“Yeah, I’m still here.”
“I love you.” The phone was cut off quickly. Ben stared at it then grinned. Best birthday presentever. He lay back on the bed and turned again to the space Nikolas should be occupying.I love you. It was only the second time in almost five years Nikolas had told him this. He was clearly not the only one suffering from the separation.
§ § §
Every day, Ben worked in the garden. The difference between the amount of work he was able to do and what Ingrid could do was incredible. He’d mown the lawn, tidied all the beds, and begun on the huge job of pruning the largest of the trees before the week was out. Every day, she stayed out in the garden with him, working happily alongside him, talking to him and making him talk to her. Considering there was so much age and differing experiences between them, they never ran out of things to say. Ben wanted to know everything about Aeroe, and she was very content to talk about the island and all the people on it. She’d lived in London for many years, and he was very happy to talk about that place. She tried talking about art and music and literature but quickly realised these weren’t going to be long conversations. Then, one day, she came out with their morning coffee and had a book on the tray with her. Ben was throwing Radulf’s ball over the fence onto the beach, making him jump and chase to wear him out a bit. He sat at the small chairs and table when she called him. The book was calledDe Røde Sko: The Red Shoes. Ben thumbed through it. She smiled. “Read it. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
He nodded.
The days passed very quickly. Every morning he woke at five and went for a run. He ran for half an hour along the beach, through the dunes and up into a forest through the trails, and then turned and retraced his steps. Each day, he pushed himself to go a little further in his allotted hour, and by the end of the first month, he felt he was as fit as at any time since leaving the army. He worked most of the day in the garden, stripped to the waist and turning a deep brown, and then in the evenings he swam. He didn’t take Radulf on this activity, so he had to wait, barking on the beach while Ben swam across to a small sandbar about half a mile away and back.
By the time he fell into bed at night, he was exhausted and able to sleep for a few hours before his body, young and fit and used to almost constant sex, woke him again thrumming with need.
After a month, Ingrid suggested he accompany her into town. It was the first time he’d left his small retreat since he’d arrived. He offered to drive her in his Merc, and she agreed happily. She perched like a small, eager bird in the front seat, giving him unnecessary directions to Aeroeskoebing. She didn’t seem to understand he was following the small screen with the map on it.
When they reached the town, she handed him a list and told him she’d take Radulf for a walk around the harbour—that he was to do all the shopping they needed in the local market, and join the library. He nodded to both tasks, and agreed he’d meet her for lunch at the restaurant he’d eaten in on his first day on Aeroe. He wasn’t as confident with his language skills as he’d pretended to be with Ingrid and hesitated, watching her walking stoutly away with Radulf.
He reckoned library first so he didn’t have to carry bags around.
The library was situated in a surprisingly bright and airy modern building. Ben realised he’d never been in a library before and had assumed they would be darker and full of leather-bound books that smelt musty. This library had a large children’s section full of bright colours and beanbags and tiny plastic chairs around tiny tables. The adults’ section was attractive with computers and leather sofas.
Having got here, he was now at something of a loss. He spotted a young woman behind the counter who didn’t seem busy and went up to her. In his halting Danish, he explained that he wanted to join.
Ben always noticed the effect he had on people—he just didn’t give it any weight or let it affect the way he treated them back. Only occasionally was the reaction so noticeable that he found himself playing on their attraction to him. This young woman was extremely easy to flirt with. She had…assets—and the name Amy pinned to them quite provocatively. Ben wasn’t immune to a woman’s most obvious selling point by any means. It was unfortunate, however, to be forced to look at smooth skin, glossy hair and…assets…now—now that he wascelibate. He usually dealt with such moments by returning to Nikolas and fucking him senseless.
He swallowed and forced his eyes down to the paperwork Amy handed him. When he produced his UK driving licence she seemed nonplussed and said something he didn’t understand, wandering away into the office.
She returned with an older woman who Ben assumed was the senior librarian. She gave Ben a quick once over and dismissed Amy to stack some shelves. Once she’d got her reading glasses in place she checked Ben’s licence. He gave her a winning smile. He didn’t mind giving them to old ladies. Things were subsiding nicely. He’d do penance for his reaction to Amy later. Or he’d do something. He was celibate—it didn’t mean he couldn’t take his own cock in hand and…or did it? Did celibates—he missed something the old woman had said and asked her to repeat it. She did and told him it was very rare for someone to be learning Danish—especially anyone English. He didn’t want to mention Nikolas, giventhingshad only just gone down, so instead told her the information she’d asked for—where he was staying, how long for, what sort of card he needed.
Eventually he had his first library card in his hand. He felt quite proud. The old lady wanted to give him a tour, so he accepted gratefully. She was clearly a good judge of character and took him straight to the crime section. Ben chuckled when she handed him a couple of Scandinavian noir novelists. He put them back though and said haltingly that he’d only just coped with The Red Shoes.
Beaming, she led him back to the children’s section. Like a proud grandmother she handed him some boldly illustrated books. He thanked her, and she told him to always ask for her if he needed help in future. Gabby was her name, she said, and Ben felt that, as with Ingrid, he’d made a real friend on Aeroe.
Loaded down with children’s books, he then took Ingrid’s list to the market and wandered around, getting the things she’d asked for. It wasn’t until he was almost at the end, at the fish stand, that he realised no one had tried to speak to him in English. He’d had to repeat himself a couple of times, and he didn’t always understand what people said to him, especially if they were looking away, but, by and large, he’d conducted the whole morning talking in Danish without thinking too much about it. On a whim, he bought some flowers and made his way to the harbour. Ingrid’s face lit up at the flowers. She chastised him for profligacy but was sniffing and murmuring happily over them as they strolled to the restaurant. The owner recognised Ben and nodded politely.
“Table for two? Outside, if that’s okay.”
The man’s eyebrows rose. “Welcome to Danish.”
Ben laughed. “Is it good?”
“Couldn’t even tell you were from Iran now.”
“Ah, yeah, sorry. I needed to stop you all speak to me in English.”
“Speaking.”
“Thanks. Yes. I still have a lot to learn.”
“Not so much. You’re living with Ingrid?”
“Yes. Do you know her?”
“This is Aeroe, everyone knows everyone. Ingrid taught at the school. She taught me for five years.”
“She told me she was a teacher.” He smiled wryly. “She has me do homework now.” He showed him the stack of books.
“Let’s hope she doesn’t start putting you in detention.”
