It was a mistake, she knew it was, but Amalie didn’t have the heart to tell Oskar no. Not to mention that part of her wanted to see if she was wrong.Maybe his mother won’t be so bad, after all? Maybe I’ve over-imagined her reaction.
‘Oskar, what are you doing out at this time of night? Surely you have better things to do than?—’
‘Mother, it’s good to see you,’ he interrupted, leaning in to kiss his mother’s cheek and embrace her. ‘You should have sent word that you were coming.’
Amalie found herself studying the woman’s face for any likeness to Oskar, and finding none. She also knew what she’d been about to say, or close enough to it.
‘Your father wanted to visit, and I wanted to make certain my youngest son was behaving himself.’ His mother gave her a pointed look, and Amalie’s cheeks flooded with heat. ‘I don’t know why you insist on working here when you could be enjoying the summer with us, or just staying here as a guest, although you’ve clearly found a way to entertain yourself.’
‘Mother, I’d like to introduce you to Amalie,’ Oskar said, taking a step back so that he was standing beside her, as if he hadn’t even heard her words.
His mother gave her son a long, steady look, as if to question why he was making her say hello, before fixing her gaze on Amalie.
Amalie knew then that her fears had come true. She’d never felt as small in all her life as she felt in front of Oskar’s mother in that moment. She’d come from a nice family, surrounded by hard-working people who loved their children and strived to do what they could for them. But when she stood in front of Oskar’s mother, it was the first time she’d understood how insignificant she was. That she would never, ever be enough for this woman’s son.
‘It’s lovely to meet you,’ Amalie said, forcing the words out.
His mother didn’t even bother to acknowledge her. It was as if Amalie hadn’t even spoken.
‘Oskar, come and join your father and me for a late supper. The kitchen has reopened for us.’
‘Mother, this is Amalie,’ Oskar said again, his voice louder this time. ‘We’ve spent the summer together so far, and I’ve been looking forward to introducing you to her.’
His mother raised an eyebrow and gave Amalie a fleeting glance that consisted of looking her up and down, before audibly sighing. Tears pricked at Amalie’s eyes, and she wished that she’d just stayed in her little bubble with Oskar, that she hadn’t had to meet this awful woman who made her feel as if she wasn’t even worthy of speaking to.
‘Come along, Oskar,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to keep your father waiting all night; it was a long drive to get here.’
Amalie could sense Oskar’s hesitation this time, and she wondered how many times he’d actually stood up to his mother before. But she couldn’t help but be proud of him when he didn’t move, even when his mother turned away. It was obvious that she was well used to her son obeying her.
‘I actually already have plans with Amalie, but if you’d allow her to join us…’
His mother did a half-turn, her eyes boring into Oskar’s as if she were trying to set him alight. But instead of giving in to her,he held out his hand and took Amalie’s. Amalie was proud of him, but she knew that, somehow, she’d be blamed for this, as if she’d made him behave in this way.
‘Oskar, it’s late, and I’m so very tired,’ Amalie forced herself to say, avoiding his eyes when his searched hers. She wasn’t going to let his mother see her behaving in anything other than a respectful way. ‘Please, go and enjoy the evening with your parents. We can see each other tomorrow.’
He didn’t move, and she wished he would because her eyes were filling with tears now and she didn’t know how long she could hold back the sob that was building inside of her.
‘Are you?—’
‘I’m certain. Thank you for thebløtkake, it was delicious.’
Oskar stepped nearer to her, embracing her and kissing her cheek, his lips gently skimming across her skin. When he squeezed her hand, it was all she could do not to burst into tears right there in front of his mother, who was still waiting for him, hovering as if she wanted to forcibly snatch her son away from her.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he whispered. ‘I’m sorry.’
She nodded and watched him go, and she knew that she would never, ever forget the look of disdain his mother gave her when she glanced back at Amalie over her shoulder. Oskar might love her, but his mother couldn’t even stand to breathe the same air as her, and she’d conveyed exactly what she thought of her in one long, cold stare.
Later that night, when Amalie was curled up in her bed, tossing and turning and unable to sleep, there was a light knock at her door. She startled, thinking she was imagining it, but as she lay there listening to her roommate snoring, it happened again. There was someone knocking.
‘Amalie,’ came an urgent whisper. ‘Open the door.’
She quickly rose, smoothing her hands down her nightgown to check that she was decent, before tiptoeing across the floorboards and opening the door as quietly as she could.
‘Oskar! What are you doing here? If we’re caught?—’
Oskar’s mouth met hers, stealing her words with his kisses, his hand cupped to the back of her head. When they came up for air, he took her hand. Clearly he wasn’t concerned about being caught.
‘My mother is awful and I hate the way she treated you tonight,’ he said. ‘But I’m not going to let her ruin this. I love you, Amalie, and that’s the last and only time I’ll let my mother ignore you like that.’
