Читать книгу The Red Address Book - Sofia Lundberg - Страница 17

“You’ll be seeing a new girl next week. A temp.” Ulrika articulates every word, a touch too loudly. “I’m off to the Canary Islands.”

Doris tries to shrink back, but Ulrika leans towards her and raises her voice even more.

“It’s going to be so nice just to get away for a while and take it easy. Activity club for the kids, so we can relax on the beach chairs. Sun and warmth. Imagine that, Doris. All the way to the Canary Islands. You’ve never been, have you?”

Doris studies her. Ulrika is folding laundry, sloppily and hurriedly, crumpling the arms of Doris’s tops. She stacks everything in a pile. Her words pour out as the heap grows.

“Maspalomas, that’s the name of the place. Might be a bit touristy, but it’s a very nice hotel. It wasn’t expensive either. Only cost a thousand kronor more than one that was much worse. The kids’ll be able to play in the pool all day. And on the beach. There’s a nice long beach there, with huge dunes. The sand comes all the way from Africa; it blew over.”

Doris turns away and looks out the window. She picks up the magnifying glass and searches for the squirrel.

“You old folks think we’re crazy, jetting off all over the place constantly. My grandma always wants to know why I’m going away when we’ve got it so good at home. But it’s fun. And it’s good for the kids to see a bit of the world. Anyway, all set, Doris. The laundry’s folded. Time to get you in the shower. Are you ready?”

She gives Ulrika a strained smile, lowers the magnifying glass, and places it on the table. In its exact place; she turns it slightly to get the right angle. The squirrel never turned up. She wonders where it is. What if it’s been run over by a car? It’s always scampering to and fro across the road. She jumps when she feels Ulrika’s fingers digging into her armpits.

“One, two, and threeee!”

Ulrika quickly helps Doris to her feet and then holds her hands for a moment, until the worst of the dizziness has passed.

“Let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll slowly make our way over to your very own spa.”

Doris nods feebly.

“Imagine if you had a real spa at home. With a jacuzzi and massages and facials. That would be something, hmm?” Ulrika laughs gently at this fantasy. “I’ll buy you a face mask on vacation, and when I come back I’ll give you a bit of extra care. It’ll be fun.”

Doris nods and smiles at Ulrika’s chatter, refraining from comment.

When they reach the bathroom, Doris holds out her arms and lets Ulrika pull off her top and trousers, exposing her naked body. She takes a couple of cautious steps into the shower. Sits down on the edge of the high white stool with the perforated seat that the home-care company gave her. She holds the showerhead close to her body and lets the warm water run over her. Shuts her eyes and enjoys the feeling. Ulrika leaves her alone, goes out into the kitchen. Doris turns up the temperature and hunches her shoulders. The sound of running water has always had a calming effect on her.