A Nearly Normal Family(41)

As if it were merely a matter of jurisprudence.

She put a hand on my knee and I stroked it slowly. After all these years together, I could feel her skin as I felt my own.

“I just don’t understand what Amina is hiding,” I said. “There’s something she’s keeping from us.”

Ulrika’s hand jumped.

“Why would Amina lie? She’s Stella’s best friend.”

“I don’t know. I really don’t. I just know she hasn’t been completely forthcoming.”

“But you seriously believe that Amina is involved somehow?”

“I don’t know anymore. I don’t know what to believe.”



* * *



A bit too full and tipsy, we decided to walk to the train. We strolled through town without saying much. People looked at us—some said hello; others turned their backs as we passed and I could hear their whispers. Ulrika had linked her arm in mine and was walking with purpose; she didn’t slow down.

I think it was Ulrika’s idea to pay a visit to Alexandra and Dino. Since we were in the neighborhood anyway. She thought a little company would do us good and sent a text to let them know we were on our way.

Alexandra met us in the doorway on Trollebergsv?gen, her eyes wide.

“Oh, it’s you!”

A certain reluctance was hiding behind her surprise. Perhaps Ulrika missed it, because she didn’t hesitate to step into their apartment with a big hug for Alexandra.

“We took a chance that you’d be home. I sent a text, but you didn’t respond.”

Alexandra looked at me over Ulrika’s shoulder.

Dino came rambling over, wearing only knee-length shorts and with a beer in hand. When he caught sight of us he smiled and assaulted us with hugs.

“How are you?” said Alexandra. “How is Stella?”

Once we’d given a rundown of the past few days’ worth of events, or nonevents, Dino herded me into the living room where an agitated soccer commentator was huffing from the wall-mounted flat-screen as peaceful music streamed from the speakers. The balcony door was wide open and the night air drifted in, carrying the mild scents of Indian summer.

“Two to one,” Dino said, gesturing at the screen.

“Okay.”

I couldn’t care less.

“You look tired. No shock there, I suppose,” he said. “Here, have a beer.”

The cap hissed and I accepted the cold bottle.

“Do you remember we always said Amina was the book-smart one, and Stella was street-smart?” Dino asked. “They complemented each other so well, both on the court and out in the real world.”

“Mmhmm.”

It was hard to focus when the music was playing and the voice of the commentator was bombarding me even as our wives’ voices crowded in from the kitchen.

“Stella’s a survivor,” said Dino. “A fighter.”

I mumbled a response and went over to the speaker with its docking station.

“Is it okay if I turn this off?”

“Sure,” Dino said, and I stopped the music.

In the kitchen, our wives were talking about Stockholm. Alexandra said it sounded like a good idea to get away for a while.

I glanced toward Amina’s room.

“Is she home?” I asked.

Dino shook his head.

“She’s not?”

“No.”

He scratched the back of his neck and took a few big sips of his beer.

“Is she in her room?” I asked, pointing at the door.

“No, she’s not home.”

I stepped over and placed my hand on the door handle.

The truth had to come out.

“What the fuck are you doing? Stop!”

Dino flew off the sofa and an instant later Alexandra and Ulrika came out of the kitchen.

“Amina?” I said, opening the door.

There she was, across the dimly lit room, reading at her desk. She just had time to turn around.

Dino threw himself forward and grabbed at me. Soon he had me in a lock; his arms around my chest, he yanked me back out of the room.

“Stop it!” cried Ulrika and Alexandra.

But Dino didn’t stop. He twisted my arm up behind my back so roughly that it almost snapped, and hustled me away.

“What are you doing?” Ulrika shouted.

Alexandra ran up and yanked at Dino.

“Stop it!”

“He is out of here,” Dino said, forcing me into the hall, where he jabbed his knee into my tailbone and shoved me up against the wall.

“You’re crazy,” I said.

“Calm down,” Dino hissed.

Through the hubbub I caught a glimpse of Ulrika’s terrified expression.

“What happened?”

I tried to respond, but Dino drowned me out.

“He forced his way into Amina’s room.”

I protested, but it was all in vain.

“What is wrong with you?” said Ulrika.

Dino’s brutal treatment made me whimper. I waited for him to respond to Ulrika’s question, for some sort of explanation to all this utterly pointless violence. Only when I managed to twist around did I realize that Ulrika’s question had been addressed to me.

“You went in her room? Without permission?”