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The Other Brother
All through the meal, Gustaf was distracted. He tried to carry on a sensible conversation with his companions, but his thoughts were otherwise engaged.
Here they were in a hotel, using up more of the hard-earned money he had brought with him. He felt each dollar as it slipped through his fingers, his precious store dwindling at an alarming rate. He had better get Olina back to the farm quickly, before he ran out of money. Why had he not brought more with him? He had enough put away that it wouldn’t have hurt to bring extra so he wouldn’t feel the pinch, but he had been angry. He only wanted to get the trip over with. He hadn’t wanted to spend one penny more than was necessary, and he had planned to send Olina back to her parents. Besides, he would need his money when he and Anna married.
Gustaf hadn’t thought about spending time at a hotel. He was going to go back to the train station and wait for the train to Minnesota, even if it took all night. When he first saw Olina standing there, he knew he couldn’t treat her that way. Now look at the mess he was in. It was a good thing Fader had told him to buy both tickets before he left home. He planned to turn Olina’s ticket in and get his money back after he put her on a ship to Sweden. Now he barely had enough money for food until they got to Litchfield.
Gustaf hadn’t even mentioned Lars to Olina. How could he bring up his name without exploding with anger? She didn’t need to see that, not in her condition. She was so tired, she looked as if she was having a hard time staying awake. There was not one detail of her actions or appearance that escaped him.
If he could get his hands on Lars right now, he would likely hurt him. How could Lars do this to Olina? Why couldn’t he be man enough to face this on his own?
Olina said she was hungry, but she didn’t eat like the farm girl of his memory. She ate more like his mother did, with grace and poise. She had stopped eating before he food was gone. She insisted it tasted good, but she left some, as his mother often did.
What was he doing comparing her to his mother? Was he mad? How was he going to tell her about Lars? He would have to wait until the right time.
*****
When Gustaf finished the last bite on his plate, Olina stood up. “I’m tired.” She looked right at him. “Will you walk me to my room?”
Olaf stood when Olina and Gustaf did. Then he sat back down with his wife.
At the top of the stairs, Olina could wait no longer. “Where is Lars?” she asked as they walked down the hall.
“I’m not sure.”
Olina stopped and placed her hands on her hips. “What do you mean, you’re not sure? Is something the matter with him?”
Anger blazed from Gustaf. “Yes, something’s the matter with him. He’s married.”
Olina couldn’t believe her ears. Surely he hadn’t said what she thought she heard. “Married?”
She didn’t realize she had voiced the question until she saw the expression on Gustaf’s face. He reached toward her, but she stepped back from him.
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