Ten

The rest of Christmas Day was spent quietly, Anna found a children’s book on the bookshelves that had belonged to Johan and in which he had written his name. She passed her fingertips gently over the spot. The book was full of tales about trolls, with splendid illustrations showing these long-nosed creatures peeping around mountain crags or rearing up alarmingly out of rivers and waterfalls.

The remaining time she spent chatting with Gudrun and in the evening listening with her and Steffan to a concert on the radio. It was the following day, which the Norwegians called Little Christmas Day, when friends called on one another, and there were coffee parties and even, in one house, a concert performed by family members and, in another, a talented young man played his violin. Anna met Alex twice at different functions during the day. On both occasions he was with a pretty girl whose looks reminded Anna of Sonja Henie, the Norwegian Olympic skater and film star. He introduced them to each other, but Anna had no clue as to whether the girl, whose name was Eva, was a steady girlfriend or, perhaps, something more. Later she asked Gudrun about her.

‘They go around together whenever she comes home to Molde. But that is not very often as Eva has a lovely singing voice. She does a lot of broadcasting and concerts.’

Usually Gudrun and Anna went by themselves to these gatherings, for Steffan preferred a quiet time at home. He even declined an invitation from Harry the following evening and Gudrun did the same, thinking she should stay with him. Anna had already accepted and Harry came in his car to collect her.

‘Has Steffan spoken any more about the ancient house he wants to load on to you?’ he asked as they drove along.

‘No,’ she said. ‘I think he is beginning to understand that I’m not under his thumb and that this may be my only visit to Molde before I return to England.’

‘So how much do you know about the property?’

‘Alex explained it all to me soon after my arrival in Norway.’

‘If my advice is of any value to you, don’t get involved with anything to do with it. Nobody has been in that house for years, and although these old log buildings can stand for centuries, it doesn’t mean to say they don’t deteriorate in one way or another.’

She enjoyed the evening, for the other six guests were lively and interesting. There was a long discussion about the marvel of Scotsman Baird’s invention of television. There had been some televising from a building known as the Alexandra Palace in London before the war, but Anna had never seen any of it. It was said that one day there would be a television screen in every household, but that possibility seemed very remote.

Harry drove Anna home after the others had left. She was afraid he might become amorous when they said goodnight, but she kept her distance and he made no attempt to embrace her.

‘I’ll see you again before you leave,’ he said as he stepped away from the porch, ‘even though you haven’t much time left now.’

As she entered the house, she thought to herself that Harry was the only one who kept referring to her departure. It was almost as if he wanted her gone in spite of his obvious wish that they should be friends.

New Year’s Eve was the last highlight of her visit. Alex gave a good party in his apartment on the outskirts of town. There was plenty to drink, lots of talk and laughter, and a kalt bord that offered a number of delicacies, including roasted venison, which she suspected might be reindeer, but she did not want to know and did not ask. His pretty girlfriend was not present, and when she made a casual enquiry, she was told that Eva was singing in a New Year’s concert in Oslo.

Dancing took place on the polished floor to the music of gramophone records, although one of the guests played the piano for some of the time, and Anna had no shortage of partners. After earlier dances with her, Alex returned to claim her in the waltz that was the last to be danced in the old year.

‘This has to be mine,’ he said with a smile, ‘since you are my guest of honour.’ She thought to herself that he had a way of looking into her eyes as if he were trying to see into her very being. She had noticed it at their first meeting in Oslo. She supposed it was because, as a lawyer, he was always trying to root out the truth. Whatever did he suppose she might be hiding from him?

‘It’s been a great party – one I shall remember,’ she said.

Time had been slipping away and glasses were refilled as Alex switched on the radio. Then from Oslo came the striking of midnight and the greeting: Godt Nytt Ar! There was cheering and music. The year of 1948 had arrived. Anna missed the old custom from home of singing Auld Lang Syne, and there followed in the room more handshaking than she had ever seen in England, but there was kissing too. Alex’s lips were firm and warm and altogether enjoyable. As they drew apart, they looked at each other with a kind of understanding of what might have been if they had chosen to look for it and if her heart had not been swept away long since. She was going home to England and that would be like a door closing between them.

One of the young women there came to touch Anna on the arm. ‘Are you ready to leave, Anna? Lars and I have to get back to our babysitter and we can give you a lift.’

She accepted, thanked Alex, and left him with his other guests. She was privately thankful that he would not be taking her home as he had expected. One kiss was enough, and she was sure another would have been forthcoming when they were alone.