Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
JONAS
The cream and brown leather interior of the private jet wasn’t exactly to Jonas’ tastes. He would have to earn a lot more advertising contracts before he reached the league of buying his own. Renting would have to do for now.
It was comfortable enough. He spied a bedroom in the rear with pristine and maddeningly undisturbed white sheets. Jonas stared out of the window at the English countryside below.
“Are you going to tell me why you look like shit?” Heidi asked.
“Charming.”
“Jonas.”
They’d barely had time at the airfield. Jonas resigned himself to being interrogated. In many ways, he needed it.
“Adam, of course. What else?”
They were in armchairs facing each other. Heidi leant forward and squeezed his knee.
“That news story is probably ninety percent bullshit.”
“I think you’re right.”
“Oh?”
The flight attendant broke the moment.
“Can I get you any refreshments?”
“I’ll have a sparkling water, please,” Jonas replied.
“I’d better have a glass of fizz,” Heidi added. “I think I might need it.”
“Not a problem.”
He flashed his dazzling teeth before going through to the crew area.
“Not bad,” Heidi said, tracking him.
Jonas hadn’t even noticed. This was a worrying development.
“Okay,” Heidi said, switching focus back to Jonas. “If the story is bullshit, what’s really going on?”
“I don’t know. Adam came over yesterday.”
Heidi sat up. “What did he say?”
“It wasn’t what he did say, it’s what he didn’t. He told me I need to trust him for a short while. Then all will be revealed.”
“How dramatic.”
Jonas smiled sadly. “Right? He’s definitely not with Jen.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“He promised me.”
Heidi frowned. “And you believe him?”
“I think I do. He’s been open that there’s something he’s not telling me. Or can’t. Whatever. I’m scared he’s sick.”
“Shit. Or she might be. Closing all her socials like that. Career suicide.”
A flame of guilt burnt through him with the relief that Adam might not be the ill one. He’d spent the last few hours convincing himself of the fact.
“It would be like Adam to care for her,” he mused. “I’m pissed he doesn’t trust me enough to tell me.”
“I think you should get firm evidence that’s what is happening before you get annoyed. Besides it might not be his secret to tell.”
“True.”
They sat in silence for a while. Jonas needed to take in the prospect that the worst-case scenario he’d built since Adam left was his ridiculous paranoia at work.
“I’m lucky to have you,” Jonas said.
Heidi beamed. “And you always will have. That’s something you can count on.”
“Thank you, my darling.”
“Are you nervous about seeing Tuva?”
Truth be told, he hadn’t given it much thought.
“There will never be a day where I’m scared of her,” he replied. “I’m simply going to come out with it. I’m purposefully going to do it in front of Anna.”
“Isn’t that mean?”
“Think about it,” he continued, warming to his theme. “If Tuva says no outright, which I suspect she will on principle, Anna will grind her down for the next nine months to the point of breaking.”
The plan had come to him in the shower where most good ideas were generated.
Heidi cackled. “I like your style.”
“I’m not letting my evil stepmother beat me.”
Tuva had chosen to receive them in the formal sitting room. Everything was white. The hard couches. The walls. Even the flowers. Normally that would create a calm environment. With the Tuva touch it became stark and clinical.
“Interesting that she didn’t let us into the family room,” Jonas said.
He and Heidi sat side by side on one of the couches. The apartment in the centre of Stockholm had been a place he’d fought so hard to escape from. Now it didn’t even register as part of his life.
This realisation gave Jonas a flash of courage. He was more than Tuva’s equal these days. He would make that work for him.
Anna came bursting through the doors. She was so happy to see him his resolve became strengthened even more.
“Jonas!” she cried as she fell into his arms.
“Hey, kiddo. How are you doing?”
She snuggled into him. “I’m fine. What are you doing here? Hi, Heidi.”
Heidi nodded. She had met Anna a few times and they’d always gotten along.
“Where’s Adam? He said he would come.”
Jonas glanced nervously at Heidi. “Something came up. He says he’ll be here next time.”
It was a lie. Jonas didn’t know if he and Adam would ever do anything together that didn’t involve a football. Still, he hadn’t given up yet.
“I hope you’ve been behaving yourself,” he said.
“No she has not.”
Tuva followed Anna into the room. It had been a while since Jonas had been in the same room as her. She was still a beautiful woman with raven black hair and dark eyes. Today she set that off in a white sweater and pair of light blue jeans.
Anna sighed and settled next to Jonas. Tuva sat stiffly on the opposite couch.
“What’s going on?” Jonas asked.
He glanced at his sister who looked shamefaced.
“This one has been suspended from school,” Tuva announced.
“How come?”
“Tell him.”
“I got caught smoking with one of the boys from my English class.”
Jonas frowned. “Smoking? Anna, you know better than that.”
“Marijuana,” Tuva added. “Drugs.”
“Anna!”
“I only wanted to try it,” she said, quietly. “It’s never happened before.”
“You’ve never been caught before, you mean,” her mother replied. “The embarrassment at having to go to the school was too much. Of course your father had a dinner or drinks or some bullshit excuse to get out of it.”
Jonas had explicitly told Anna to behave herself when she came home. For a split second he panicked that he wouldn’t be able to handle her.
“And you’ve been suspended?” he asked Anna.
“Just until next week. No big deal.”
Tuva looked fit to explode. “She will be studying the whole time she is at home.”
Anna groaned.
“You can’t argue with that,” Jonas said, feeling uncomfortable at agreeing with Tuva. “Your exams are important, Anna.”
“They’re months away,” she replied. “Anyway, what are you doing here?”
“I came to see your mother.”
Tuva settled in her seat and crossed her legs. “That has to be a first. I don’t know whether to be worried or touched.”
Jonas caught Heidi’s eye. She nodded.
“I’ve come to make you an offer,” he replied.
“Oh really? I’m intrigued.”
“Well,” he began. “Now that I’m settled at Brockton, I wondered if Anna would like to come and do her further education in England.”
It was as though he’d thrown a grenade into the centre of the room and they were all waiting for it to go off.
Anna clutched his arm. “Really? Can I?”
“Wait a second,” Tuva replied. “After the way you’ve behaved this week, you are not in the market for treats. Besides, you live here.”
He had to tread very carefully now. Tuva would block this out of spite. The control freak in her baulking at letting Anna have freedom.
“I think it would do Anna good,” Jonas continued. “I was away most of the time when I was her age.”
Tuva shrugged. “That was your choice.”
It hadn’t been his choice at all. This woman had created such a toxic environment he would have done anything to stay away.
“Mama, please can I go?”
“I don’t think so.”
“But…”
Jonas squeezed her hand. “Darling, why don’t you go to your room for a little while? Let me and your mother talk.”
Anna appeared uncertain what to do next.
“I know,” Heidi said. “I’ll come with you and we can find an outfit for dinner tonight.”
“Dinner?” Tuva interjected. “She is grounded.”
Anna leapt to her feet. “I hate you.”
She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her in the process.
“I’ll go,” Heidi said, following Anna out of the room.
This left Jonas and Tuva alone. They faced each other like the old adversaries they were. Back in the day, Tuva had won most of the arguments. His father would usually come down on her side.
“What are you trying to achieve?” Tuva asked.
“To make my sister happy,” Jonas replied. “She’s tried to run away and now she’s getting into drugs.”
Tuva shifted on the couch. “And you think you can do a better job of raising my daughter than I can.”
How he yearned to scream the affirmative in her face. Jonas swallowed the urge down.
“I’m not saying that,” he said. “Anna is clearly unhappy. I think it would do both of you good for her to have a break.”
Tuva scowled. “By taking her away from everything she knows? This is a very important year for her.”
“I agree. I’d rather she was studying than smoking weed with boys. If she’s allowed to come and stay with me for a while, she has something to work towards.”
Tuva tutted. “Getting her qualifications should be enough.”
They both knew that wasn’t the case. Anna had grown up in wealth. Whether she got her exams or not, she would be fine.
“Tell me something first.”
It was a tiny chink of light.
“Go on.”
“You could have done this over the phone. Why the grand visit?”
Jonas nodded. “I needed to get away.”
Instantly, Tuva smelt weakness. “Why? What is wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“There is something.”
“There isn’t.”
She studied him hard.
“I get it,” she declared. “I wondered who this Adam was who Anna has been babbling on about ever since she got back. You’ve had another one of your affairs and it’s gone badly. Now you’ve shown up to take my daughter from me.”
Jonas fought to keep a lid on his rage. How typical of Tuva to find it inconceivable that people did things for other reasons than selfishness.
“That’s not true,” he replied. “My sister needs me and I’m not going to desert her. She will be sixteen next summer. It’s time that she learnt something about the world other than the view from a sun lounger.”
“And you think she’ll do that in some godforsaken town in the north of England?”
“Yes,” Jonas said. “Yes, I do. She can travel to away games and we’ll have lots of trips.”
Tuva brushed an imaginary piece of fluff from her jumper.
“Forget it. My daughter stays with me and you should probably catch your flight home.”
How he wanted to tell her what he thought of her. Instead he stood, which she followed suit.
“You are losing your power, Tuva,” he said, quietly. “This isn’t over.”
“Oh yes it is. Now please leave.”
Jonas swept out of the room. He resisted the urge to slam the door behind him. After all, he still wanted to come across as having the moral high ground.
He went up to Anna’s room where he found Heidi consoling her.
“What did she say?” Anna asked.
Jonas shook his head. This only made Anna sob more.
He cleared the room and took her in his arms.
“I’ve got one more card to play,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
His father’s office was at the top of a large glass building on the waterfront. Jonas had been there a handful of times over the years. Mainly when his father had wanted to roll out his famous son to impress clients.
“I’m afraid Mr Haber is very busy,” his executive assistant said.
“He will see me.”
She sighed. “Fine, I’ll message him but I’m not guaranteeing anything.”
Jonas nodded. “That’s all I ask.”
In no time, the door to the office was flung open. There stood Erik Haber. Captain of industry and major player in Stockholm’s elite. Jonas hadn’t seen him for a while but some things never changed.
“Jonas. What a wonderful surprise.”
“I’d like a word.”
“Very well. Hold my calls.”
“Would you like refreshments, Mr Haber?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Jonas followed him into the office. The view was incredible.
“What can I do for you?”
“I want Anna to live with me in England from next summer.”
Erik settled on one of the couches. Jonas opted to stand. He wanted to make it clear this wasn’t a friendly chat.
“So I’ve heard,” Erik replied. “Tuva is very upset. Why do you think Anna would be better off with you?”
“Because that viper you married is destroying her.”
“She’s her mother.”
Now was the time to deliver the final goal.
“A mother?” Jonas said, wandering into the centre of the room. “I had one of those once.”
Instantly, Erik stiffened.
“That’s enough.”
“No it isn’t. You already have blood on your hands, Father. Do you want more?”
Erik leapt to his feet. “That wasn’t my fault.”
“Of course it was. You owe me and you owe Anna. We’re your children, for fuck’s sake.”
“Do not swear.”
“Or what? I am richer than you and more successful. Times have changed and I will not let Tuva ruin that girl’s life like she did mine and Mama’s.”
Erik strode over to the window and stared out.
“Papa, I’m not trying to upset you. If you have a good marriage, then I’m happy for you. Truly I am. You have to see that Tuva is not good for Anna. She’s already tried to run away. Now she’s experimenting with drugs.”
Erik sighed.
“What will be next?” Jonas asked. “Pregnancy? Harder substances? Dangerous boyfriends? We know where this goes.”
Erik turned. To Jonas’ astonishment his eyes were full. He had never seen this man cry.
“I will talk to Tuva,” he said. “I am not promising anything but if Anna behaves herself between now and the summer, maybe we could talk again.”
That wasn’t good enough. Jonas approached him.
“Don’t try to fob me off like I’m one of your clients,” Jonas said. “Tuva wouldn’t do anything to go against your word.”
“I cannot make a decision like this without her.”
“For once in your life do the right thing.”
Without waiting, he strode out of the office. This time he did slam the door. People outside all craned their necks to see what was going on. Jonas didn’t care. That would only be the beginning.
He got into the lift and pressed the button. When the doors closed, he leant against the wall and focused on his breathing.
Secrets and lies seemed to be overtaking his life and he’d had enough.
Fuck his father and his stepmother. And fuck Adam Williams. Things were going to change.
Jonas would tell Adam they were over as soon as they got back to Brockton. At least they’d have a chance to salvage a working relationship before things got completely out of hand.
Now he’d made that decision, he felt better. Anna and football were his focus from now on.
Whatever Adam was hiding, it didn’t matter. He could go and fuck himself.