Chapter 4
Dani
The following morning, we drove from Holland to Paderborn. The drive took us through Amersfoort and Arnhem and it was breathtaking. The picturesque villages surrounding were like nothing I’d seen before. Medieval buildings adjourned the roadsides as we drove by and it was like stepping foot into another world.
As we drove into Paderborn, I was blown away by the charming city that was about to become my new home. The architecture was something else, with a mishmash of buildings that strangely suited the city. There were houses with a very medieval olde worlde look, with white-washed walls and black beams striped across them, and red-tiled rooftops to set off a look that belonged in nursery rhymes such as The Pied Piper.
In contrast, there were buildings that looked like something from a Russian era, with dome-shaped rooftops and steeples in gold, distinct against the white paint of the building. There were several buildings that resembled churches, and a mirror-like river running through the city with greenery splashed everywhere.
I hoped that there would be decent nightlife because I had two free weekends off work every month and I planned to get out of the house and fully live life as a teenager!
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We pulled up to what was now my new residence and I stepped out of the car, relieved to stretch my legs after the four-and-a-half-hour drive.
The house was quite grand and I was more than happy with the layout. I had the basement flat, which was completely private with its own entrance. It had one double bedroom with a decent sized lounge and enough room for a sofa and TV, a high-spec kitchen with a cooker, microwave, dishwasher and fridge and a private bathroom.
It was perfect and it would mean that once my working day had finished, I would be able to escape the family, leaving them to spend time alone, and I would have my own space.
“Rebecca,” Leo beckoned and I found myself heading into the conservatory sharply. I was beginning to think that I’d been in the army in a former life the way I stood to attention around him. At least I hadn’t called him sir again. I felt a bubble of laughter rise and I stood with my hands behind my back and dug my nails into my palm in a bid to keep a straight face. I was aware of the irony that I now looked more like one of his soldiers than ever and I stifled a giggle by taking a deep breath.
The rest of the house was to a higher standard with a separate dining and lounge room, an entertainment room, a big kitchen with a separate utility room, three double bedrooms upstairs, two of which were en-suite, and there was a large garden with a patio and conservatory at the back of the house.
“We’ll start as we mean to go on, Rebecca. You can take Olivia out for the rest of the day and that will give Alicia and I a chance to get the cars unpacked. Here’s twenty euro so you can both get some lunch. I expect her back here no later than four pm. While you are out, it might pay you to ask about music lessons. Olivia is keen to learn the piano. I also need you to arrange an appointment for Alicia and I to attend the school on Friday to buy uniform for Olivia. Off you go. Have fun, Olivia.”
Yes, sir, you pompous cockhead, the voice in my head said as I pictured myself saluting him. Seriously, that man gave me Tourette’s.
We headed out of the estate towards the river, (at his lordship’s demand) and absorbed the scenery around us as we walked towards the shops and the swarms of people rushing about their business.
“Can we go in here for lunch please, Bex?” Olivia asked.
I looked through the window of the Lange Bakery and I spotted an array of eye-catching cakes and tarts on glass shelves, and a wide selection of breads next to a sign saying ‘open sandwiches’. I wasn’t quite sure what an open sandwich was, but I decided to give it a go. “Sure, it looks nice, let’s get some lunch.”
It turns out that a cheese sandwich in Germany is quite different to a cheese sandwich in the UK. On the plate in front of me was one slice of pumpernickel bread, two slices of emmentaler cheese neatly laid on top, some random walnuts and a sprinkling of paprika; weird but tasty all the same.
“Let’s have a look in that music shop down there please, Rebecca,” Olivia said pointing several shops down as soon as we stepped out of the bakery. “I’m really hoping daddy will buy me a piano for Christmas. Maybe I can ask about piano lessons,” she gushed, as she ran to the store with the excitement and care-free attitude that only children have.
We ended our day with a trip to one of the supermarkets and I was thankful that everything was labelled in English as well as German. On arriving back at the house, I kissed Olivia on the cheek and said goodnight to Leo and Alicia as quickly as I could because I had not done either of the things that Leo had asked me to do, and I was feeling very grateful that I had my own space to go to.
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