“What do you mean? As far as I know, I haven’t missed out on anything.” She smiles mischievously.
“What about new lingerie to replace those torn rags?”
She laughs heartily, and in response, something deep inside me tingles.
“You do owe me that, I guess…”
“I’m serious, Nora. I’m buying you new lingerie today, but the kind I don’t immediately feel the urge to rip off.” I look at her seriously as I finish my sentence. “If that kind even exists.” Probably not.
She matches my mischievous grin. “You’re serious?”
“Absolutely, you tell me where we need to go.”
“Uh, I know a cute lingerie shop, but it’s on the other side of town, a bit more walking.”
“Perfect, we’ve got time.”
It’s a beautiful summer day in Bruges. The sky is a brilliant blue, the sun is shining, and the temperature is just perfect, warm but not stifling, thanks to a refreshing sea breeze. There are a lot of people out on the streets, but since the summer holidays haven’t officially started yet, it’s still manageable. We’re heading toward the lingerie shop, but instead of taking the shortest route, we meander through the main avenues and the smaller, more charming streets. As we walk, we talk, peeling back layers of each other’s lives. There’s an easygoing rhythm to the conversation, the kind that feels like it should only come after years of knowing each other, and yet, we’ve only just met.
Though she does most of the talking, I surprise myself by sharing a few things with her too. I tell her about my brothers. Levi, the youngest and craziest of the three of us, a landscaper and certified bon vivant. I tell her that buying the villa will bring me even closer to him and that we have a really strong bond that means a lot to me. Without going into too much detail, I tell her that he’s pretty much my only family—except for Eric, who’s like a brother to us—since Max died, as my relationship with our father has soured. I also tell her what a great and smart guy Max was and how much I enjoyed working with him. Nora seems to sense how hard it is for me to talk about Max. She doesn’t press for details but still offers comfort in the softest way—her presence, her understanding. I realize that I’ve barely talked about Max since his death, except with Levi and Eric. My employees and close friends know I lost my brother, but I quickly made that topic taboo. The outside world knows nothing.
When she slides her hand into mine, intertwining our fingers, her silent support feels tangible. Nora, in turn, tells me about her childhood, which wasn’t always easy. She tries to downplay it and put a positive spin on it, but it’s worse than what I suspected after Eric’s information. Nora was pretty much left to fend for herself while her parents worked day and night at the café. She had to do everything at home alone; there was never anyone to tuck her in or make her a lunchbox. When her parents were home, they were unbearable and never satisfied. I can’t think of any other words than “child abuse” to describe her situation. As she speaks, I feel an anger bubbling up toward her parents, an incomprehensible rage at how anyone could treat their own child like that. But then she tells me about Dennis, her cousin, who stepped into the role of her protector and big brother. He was there for her at school and at home, and it’s clear how deeply she values him. I can’t help but respect the guy; without him, her teenage years could have turned out much darker. Anna also plays an important role in her life, she tells me. They met while studying and clearly have an exceptionally deep bond. Apparently, Anna is pregnant with her first child. Nora beams as she talks about the nursery she gets to design. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a “house, garden, picket fence” alarm goes off, but I ignore it.
Nora is such a strong personality when you consider where she came from and see where she is now. She’s achieved so much in such a short time. I tell her I truly admire who she is and how she’s taken control of her life. She misses having colleagues, she says. She sees and knows so many people through her job, but they’re almost all fleeting connections. She tells me how she might have underestimated that part of her career change but still hopes for fun and lasting collaborations in the future. She wants to expand her office someday, and then more people could be hired. It’s nice to hear how ambitious she is and what beautiful dreams she has for the future. I wonder what it would be like to be part of that future and how it would feel to make plans together. For a brief moment, I can imagine it, but I can’t hold onto the image. It’s not real, most importantly, it’s not possible. She’s better off without me.
My mood threatens to darken after these thoughts, but the lingerie shop comes into view and offers salvation. Nora takes a deep breath, looking adorably nervous as we step inside. The shop is tiny, every inch packed with lingerie in all colors and styles. A friendly woman, probably in her fifties, greets us with a warm smile.
“Can I help you? Looking for something specific?”
“We’re looking for sexy lingerie for this lovely lady right here.”
Nora whirls around so fast I almost laugh. The look she gives me could kill a lesser man. I barely resist the urge to stick out my tongue at her. She’s stunning when she’s annoyed, and I can’t help but tease her a little. If we’re shopping for sexy lingerie, we might as well do it right.
The saleswoman, unfazed, keeps smiling and seems genuinely enthusiastic about the task. “What size are you exactly? I’d say, just by looking, an 80 C?” This is getting interesting.
“More like 85 C, but I don’t think we actually need bras,” Nora replies like a fish out of water.
This is going to be fun.
Chapter 11
Nora
“Of course, why settle for just a thong or a g-string when we can buy whole sets?” says Andreas.
I see the corner of his mouth lift and realize how much Andreas is enjoying himself right now. It’s strange how I can still feel prudish after last night and this morning, but I do. It’s as if the two of them have made a pact to embarrass me here.
“Absolutely right, sir, I’ll pick out a few sets in the right size. Do you have a preference in terms of color?”
Is she really discussing the color of my lingerie with Andreas as if I’m not even here?
“Black or red, white could work too. Definitely something with lace,” he replies decisively.
I can’t believe how comfortable he is in a lingerie store. I watch helplessly as the two of them pick out one set after another for me. By the time I step into the fitting room, I have at least three sets and a bodysuit hanging there to try on, each one more daring than the last. Some look easier to wear than others. I look at the tiny pieces of fabric and decide to try on the black set first. A non-padded, lace bra with a matching thong. I put it all on and look at myself in the mirror. It doesn’t look bad. If I could maybe lose a few pounds around my hips and stomach, it would be perfect.
Without warning, Andreas opens the curtain of my fitting room. I almost need a defibrillator.
“Don’t you dare hide from me!”
