Summer Island

by Natalie Normann

  Haldorsen’s smile reached his hairline. ‘Straight to the point. Good, good. Now, as you have probably realised, properties like yours are not something that come along every day. And by that I mean they’re not easy to get rid of. Fortunately for you, I’m interested.’

  He looks even less of a farmer than me, Jack thought. He didn’t interrupt the man.

  ‘I’ve had a proposal prepared for you. Do you want me to read it to you?’

  ‘Is it in Norwegian?’ Jack smiled.

  Haldorsen laughed. ‘Ah, the wonderful British sense of humour, I think. No, of course not. It’s all in English. You can take a look at it, and then tell me what you think.’

  Jack leafed through the papers and tried to look as if the figure on the last page didn’t impress him. That was a lot of money, he thought. Enough to get a restaurant started and then some.

  ‘What do you think?’ Haldorsen looked excited.

  ‘I’m interested, of course, but I need some time to consider my options,’ Jack said.

  Haldorsen smiled. ‘Smart man.’

  ‘Why are you interested in the farm?’ Jack said.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Haldorsen gave him a blank stare.

  ‘You’re obviously not a farmer and, as such, probably don’t want to farm the land. You’re a developer of some sort, are you?’

  Haldorsen nodded, looking pleased with himself. ‘Yes, I am. I find interesting properties for investors, and the island is such a property. My investors have plans for the place, of course, and unfortunately I can’t disclose them. Mostly because I’m not privy to such information,’ Haldorsen said with forced laughter.

  Everything about him made Jack feel bad. He certainly didn’t come across as someone he wanted to do business with. On the other hand, the money was good. It was worth some thought.

  He nodded. ‘I see. Well, I’ll get back to you, Mr Haldorsen.’

  Haldorsen shook his hand again, then proceeded to follow him out into the reception, where he leaned over to the receptionist and grinned from ear to ear. ‘Whenever Mr Greene calls us, put him through to me at once.’

  The last thing Jack saw through the glass doors was Haldorsen waving cheerfully at him.

  Jack stopped at a coffee shop and sat down. He’d had no idea the farm would be so valuable to Haldorsen. This would take some getting used to.

  Jack finished the coffee and stood up. He still had to go to the bank.

  ***

  Ninni petted Frikk, who was watching the fish in the clear water with his full attention. ‘Fish are a lot safer than vipers. Remember that next time, silly dog.’

  Frikk lay down with a sigh, his paws hanging off the edge of the pier. She didn’t want to take him out in the boat yet. He was almost back to his old self, but not fully.

  ‘Jack is a strange one, isn’t he, Frikk? All warm and lovely. It’s hard to picture him as this ambitious man who wants to impress everyone with his ability.’

  Frikk barked and lifted his head.

  Ninni didn’t pay attention. ‘Good thing he’s leaving soon, I think. Better sooner, before I get too attached and miss him when he goes.’

  He’d been gone for over two hours and she was already missing him. Damn it, she thought.

  Frikk barked again, but friendlier this time. Ninni turned her head and smiled when she saw Britt. ‘Hi.’

  ‘Hi, Ninni. I haven’t seen you in a few days. I guess you have a new deadline. My house is full of wine if you’re still up for it.’ Britt sat down next to her, feet dangling. ‘You don’t look well. Are you okay?’

  Ninni was taken by surprise. ‘I must have eaten something that doesn’t agree with me,’ she said.

  Britt put a hand to her forehead before Ninni managed to pull away.

  She laughed. ‘I don’t have a fever, silly.’

  ‘No, you don’t, but you are pale. Do you sleep well?’

  Ninni leaned her shoulder against Britt’s for a second. ‘I’m fine.’

  She wasn’t but she didn’t want Britt to make a fuss.

  ‘Nonetheless, I think you should go and see a doctor. No point in waiting. When did you eat this thing you think you have reacted to?’

  ‘Not sure … At the party, I think. I thought I had a hangover, but it isn’t going away.’

  ‘That’s was days ago. There is not a hangover in the world that lasts that long. And you only had a beer or two,’ Britt said.

  And a few beers and some red wine with Jack, Ninni thought, but didn’t tell Britt that.

  Britt continued. ‘You were a bit green when you came to my house for eggs. I don’t really think it’s a hangover. Unless you’re secretly drinking vodka every day, which I doubt. It could be a stomach flu or something, or perhaps some of those sausages were off. Always better to check it out than ignore things for too long. Trust me, I know.’

  Ninni smiled. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘For what?’ Britt looked surprised.

  ‘For looking after me. How’s school?’

  ‘Thankfully over in a few days. We’re all ready for summer now, I think. Basically, we haven’t done anything except swimming for the last few days. As soon as the kids are off on their holidays, I’m opening the B&B. I already have bookings, so it’s looking good. If Jack decides to stay, perhaps I can get him to cook for the guests once in a while. That would be fantastic. What do you think?’

  Ninni put a hand to her stomach, feeling queasy again. ‘Bah,’ she muttered.

  Britt watched her. ‘Perhaps you’re pregnant,’ she said with a concerned look on her face.

  ‘God, no, I’m not pregnant. That’s not possible,’ Ninni said, waving her hand.

  ‘Are you sure about that?’

  Ninni nodded. ‘Yes, I’m absolutely sure. That’s the last thing I am.’

  Pregnant. There’s a laugh, she thought. Not even a little bit funny.

  Britt patted her on the knee. ‘Go and see the doctor, please. I’ll come with you if you want. You look like shit.’

  ‘Oh, thank you. That’s a nice thing to say to a person,’ Ninni said.

  ‘I aim to please. How’s your Englishman?’

  ‘He’s not my Englishman,’ Ninni said, but remembered that he sort of was now, wasn’t he? She couldn’t help smiling.

  ‘Oh, my God,’ Britt exclaimed. ‘You’ve slept with him.’

  Ninni gaped. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘I didn’t until now.’ Britt laughed. ‘How was it? All and any details, if you please.’

  ‘Not on your life.’ Ninni shook her head.

  ‘You’re such a prude. At least tell me if he was better than Karl.’

  Ninni felt the heat just by remembering Jack. ‘Oh, so much better,’ she admitted with a sigh.

  Britt giggled. ‘I knew it. Damn, I should have snapped him up before, when I had a chance. He looks like he knows what he’s doing, you know. Must be all that cooking.’

  ‘Why? What does cooking have to do with how good he is in bed?’ Ninni was laughing so hard now, she had a problem talking.

  ‘You know, all that hands-on stuff, kneading and touching, tasting. Cooking is sensual. I wonder if all chefs are good in bed.’

  ‘Only if their massive egos don’t get in the way,’ Ninni said.

  ‘I’ll just have to check it out then, wont I?’ Britt laughed again.

  Ninni scratched Frikk on the head. She listened to Britt’s chatter with one ear. Her stomach was still acting up. Perhaps it was time to see a doctor.

  ***

  The trip to the bank didn’t take long. As instructed, Jack had brought with him both Agnar’s will and his own passport, and everything was on the up. With a signature and a beaming smile from the bank assistant, he was a lot richer than before he had gone in there, even before Haldorsen’s offer.

  Jack leaned against the railing on the ferry. Not in a million years would he understand why Agnar had given him everything without ever wanting to meet him. He wasn’t sure what to think about it.
He didn’t believe in “blood is thicker than water”, but perhaps Agnar had. He wondered if Magni’s books could have answers for him, and decided to ask Ninni to look at the rest of them for him.

  Thinking about Ninni made him smile. She was an unexpected surprise in all of this. A good surprise.

  His mobile buzzed and he looked at the screen. Fedra. But this message was different. After a moment’s hesitation, Jack called her back.

  ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘I thought you’d stopped talking to me.’

  He didn’t bother with niceties. ‘Is this true, or is it just a ruse to get me to call you back?’ he said.

  ‘No, it’s not. Daddy wants to talk to you. He’s sorry about the whole debacle. Will you come and talk to him?’

  Jack watched a pair of seagulls chasing each other. He smiled to himself. ‘Why can’t he just call me?’

  Fedra was silent for a second. ‘He’s not well, Jack. All I’m asking is that you talk to him.’

  ‘Will it change anything?’ Jack wasn’t about to show his cards to her that easily.

  ‘I really don’t know. But please don’t be a bastard simply because you can.’

  She ended the call before Jack had a chance to respond. He put the mobile in his pocket again. Roland wanted to talk. Of course he would talk to him. It was time to clear up this mess once and for all.

  By the time the ferry docked on the island, he had already ordered plane tickets home to London for the following day.

  Ninni felt silly, standing on the harbour waiting for Jack. But she still waited with Frikk next to her, his tongue lolling and tail wagging whenever she looked down at him.

  She grabbed the mooring rope that the deckhand threw at her with a wide grin on his face. ‘Evening,’ he yelled.

  ‘Same to you,’ Ninni said and tied the thick hemp rope to the pole.

  Jack stood by the gangway, smiling at her.

  He looked different, Ninni thought. Her stomach did somersaults at the sight of him.

  When he stepped off the boat she waited until he reached her.

  ‘Hi,’ he said with a smile.

  Frikk sniffed at Jack and let him pet him. ‘And hi to you too.’

  ‘Hi. Did it go all right?’ She had no idea what it was he had to do in the bank, but it must have been important. He was wearing a suit. ‘You look elegant. Tie and everything.’ The same suit he had worn when he’d hit her with his car in Bergen.

  Jack touched the tie. ‘Well, yes, it was just a visit to the bank, for the last of the formalities with Agnar’s estate,’ he said. ‘I’m now officially in charge of everything, including the house, the farm, the meat business and the sheep.’

  Ninni nodded. ‘Does it feel strange?’

  Jack put his hands in his pockets, creasing the jacket. ‘Of course it does. I still don’t understand why he left it all to me, and I never will now.’

  Ninni took his hand. ‘You’re his son, no matter what the circumstances are. Agnar left it to you because of that. It mattered to him.’

  ‘Yes, but I didn’t matter enough for him to contact me,’ Jack said.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Ninni said.

  ‘Enough of this. It doesn’t matter any more. I can’t change the past, anyway.’ He smiled and pointed at the large building on the end of the harbour. ‘Why don’t you tell me about this place instead?’

  Ninni looked towards the building Jack was indicating. ‘That one?’

  ‘Yes, start with that.’

  Ninni smiled. ‘It’s a sjøhus, a “sea house”. It was built during the time of the big herring fisheries, so it’s more a place for business than anything else.’

  The old building was huge, with a sliding door on the side and what looked like a bay window jutting out from the top floor. Except it didn’t have a window but another pair of sliding doors and a crane sticking out in front instead. He frowned.

  ‘It looks as if it’s about to fall apart. Why is it still standing?’

  ‘It’s not falling apart. All it needs is a coat of paint. According to Jens, it has good bones. Whatever that means. We use it for celebrations – we had a wedding once, even a few christenings, and every Christmas it’s used for the island market and other festivities,’ she explained.

  ‘Can we take a look?’ Jack seemed interested.

  Ninni pushed open the door and they went inside. Jack looked around and Ninni smiled. ‘Not so bad from in here, is it?’

  ‘It’s like finding a treasure right in front of your eyes.’ Jack said.

  There were a few windows high up. Ninni took a few steps further in and started pointing. ‘Downstairs used to be the sales floor. Agents from the mainland would come and buy the herring from here. Upstairs, they would keep crates for the herring and salt to preserve it, and then they would haul up the fish from the fishing boats. There’s also an office up there, for the shipping office. A lot of the herring from here ended up in Hull or Newcastle.’

  ‘This is amazing. I love the history of the place,’ he said.

  He suddenly turned to her and kissed her. Ninni was taken by surprise but kissed him back.

  ‘I have to go to London tomorrow,’ he said, still holding his arms around her.

  Ninni frowned again. ‘Is that why you’re acting weird?’

  That made him smile. ‘I guess so. I talked to Fedra. She told me her father wants to talk to me, but not on the phone. I have to go to London to see him.’

  ‘Of course you do. He was your friend, wasn’t he?’

  Jack shrugged. ‘I thought so. Perhaps I can put this behind me,’ he said.

  ‘Or get your job back and perhaps that Michelin star. If that’s what you want,’ Ninni said. ‘Is it?’

  ‘I love what I do, and I’ve worked for years to get to that level. Of course I want my job back.’

  He looked a bit lost. Ninni smiled at him. ‘Well, since you’re not going until tomorrow, how about a swim?’

  Jack took a last look at the “sea house” and followed her. ‘I have my swimming trunks at home,’ he said.

  Did he even realise he had called the farm home? Ninni didn’t ask.

  ***

  The beach was crowded when they came down, but no one was using the pier in front of their boathouses. Jack smiled at her. ‘You know, I’m not sure this would work back in the UK.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Ninni had already stripped out of her clothes and stood in her bikini. Frikk was sprawling on a beach towel, looking as if he too was sunbathing.

  ‘I mean, ignoring the best sunspots on the beach. Look at them, so careful not to come too close. Brits would never do that.’

  Ninni smiled. ‘Of course they would. Haven’t you seen that at the airport when you fly to Norway? You guys rule the whole queuing thing; I’ve never seen anything like it. We, however, clump together and use our elbows to get in first. No matter what seat numbers we have.’

  ‘I think I remember that, now that you mention it. Now, that was scary.’ Jack looked at the water and the rather DIY-looking diving board. ‘Is it deep enough to dive from here?’

  ‘Yes. That’s what it’s there for. My mother hates the seaweed and the potential creepy-crawlies hiding in it. My father made the board. It’s been there for thirty years, so it’s safe.’

  She laughed at him now. Jack knew why. ‘I don’t want to whack my skull on the bottom, if you don’t mind.’

  ‘Oh, go on, before I push you in.’ Ninni came towards him and Jack walked out on the board.

  He stopped on the edge and looked down. The water was crystal-clear and inviting. Without hesitating, he dived in. Ninni dived in right behind him and broke the surface with a wide smile on her face.

  ‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ she said, treading water.

  Jack swam over to her and kissed her. She tasted of saltwater and something that was just her. ‘You are wonderful.’

  She put her hands over his head and ducked him under. Jack grabbed her waist and pulled her with him. She wriggled lo
ose and swam away. Jack had no problem keeping up the pace.

  ‘Did I ever tell you I was in the swimming team at school?’ he said.

  Ninni splashed a hand at him. ‘No, I don’t think you did. I bet I can beat you out to the raft.’

  He looked where she was pointing. The raft was perhaps twenty metres away, filled with kids.

  She almost beat him, but he managed to pull her back at the last inch, to the great delight of the kids cheering them on.

  ‘You cheated!’ she shouted.

  ‘Well, of course I did,’ Jack said.

  She hauled herself on top of the raft and talked to the kids. Jack held onto the ropes. The water was cool and refreshing, and the sun was burning. He sank under the surface for a second.

  Ninni jumped over him with a huge splash. ‘I’ll let you win on the way back,’ she teased.

  ‘That’s decent of you,’ he said.

  He enjoyed watching her, taking long strokes and splashing her feet. She looked over her shoulder at him. ‘You’re so slow!’

  ‘I’m enjoying the view,’ he said.

  There was a small ladder on the side of the pier. Ninni climbed up like she must have done since she was old enough to do it on her own. Jack swam over to the pier and held onto the ladder. All this, he thought – all this was so normal to her. As it would have been for him if he had grown up with Agnar.

  It was a strange thought.

  They sat outside in the sun. Ninni pulled a large bath towel over them.

  ‘For protection against the sun,’ Ninni said. She liked the feeling of having him so close.

  ‘You know, if you sold ice cream on this beach you’d make a fortune,’ Jack said, watching the busy beach.

  ‘I know, but I don’t want anything to do with something like that.’

  ‘Because you don’t like ice cream?’ Jack looked confused.

  ‘No, because I couldn’t imagine standing out here, selling ice cream in the hot sun. I’d die of boredom. I leave that to Alma. She usually pays one of the kids to come out here and sell cold stuff. Including fizzy drinks and ice cream.’

  Jack nuzzled her neck. ‘She has a hand in almost everything out here, doesn’t she?’

  ‘Yes, she told me once it was her duty to keep the island alive, and that to do that she needed to encourage people to come and live here.’