The next day after work he went home just few minutes to change clothes. “I wish you a great evening. And if you drink too much, call me and I’ll pick you up.” “It won’t be necessary. I’m reasonable.” “Janne! You’re a Finn and I’ve already seen what you drink when you watch sports with friends. Anyway have fun,” she wished before to kiss him. When the door was closed she took Ana and went to her car. She went down the street and turned left. A bit further she saw the car of her husband. She didn’t remember exactly where Juhanni lived but she knew that it was near Tammisalo on the East of Helsinki. But suddenly she saw that he took the direction of the Kehä Ring I, the first fast road in the direction of the West. She wondered where he could go if he was really going to Juhanni’s place. She thought that maybe be was picking up another colleague. He exited in Laajalahti. She had a lump in her throat. She knew where he was going and the tears were coming in her eyes. She drove slower and stopped on a bus stop. She took a tissue and erased her tears. “Come on Maria. Havu has a colleague who is leaving here,” she said for herself. She continued her way in the direction of Nina’s house. She drove slowly in the street and when she saw the car of her husband she left the street as fast as possible. She knew that he was lying. Why did he need to lie?
She went back home and cried on the sofa. Some minutes later someone rang at the door. She dried quickly her tears and opened. “Oh my poor Maria! What happened to you?” Katrina said when she saw her neighbour. “You were right,” Maria said while the tears came back. Katrina hugged her and invited to go to her house to have a hot tea with chocolate cookies and she accepted. Veli-Matti was on the sofa with the boys, watching the game. He just said hello but his attention was still focused on the screen.
“Are you sure?” Katrina asked when she gave a cup of green tea to her neighbour. “I followed him. He told me that he was going to watch the game at his colleague’s place in Tammisalo. But he went to Laajalahti.” “I should have a serious discussion with Nina. We are friends! We don’t steal the husbands of the others. There are enough lonely men. She doesn’t need to take yours. And what does he like on her? She is so cold and... scary,” Katrina said, trying to comfort her friend. “I don’t know. Havu is strange since a while...” Suddenly Veli-Matti entered in the kitchen. It was the break. “I can’t believe it! This referee cancelled the most amazing goal of the season! The video is clear but no... I hate such unfair decisions,” he complained while he took another beer. “Vellu, can you call Havu and ask what he thinks about it?” his wife asked. “Yeah I can but why?” “Do it and ask precise questions about the game. We have to know if he is really watching it with his colleagues. And use the loudspeaker,” she insisted and he did it. Maria was nervous.
“Hi Janne, it’s Vellu. What a game!” “Yes, it is,” Janne answered calmly. “What do you think about the last goal?” “The one which has been cancelled?” “Yes,” Vellu confirmed. “Well... I don’t know well the rules but it seems unfair. For me it’s valid.” “Have you seen when Torrores got a red card?” Vellu asked. “I missed it. I was in the bathroom.” “Are you drunk?” “Not yet. I just drink a couple of cans.” “Who are the people talking behind you?” Veli-Matti asked. “My colleagues and the wife of my teammate,” Janne explained. “Come to my place after the game. We can have a sauna together,” Veli-Matti proposed. “Well... I don’t know. It will be late. And my wife wants me to be home.” “She is here. She will watch the second part of the game with us. Do you allow me to bring her in your bed if she is too drunk?” Vellu almost joked. “She won’t. I’ve never seen her drunk. I mean totally drunk.” “But you know, a good game, good friends and fresh drinks. What is the name of the wife of your colleague?” “Sonja, why?” “I was just curious. The game starts soon. Enjoy.” “Thanks. You too,” Havu concluded.
“Have you heard?” Veli-Matti asked. “Yes, a guy said Nina in the background,” Maria answered. “And I’m sure that it was our Nina. I recognize her laugh,” Katrina said. “It’s maybe a coincidence,” Vellu replied. “Janne is lying to Maria. He is now at Nina’s place. Maria followed him and his car in front of her house,” Katrina explained. “At least he has not an affair with her. There is another guy with them. Or maybe they are doing something together,” Vellu thrilled and Katrina said that he was very weird. “Come with me to watch the game and let’s forget Janne for forty-five minutes,” he proposed when he heard that the game was starting.
After the game, the three neighbours were in the kitchen drinking red wine. The Lindström were doing their best to bring the smile back on Maria’s face. Vellu was quite funny because he was a bit drunk. Suddenly they heard the noise of a car. They all went in the room which had the best view on the Happonen’s house. It was the car of Janne. It stopped in the yard with the engine on. “What is he doing?” Maria said. But it was impossible to see the inside. Two minutes later, the front doors opened. Janne was on the passenger seat and the driver was... Nina. Maria became furious and wanted to go out. “No, no. Wait and look. Don’t accuse before to be sure of what he did,” Veli-Matti warned. “But it’s clear! He came back with her!” “Let’s see how she comes back home,” Katrina interrupted and the three friends went to the bathroom and opened the curtain. Nina was walking down the street and her car was waiting for her. The man that they heard in the phone got up and let her drive. He went back to the car on the passenger seat. “Maybe it’s her boyfriend,” Veli-Matti suggested and the two women were looking at him. “We have to know who that guy is,” Katrina said. “I’ve to kill Janne.” “No, Maria. I’ve a better idea. You and Katrina, you are going to talk baby, shopping, cooking, cleaning while I invited my friend for a sauna. He is probably drunk and the sauna is the best that can happen to a drunken man,” Vellu admitted while he called his neighbour. “Sauna is ready. Come immediately,” he said with a smile.
Janne arrived few minutes later and he went directly to the bathroom of Vellu. Once they were naked they went in the warm sauna. Vellu threw some water on the hot stones and a warm cloud of steam touched their skins. They thrilled and loved that feeling. They were talking about the game and Veli-Matti was happy to notice that Havu watched the whole game. “Why Nina drove you back home? Was she also at your colleague’s place?” Veli-Matti asked. “You’re like your wife. Always behind the window.” “It was a coincidence. I needed to go to the toilet,” Vellu replied. “I can’t have a private life. There are spies everywhere,” Janne answered a bit angry. “You should talk to your wife. She thinks that you are cheating on her,” Vellu admitted. “What? But it’s wrong? It’s just bullshit. I’m faithful,” Janne said but Veli-Matti was not sure if he was sincere or not. “But like I told you, Maria is worried. She needs an explanation. If you don’t do it she will seriously think that you are cheating,” he advised.
“I’m not cheating,” Janne said to his wife when they were in their bedroom. “So, tell me why are you lying? Why did you tell me that you were with Juhanni?” she asked seriously. She was sat in the bed and was looking at him in the eyes. He took off his shirt and joined her. “I’m sorry. But I thought that if I told you that I went to Nina’s place you would be mad.” “Janne, trust has always been essential in our couple. I told you that Rane is my confident. We spent whole afternoons, just talking or dancing. But there is nothing between us. Just friendship. Remember what it brought. Just jealousy in the neighbourhood. Janne, you can have women as friends. I don’t forbid it. I just want to know. I don’t want to leave anymore what we lived. Please, be honest and tell me what you are doing. Tell me that you are visiting Nina. Tell me why you are coming back late. I don’t want to lose you because I’m imagining that you don’t love me anymore. I can’t live without you,” she told and he hugged. “I’m so sorry. I... I didn’t think that it would affect you that much. You know after what happened these last months, I needed to talk. And Nina is the right person for me.” “I’m really happy to head it. I hope that you’ll feel better soon. But tell me, who was the other guy tonight?” she asked curious. “You don’t know him. It’s a friend of Nina. He is quite funny. It was the first time I met him,” he explained. “Maybe we should invite them at home for a Sunday lunch. What do you think?” “Why not,” he said even if he knew the answer.
“Nina, we have to be more cautious. My wife and the Lindström know that we are meeting,” he called the next morning on the way to work. “What did you say?” “That you were my confident.” “Let’s play with that. But never tell the truth. Do you understand?” she insisted. “Yes, I know. You can trust me.” “Good boy,” she replied. “See you later.” “Yes, I’m waiting for you,” she concluded.
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