It may have sounded cold, but she was starting to realise that the only way for her to receive respect was to act as if she held all the cards.
His mother stood, staring down at the now sleeping baby who was still nestled against Amalie’s breast. ‘Of course. I’ll see you tomorrow or the day after.’
Hope stood as well, to see her out, but when she reached the door, she turned around and gave Amalie a smile that imbued her with all the strength she needed not to burst into tears the moment she was alone in the room.
When Oskar’s mother returned two days later, it was as if she’d become a different woman. She came with a bag full of tiny clothes that looked far more expensive than anything Amalie or her family could ever have afforded, and also with a wrapped gift for Amalie. But it wasn’t just the things she’d brought, likely as peace offerings. It was almost like a weight had lifted, that there was no longer such a divide between them.
Amalie slid her fingernail beneath the seal of the tissue paper parcel on her lap, surprised to find a beautiful lavender-coloured dress and a jacket to match, with striking gold buttons. The fabric felt almost buttery against her skin; more luxurious than anything she’d ever touched before.
‘Thank you,’ she said, eyes wide as she glanced up. Amalie had no idea where she might wear something so luxurious, but she was most grateful for the experience.
‘Amalie, I know we’ve had our differences, and I know that it will take a long time for you to trust me, especially after our last conversation,’ she said. ‘But will you return to Oslo with me? To our home? Will you let me look after you both?’
Tears filled Amalie’s eyes as she looked back at the woman who’d once been so cold towards her, and who was now her saviour. She had no idea why the sudden turnaround, but however it had happened, she was going to accept it.
‘Yes,’ Amalie said, holding her daughter to her chest and nuzzling her little downy head. ‘So long as we can stay together, we’ll return with you.’
Amalie hadn’t dared to hope, hadn’t wanted to dream that there might be a chance she wouldn’t be parted from her daughter. But she’d been right to stand up for herself, to fight forwhat she knew was right. It might have been hard at the time, but in the end, she’d received the respect she deserved.
‘When do we leave?’ Amalie asked. ‘Will we travel together?’
‘As soon as I can secure passage, we’ll return home,’ she said, looking as relieved as Amalie felt. ‘You don’t have to worry about anything, Amalie, we intend to take care of you, just as my Oskar would have done.’
‘Your husband, he agreed to this?’ Amalie asked, feeling a flicker of worry inside. ‘You’re certain that he’ll welcome me into your home? That he’ll accept me? Is that why you’re here?’
‘I received a telegram just this morning from him,’ she said. ‘We’ll have to discuss arrangements further once we’re home, but you have my word that you’ll be able to stay with your daughter, and we’ll support you so long as she remains a part of our lives.’
Amalie’s worries slowly lifted. There were so many reasons not to trust the woman standing before her, but she felt content in the idea of moving back to Norway—to speak her language, to be in a city, acountrythat she knew, where she didn’t feel like a fish out of water with no control over her own destiny.
‘Your daughter will keep Oskar’s memory alive every single day,’ his mother said. ‘Please accept my heartfelt apologies and know that from this day forward, you will be a member of our family. We will treasure you and our granddaughter, and treat you both with the respect you deserve. And you will help this grieving mother, because I miss my wonderful boy so much, and this will be like having a piece of him still with us.’
‘Thank you,’ Amalie said, even though she still felt a flicker of doubt as to whether she could trust her. ‘I’m grateful for the chance for us to stay together. Adoption would have broken my heart.’
‘And mine, too, Amalie. I couldn’t have let that happen.’
Amalie saw that Hope was hovering in the hallway, having clearly overheard what was being said but not wanting to intrude.
‘Hope,’ Amalie called. ‘We have wonderful news to share with you.’
Oskar’s mother bristled, her coldness not completely gone as Amalie passed her baby to Hope for a cuddle, now that she was fed and freshly changed. Amalie could see that she was a woman she would always have to be on guard around, not to mention careful about just how much influence she had over her daughter.
‘We’re to return to Oslo,’ Amalie said. ‘We won’t be parted after all.’
‘Thatiswonderful news,’ Hope said. ‘Congratulations.’
Amalie glanced at her daughter’s grandmother, and as elated as she was, she knew better than to think it would be without its challenges. But as Hope passed her baby back to her and she traced her eyes over her perfect little nose and pink mouth, her tiny hands fisted as she gazed back at her mother, Amalie knew that it would all be worth it. She was a mother now, and there was nothing more important to her in the world.
‘Oh, and Amalie?’
She looked up.
‘I thought you might like to wear that dress to travel home in, since I wasn’t sure whether you had any other suitable clothes, and I’ll be certain to have some more outfits delivered to our home for you on our return.’
Amalie imagined she might feel like royalty travelling in such an outfit, and she wasn’t certain how she would nurse during the journey, but she gave her a polite nod, anyway.
‘That was very thoughtful of you, thank you. It will be nice to wear something fashionable now that I have my figure back somewhat.’
She knew it was silly, but Amalie couldn’t help wondering why Mrs Johansen wanted her dressed so impeccably for the journey, or who might be seeing them at the other end when they arrived for her to make such an effort. But then again, there was a chance she was overthinking the entire situation and that his mother was simply trying to be kind and show her change of heart with gifts.
