CH 10

The twins and Astrid woke everybody up at 8 am, impatient and curious; they had already received a "madeleine" each from Pierre who was preparing his sons' favourite breakfast with crepes and marmalade.
The families met in the sitting room, Henrik turned the stereo on for a bit of traditional music and Saga sat with her back to the fireplace, observing the confusion around her. Under the tree lied all the gifts, wrapped up in a red or gold paper with patters of trees and snowmen.
Phones started ringing again, best wishes from France, other relatives and friends asking about Astrid, Lillian asking Henrik if her gift has been appreciated, the florist delivering flowers from Henrik to his mother.
Saga had seen various movies, also foreign, read novels, never experienced a true Christmas time.
The closest thing was when she and Jennifer shared for a few months that ridiculously small one room flat, cheap furniture and the smell from the ethnic restaurant on ground floor.
Jennifer wanted a tiny tree and asked Saga a little money to buy her a gift, a pair of gloves for the bike ride to the university.
They ate at the small plastic table, a single candle in the middle to decorate it.
The following Christmas Saga had a grave to visit.
Confusion and the twins' cries distracted Saga from her sad memories. Pierre gave way to the twins to find their gifts under the tree, toys, identical tablets, Lego, new skies and ski boots for their January Alps trip.
The grandparents lost count of the items each twin wanted to show them.
Astrid opened her long series of boxes, including new clothes, mainly coming from Paris, books about impressionist painters and a small camera from the grannies that Saga bought on their request in Malmo.
Saga was still until Henrik prompted her to go find her own boxes, she discovered five had her name on the tag.
A book about history of Nordic countries from 1800 on from Henrik's dad, a soft hand knitted green scarf from Henrik's mother, an acquarel of the Oresund bridge made by Astrid, a warm brown undercoat from Babette – the package of a famous Parisian department store - and a necklace with a horse from Henrik.
The undercoat was her perfect size, how could Babette have guessed it become clear when the siblings exchanged a look of complicity, then Henrik left the room to return with a box for Astrid.
She pulled the large ribbon and the box opened by itself, revealing a brown puppy, around three months old, at a closer inspection inbreed with a Labrador.
"I've find her in a shelter, there was a litter of five, she was the sweetest so I reserved her. We can create a safe space for her in the back garden with a covered corner for the sunny days."
Astrid concentrated on the dog forgetting everything else, she missed when Saga offered Henrik the chrono watch she found in a vintage shop after an extensive search.
The necklace appeared minimal, compared to her relationship, or better the importance Henrik put on them being together; Henrik noticed Saga's continuous touching it and smiled. His plan was working well, she was puzzled; time for his move.
"Let's go outside, get coat and boots. Astrid, put this lead on the puppy and take her."
"We remain inside, it's cold we'll look from the window." Babette and her family moved to the kitchen.
Saga went to the front door.
"This way, Saga." Henrik pointed at the back door of the kitchen. Outside stood an animal trailer and a man was helping a horse descend.
Everybody stared at Saga who wondered why she was the centre of attention.
"Saga, this is our gift. We've got her thanks to my cousin Hans, her owner had to give her up after seven years."
"It 's good for Astrid. Horses are good to build self confidence and comfort for people with anxiety and social problems. Horse therapy ..." Henrik stopped her, lifting a hand; she read well his signs and wasn't angry at the interruption.
"No, no, Saga, its for you, she's yours, you have a horse now."

Saga was lost the moment Henrik explained. Hers for real, her first animal, big to be a pet, but a pet nevertheless. All the times she asked her father a dog, as a kid, lead her to that moment. A black beauty, shining in the morning light. She approached the horse and Hans handed her the reins. Saga passed a hand over the horse's back and the animal turned her head, smelling Saga's hair.
"What's her name?"
"It's engraved on the back of your necklace."
Saga read Windy, she did seem a horse free like the wind; Hans had a proposal.
"She can stay in my farm until you decide where to keep her."
Saga turned to Henrik, he simply gave her a peek on the cheek.
"Merry Christmas."
She nodded, unable to thank him properly.
The old Sabroes returned inside and Astrid followed with the puppy, whispering in her hear that she had her own surprise to set up.
Saga started questions about horses: the practical aspects of the situation dawned on her. It wasn't a dog or a cat, it was an animal weighting up to 400 Kilo, and in need of proper care, food and a place to live.
"How can I manage her? We live in town."
Henrik was fast in reassuring Saga.
"My relatives had horses for decades, since my maternal grandfather, my uncle went on breeding them. We can find a manege for her near home."
Hans put Windy back on the trailer and they agreed to visit her the following day.
Henrik asked saga to walk with him in the back garden to the orchard.
"There is a project I'm thinking about with Hans and dad. Hans' son wants to be a doctor so he won't help in the farm and his daughter is only eight. The land starts at the end of the garden, up that little hill. My parents built this house on mom's land. We could restore the old warehouse there, on the right, near the reservoir, turn it in a house and live in the countryside. Its just a short drive to town and the bridge."
"Are you serious?"
Saga was looking at Henrik with extreme attention.
"If we all agree, yes, it will take time so nobody has to decide now."
"And you'll work in a farm?"
"Family tradition? Dad often helped since retirement. I'm thinking what to do after Lillian returns. I'm not going in the field again. If there is a place in the higher ranks, or I could teach at the police academy, maybe part time. I know I'll have to give exams."
"So if you plan to restore the warehouse my horse could stay here."
"I hope you'll stay, too."

When they returned inside, Astrid and Klaus were near a new easel in the middle of the living room. There was a canvas on it, covered by a sheet.
"Don't peek!"
Astrid chastised her aunt who tried to lift a corner of the sheet.
Saga had observed the Duprè family carefully, Babette blond hair, Pierre's French nose and his hair, still dark for a man close to sixty, the twins blond and pale. She was sure of her intuition and decided to keep it to herself; she had already caused a divorce discussing about paternity.
Astrid asked Henrik to stand near the easel.
She took a deep breath, she had a small sheet hidden in her hand for her speech. et.
"This is a surprise for my father. I am sorry for all the problems we had since we found each other again but I want to tell him he is the best father. I am happy to be home with him and Saga and it's beautiful to be here all together this special morning with my grannies and my little cousins. Grandpa was great in helping me with the surprise. Lift the sheet, dad."
Henrik's hand trembled when he grabbed the low corner. With a single motion the canvas unveiled, revealing a portrait of Henrik sat in his living room, dressed in one of his dark suits, holding a book in hand, his other hand on his chin, on the wall behind him a small paint in the paint with the half body of two women, long blond and hazel short hair.
Henrik stood still, unbelieving the beauty of the paint, his baby has worked with great ability.
He hugged Astrid for a long time, hiding his face in her hair, tears of happiness wetting his eyes. Then Astrid showed him the details, how her teachers had helped her using a photo of Henrik and suggesting her the best technique to use.