. “That son of a bitch Salmi won, you know. He succeeded in destroying our family. The only good in it is that he is not alive to gloat. And if he were alive and gloating, I would be the one in prison because I would choke the life out of that bastard myself.”
As the three of them drove away, Eva couldn’t bear to look back. She didn’t know anything anymore. Her life as she knew it was gone.
~~~
It was November-cold on the drive southeastward, but they were dressed for it. He’d placed Eva and Ellen inside the enclosed carriage where Ellen could play on the floor and climb on and off the seat. She had a few blocks, as well as her stuffed bear Karhu.
While Victor drove, he had nothing but torturous time to think of all that had happened with Pastor Salmi. He realized that his role in the pastor's death was morally, if not legally, significant, even though he’d had no idea the man was about to have a heart attack.
Eva is devastated, he thought. Look at all that’s happened because of me. Getting pregnant before marriage scared her, and getting torn from her family has broken her heart. She didn’t want to go. She wanted to stay in Finland. It’s all because of me, Goddamn it! I will never forgive myself for this one, and neither will Eva. She will always have this in the back of her mind, especially losing Eino, which I manipulated.
Victor had to admit, though, that there was a silver lining in all of this. He would never have to worry about Eva seeing Olga’s son by him. Eva would have seen the resemblance as immediately as he had. It was ice-cold comfort, however. He suddenly felt remorse for Olga, for his callous treatment of her that last time, less than a week ago. She didn’t deserve that. She did nothing but love me. And for the way he’d used her all those years, knowing she loved him.
I wish you all the happiness in the world, Olga, and I’m sorry for everything, he called to her in his mind. Vilho is a good man. Better than I’ll ever be. He’ll take good care of you and the boy, I know it.
The last thought grieved Victor the most: I’ll never get to know my son.
~~~
Upon arrival in Helsinki several days later, Victor sold the horse and buggy for extra cash. He obtained their passports using their birth certificates and other paperwork they needed for entry into the United States.
The night before the steamer was to embark for Liverpool, England, on the first leg of the journey to America, Eva and Victor tried to sleep. They were staying in a run-down, cold, musty-smelling rooming house near the docks, normally used for sailors. Ellen was the only one of the three who didn’t seem bothered in the least by what was happening. Her exuberance and silliness took the edge off the sharp, granite-like grief her parents were roiling in. As Ellen slept deeply in a make-shift bed in a dresser drawer on the floor, her two parents were left to their own crushing feelings and fears of the unknown.
Eva was truly frightened for the first time in her life, even worse than when she first found out she was pregnant. She’d thought that had been bad. But now, she was at a complete loss. She felt sick to her stomach, constantly ready to vomit. Her agitation left her wanting to inflict violence on someone. She resorted to the only base impulse she had available. She rolled over to Victor, who was lying on his back, hands behind his head. He was staring at the moldy and rain-damaged ceiling.
“I want sex,” she said, her voice angry and demanding. “And don’t be gentle. Do you understand? You are ready.” She had put her hand on his erection
.
He put his fingers in her, then climbed on top and pounded into her as she dug into his back and bit his shoulders. As he thrust into her, and as Eva hit and scratched Victor, she felt as though she were fighting for every ounce of happiness and security she had suddenly lost.
Victor, too, was apparently exorcising demons of his own. “Damn him, that son-of-a-bitch, Salmi. Why? God damn him!” Victor cursed, his voice hoarse.
As Eva and Victor continued, something quite unexpected started to happen. The anger and hatred in both of them seemed to dissipate as they wore themselves to the bone, physically and emotionally. Suddenly, their hatred for Salmi turned into passion and love… for each other. The violence turned to peace, and each had the most intensely beautiful climax. Victor, still on top of her, cried. He held her in his arms fiercely, kissing her passionately.
“I love you more than life itself, Eva. Forever.”
“I love you, Victor. I only have you now. Ellen and I need you more than ever.”
That scared him more than anything.
Chapter 27
Dolly began a letter to Liam the day after she arrived at the mansion. She told him how much she missed him, and how she was heartened to have Annie for consolation.
“Do ye want to keep the weddin’ ring on, or put it on yer chain?” Annie asked with a concerned look while Dolly wrote at the table.
“I don’t think I can bear to remove it, Annie,” Dolly said. She felt like she might cry. She was in a miserable state.
“Well, we’re goin’ to have to have a story then, when it’s discovered and asked about. So far neither Dady has said a thing about yer topaz, but that could change.”
Eva and the Irishman Page 29