Dear Mr. Alvarsson

chapter nineteen

By summertime, Irena and Melkior had managed to become pregnant with their first child. For the first three months of her pregnancy, he had been rather busy with work projects and all manners of expansions he was doing in his company. She tried to pay attention while he explained some of the projects and new ventures, but all she really understood was that it was a way for him to increase company profits by 12 percent. She hadn't bothered to be upset about his lack of attentiveness as of late. Afterall, she was able to go and do whatever she pleased so long as he knew where she was and she was safe.

She had taken several trips from their personal island to the mainland to visit her family in Drovikstead. So many, in fact, that Melkior had purchased a helicopter for the island to make it simpler for the both of them. Leikney and Nevena were celebrating their fifteenth birthday just last month and to see them grow so old brought happy tears to her eyes. After speaking with her husband on the matter and settling on an amount available to her in order to buy her sister's presents, she had gone shopping for things she knew each of them would like. For Leikney, she had stuck to the more conventional sort of things a fifteen year old girl would want. A gift card for shopping, some comfortable but fashionable shoes, and a makeup set from the girl's favourite brand.

Arranging presents for Nevena was a different matter, naturally. She had stuck to her theme of getting both girls new shoes, but Nevena's had been much more on the practical than fashionable sign. They were a good and long-lasting set of winter boots that were sure to keep her warm in Iceland's climate. She had also given the girl a gift card to go shopping, being that whether she cared for fashion or not she would still need clothes of some kind. Though, Irena knew Nevena well enough to know the girl cared little for makeup and had opted to get her a telescope and basic astronomy book instead.

She had taken several pictures during the party and called her husband two different times during that day. He smiled and listened to his wife's excitement both times with calm ears for a while before Dr. Saliba interrupted to let him know the investors had arrived. As he rushed off to welcome the rich bastards in and arrange investment plans, he smiled to himself. Irena was to have everything she ever wished for if he kept this up.

Altogether their arrangement wasn't a bad one. This week though, Melkior had taken off of work entirely to take his wife on a trip to see the Cyprus islands. He vaguely recalled her mentioning an archaeological site she'd read of in the area and between the historical and naturistic attractions, he figured the both of them could have an enjoyable time.

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The first place the lovers stopped after they had landed, was to visit the Archaeological site of the Tombs of Kings. The necropolis held a curious orange-yellow sort of stone and its structure actually dug down into the ground rather than being built on top of it as most tombs were. Irena had gone for a look most likely to keep her unnoticeable in any crowds there may be. She wore blue jeans and a floral chiffon blouse with light and airy sleeves to keep her from getting hot. Melkior had refrained from telling her that she stood out in every crowd anyways as she selected a geometry printed casual shirt with the collar downturned for him and some comfortable slacks to match.

They looked touristy enough to blend in with the others but casual enough not to be seen as overdoing it, which was Irena's preference. Melkior's preference was, well, Irena.

The Tomb had been a rather fascinating spectacle to both of them, exactly as the man had hoped. Irena studied the artistic engravings and the style of architecture, taking pictures of her favourite features, while her husband spoke with a tour guide about the historical implications of the site. Melkior found it most interesting that despite being named "The Tomb of Kings" there was no royalty buried on the site, rather it was a collection of aristocratic families of Cyprus from the Hellenistic period. Just as they readied themselves to leave, Irena paused for a moment, gently grabbing her husband's arm.