East of the Sun, West of the Moon

by Carole Bellacera

  "Well, I worry when you take the Metro. Never-mind. I'm just being a mother.” She led the way into the apartment and waited while Melissa shrugged out of her coat. After hanging it in the entrance closet, Leigh stepped into the living room and saw Melissa gazing around, a neutral expression on her pretty face. “I like what you've done to the apartment,” she said. “Where's the new boyfriend?"

  "I would hardly call him new. We've been seeing each other for over three months. Here, let me put your overnight bag in the guest room.” When Leigh returned to the living room, Melissa was standing at the french doors, staring out at the rock garden.

  "So, what's this Knut Aabel like?” she asked.

  "He's very nice. You'll like him.” Leigh hesitated a second before going on. “He's Norwegian."

  Mel turned from the window and looked at her, a speculative gleam in her eyes. “Oh? A friend of Erik's?"

  Leigh sighed. “I really wish you wouldn't keep bringing him up. No, he doesn't know Erik. I met him on the flight to Norway. And he looked me up after he returned to Washington. He works for the Norwegian Embassy."

  "How convenient for you,” Mel said. “Now you can keep tabs on Erik."

  "Melissa, let's try and make this a pleasant evening. Knut will be here any minute, and I know you want to make a good impression on him."

  Melissa gave her hair a casual toss and said, “Where's the bathroom? I want to check my make-up."

  Leigh directed her to the downstairs powder room. Melissa closed the door firmly in her face. With a sigh of exasperation, Leigh went into the kitchen to check on the ham. She hoped her daughter wouldn't be so surly with Knut.

  But apparently, Melissa had made up her mind to be charming at dinner. Smiling sweetly, she asked Knut about his work and his hometown of Tromso. She was delighted when she discovered he had a daughter about her age and suggested tentatively that perhaps they could be pen-pals. Leigh held her breath, hoping Mel wouldn't mention her other Norwegian pen-pal, Erik's brother. But with a cool look at her mother, Mel changed the subject to school and her cheerleading squad. “There's a big game tomorrow night. Why don't you and Mom come?” Leigh relaxed. Maybe her snide attitude earlier had been a defensive act.

  But after dinner, Leigh's carefully planned evening fell apart. The three of them were in the kitchen cleaning up when the doorbell rang. Melissa threw down her dishtowel. “Oh! That's Dillon.” She hurried out of the kitchen. Leigh and Knut stared at each other.

  "Who is Dillon?” Leigh whispered.

  A moment later, Melissa stepped into the kitchen, her hand attached to the arm of a Billy Idol-clone. “Mom, this is Dillon Ungar. He's the lead singer in a rock band."

  Dillon Ungar was a tall lanky boy with platinum blond hair cut short and spiked, and he was dressed from head to toe in gleaming black leather. On his hands, he wore silver-studded leather gloves, and a silver cross dangled from one earlobe. Leigh had always imagined this situation. Now, she was living it. She felt faint.

  "What's happening?” he said. And there it was. The upper lip curled in the trademark Idol-smirk.

  Finally, Leigh managed to speak. “Hello.” But that was it. Nothing else came out. She watched her daughter drape herself all over the boy. Helplessly, she turned to Knut. He was methodically drying a skillet, his eyes captured by the scene in front of him.

  "Well!” Melissa said brightly. “We have to go. Thanks for dinner, Mom. Don't wait up. I'll probably be in late."

  Leigh found her voice. “Wait! Where're you going?"

  "Oh. I have a date with Dillon. Didn't I mention it?"

  "No, you didn't."

  "Sorry. I thought I had."

  "Mel, I thought we were going to spend the weekend together."

  "We will! But I just happen to have a date tonight.” Mel turned to look at Dillon. “Mom, can we discuss this when I get back. Tomorrow, okay?"

  "Melissa..."

  "We have to go. Nice meeting you, Knut. I'm sure I'll see you again. Ready, Dillon?"

  He shrugged and Melissa led him out of the kitchen. A few seconds later, Leigh heard the front door slam. Incredulously, she turned and met Knut's amused eyes.

  "It's not funny!” she wailed.

  Immediately, he sobered. “You're right. It's not."

  * * * *

  "Where the hell is she?"

  Leigh moved restlessly against Knut's warm chest and glared at the grandfather clock in the corner. It was going on one in the morning and Melissa still hadn't returned from her date. Knut scooped up the curls at the back of her head and planted a kiss on her neck.

  "Kjaereste, don't worry. I'm sure she'll be home soon."

  "I just don't understand how she could do this. She knew how much I was looking forward to this weekend with her.” She turned around to gaze at him. “She's just trying to get back at me, isn't she? For everything I've done to screw up her life."

  Knut pulled her back against him. “She's a teenager. It would be a rough time for her even if you and Bob hadn't broken up. Don't over-react. Believe me, Kristin put me through it, too, but now we're the best of friends. You and Melissa will be, too."

  Leigh shook her head. “I just don't know what she sees in a boy like that."

  Knut chuckled. “Think back. Remember some of your first boyfriends?"

  An image of Mike Lawson came to mind. Dark auburn hair down to his shoulders, a Nehru jacket, love beads and a psychedelic Volkswagon van. Leigh nodded, and a wry smile flickered on her lips. “Point taken."

  Knut's warm breath tickled her ear. “I wish I could stay over tonight."

  "Me, too. But we'll just have to wait until next weekend."

  "Not next weekend. Remember, Aaron is coming over."

  "Oh, yeah. Well, maybe you can come by one night next week.” She turned in his arms and kissed him firmly on the lips. “Want some more wine?” He nodded, and she disentangled herself from his arms and scrambled to her feet. “I'm going to run to the bathroom, then I'll get it."

  Leigh smiled as she washed her hands at the bathroom sink, thinking how good it was to see her home cluttered with Melissa's things. Like old times. Her eyes fell on the overflowing cosmetic bag on the toilet tank. God, did she really use all that stuff? Suddenly she stiffened. For a moment, she felt light-headed as her brain registered what her eyes saw. A sense of deja vu swept over her as she reached for the box with the familiar photo of a sultry blonde with huge breasts.

  She walked into the living room, the condom box in her hands. “Look what I found in Melissa's cosmetic bag."

  "Is that what I think it is?” Knut asked.

  Leigh's lips curled in disgust. “Yeah. ‘Rough Riders,’ Bob's brand."

  The doorbell rang. Still stunned with her discovery, Leigh went to answer it.

  "Hi, Mom,” Melissa said. “Did you have a nice evening? What's wrong? You look funny."

  "Is this yours?"

  Melissa's eyes dropped to the package in her mother's hand. “Yeah. So what?"

  Knut appeared at Leigh's side. “I should get going. Give you and Melissa some time alone together.” When she made no response, he went to the closet and brought out his coat. Then he kissed her lightly on the cheek. “I'll give you a call tomorrow. It was good to meet you, Melissa."

  She smiled brightly at him. “Yeah. You're not going to forget the basketball game tomorrow night, are you?"

  He glanced at Leigh. “Well, we'll see what your mother wants to do. Goodnight.” His hand tightened on her shoulder, and leaning close, he whispered, “Calm down. At least she's smart enough to use protection.” He went out the door, closing it gently behind him.

  Leigh turned to Melissa. The girl shrugged out of her denim jacket and hung it in the closet. “So, what's your problem?” Without looking back, she sauntered into the living room and plopped onto the sofa.

  Leigh followed. “These condoms are yours?"

  Melissa rolled her eyes. “Yeah, so?"

  Leigh's lips tightened. She sat do
wn abruptly. “You mean, you're sleeping with that ... that..."

  "His name is Dillon. And yes, we have a good time together. We have fun."

  "Fun? Is that all it is to you?"

  Melissa shrugged but didn't answer. A horrifying thought occurred to Leigh. “Melissa, your father told me you were dating a lot of different guys. You aren't ... I mean ... is Dillon the only..."

  "Why don't you just say what you mean? Am I screwing them? Well, the answer is yes. That's what you do on dates, you know. I do every fine-looking guy who wants me."

  Stunned, Leigh groped for words, but none came. God, this had to be a nightmare. But it wasn't. It was really happening. Melissa stared at her and then stood.

  "Well, if you're done with your lecture, I'm going to bed."

  Leigh found her voice. “Melissa, don't you care at all about your reputation?"

  The look on Melissa's face was suddenly very old. “Not really,” she said and turned to go.

  Leigh jumped up and grabbed her daughter's arm. “Mel, listen to me! You have to stop this self-destructive behavior. Now. Before you ruin your life."

  She shook off Leigh's restraining hand. “You don't tell me what to do, Mother. After all, look at the example you set for me. You and Erik. If you can screw around, I can screw around. I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

  Chapter 26

  Spring had come to Norway. In the green mountains of Telemark, flowers in a myriad of colors bloomed throughout the landscape; streams and brooks carved through bleak canyons and created a rushing melody from the thawed snows of winter. All through the great forests, woodland animals crept out of their sanctuaries to drink from the clear, cold waters.

  Along the Norwegian coast, seabirds returned to their colonies on uninhabited islands. Puffins, kittiwakes and sea eagles built their nests into the rocky ledges, presenting a breath-taking spectacle to the tourists onboard coastal ferries. In the countryside, fruit trees burst forth blossoms of pink and white, showering the earth with soft delicate petals.

  As the sun lengthened the light in each day, a festive mood enveloped the cities. Heavy coats and furs were packed away, along with the cross-country skis and snowmobiles. Out came the kayaks and bicycles, the fishing equipment and hiking boots. Families everywhere swarmed to their country cabins for relaxing weekends of fishing, hiking or just enjoying the warmth of the sun.

  The Haukelands were no exception. On the first warm weekend in March, Arne had gone to their cabin in Ose to prepare it for the summer. Lately, Margit had been hinting to Erik that she wanted to get away for the weekend. He'd listened with half an ear. “We'll do it soon,” he'd told her and dismissed it. Finally, she'd come right out and asked if they could go to the cabin in Ose. His answer had been a vehement “No!” Had she forgotten so quickly he'd spent his last days with Kayleigh there? How could she even contemplate going there where his memories were still so fresh? Margit's face had clearly shown her pain and he'd immediately felt guilty at hurting her. Yet, there was no way he could give in to her on this.

  So when Bjorn showed up on Erik's lunch-hour and offered the perfect solution to the problem, Erik had jumped at it. He'd been working at his new job at the shipbuilding company for a month. The work was strenuous, but he enjoyed it. Keeping busy with his hands helped to keep his mind off other, less pleasant things ... like how he was wasting his life, something Margit and his mother never allowed him to forget. They still thought he was a fool for giving up his ambition to be a psychologist. Maybe he was. But right now, this kind of job was exactly what he needed.

  Bjorn's appearance had surprised and pleased him. He didn't get to spend enough time with his older brother. They'd enjoyed a light lunch together and that was when Bjorn made his suggestion. That evening, Erik had gone home to Margit in a good mood.

  She was already preparing dinner when he walked into the quiet apartment. Apparently, Gunny was napping. Erik sneaked up behind her and grabbed her around the waist. She gave a startled cry and turned in his arms.

  "Erik! Are you trying to give me gray hair?"

  He grinned. “Shut up and kiss me.” Her arms crept around his neck as their lips met and clung for a long moment.

  She drew away, her blue eyes soft. “What was that for?"

  "Does it have to be for anything?” Erik planted another kiss on the tip of her freckled nose. “What's for dinner?"

  Margit smiled. “Your favorite. Gravlaks and rommegrot."

  "Mmmm...” His hands slid down to her hips. He pulled her gently against him, feeling his penis stir at the touch of her womanly curves. “And what's for dessert?” he murmured against her neck.

  "Erik!” Margit gave him a playful push. “Stop it or you'll make me burn your supper."

  "Okay. I'll be good.” Erik wandered over to the refrigerator and pulled out a stalk of celery. He bit into one end. “Guess who I had lunch with today?"

  "Who?” Margit stirred the sour cream porridge on top of the stove.

  "Bjorn. He showed up at the shipyards. You'll never guess what he wants us to do."

  "What's that?” She stared intently into the contents of the pot.

  "Well, he and Anne-Lise are going to Stavanger over May 17th for the weekend. They're staying at her parent's cabin outside the city, and he has asked us to join them."

  Margit stopped stirring. She turned to Erik and smiled. “Aren't they taking the girls?"

  "No, Mother is watching them. And according to Bjorn, she's offered to watch Gunny, too, so we can go. What do you think?"

  Margit's blue eyes sparkled. “Sounds like fun. Does Anne-Lise know Bjorn has invited us?"

  Erik shrugged. “I'm sure she does. I don't think he would've asked us without talking it over with her. So, do you want to do it?"

  "Sure. We always have a good time with Bjorn and Anne-Lise. And you know Constitution Day is a tough holiday for me. You're trying to get my mind off Gunvor's death, aren't you?"

  "It's not an easy holiday for either of us. I'll call Bjorn tomorrow and tell him the good news.” Erik threw the stalk of celery into the garbage and came toward her, grinning. He felt light-hearted, and unusually horny. “Now, how about a sample of that dessert?"

  Maybe it was spring. Or maybe he was finally getting over Kayleigh.

  * * * *

  Bjorn's white Saab pulled into the graveled driveway of a rustic log cabin with a huge stone chimney. It was obvious to Margit's knowing eye that the weathered look of the building was a clever facade. Anne-Lise's family had plenty of money, and this little cabin in the hills of Stavanger showed evidence of it.

  They had left Oslo the day before for the long drive to Stavanger, staying overnight at a charming hotel in the small town of Vegusdal. Stavanger, located on the Gand Fjord near the southwest coast, was an old city, some of it dating back 850 years. Besides ancient ruins and monuments, the city offered a variety of other entertainments. White sandy beaches fronted the Atlantic Ocean and offered sailing, swimming and deep-sea fishing for water-enthusiasts. In the city center, there were museums, botanical gardens and Norway's best preserved medieval church, built in the 12th Century. As for night-life, Stavanger was rampant with nightclubs, discos and restaurants.

  Anne-Lise's family cabin was situated in the hills outside Stavanger, not far from the Lyse Fjord, home of the famous ‘Pulpit,’ a flat jutting rock that towered 600 meters over the water. The spot was so breath-taking in its beauty, it annually graced covers of countless travel books about Norway. Margit had never been there before, and she was looking forward to seeing if it lived up to its reputed majesty.

  Everyone climbed out of Bjorn's car and stretched their cramped muscles. It had been a long tiring ride. Margit wondered why they hadn't taken a train or airplane. But that was Bjorn! Had to be in control of everything. Only grudgingly had he allowed Erik to help with the driving.

  "Bjorn and I get first go at the hot tub,” Anne-Lise said now, breaking the tense silence she'd kept for most of the two-day trip. Marg
it resisted a satisfied smile. Not quite what you had in mind for a romantic weekend, Anne-Lise? With me and Erik along.

  "That hot tub is big enough for all four of us,” Bjorn said. “And I suggest we all go relax in it before dinner."

  Margit's keen eyes caught the look of dismay on Anne-Lise's face. She squeezed Erik's arm. “Oh, that sounds lovely. Just lead us to our room and I'll change into my swimsuit."

  Anne-Lise unlocked the front door of the cabin and stood back for them to enter. Margit looked around, impressed by what she saw. The living room was sparsely decorated with simple furniture, a deep tan sofa and several hand-crafted wooden rocking chairs. A multi-colored braided rug lay upon the gleaming knotty pine floors, and opposite a small kitchen area, a flight of shining wood stairs led, presumably to the sleeping quarters. Opposite the sofa, two full-length paned windows flanked both sides of the rustic stone fireplace and boasted a view of the redwood deck that held the hot tub, an outdoor table and several lounge chairs.

  Margit peered beyond the deck to where Norway's southwestern mountains spanned the horizon in a hazy purple and white mural. Closer to the cabin, the lush beauty of fruit trees in blossom saturated the landscape. Margit had traveled a lot in her homeland, but she still thought the west country was one of the most beautiful areas.

  After changing into her sleek black & white striped swimsuit, Margit stepped out onto the deck and saw Bjorn already in the hot tub. She welcomed the moment alone with him, but knew Erik would be along any second. He'd been changing in the bathroom when she left. She tossed her towel onto a lounge chair and plunged one slender foot into the bubbling hot water.

  Bjorn grinned. “Why are you wearing a swimsuit? We're all family here."

  Margit's eyes scanned his glistening chest and moved downward. “You're not wearing anything?"

  A devilish light twinkled in his eyes. “Get in and find out."

  She smiled seductively and lowered herself into the hot tub. “Mmm ... this is quite delicious...” The pulsating jets of water lifted her feet from the bottom of the tub, making it difficult to hold herself in one position. As Bjorn stared at her breasts, she felt a heated throb between her legs, but she wasn't sure if it was from the pulse of water or the hungry look in his eyes. With a quick glance at the back door, she scooted over to him and ran one hand down his stomach. Just under his navel, she felt the sleek material of his swim trunks.