Little Green Apples (Ivan×OC)

Chapter 15

Two days later

Jessica decided to come to the church, despite her instincts. She only came for Poul's funeral. She knew it would be a sad turn out and wanted to see him off.

"Poul Bækel Hermann," Ivan began, "known to friend and foe as Poul Nordkap… lived a long and full life. In his life Poul learned that to know God you must dance with the Devil. If anything, Poul Nordkap surely did that. Poul learned that it's futile to fight good because despite all the cruelty, screaming and tears he had caused in his youth… he realized in the end that it was just a mere moment. The ocean heaved but it was a wasted effort. The world continued and good prevailed as always. That's why Poul can return to God with peace of mind. Adam, Jess, and I were by his side when he passed quietly away."

All eyes turned to Adam who had a bored look on his face, like he wanted to be anywhere but there.

"His last words were: "I'm not afraid. I'm ready." But this is not all about Poul… because today Christoffer turns nine. Before we gorge ourselves on cake… let's honor Poul with a hymn. Kaj Munk's number six hundred and thirty-four, "You know my heart"."

Ivan reached down to the radio in Christoffer's wheelchair and turned on the accompanying instrumental for the song. Ivan, Jessica, and Gunnar began to sing while the others merely stared at Poul's coffin. 

After Poul's funeral and a round of cake slices being passed around a silent kitchen, everyone began to clean up. Everyone except for Adam, of course. 

"There you are. I thought you had gone to bed," Ivan addressed Adam.

"I'd like to talk to you."

"Can't it wait? It has been a long day for Christoffer with all this attention."

"I'd like to talk to you now."

"Okay then."

"Go into dad's office and cuddle up under a blanket," Ivan said to Christoffer.

Jessica began to wheel him through the door. She turned and looked at Ivan over her shoulder, giving him a 'be assertive" look. 

She wheeled Christoffer up to Ivan's office, placing him in front of the heater with a light blanket.

"There, now. Got you all cozied up next to the heater. You should be snug as a bug in a rug," she said, reaching over to pat his hand. 

After situating Christoffer, Jessica went back to the auditorium. She stopped abruptly when she heard Adam talking to Ivan.

"What if the Devil isn't testing you?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if it isn't him who's been dogging you?"

"I see. You're reaching again. If not the Devil then who? A little elf? Maybe all the birds, the cooker and the worms are just a coincidence? Is that what you're telling people?"

"God."

"Pardon?"

"God."

"I don't understand."

"What if God is on your case?"

"Why would he do that?"

"Because he hates you. I've read this book. The Book of Job. You've read it, right?"

"No. It's about a crocodile. That's what I've heard."

'Really, Ivan...?,' Jessica mused.

"Yes, it's about a crocodile. But it's also about much more. Remember God killed Job's cattle? His seven camels and his ten kids? He takes everything away from him and makes him a leper. Does that remind you of anything? Look at me. Look at me, Ivan! You know that God is behind this, right? God is not on your side, Ivan."