A safe bet, because Lovisa was pursuing a stellar career within philosophy research. She was a lecturer at Södertörn University, and was participating in a major international study on the distribution of society’s resources, which his mother loved to discuss with her.
“I think it’s fantastic that Lovisa is taking her research so seriously. She’ll be a professor before we know it!” Pride shone in his mother’s eyes, and the underlying message was clear: Didrik was wasting his career prospects and his academic knowledge on something as trivial as TV entertainment.
The sense of reassurance he’d felt earlier had been misplaced. He cursed his naive hope that his mother would provide consolation; in fact, she wouldn’t be able to cope if he broke down here. A person had to hold their emotions in check; she had learned that lesson as the child of an Estonian father who had left everything behind and fled to Sweden during the Second World War. Didrik loved his grandfather, but any talk of feelings was out of the question, in the older man’s opinion, and Didrik’s mother had inherited that point of view.
“In you come,” she said. “Victor and Sofia are already here—they’ve got some news.” She was beaming, and Didrik immediately knew what they were going to say.
His younger brother had married only six months ago. In a way Didrik was grateful for his mother’s not-so-subtle warning, because itgave him the chance to prepare himself mentally and force a smile when the moment came.
His father emerged from the kitchen and gave him a warm hug before leading the way into the dining room, where they sat down at the table. Didrik greeted his brother and sister-in-law. Did Sofia look different? He didn’t want to stare, but it was clear that something had changed; she was glowing.
His mother had cooked her popular halibut, which she served with potatoes tossed in dill and whitefish roe. The crystal glasses were out, and a freshly ironed linen cloth covered the table, topped by matching, neatly pressed napkins. Always neatly pressed napkins in the professor’s house.
His father poured the wine—Sofia declined.
Didrik had planned to drive home, but now he wondered whether he should leave the car here. Maybe a glass of wine or two was exactly what he needed to get through this? On the other hand, it was probably stupid to drink when he was in this state. He refused the wine too.
“So, are you going to tell us?” His mother could hardly sit still as she smiled at Victor, then Sofia.
Victor placed his hand over Sofia’s and gave it a squeeze. “We’re having a baby.” He smiled, looked at Didrik, and swallowed. The smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, and he was clearly a little wary.
Didrik put down his glass of water and grinned. “Seriously?” He stood up. “I’m going to be an uncle?” He walked around the table and hugged Sofia. “You look wonderful—congratulations!” Then he hugged his brother, holding on for a few seconds longer than usual. “Congratulations!” His voice was trembling slightly, but when he met Victor’s gaze he felt nothing but genuine joy. His childlessness was a bitter burden, but short of having his own child, a niece or nephew was what he wished for the most.
“Fantastic!” his mother said. “I’m so happy. A grandchildat last, and nota daytoo soon.”
When she carried on like this, reminding him of a steamroller, Didrik wondered if she’d ever heard of involuntary childlessness. Hehadn’t discussed the topic with her; he’d merely mentioned that he and Lovisa were trying, and had assumed his parents understood that it wasn’t going terribly well, since there were still no grandchildren.
“Victor, tell us more about that study in conflict resolution—you must be nearly finished?”
Victor put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, and took a sip of water. “Yes, we’re in the homestretch now—there’s been a lot to do.” He looked at Didrik, then his parents. “I’ll be spending some time at the University of Bordeaux in the next few months, so you’ll have to take care of Sofia.” He patted his wife’s arm, and she smiled.
“Of course we will,” his mother replied, gazing warmly at her daughter-in-law.
Both Didrik and Victor had followed in their mother’s footsteps in the academic world, and Victor was a doctor in the faculty of social sciences here in Uppsala.
As usual their father remained silent, listening to the conversation and periodically nodding in agreement. Occasionally he rubbed his bald head. He was an engineer, a civil servant; he knew a great deal about the world of academia, but never spoke up.
“How exciting.” His mother turned her attention to Didrik. “And how about you? Any plans to go back to the university?”
“I have a meeting with a colleague at the university next week,” he said quietly. “And I’ve been approached about a new TV show, one that will look into different antique artifacts and their history.”
His mother’s face was expressionless. “One of those quiz shows?” Ill-concealed distaste took over as she spoke.
“You could say that.” Didrik avoided her gaze, glancing around the table, then out the windows at the apple tree in bud.
“Why don’t you carry on with your research into the history of Estonian Swedes? I liked that idea, it sounded so interesting, researching the history of your maternal grandparents. They’ve got lots of material up in the attic out in the country; it just needs someone to go through it.”
Didrik nodded. Maybe he’d go back to the topic one day.
“By the way, I saw Krissie at a lunch the other day,” he said. “I’m going to be a guest on her show later in the spring.” He speared a piece of potato drenched in roe, and looked at his mother.
“Well, there you go.” She turned to Sofia. “Pass me your plate—you’re eating for two now!” She happily spooned more food onto her daughter-in-law’s dish. “Couldn’t Krissie find anyone else, besides her nephew?” She smirked at her own joke.
“I love Krissie’s show, she’s so good at talking to people,” Sofia said diplomatically.
Didrik’s Aunt Krissie was something of a TV legend. She had started out as a journalist, moved into television, and become one of the country’s most respected TV personalities. She had her own show, on which she interviewed everyone from Hollywood stars to presidents to top names in the world of sport. Didrik’s mother didn’t like talking about her sister’s successes.
“I would have loved to conduct research into Estonian Swedes,” she continued instead, handing around the potatoes. “If I’d had the opportunity to look into our family origins, I would have jumped at the chance. Obviously.” She topped off Sofia’s glass of water, then her own.
