CHAPTER 1
Cities as an endless sequence of motorways, exits, road tunnels, hotels, museums and signals in various languages.
Saga wanted to return, nearly a month has passed, a month of freedom and exploration and collect of experiences she had welcomed, fighting with a subtle sense of fear of the unknown.
She had to overcome the journey, for herself, for her future and for who was waiting for her at home. They both knew a brief time apart was indispensable to calm their souls from the frantic events that took place in just two weeks, to adjust to the new developments they were facing.
Saga longed to be back, her brain had collected many new data and she needed a pause from travelling to process them. A hard drive full and ready for a reset in the tranquillity of her two home countries, linked by the bridge that had been a symbol of her relationship with her man.
She had the desire to cross that very bridge again soon, to be back to the familiar face that had followed her in her travel, a silent companion, a promise of a safe haven.
Having someone waiting for her was so new.
The temptation to drive all night was strong, so was her tiredness. Too dangerous to follow her instinct: it was raining, the weather forecast wasn't good, she couldn't ring the bell – no, use the keys she had, kept safe in her right pocket, like a talisman – in the middle of the night and sleep on the couch not to wake up him or his daughter.
The last exit for Hannover, just a cheap chain hotel for the night in the suburbs, not caring the view, not visiting the town, and tomorrow morning the final drive.
She signalled her intention to turn right and changed lane with a quick glance at the rear view mirror; the engine decelerated, she kept both hands on the wheel - the old car a little stubborn in the rain, mental note to change the tyres after the long travel – to control the trajectory, then a big hit and the world started spinning until all went black.
Henrik Sabroe woke up hearing a sound and opened his eyes. The alarm clock, still dark outside, incompatible with the morning light.
He listened better, not the alarm tone, an incoming call.
He took the phone off the charger and passed a hand over his eyes to see better.
5.43, Linn's working phone, sure no good news. Astrid was in the adjacent room, so he answered fearing a name only.
"Henrik, it's Linn. Saga is in hospital. A car accident. I got a call from German police. A truck…"
"How is she? "
He interrupted her immediately.
"Serious, but not life threatening."
Henrik allowed himself to breathe.
"Where?"
"Near Hannover."
Linn explained what the kind German colleague – whose English wasn't good as Linn's - told her a few minutes before. The previous evening on the motorway a truck – a sleepy or drunken driver, Linn didn't understand – lost control and went against a dozen of cars. Saga's Porsche was pointing to an exit nearby – her right directions lights still on after the impact – and the car was thrown against the guard rail, made a turn and stopped on the patch of grass of the junction.
Her luck, being hit from the back and driving a solid old car who absorbed most of the impact.
The motorway was closed for hours, people trapped in the cars, firemen working to avoid explosions, four people already dead and more than a dozen injured.
When Saga was extracted from her car the policemen controlled her documents and reported to the local command that after a fast research in databases called the police headquarter in Malmo.
Henrik booked online the flight while sipping the first coffee of the day shortly after six; he planned to get back home for the evening and return to Hannover the following days. He was at the airport before nine, having left Astrid with his sister in law.
Astrid wasn't happy about his choice. He sensed she wasn't happy to see him go away, he was torn but he had to go to Hannover. It was the first forced separation after her return: he had briefly thought to take Astrid with him, then the idea to oblige her to spend a few hours in a hospital become unbearable. Memories of her own wound, surgery and recovery.
Sometimes Swedish words slipped from the mouth when she was worried or excited; she started seeing twice a week a child's psychologist.
The book of costumes was where once he kept the necklaces box and Henrik was sure she had opened it more than once. How much he wanted her to forget the village life, he was aware it had been a part of her for too long.
Astrid was still fragile. Henrik sighed painfully, he had to go alone.
"Aunt Julia don't like you." Astrid stated while they were driving to Alice sister's house
"I know."
"I could stay with the grannies."
"I haven't time to drive you there and catch the flight. And the grannies cannot drive you to the phisiotherapy this afternoon. Aunt Julia loves you, is closer and she keeps Maria home today for you."
Alice's relatives had always blamed Henrik for the disappearance of his family and their relationship was strained since. Alice had confided her sister there were marriage troubles and Julia had suggested her to discuss with Henrik. How he wished she had followed the suggestion, but having talked with Frank in Linn's presence, he understood the ability of the man to mould her mind.
Julia was happy Astrid has been found but she had supported her parents' wish to have Alice buried in the family grave when the skeleton was discovered. It was clear for Henrik he'd never be buried with her.
Astrid was silent for a while, looking out of the window.
"Dad, you love Saga, don't you? It's more than friendship."
Out of blue, like children often - and Saga – ask.
Henrik casted a glance to his baby, all grown up of eight years in a minute, and saw the young woman in her.
He felt relieved for her intuition.
No more lies or petty excuses, Astrid saw the way he and Saga looked at each other after the shoot, how he knelt in front of Saga – unable to stood, to speak, shaking – and holding her hands kissed them. A gesture powerful and intimate, the hands that killed a life and gave Henrik life at the same time.
He hide in his bedroom every evening when a call from Saga arrived and Astrid noticed how his face glowed when he was back.
"Yes. Love isn't always logical or easy. Love can be blind, but Saga is my light."
His tone made Astrid shiver, she read the truth in his words and hoped this time it could be different for him. Henrik had been honest in describing her the marriage problems with her mother and the deep guilt he experienced since.
"Why she doesn't live with us?"
"She had to solve a lot of things and she needed to go away for a while."
"Tell Saga I want to meet her soon."
Henrik swallowed his tears, kissed Astrid's head in front of Julia's house and saw Maria opening the door and run to hug Astrid, like a nomal ten year old girl, happy to have someone to play with.
Waiting for the boarding, he talked again with Linn, informed Lillian and had a long conversation with his mother.
The flight was short, Henrik arrived at the airport, studied the hospital location and took a taxi.
