Part 6 (1/2)

Anne-Lise looks up from her work. Henrik is still wearing his office clothes: white s.h.i.+rt and neatly pressed trousers. Theres a concerned frown on his face.

Id have to explain and I would. Id say, Its offensive, I know, but I simply could not bear having Malene next to me at the table. If I cant sit away from her, I shall have to leave. In my fantasy, the other guests become anxious and stare, but Im not bothered. In front of these people, who all think they know her, I continue: Every day at work Malene torments my wife, Anne-Lise. My wife is developing problems with stress as a direct result of Malenes behavior. I would rather sit beside a drug-addled gangster. Shes so mean and selfish. She may appear to be well educated and privileged, but she clearly couldnt care less that her behavior is making our entire family suffer.

Anne-Lise tips the chopped vegetables into the blender. You dont think Im a bad mother, do you?

No, no. Not at all! You know that. But what if Malene is really making you physically ill?

She pulls his face down close to kiss his cheek quickly before she adds the celery to the blender. Do you think you would truly do all that what you just said?

Certainly.

Something tells me that the guests would still believe that Malene is a wonderful person. And youd never be invited back.

They wouldnt take kindly to it, of course. At dinner parties youre meant to behave yourself and make polite conversation. Its at home and at work that people show their true colors. I suppose people must think she is a fine woman.

Clara has come in, complaining that Ulrik has. .h.i.t her.

Anne-Lise takes the sizzling pan off the burner. Did he hit you? Show me where it hurts and Ill blow on it.

Clara sobs, but it doesnt sound that bad.

Anne-Lise and Henrik have lived together for nearly twenty years, but waited longer than most before starting a family. Anne-Lise wanted to give Henrik s.p.a.ce and time to satisfy his youthful ambitions and capacity for hard work. If they waited, shed thought, they would both have more time to enjoy their children and their home life. Many years pa.s.sed before she realized that Henrik would never change. It was a stark choice for her: would she take on the whole burden of raising the children or resign herself to being childless? She made her decision and has coped well, feeling that she has grown as a person. Henrik is working at least as hard as she does. He has had a meteoric career as an economist with a major Danish bank. It is thanks to his income that they were able to buy a large house and turn it into the home they had always wanted.

But even if I were never invited back, they would have something to think about. Afterward, they might see Malene differently, and maybe it would occur to them to wonder about her now and then. What does go on inside her head when shes not having a good time? When shes not dressed up and smiling at us? G.o.d knows. Is she really a witch, as that man claims? Id do the same to Iben and Camilla. They all deserve it.

I had no idea that youve been dreaming about revenge on my behalf.

I havent. I only want to tell the truth. Theyre ganging up against my lovely wife.

Clara is allowed some of the berries set aside for the dessert and runs out to Ulrik again. Anne-Lise returns the frying pan to the stove.

Henrik, what can I say? You paint quite a picture!

A knock on the door. Childrens voices in the driveway.

Anne-Lise calls from the bedroom. You open it. Im not quite ready.

She throws herself on the bed. She hasnt had a minutes peace since she closed the DCIG door behind her this afternoon. She looks up at the white ceiling. Such a large, smooth surface, like a glacier. She stretches out her arms. The white bedspread follows her movement and the folds form a pattern. Its like making angels wings in the snow.

As if I were dead, she thinks. The thought is meaningless.

Ulrik rushes into the room. Her fragment of peace shatters. She gets up and helps him find a plastic lizard that he wants to show the other children. Then she walks downstairs.

Lovely to see you!

Many happy returns! Thank you for asking us!

Of course. Were so pleased you could come.

Their cheeks are glowing as they step from the cold autumn evening into the golden lamplight of the hall.

What a tempting smell!

I do hope youll like it.

The children are jostling to get their coats off in the small hall. Mette bends to hand her son two little parcels. Now, off you go to find Ulrik and Clara, and give them their presents.

The adults, still trying to deal with their own coats, keep b.u.mping into each other.

Sorry!

Dont worry. Here, have a hanger.

Oh, Henrik, h.e.l.lo! Happy birthday!

Thank you. We wanted to wait and have a big party, but when neither Lotte and Michael nor Rikke and Morten could make it for the next two weekends, we thought Happy birthday! And, for you, a small token Thank you! Thats very nice of you.

Henrik leads the way into the living room, where he offers everyone a gla.s.s of white wine.

Anne-Lise stands in front of the hall mirror. Her body is still tense. This is how she feels each morning when the alarm clock cuts into the middle of a dream. Even in her sleep, she can sense that something is wrong. Soon everything will fall apart.

But she is at home, and shes awake. She must force herself to believe that the Center isnt the only reality. Her anxiety stays with her, however, as she joins the others.

Henrik raises his gla.s.s.

Cheers and welcome!

Upstairs the alarm clock ticks away on the small gray bedside table. The dream will end, and soon she will be walking through the dark morning to face another day.

Training to become a librarian was something that had appealed to Anne-Lise partly because she had so many happy memories of going to the library as a child. Every evening, when her parents closed their grocery store, she would go to bed in her room over the shop and read long, difficult novels. Shed always dreamed of a job working with books.

After school, she used to help out in the shop. She was embarra.s.sed that their items were more expensive and of worse quality than those in the supermarkets. The customers were mostly old folk or neighbors picking up a last-minute ingredient just before supper, or her schoolmates wanting cigarettes and sweets.

Many of her school friends came from well-to-do homes, and most of them went on to study law, economics, or business, in line with the family ambitions. Anne-Lise didnt want to decide her future that way.

Not until Henriks banking career took off had she experienced wealth. Now old friends would make remarks such as It must be such fun to have a lot of money. And it was fun; but Henriks success also led to arguments, especially because Anne-Lise never cared for the lifestyle that many of Henriks colleagues considered appropriate for the wives.

The soup has turned out well. Its just the right consistency, thanks to her last-minute addition of Jerusalem artichokes. The venison steaks are perhaps a little too well done, but they still taste good with the mushroom ca.s.serole. And Henriks special selection of red wine suits the main course to perfection. The children have wolfed down fish cakes and fried potatoes at a separate table and are already off to play. Anne-Lises mother leaves the table to find out what they are up to. The adults propose toasts, drink, talk, and laugh.

Anne-Lise goes to the bathroom. She takes three cotton-wool pads from a clear plastic bag hanging on the side of the cupboard, pulls the pads apart, and rolls the woolly fluff into small, hard b.a.l.l.s.

The dessert is a Spanish-style custard layered on top of forest berries.

Mette, who is married to Henriks brother, leans forward to speak to Anne-Lise across the corner of the table. Hows work?