Okay, got it again. In this dream Jim's not Jim. He's Ben. But not my Ben. This one explains:
„The story I'm writing is called „Riders on the storm". It's about destructive relationships."
He's tapping his thighs to the beat of his song. I laugh. No...
Lynn is freezing in her thick parka while I'm rubbing my frozen fingers.
„Oh I hate ya, Mirjam Bruckner- Clark! This is the worst spot we ever visited! Everything is dark and cold. I'd start drinking here, too!" Lynn's ranting.
I lift my eyebrows. Has she forgot about being a successful ex- alcoholic? She notices my glance and adds quickly: „Maybe not. But I'd need a big bear to keep myself warm!" she grins.
I nod smiling.
„Good idea. I'd be contend with a smaller bear, as long as there's enough fur on him."
We are laughing out and shaking because the thought of over- hairy guys. Brrr. Then I take a deep breath and look for the customs authority to release Ben's body. But the authority worker tells me that Ben has to stay for three days under quarantine. Well, at least he is in good hands here! We pick up our rental car and drive to the hotel. Next destination will be the address in Hafnar which the information center gave us. I'm really excited. María Hjartarson is living in a shared house for mental health patients since two years. That's why her number wasn't correct anymore. She looks absolutely different from what I had seen in my imagination, she's friendly and invites us into her small flat. But she doesn't speak one word of english. The carers are all busy and can't help us. María smiles and calls someone on the phone, I nearly get a heart attack when I hear her saying: „Tómas". I glance at Lynn, she's grinning. María gestures us to sit down at the kitchen table and she's offering coffee and cookies. But still the time goes too slow. Finally I hear steps outside. My heart starts racing. Lynn takes my hand and luckily María's busy with clearing away when it knocks. María answers and the door opens. I hold my breath, squashing Lynn's hand, she moans.
„Sorry..." I cheep.
„Tómas!" María welcomes her son.
Tómas is not an absolute copy of Ben like I dreamed it. His hair color is more reddish and this guy looks way healthier than his brother, of course! He wears a dark blue sweater, a brown trouser and a black wool coat. And he smells totally different. He's beautiful blue eyes are wandering from his mother to us and I let go of Lynn's hand. Stand up.
„Hello, thank you for coming. This is my assistent and friend Lynn Sanders and I am Mirjam Bruckner- Clark. We are here because of a sad circumstance." I say softly and reach out my hand to the tall islander.
„Tómas Hjartarson, nice to meet you," he smiles back at me and my heart misses a beat. Heavens! He continues: „You're here because of my brother, aren't you? And you're americans?"
I nod and answer:
„Both yes. We're working for the social authority of Kansas City."
Which is not really a lie. Just a small one...Tómas says Hi to Lynn, then we sit down and he takes his mother's hand. He soothes her and I'm melting. Lynn kicks me under the table. The islander clears his throat.
„We haven't heard from Ben over a year. Mother tried to call him several times but it seems he changed his number."
„I'm so sorry. He died a week ago,"I reply softly.
Tómas nods and translates. María winces as if someone told her she has a mycosis. She looks at me and asks something.
„Did he kill himself?" her son translates and he looks at me intensely.
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