Mission in Malmö by Torquil MacLeod

Author:Torquil MacLeod
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Torquil MacLeod Books Ltd.
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

Hakim was scrolling through photos of his son’s naming ceremony. Held in his garden on Sunday afternoon, it had gone well. The sun had shone, and friends and family had enjoyed the occasion. Lasse and a friend of Liv’s had been invited to be non-religious godparents, and they’d made good but not-too-serious speeches evincing their commitment to their pastoral roles in little Linus’s life. The baby – diplomatically named Linus Uday (after Liv’s late dad and Hakim’s own father) – had slept much of the time. Uday had previously expressed his horror that the baby wasn’t going to be brought up as a Muslim, but Anita had pointed out that he wasn’t going to be brought up as a Christian either. Hakim and Liv were adamant that Linus could make up his own mind when he was older. However, Uday was only partially placated and Anita could see that, as far as he was concerned, that was not the end of the matter.

Anita relished Hakim’s pride in his new family. The responsibility suited him, as did his new clean-shaven look. He was still gangly, though his movements were less awkward than they had been in his early days at the polishus. He seemed happy in his own skin: relaxed, confident and self-assured. An altogether more contented Hakim. Anita was also pleased that he and his sister Jazmin, Lasse’s girlfriend, had buried their many hatchets, thanks to the phlegmatic natures of their respective partners. Jazmin and Lasse were still not married – another bone of contention with Uday – but Anita’s daughter-out-law (Jazmin liked that) was wilful and independent and was unlikely to be drawn by the protestations of her father. Of course, both father and daughter were careful to keep the cart on the wheels for little Leyla’s sake. Anita’s granddaughter, now six, had type 1 diabetes and needed constant monitoring.

‘It was a lovely day,’ Anita remarked as Hakim showed her yet another batch of photos. Lovely but tiring; Anita had been exhausted by the time she got home. As well as playing a conciliatory role with Uday, she had also played a unicorn, a pet-shop owner, a ferocious lion, a spy and an alien with her granddaughter. Leyla was definitely going to end up on the stage!

Anita was quite relieved when Hakim put his phone away. There was only so much appreciative nodding one could do.

‘Did you see that thing last week about the old couple in Löderup?’ he said as he headed towards the door. ‘That’s your old part of the world.’

‘Well, it’s not far from Simrishamn. Some of the kids at my school came from there,’ recalled Anita.

‘Really sad. Sounds like a suicide pact. Apparently, the wife had terminal cancer.’

Anita couldn’t really conceive of a love that was so strong that two people would want to end their lives together. She’d be horrified if Kevin sacrificed himself for her, however ill she might be. She’d certainly not do it for him.

Five minutes after Hakim had left her office, the phone rang.

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