Ever so slightly, I could hear the Annual Westergaarde Holdings “End of the Fiscal Year” party. It was Grandpapa’s pride and joy, everyone who was anyone was celebrating in the floors below me. That’s just the thing, there was far too many people, especially for my liking. With all of Grandpapa’s sons with all of their children, I was able to slip away before anyone could really care to notice.
My first thought was to go up the floors to find my Papa’s office. It was amazing that Papa was able to have an office, especially considering that he was the youngest of the whole family. He made due, something we both had to learn how to do early on.
Time had managed to slip me by as I trace my fingertips over the spines of the book sitting neatly on the shelf behind his desk. I didn’t even notice the door open until a one sided conversation. From the book I held in my and, I looked up to find my Papa on the phone.
He continued to run his hand through his hair, trying to calm whatever nerves seemed to be on end. “Mhmm...alright, I’ll talk to you soon. I swear to you. I love you,” And with that, he hung up the call and slid the phone into his pocket. He turned my way and forced a kind smile, “Silje, darling. There you are. How long have you been hiding out here?”
I just knew something was off. “Not long, after the photographs, I would have to say. I heard the end of your call, was that?...”
Papa sighed, but nodded, “It was. She sends her love and misses you so so much.”
My heart fluttered at his words, I missed her too. My parents married, but only in name. Grandpapa and Grandmama never wanted it to be done in the first place. Though they did get married against their wishes, I am to stay in Norway with Papa while Mama is in Sweden, where she’s from.
“What were you two talking about? If I can ask-”
“We….we were actually talking about you. Somethings are going on and I needed to know what she thought, for the best for you, of course. We’re going to see her soon, I’ll make sure of it. One day soon, I promise.”
“What do you mean there’s something going on? Is everything alright?”
“Oh my darling, I wish everything was. But it isn’t. Would you please sit down?”
Whatever were the contents of the phone call, had Papa more worried than I can remember ever seeing him. I did as he asked and sat on the couch against the opposite wall. Papa followed an knelt before me, taking my hands into his own.
“Darling, you’re going to have to go away for a while. I ordered your plane ticket, you leave in the morning.” He couldn’t look me in the eye, simply kept his head hung low as his thumb traced over the back of my hand.
“What...what are you saying? What do you mean I have to leave??” I snapped, a bit more forcefully than necessarily.
“It’s for the best, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t absolutely have to. But there is an Interpol Agent going after one of my clients and if the financials trace back to me,I don’t want to see you be caught in the fray. Do you understand?”
“I do..and you called Mama?...”
“To know if I was doing the right thing for you, for the family. I just needed to know from her. And bless her heart, she said I was. She said I was a good father and...and that’s what I needed to know.”
“You’ve always been a great father, Papa.”
A faint smile grew on his features, “Thank you darling. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem that way, but it is good to hear you say that.”
“The trip….where will I be going?” I chewed my lip nervously, not quite sure how to ask about it.
“Oh. That. Well, you have a non stop flight to Heathrow Airport in London. I wasn’t sure if you wanted a stop so I saved you the worry. From there, you will be driven from the city to a home. You won’t be there alone, some of my clients have children around your age that you’ll be staying with. Everything will be alright, I promise.”
“Have I met any of these other children before?”
“No, no, I don’t you have. I haven't met some of them in fact..” Papa’s words began to trail off as if he was beginning to rethink the whole decision.
“It’s going to be okay, Papa, just like you said, It’s all going to work out in the end. I’ll go and when this is all over we can go see Mama and be a family again. Like we’ve always wanted.” I offered a smile to help ease his worry.
Thankfully, Papa smiled back to me and he reached up to cup my cheek in his hand. “You’re so much like your mother. I see it in you every day.”
“One day, it’ll be easier, you’ll see.”
“You’re right. That day will come. Now, let's get out of here, one of us needs to start packing. And I have some work that needs to get done. Not everyone is getting a vacation from boring old real life.”
“Would stay if I could, but I gotta go!” I shrugged playfully.
“Yes. You really do,” Papa wrapped an arm around my shoulders and smiled softly, “This trip will be good for you, my darling. You’re getting out of Norway, away from family to somewhere brand new with new people. Who knows, you might not even miss home.”
“I’ll always miss home and I’ll come back, I promise.”
