Chapter 9
The next day I rode to work on the bus. The theatre poster greeted me at every station, adding to the butterflies in my stomach.
“I told Sam you would meet him tonight for the finalisation of the artifacts,” Jessy’s tinkling voice chimed. “How time has flown. I can’t believe the exhibit opens on Wednesday.” She rubbed her hands in glee. “I have contacted the local papers. The canteen will be cooking up valentine cupcakes, and it’s sure to go down a treat with the locals and hopefully tagging the launch with Valentine’s Day will make a big enough attraction for tourists this half term.” She bubbled with so much excitement it was contagious and I couldn’t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm.
“You’re right. It’s not long now. Have all the orders arrived? I want to start setting up asap, so I’ve got time to fix the lighting before I meet with Sam tonight.”
“Yes, yes, dear, they’re in the stockroom and the larger display cabins are already in the exhibit space. They just need positioning where you want them.”
“Excellent.”
Shuffling items inch by inch to match the details on my design to perfection took longer than I had first expected, and by the time Jessy came to tell me she was leaving, I was covered in a thick sheen of sweat. Great , I thought as I tried to clean myself up in the toilets, splashing cool water on my face. I was going to meet the man I - I took a shaky breath. Even thinking about saying it gave me chills from the past of relationship trauma. You can do this, I told myself, looking up into the mirror. I finger combed my hair back and tied the kitty scrunchie into its thick depths. I can do this. I stared into my reflection’s eyes - you can do this . It seemed to come better from my reflection and I found the butterflies setting their wings as I walked out into the exhibition.
“It’s amazing. You’ve brought the exhibit to life truly, Frigga. Congratulations.” I give Sam a small smile.
“I was hoping you would like it. I thought the rainbow carpet worked beautifully as the bridge to join the sectioned areas of the Yggdrasil tree.” He grinned.
“They do it more beautifully than I could have imagined.”
“Sam, I… He walked to a glass case empty of artifact
“I'll put the hammer replica here in the dwarf section as they created it for Thor. Oh, wow, you’ve even got a hammer puzzle for the children to make.” He looked up, his eyes sparkling. “You are something special, I… he halted. “Sorry.” He gave me a sad smile. “Shall we continue, there are a few more relics in place? I only have two left to clean now, so we will be ready for Wednesday. I'll start them tomorrow,” I urged.
“Will there be a Thor hero dressing up? I know you said it might be a good idea.”
“Yes, yes, I hired an actor last week. He will be here Wednesday morning. It was hard to get anyone with it being valentines, but the promise of high publicity convinced him.”
“I’m sure it did.”
I stifled a yawn. It had been a long day.
“You’re tired, Frigga. You should go home.”
“It’s alright.” I look at my watch. “I have another hour before the bus comes, so I'll stay and work.”
“You can’t work if you're exhausted again. You know what happened last time.” I blush deeply. “Let me take you home. I'll let the night guard know I’m on a break.”
“But-”
“No arguing,” he asserted. I silenced. Maybe it would give me a better chance to ask him out, I thought as I waited for his return. Butterflies spawned in my stomach again. My palms were sweaty and as he came back and led me to his car, all my voice could do was warble.
“S… Sam, I-”
“You don’t need to explain yourself. I get it. I’m just happy you're better.”
“No, I…”
“Frigga, I can’t hear it. My heart can’t take it. I tried to look out for you and offered my hospitality and kindness. I did nothing but look after you and at the first sign of my affections; you cut and run.”
“I’m sorry I…”
“It’s fine. Let’s just forget it and be friends. If I’m not too old to be such in your eyes.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“I can’t do this right now. I’m taking you home as a courtesy. I don’t want to see you exhausted and sick again.”
He shut me down . Gazing at my hands I thought , How am I supposed to do this? I can’t. I thought I could feel the tight boa constricting my chest, draining any possibility of forming words. Something needs doing, I thought as he stopped at a red light. “I found out something interesting the other day when researching the Norse gods.” I watched his shoulders relax. Hopefully, he was open to the conversation. I waited with bated breath for him to take the bait.
“Oh, what was that?” I couldn’t help the grin spread across my face as the butterflies in my stomach perked up. He didn’t hate me. No matter what he said, he wouldn’t talk to me if he did.
“I read that Wotan is another form of the name Odin.” He smiled and my soul lit like the brightest of flames, desperate for its attention.
“Yes, it’s true. My parents were artifact hunters and highly into their mythology.”
“Were?”
“They passed away a few years ago.”
“I’m sorry,” I tug at my hair band. “It must be hard.”
“Mmhm. They were older. But their absence still makes my heart ache.”
“I understand,” I whispered, drawing a glance at him.
“What do you mean?” The boa around my heart constricted tighter as I tugged at my scrunchie and dry gulped.
“My little brother he…” His hand touched mine, its warmth seeing off the boa constrictor as a single tear fell from my eye. Sniff . “There was an accident. He was with our big sister Jainy. We both were. He dared me to touch the bottom of the lake at Jainy’s lake house. Well, I did it. He said he could do it faster but his leg got caught up in some weeds and…” A sob escapes me and the squeezing pressure of his hand draws me back to the present. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I told you, we all have scars, we just wear them differently.” He pulled up at the curb. “Do you want me to walk you in?” My heart screamed yes, but my subconscious was stuck viewing my drowned brother on repeat.
“No, I’m okay, I-” He stopped the car.
“Come on.” He led me to my door and waited for me to open it. The warmth of his closeness seemed to thaw me from that awful memory as he led me to my sofa and prepared some sweet tea.
He is so thoughtful, so sensitive. “Thank you,” I said softly, accepting the tea. “Why don’t you have a cup?”
“No, I don’t think that would be a good idea. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.
“Please?”
“Another time. Take it easy, okay?” His warm hand patted my shoulder, sending warmth and support webbing through me. “I'll see you at work tomorrow. And, Frigga, I'm sorry about your brother.”
I stared at him, teary-eyed, as he shut the door. “Thank you,” I whispered to the empty room that somehow felt chilly now he had gone. I shivered, sipped my sweet tea and curled up in my sofa blanket, turning the TV on. I couldn’t believe I told him that. I let my hair down, pulling the scrunchie onto my wrist. The hello kitty on it was a little faded now, but I had worn it every day since my brother’s death, so I would never forget him. It had been a birthday present in the final year of his life and Mum had helped him choose it himself. We were so close. All of our other siblings were much older and being the younger ones we were always together studying, playing until… Sniff . I missed him so much. Sometimes I could even swear he was watching over me. I let out a soft chuckle and closed my eyes, dreaming of the life if my brother was still alive.