I spin around, frazzled, looking for the dishrag pinned beneath the flour jar. While making my way to the front door, I dust myself off and tell myself to say that we’ve just been busy and I’ve been studying to prepare for my return to classes, which must seem like a joke at this point with how much time has passed since I began studying in the library at night.
Studying. It’s my only motive for hiding indoors.
I open the door, still cleaning myself off. “You scared me half to death, you know,” I say.
“Good. Now, you know how Helga, Ursula, and I have been feeling about how distant you and Otto have been. Something is clearly wrong, or one of us did something to upset you, and we need to know.”
I’m not surprised Ingrid is the one to confront me. The other two seem to have more understanding for privacy.
She steps in, forcing me to take a step back.
“I apologize for causing any worry, but that wasn’t my intention. Otto and I have just been so busy and quite frankly, exhausted.”
Her gaze drifts down to my stomach, and I’d like to tell her she can just stop looking there every time we see each other because it isn’t happening, not now.
“No, I’m not pregnant,” I utter.
“Okay, then what is it?”
“I told you; I’ve been studying every night so I can return to my classes.”
Ingrid presses her hands to her hips and tosses her head back. “Did we offend you? Just tell me, I can handle it…Things haven’t been right since that dinner event and that soldier said all those awful things about you.” Ingrid places her hand on my shoulder, her nails clawing at my skin. “Emilie, are you having an affair?”
I pull away from her grip. “No, Ingrid, I’m not. If you’re worried that I’ve been offended by something you’ve said, why would you suggest something like that?”
She shrugs. “You leave the house every night. We’ve all noticed.”
“To go study at the library,” I continue.
“Ingrid’s eldest daughter, Marie, has been going to the library these last couple of weeks and I asked her if she ran into you. She said the library was empty aside from herself and another couple of students.”
With the front door still open, I see and hear our car pull up and come to a sudden stop. Otto jumps out and races to the door. He’s never been home at this hour of the day.
“Goodness, I hope everything is okay,” Ingrid says, pressing her fingers to her lips.
“Ingrid, hello,” Otto says, breathlessly.
“Is everything okay, dear?” I ask him. His gaze darts between my face and Ingrid’s. “Yes, yes. I forgot to take my lunch this morning and wanted to come by for it quickly.”
“You don’t hand him his lunch on the way out the door?” Ingrid asks.
Otto shuffles his weight from one foot to the other. “Ingrid, would you mind if I have a moment with my wife?”
“Oh,” she says, touching her fingers to her chest. “I’m so sorry. I beg your pardon. I’ll just see my way out. I was worried about the two of you, so I?—”
“I appreciate your concern, but there’s no reason to worry.” Otto opens the door wider, re-enforcing his request. All the while I worry what has him so wound up. He wasn’t missing his lunch. Ididhand it to him as he walked out the door this morning.
Ingrid, wide-eyed, and probably offended, walks stiffly out the front door before Otto closes us inside.
“What is it?” I ask him, noticing he’s pale, and the whites of his eyes are stained red.
“Something isn’t right. I’ve been light-headed and cold to the bone. I took my temperature in the sick bay, and I have a high fever.”
I take him by the arm and bring him into the living room to sit him down on the sofa. “It could be influenza,” I tell him, placing the back of my hand on his head. He certainly does have a high fever. “Did it all come on at once?”
He leans back into the sofa and stares through the coffee table as if he’s trying to recall when these symptoms began. “I suppose I felt a bit weak this morning, but I was fine after a while. A dizzy spell hit me just an hour ago and then the chill.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing. You work in a hospital. You’re bound to pick up germs. I’ll make you tea and get a cool compress for your head.”
