Chapter 12: Are You Frozen By Fear?

Although Lief was one to spend a good amount of time with Karen lately, still he managed to set apart some time for his other children.

Sadly, Karl was getting to that point in his life where he was starting to want to distance himself from his father. Most of their conversations seemed to dwindle off and go nowhere.

Lief didn't blame him, though. He remembered when he himself was on the cusp of adolescence. All he hoped for was that Karl didn't turn into a troublemaker when he reached his teen years.

After Karl went to a friend's house, Lief found himself with no one to talk to. Karen and Arvid were out at the movies, Kristin was sleeping, and Josefin was working overtime.

Then, he realized there was someone he could talk to.

Even if that someone wasn't one for socializing.

When Lief went outside in the cold winter snow, he found Edvin patting away at a large pile of snow.

"Oh! Uh, hey," the older man said. "You didn't have to work tonight?"

"Nope," came the response. Edvin didn't break stride in whatever it was he was doing.

"Need any help?"

"Sure."

"Hey, Edvin," Lief began, "Quick question. Were you close with your father when he was alive? Like, did you and Arvid spend a lot of time with him?"

"Nah." Something about the teen speaking so briefly, for a subject so important, worried Lief.

"Was it still upsetting when he died?"

"Yup." Though most people didn't think of putting two and two together, Lief had an idea as to why Edvin was so sparing with his words.

"Edvin...You don't seem to say a whole lot. Is that because of your father's death?"

Lief's question was initially met with silence, as Edvin began constructing a face for what had become the makings of a snowman.

"Yeah."The contradictory manner of the answers confused Lief.

"I'm guessing you talked a lot more when he was alive. What was it about his death that made you so quiet?"

Again, silence. Then, for the first time since meeting him, Lief heard Edvin say a full sentence:

"He didn't believe me when I said the stove was faulty." Hearing those words caused everything to fall into place.

"I see...Edvin, remember a while back, when there was a fire truck in front of the house?"

"Yeah."

"Did your mother tell you why it was there?"

"Nuh-uh."

"Well..." Lief took a deep breath, and explained. "Apparently, your brother was trying to make dinner, and I guess the stove went off. Your mother freaked out, and now that you told me what happened to your dad..."

"Well...I can see why else she was worried."

(Um...)

Lief was trying to ignore the obvious macabre sight that had somehow become the snowman.

"But I think I know what you're thinking. And I'll say this: Your father's death wasn't your fault. You warned him, and he didn't listen. But...you shouldn't blame yourself for what happened."

"I shouldn't?"

"The only way you'd be at fault is if you pushed your father into the fire itself. And I'm pretty sure you'd never do that."

"Yeah, I wouldn't."

"So stop blaming yourself. You did your best to warn him, and, well, it didn't end well, but you still shouldn't hold yourself accountable. So don't blame yourself anymore. That clear?"

"Clear as crystal." The two exchanged smiles, and went back inside to watch TV.

Lief made a mental note to fix the snowman later.

(End of Chapter 12.)