He drove away in the night but didn’t know exactly where to go. Something was certain. He had no envy to visit Nina. And she had no guest room. He drove to the centre and walked a bit in Kaisaniemi Park. He sat on a bench and looked at the dark paths. Nobody was there. He was alone. Then he remembered that a friend had some debts to him. He drove to Töölö, let his car in a little street and knocked at the door of the flat.
“Oh Janne, what a surprise,” Leena said when she saw the visitor. “I’m sorry to come so late and without invitation but... can I stay here for the night?” “Yes, sure.” He entered and let his coat and his shoes in the entrance. He saw that she probably just had dinner and was watching a movie. “We don’t have a guestroom. You will have to sleep on the sofa. I don’t know if it’s comfortable. If you prefer, you can sleep on the deck chair. Well it’s not much better,” she explained. “The sofa is okay. Don’t worry for me. May I ask if I can have a piece of bread?” he asked. “Yes, sure. Did you have dinner?” she asked. “Well...” “I’ve some potatoes with sausages. Is it okay?” she asked when she looked at her pan. “Yes, it’s fine. I’m sorry for...” “Don’t be so sorry. You are welcome here. Be like at home,” she wished while she warmed the meal. She took a plate and a glass. “Do you want some wine?” she proposed. “I’d prefer some water.” She noticed that he looked sad but she didn’t really dare to ask.
“Janne is coming in about an hour. Today he was not really motivated. He spent the afternoon to play with Teemu. He is a good father. Some people are saying bad things about him but he makes a lot of efforts. And I think that people deserve a second chance. Why should we live with regrets for something we did years ago?” she said while she filled in his plate. “I agree. I’m happy to see that everything is fine with Janne,” Havu said before to start eating. “Yes, and now we have a little bit more time. We have finally hired an employee. And soon we will open a second bar!” she announced very enthusiast. “That’s great. Where will it be?” “In Kluuvi,” she said. Janne thought that it was again a very good place. It was a shopping gallery in the city centre in the main street, Aleksanterinkatu, near the cathedral. The bar had to be really successful because the rent in Kamppi was certainly really high and in Kluuvi it was probably higher.
Janne Ahonen arrived a bit before 11pm. He looked a bit tired but happy to be home. He kissed his wife who went to bed while he went to the kitchen. “Hi Havu. What are you doing here?” he asked while he was taking some potatoes. “Hello. Well... Maria let my suitcase on the landing,” he explained. “Ah finally.” “What finally?” Havu asked a bit angry. “Havu, you are an idiot. I should give you a slap in your face. You are the luckiest man on Earth. Look at Maria. She loves you more than anybody else. She is doing everything to make you happy. You have a beautiful daughter. What else do you want? Why are you ruining everything? And for Nina...” he said before to eat. “It’s not your business. And why is she telling you everything?” “Havu, you still don’t get it. Maria and I are friends. Not lovers. We meet to talk. She needs to talk. She doesn’t understand your behaviour. If you want to be with Nina, go with her. But stop playing that game. You make her suffer a lot,” Rane told and Havu was thinking. “But I’m proud that you came here. It means that you still love your wife.” “Of course I love her! What are you thinking of? Nina is just a friend. Okay I admit that I slept with her. But only once and it was a big mistake. I was drunk and since that day I’m not drinking anymore! My life is a mess. Oh Janne... I don’t want to lose everything,” Havu said totally desperate. “It’s still not too late. But you will have to make some choices and give some explanations. Be as honest as possible. Maybe she will not forgive. But at least you will not live with lies. It’s really bad what you did,” Janne added while he put his plate in the dishwasher.
“Everything would be so much easier if Nina could tell her secret,” Havu said for himself. “Which secret?” Rane asked curious. “Nina did something that you can’t imagine. Already Harri paid for his curiosity. I don’t want to die.” “But what are you talking about? If it’s too bad, just tell to your colleagues and they will drive her to jail.” “Janne, I can’t. She did it for me,” Havu said and Rane laughed. “For you? Come on. Wake up. Why will she do something for you? Have you done something for her? She is as cold as an ice cube. She loves nobody. Just herself. Janne, she is playing with you. She is the queen of manipulation. You have to leave the game before to lose,” Rane advised. “I can’t. I just have to play safe.” “Safe? You really look safe at the moment. Havu, you are almost game over.” Havu didn’t want to accept the truth but Rane was right. “I’d like to talk longer with you but I really need to sleep. I will probably wake you up around five when I’ll have my coffee,” Rane said before to give a towel, a pillow and a cover to Havu who thanked him.
Janne Happonen couldn’t sleep. The sofa was too hard and the fridge was making an annoying sound. He took his phone and wrote a message to Maria: I’m so sorry. I regret what I did and I hope that you will forgive me. I love you. He took the pillow and cried in silence in the night.
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