The glimmering turns out to be a lake. It lies perfectly still before me, with its radiant turquoise green. It's as if nature has put a filter over the water.
Beautiful.
The sight before me eases some of the frustrationI've been carrying since Noah didn't show up at the clinic. I allow myself a moment of relaxation before turning away to look around. Somewhere here must be the house.
A clearing appears to my right, and something white flashes between the tree trunks.
Could that be it?
I make my way toward the clearing. There, I spot a cottage that, unlike the many wooden-clad farmhouses in Semmtal, has a modern feel to it. The walls are white, and the window shutters and front door are painted a rich forest green. Next to the house is an oversized garden shed. The clearing is about the size of half a soccer field and ends directly at the lake. A gnarled wooden jetty extends over the water, and a boat gently sways near the shore.
Is this Noah's home?
For a moment, I'm unsure of what to think. It's not surprising that he lives in such seclusion, but nothing else here matches him. The lovingly arranged firepit with the chairs carved from tree trunks, the blooming shrubs, and the well-maintained house. It feels as if he treats this place like a treasure while treating himself like an outcast.
Lost in thought, I step onto the first of the three steps leading to a veranda that seems to encircle the entire house. The solid table and lounge chairs remind me of the ones in front of Hanna's cabins. And the sign next to the door with Noah's name on it seems familiar.
Since I can't find a doorbell, I knock. "Noah?"
There's no sound from inside the house.
"Are you there? It's me, Elina," I call out and walk toward the window to peer inside.
I can't see much, but what I do see puzzles me once again. The light-filled space combines the living room, dining room, and kitchen into one. The minimalist decor feels like there's enough room to breathe. The marbling of the wooden beam construction, spanning the walls and ceiling, tastefully contrasts with the white-painted walls.
This house doesn't match the rough, unapproachable Noah I've come to know. Instead, it feels like someone who appreciates design and beautiful things lives here, someone with an eye for detail.
Strange.
I move on to the next window. From here, I can better view the kitchenette with its light-colored fronts. My attention is drawn to the steaming pot on the stove. So Noah is home. If that's the case, he'll have to open the door for me now.
Back at the door, I knock again. "I know you're there, Noah. Open up."
Once again, there's no response from inside the house. I shift my weight from one leg to the other in thought. Either he's foolish enough to think he can ignore me or he's unable to reach the door.
A sense of unease spreads in my stomach. What if something happened to him?
Technically, I should call the police because they're the only ones allowed to break down the door to check if my growing concern is justified. At least that's the case in Vienna. But here, where I've seen villagers enter strangers' houses without even ringing the doorbell? I couldn't believe it at first, and I still find it completely crazy, but no one locks their doors in Semmtal.
If a door is unlocked, then simply opening it is not a burglary. So I cautiously push down the door handle.
The forest-green door actually opens.
"Noah? I'm coming in now," I announce loudly, just in case he's simply in the shower and didn't hear my knocking. A second later, I realize how nonsensical that is. If he were showering, I would hear running water, but that's not the case.
What I do hear is something else. Shallow breathing.
It doesn't take me long to identify the source. Noah is lying stretched out on his stomach along the length of the corner sofa.
He's asleep.
Without thinking, I put my hands on my hips. "Seriously?" I exclaim, unable to contain myself.
As if I just activated a foghorn, he jolts awake, his eyes widening in alarm. I should be angry that he overslept our appointment, but one look at his face is enough to make my anger disappear.
