After another day of avoiding any conversation Bertta has had enough and takes her move just before Christmas sauna.
- I think we take ladies turn to sauna first and you boys can go afterwards.– But... Venla tries to cut in but Bertta won’t have any of that again.
– Boys want so much more löyly. We girls can go first and enjoy the warmth before it turns scorching.
Venla looks rigid and shoots Ilari a pleading look but gets no help.
Bertta looks younger woman’s scarred body when they sit down into sweet warmth of sauna. Now it’s clear to her. With clothes on there didn’t seem anything wrong with Venla but seeing older and fresher scars crossing her legs, feet, hips and her sides it’s clear she must have been through a lot. Hundreds of stich marks all over her.
– Oh. Poor girl.
- I’m no poor girl, thank you very much! Venla says little more harder than she meant. – I have learned to walk again several times, I can move on my own and I can live just as normal life as anyone else.
– Didn’t mean to insult you.
- I’m scarred and everyone wants to know what happened, when it happened. I go to public places and always hear whispering behind my back how terrible the scars look and oh, all that pity. I have no need for it!
– I see you have a temper, Bertta says slowly. – Good. Ilari is so stubborn he needs strong willed woman too. One who doesn’t just yield nor try to overcome him. It’s obvious to me he loves you very dearly but I was afraid he’s crushing you under his will and when you can’t take it anymore you’ll leave him heartbroken. You seemed so frail.
Venla makes amused sound.
– I may look and sound like girl from next door, but I assure he has no way to walk over me. And even if I know how to push his buttons I’m not using it wrong way.
– That’s good to hear too.
- We started off with wrong foot, Bertta starts and Venla nods slightly. – I see you have been avoiding situations where we could talk alone.
Venla frowns but doesn’t say a thing.
– Look. Boys, especially Ilari have had very hard times and I was worried about him, Bertta explains.
– I know, Venla says shortly. – And I know his ex was quite a snake.
– A Snake? Bertta tastes the word.
– She hurted him badly. I wish I could slap her face for all what she did – not that I’m violent person or anything like that, Venla tries not to sound so murderous as she feels towards Virpi.
It’s Bertta’s turn to make amused sound.
– Ilari speaks very highly about you.
– He does?
– It’s clear to me he’s very happy sharing his life with you.
This time genuine smile lights Venla’s face.
– I’m happy to hear it too.
– You have both been through a lot, Bertta finally says.
Venla nods.
– I think that’s one reason we understand each other so well. I have scars on the outside. He has his inside. We heal together? We help each other on the way.
– That’s beautifully said, Bertta smiles. I’m glad you seem to really understand Ilari and see beyond his walls. He pretends his childhood didn’t leave any marks on him, but he is so afraid of being left behind again it can make him act foolish.
- I do know. I try to make him feel more secure. Venla thinks of times when Ilari has acted jealous on surprising matters.
Venla throws some water to the stove and they are silent till the most warmth has passed.
– I look around in this house and do you know what I see, Bertta thinks aloud.
– What is it? Venla feels her nerves ticking again.
- I see lots of love. You both like to be here and I see things you have done together to make it your home.
– Oh.
– So. We are becoming a part of same family and I would very much start fresh with you, Bertta waves a white flag.
Venla frowns but doesn’t say a thing.
– Look. Boys, especially Ilari have had very hard times and I was worried about him, Bertta explains.
– I know, Venla says shortly. – And I know his ex was quite a snake.
– A Snake? Bertta tastes the word.
– She hurted him badly. I wish I could slap her face for all what she did – not that I’m violent person or anything like that, Venla tries not to sound so murderous as she feels towards Virpi.
It’s Bertta’s turn to make amused sound.
– Ilari speaks very highly about you.
– He does?
– It’s clear to me he’s very happy sharing his life with you.
This time genuine smile lights Venla’s face.
– I’m happy to hear it too.
– You have both been through a lot, Bertta finally says.
Venla nods.
– I think that’s one reason we understand each other so well. I have scars on the outside. He has his inside. We heal together? We help each other on the way.
– That’s beautifully said, Bertta smiles. I’m glad you seem to really understand Ilari and see beyond his walls. He pretends his childhood didn’t leave any marks on him, but he is so afraid of being left behind again it can make him act foolish.
- I do know. I try to make him feel more secure. Venla thinks of times when Ilari has acted jealous on surprising matters.
Venla throws some water to the stove and they are silent till the most warmth has passed.
– I look around in this house and do you know what I see, Bertta thinks aloud.
– What is it? Venla feels her nerves ticking again.
- I see lots of love. You both like to be here and I see things you have done together to make it your home.
– Oh.
– So. We are becoming a part of same family and I would very much start fresh with you, Bertta waves a white flag.
- Fuck, now I’m nervous, Ilari says to Iiro. - They have been in sauna for ages
– They talk I guess? Iiro suggest.
– Yeah, I know. That's what’s making me nervous.
– Is there something I should be aware of? Iiro looks his brother sweating.
– I just hope they would get along.
– I get it. I’d want Nan to like Taika too.
– You ready to introduce her to us? Iiro doesn’t have time to answer that when Venla and Bertta are coming from sauna.
- That poinsettia is marvelous. How did you manage to get is so big? Bertta says to Venla
– Lots of light and it doesn’t like to be in too wet, Venla thinks.
Ilari stares at them. Venla seems more relaxed, more herself and they talk. They really talk casually of flowers. What the hell happened?
– Well boys. Are you going to get into the sauna or not? Bertta looks triumphant.
– They talk I guess? Iiro suggest.
– Yeah, I know. That's what’s making me nervous.
– Is there something I should be aware of? Iiro looks his brother sweating.
– I just hope they would get along.
– I get it. I’d want Nan to like Taika too.
– You ready to introduce her to us? Iiro doesn’t have time to answer that when Venla and Bertta are coming from sauna.
- That poinsettia is marvelous. How did you manage to get is so big? Bertta says to Venla
– Lots of light and it doesn’t like to be in too wet, Venla thinks.
Ilari stares at them. Venla seems more relaxed, more herself and they talk. They really talk casually of flowers. What the hell happened?
– Well boys. Are you going to get into the sauna or not? Bertta looks triumphant.
Bertta sets the table and examines the plates as she does it.
- You have really beautiful set for the table, she admires. - Ilari didn't have these before.
- Thank you. I really like older ceramic sets, Venla says from the kitchen.
- You collected teapots? Do I remember right?
Bertta is happy that conversation keeps going. Now he has a way to get to know the girl better. Keep her dear grandson in her life and perhaps gain a daughter-in-law sometime in the future
- Mm, yes.
- It's unusual hobby for that young.
- Not when you are raised by your granparents, Venla chuckled. - I sometimes think I'm the youngest pensioner both by age and mind.
- Ah, right. You both share that too. Ilari and Iiro were raised by Bertta and her husband, when their parents left them behind and Venla was taken care by her grandparents after her parents died. - I'm done with the table. Can I help you in the kitchen?
Another try. Moment of truth.
There's silence in the kitchen and then Venla peeks from the door.
- Yes, please. I would appreciate that.
- Thank you. I really like older ceramic sets, Venla says from the kitchen.
- You collected teapots? Do I remember right?
Bertta is happy that conversation keeps going. Now he has a way to get to know the girl better. Keep her dear grandson in her life and perhaps gain a daughter-in-law sometime in the future
- Mm, yes.
- It's unusual hobby for that young.
- Not when you are raised by your granparents, Venla chuckled. - I sometimes think I'm the youngest pensioner both by age and mind.
- Ah, right. You both share that too. Ilari and Iiro were raised by Bertta and her husband, when their parents left them behind and Venla was taken care by her grandparents after her parents died. - I'm done with the table. Can I help you in the kitchen?
Another try. Moment of truth.
There's silence in the kitchen and then Venla peeks from the door.
- Yes, please. I would appreciate that.
Comments
Post a Comment
How did this make you feel? Share your thoughts here!