“Sorry, skat! But love does seem to be in the air! Look, here comes Mads now!”
A smiling Mads had just arrived, followed by Daniel, deep in conversation with Karin.
“Ooo, Lea! Daniel is here too. The plot thickens!”
Lea refused to look round and instead, concentrated on looking daggers at Kenneth. Why does everybody have an opinion on my love life?
Henrik sighed and moved around in his chair. “Okay, I’ll try and finish quickly—”
“Is that what he said last night, Kenneth?
“Lea Jensen! I’m shocked!” Kenneth held on to his glass to steady himself.
Lea smiled triumphantly at Kenneth – it felt good to be the one setting the cat amongst the pigeons for once. No cupcakes tonight. So there!
Henrik coughed. “So where did we get to? Oh, yes. Stig and Johnny argued. Johnny was angry that Stig didn’t want to live with Karin, but no-one else was allowed a chance. Called him a ‘goody two shoes’ and that Stig had always had it easier than himself.”
Now it was Bent’s turn to interrupt again. “Stig didn’t have it easier. He made better choices.”
“Of course he did, Bent. You know that. I know that. We all know that. But Johnny didn’t see it that way. He felt like he was the victim.”
Bent looked down into his glass. “Tja. And when it all went wrong, Johnny tried to blame it on our Mads. And when that fell through, he set up young Gustav. Johnny was a coward. And a bloody idiot.”
“Who’s a bloody idiot, Bent?” Mads had come over from the bar to join them.
Lea held up her head and looked straight at him. “I can think of quite a few people in Strandvig who fit that description, Mads.”
“Uh huh?” He held her gaze just as firmly and took his hand from behind his back. A small, paper wrapped package, complete with a pale pink satin ribbon: a hand-tied bouquet from the florist, not a bunch from the forecourt.
“Lea, these are for you.”
CHAPTER 56
Lisbeth swigged back what was left in her crystal glass. “Karsten, another one, please.”
Mads and Karin exchanged looks. They had never seen Lisbeth drink, let alone two in a row. And never with such speed.
Even Karsten was puzzled. “Are you sure, my love? Don’t want it going to that pretty little Aarhus head—”
Lisbeth’s eyes, though still slightly red from another outburst of crying in the car on the return from the Vikings, flashed. “Now, please, Karsten!”
“Whatever you say, my love!”
Lisbeth hopped down off the bar stool, warmth suddenly returning to her feet. She pulled herself up to her full height – which wasn’t much above bar height – and turned, a little unsteadily, to address the room. Unfortunately, she was all too easy to miss in the noisy throng.
She went behind the bar, reached behind Karsten and took down the little metal gong and hammer that hung on the wall.
“What are you going to do with that, my love?”
“You’ll see!”
Lisbeth pulled out a chair from a table and climbed on to it. And beat the gong for all she was worth. There was silence for a second, then whoops and wolf whistles as the crowd realised what was going on. It had been an excellent night so far, what with Bent’s little show, and the entertainment looked set to continue.
“Karsten, get in a round of drinks for everyone here.”
Karsten gulped and took a visible step backwards. “What, my love?!”
“You heard what I said. Do it!”
Karsten looked on in shock. What had got in to his meek little mouse from Aarhus?
Lisbeth continued her address to the nation. “Ladies and gentlemen of Strandvig! Regulars and guests. This last round tonight is on us. Strandvig has lost a very special man—” . At this she wobbled slightly, but managed to regain control of her balance and composure. “And Strandhøj has lost a very special friend. May he rest in peace.”
Mads came over with a glass, brimming with kirsebærvin and put a steadying hand on her back. She smiled and held her shaking hand up high. “Here’s to Stig!”
“To Stig!”
“To Stig!”
Lisbeth took a good look around the room, full of friendly faces, and downed her glass in one. “Skål!”
Mads gently caught her as she collapsed.
CHAPTER 57
Karsten closed the till and turned up the volume, singing along with John.
“Life is short, life is short, think very carefully before you throw it away…”
Lea looked at her watch. “Is it that time already? Well, goodnight, folks! It’s been an extremely long day and I need a very long, and very hot, shower.”
“Goodnight, Lea Mus.” Bent looked around. “Straight home tonight?”
Lea looked at him and raised her eyebrows.
“Okay, Lea Mus. But sure you don’t want me to cycle with you?”
Lea looked at him and laughed. “Not this again, please, Bent! I’m a big girl. Remember?”
“Sorry, Lea Mus. Old habits, you know…”
“And this from the man who got himself stuck in a storage hut—”
“Point taken! I won’t mention it again. Ama’r halshug!”
Lea gave Bent a peck on the cheek, wrapped her scarf around her neck three times and walked out the side door towards the car park, carrying herself a little taller than she normally did. The small bouquet of flowers sticking out from the top of her handbag.
Bent supped his final half pint and watched, intrigued, as Mads and Daniel both hurriedly put on their jackets and followed suit, almost colliding with each other in the doorway. He scratched his head. “What do you reckon is going on there, Karsten?”
Karsten stopped polishing glasses and looked over towards the door. “Between you and me, Bent, I don’t really think they quite know themselves.” He winked. “But my money’s on Mads.”
“My money’s on Daniel. Skål!”
“Skål!”
Karsten put down his dishtowel and leaned in. “Did you hear about the man from Aarhus who—”
THANK YOU, READER!
You did not have to read this book, but you did. Thank you!
If you enjoyed reading it – and would like to hear more about Strandvig and its residents – please consider leaving a short review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Or give me a ‘shout out’ on social media!
Kind regards
Diane Hansen-Ingram
Denmark
RESIDENTS OF STRANDVIG
Jannick Andersen: Trainee Assistant, Æblegården Nursery
Bent Bang: Retired, member of the Viking Swimmers Club
“Holy” Helle Brandt: Chairperson of the Viking Swimmers Club, Cantor at Strandvig Church
Hans Jørgen Brandt: Her husband
Martin Brix: PR Executive
Maria Brix: His wife
Mathias Brix: Son, kindergartener at Æblegården nursery
Mathilde Brix: Daughter, kindergartener at Æblegården nursery
Daniel Bro: Incident Commander, Strandvig Police
Bertil Bruun: Bike dealer
Anne Bruun: His wife
Gustav Damborg: High school student, Dish washer at Strandhøj Kro
Mette Damborg: His mother
Lærke Damborg: His sister
Kenneth Frandsen: Proprietor, Frandsen Brothers store
Henrik Frandsen: His partner
Karsten Holm: Proprietor, Strandhøj Kro
Lisbeth Holm: His wife
Johnny Højer: Barman at Strandhøj Kro
Lea Jensen: Admin Assistant at Strandvig Council, member of the Viking Swimmers Club
Gerda Larsen: Retired, member of the Viking Swimmers Club
Elvira Lund: Retired, Secretary of the Viking Swimmers Club
Ida Lund: High school student, Waitress at Strandhøj Kro
Margit Meyer: Cleaning lady, Strandvig Police Station
Ellen Møller: Widow, Butcher
Br
ian Møller: Son, Driver
Morten Møller: Son, Accountant
Jacob Møller: Son, Butcher’s Assistant
Ole Olsen: Retired, member of the Viking Swimmers Club
Yrsa Olsen: His wife
Karin Rasmussen: Leader, Æblegården Nursery
Stig Rasmussen: Handyman, Strandhøj Kro
Mads Sørensen: Unemployed, former member of the Viking Swimmers Club
Sonja Thomsen: Nursery Assistant, Æblegården Nursery
DANISH – ENGLISH GLOSSARY
I hope the use of Danish will be apparent from the context. But here is a small glossary for reference. The Danish alphabet consists of 29 letters: the letters æ, ø and å appear after z.
Ama’r halshug!: Cross my heart and hope to die
Den dumme skid: That bloody idiot!
Far: Father or dad
Farvel: Goodbye
For fanden: Bloody hell
Gammel Dansk: Danish dram
Godmorgen : Good morning
Hygge: Cosiness, warmth
Hyggelig: Cosy, warm
Kro: Inn or Tavern
Kroner: “crown”, Danish unit of currency
Pyt: Never mind
Skat: Darling, dear
Skål!: Cheers!
Vi ses i morgen: See you tomorrow
Æblegården: Apple orchard
Øv!: Oh!
WINTERBATHING GUIDELINES
Winterbathing Guidelines issued by
the Danish Council for Greater Water Safety
(Rådet for Større Badesikkerhed)
BEFORE YOU GO IN THE WATER
1. Never swim alone
2. Check bathing conditions and identify rescue equipment
3. Beware of ice on stairs and bridges
4. Lower body calmly into the water
WHEN YOU ARE IN THE WATER
5. Breathe slowly
6. Keep an eye on each other
7. Stay close to stairs and stairways
8. Never swim under the ice
Death Comes to Strandvig Page 16