Little Green Apples (Ivan×OC)

Chapter 9

Things between Ivan and Jessica had remained relatively unchanged. They agreed to pretend like their kiss didn't happen, and that they would talk about being in a romantic relationship when she was older.

At the moment, though, Jessica had volunteered to accompany Ivan to pick up a new recruit to the rectory. Adam, his name was. She was reading his file as Ivan drove.

"Are you aware this man is a neo-Nazi? Do they not realize putting this man in a house with a Middle eastern man and another who's mentally feeble is asking for trouble?"

Ivan was silent for a moment before answering, "Who knows what they were thinking. But we have him whether we agree with the courts or not. He's going to be here for a while, so we'll make sure he feels welcome."

Jessica nodded, although she didn't agree with that plan at all.

They met a transport van at the same spot where she had met Ivan for the first time almost five years ago. Ivan stepped out of the car and approached a bulky man with a shaved head.

"Adam? Sorry I'm late. Ivan Fjeldsted. Call me Ivan."

Adam was quiet and gave Ivan a nasty look.

"I'm a bit flustered but I've been looking forward to meeting you. Let's get going. Let me take your bag," said Ivan.

As soon as he reached for the man's bag, Adam swatted his hand away.

"That was... Come on." Adam got into the front passenger seat, while Jessica moved to the back.

"People who have been in prison are
often a bit protective of their stuff. Have you lived in the country before?," Ivan asked, trying to take an interest in Adam.

They pulled up to dorm side of the church. Adam didn't look enthused in the slightest.

"This is our small church. Just take a look at this. This is our apple tree. We're very proud of it. There are lots of apples this year. Lots and lots. It's probably because of the warm summer. They're not ripe just yet. Don't eat that. Come with me."

Adam looked around in annoyance as Ivan kept prattling on. Jessica was climbing out of the car, when she felt eyes on her. She turned to see that Adam was staring at her. His eyes roved over her, then he gave her a suggestive smirk. She didn't like that look. Not one bit. She let out a shudder as soon as he and Ivan were inside.

"Good morning," Khlaid and Gunnar greeted Jessica as she walked into the kitchen.

"Good morning, boys," she said back.

Ivan showed up with Adam and introduced him.

"Adam will stay with us. This is Khalid and Gunnar, and you've already met Jess," he explained.

"... Jessica," she corrected Ivan.

"I won't talk to egghead," said Khalid.

"There will be lots of time for that kind of talk. Come on, Adam," said Ivan as he began leading him through the dorms.

"What does the O stand for? In Adam O. Pedersen? What's the story about the O?
Your parents must have told you," Ivan asked

"I forgot to ask."

"That's a good answer. It says here that you're a neo-Nazi. Are you really? It's not the first thing that springs to mind by looking at you. Here it says you're EVIL. It's rude to write that on a person's CV."

Adam gave Ivan a death glare through the entire conversation.

'Ivan... You're wasting your breath.'

"Are you really evil? I don't think so.
Tell you what, just forget about this... because there are no evil people. We don't believe in that. If you only look for evil then the world is evil. But you can try to focus on the silver lining as we do here. That makes everything easier. In later years the Devil has sent his troops to test us... but we have conquered them all."

'But... He IS evil. You can see by the way he looks at you... the way his eyes hold only hate for everything...'

"All of us here have found God in some way. You just met Khalid and Gunnar. Gunnar was paroled four years ago. He was just to stay three months, but he chose to stay. Gunnar was what you would call an alcoholic. He stole and assaulted girls, but now he's on the wagon... and is studying theology."

'Oh, Ivan, you and I both know better than that... Those empty booze bottles don't mean he's studying theology.'

"He's not the only one. There's also Khalid. He used to rob gas stations. Do you remember a young man being shot when he went to buy condoms?"

"No," Adam finally spoke.

"Khalid is still not allowed at Statoil. A few hostage dramas later he's learning Danish and is doing well. And dear Jess here, she had a family tragedy, was supposed to be here temporarily, and asked to stay."

'Really not the things to be sharing with this guy...,' she thought.

What he was saying was true, but did Adam REALLY have a need to know all that about her past?

"Tell me what I have to do," Adam said impatiently.

"I can't do that. You have to discover that for yourself. All I want is for you to set yourself a goal. Are you listening to me?"

"Yes, I believe I am," Adam retorted mockingly.

"In any other situation I would say that you are rude... but let's not talk about that now.
What do you want your goal to be?"

"I would like to bake a cake."

'Well... That's quarter-assed if I ever heard it,' Jessica scolded.

"Bake a cake?," Ivan asked, slightly confused. "Oh, an apple cake?"

"Yes, an apple cake. My goal is to bake a big apple cake."

"With the apples from our garden?"

"Yes, the apples from the garden."

"That's a good idea. I think we found your goal. You're going to bake a cake. You'll look after the tree until the first of August. Then you'll use them to bake an apple cake. I just wanted to give you this," Ivan said, handing Adam a Bible, "It has both the old and the new testament. It's a good thing to have. Sleep tight."

Adam got up and saw himself out the door. Jessica immediately went to Ivan's side at his desk.

"I'm scared of that man. The way he was eyeing me when I got out of the car earlier... It made my blood run cold," she recounted to Ivan.

"I'll keep an eye on him. Just stay close to one of us at all times and I don't think he'll try anything. Just treat him as a new member of our little family."

"Okay, but if anything happens, just know that I won't hesitate to go somewhere else until he leaves in August."

"Fair enough. Now, isn't it tea time?," Ivan asked with a small smile.

"Yes. Yes it is," she replied with a tight smile.

'Well, this summer should play out interestingly,' she worried.