Chapter 4: Trustworthy f
"So, you´re positive Sven is fine?!" Anna asked between two bites of her yummy chocolate toast, reaching for her cup of coffee. Albeit relishing in this tasty start of the day, she really wanted to be sure of Kristoff not being in troubles with his friend.
Kristoff chuckled and placed a hand to his chest, "trust me, he IS fine! Sven tends to totally exaggerate on terms of romance and stuff. Don´t worry, he will still be alive by the time I get back."
Anna chewed on her last bite, trying to extend the lovely moment if possible and a certain curiosity roamed her mind. She blinked a few times, then leaned back in her chair to cross her arms before her chest, daring to ask.
"What about you? Would you exaggerate on things like love and feelings?"
Kristoff looked at her plainly and shook his head slightly and slowly.
"No, I wouldn´t, because I look at this topic realistically and solemnly. I don´t like the idea of running off with someone head over heels. And I don´t believe there is ever such a thing like love on first sight."
Though I could imagine starting to like you, because I don´t mind your intruding in my space for some reason I can´t rationalise… But, of course, I can´t tell you that… That be silly…
While his thoughts started a most disturbing battle within his mind, he had hastily grabbed his mug and sipped uneasily at his coffee. And though Kristoff had noticed that Anna´s expression had clouded for a second, she had just as quickly shaken it off again. He could tell that she literally forced a fake smile on her face, remarking with a cute off-waving gesture.
"Of course, you would not do that. Only fools rush in and don´t think before acting. I trust you are in good control of yourself. Lucky you."
"Are you alright?" Kristoff had well noticed that she appeared somewhat agitated.
"Oh, yes, yes, of course. You see, my sister Elsa would totally agree with you. She is the controlled one of the two of us. My parents are so happy to rely on her without having the slightest doubts of her wits. It´s enough that I´m the weirdo in the family." Anna had firmly clasped her fingers around her cup and slurped another gulp of coffee, her eyes narrowed in thought.
Kristoff wondered, what she was brooding about and dared the shot.
"Why would you call yourself the weirdo?"
Anna sighed, crooked her head, and found genuine asking eyes looking at her.
What if I could tell him what I feel about my family? I will never see this man again anyway, so it wouldn´t do much harm, would it? I so wish anybody – except Olaf of course – would understand…
"When I was still very little, four maybe, Elsa fell very ill. Nobody really knew what it was. My parents went from one special clinic to another. No doctor could really tell. It was some rare disease that could be infectious to siblings. Out of fear for me, my parents have sort of locked me away. It was not so, that I was not allowed to go outside or to school and all that. But Elsa, she had to stay in her room. She got tutored privately. My parents were sick with fear for her. You see, today I understand most of it so much more than back then."
Kristoff leaned a bit forward and gestured he had a question. Anna stopped and tilted her head, pausing.
"Were you not allowed to see her? I mean, you grew up practically separated, was that so?"
"Yes. I spent most of my childhood solitary. Oh, I had the house to myself for play. My parents had gone a lot of the time for business reasons. There were a cook and a nanny. They practically raised me, but didn´t bother my phantasies and dreams that I would tell anyone who would listen. So, finally I ended up living my dream. To become a ballerina. It was hard work to get where I am today. Nevertheless, my parents weren´t thrilled about my goals. I mean they love me and only wanted the best for me. You see, it was their intention that I should follow in the family business. Then, after some time, Elsa got better, still out of fear, I was not allowed to connect with her too much. Only later, just a few years ago, we got the chance to refund our sisterhood. But my work at the opera house is not what they call a realistic life. Still, they supported me and let me achieve my auditions and exams. But in their eyes, I´m the odd child. And today, Elsa runs her projects and an own department supervised by my father. She´s the smart kid, though she´s the kindest soul I know. She would never overstate about her abilities."
Kristoff wouldn´t have expected a story like that. That there was a family who questioned their daughter´s talents and nature of character? Kristoff considered her upbringing a sad circumstance not worth longing for. And while he thought of what to say, Anna had sighed and then shaken off the gloominess again in a jiffy.
"You know. When you say that you see things realistic and soberly, I think that´s really a good thing, because I sometimes wish I was clearer minded. But then, we are who we are and maybe a good mixture of both would make the perfect essence, what you think?"
By now, Anna had gotten back her radiant expression and her positive attitude left a remarkable touch on Kristoff.
How did she switch so easily between thoughtfulness and cheeriness?
"Okay, I was to cruise the boat to Röbel/Müritz so we can go for some shopping. After that, we can head back onto the lake." Kristoff told Anna while they cleaned the parlour table and kitchen corner after their breakfast.
"But I will be leaving soon. You buy what you need, and I add to the costs, of course." Anna felt a bit out of place right now. She didn´t want to cause extra work.
"Nonsense. You are a member of this household for those days and have a right to buy what YOU like, too." Kristoff shook his head and headed up to the steering seat, turning to gesture to the top drawer of the counter.
"There´s a shopping list. Add what comes to your mind, okay?"
Just an hour later they find themselves in the supermarket near the harbour. And while Kristoff had his system of following the shelfs according to his list, Anna has roamed the store with enthusiasm like a child in the toy barn. She ran to grab some chocolate, then to return with some Nutella, just to head for the cookie department and additionally bring some packs of Jellybeans.
Kristoff stares at the stuff and starts wondering, if that was really a good idea of hers and asking politely if Anna was indeed allowed to eat all that stuff.
"Hey! I´m on vacation – I must. It´s fun time, alright?"
Kristoff watched her rambling about the shelfs and with what eagerness she studied the products, doing this little skip dances whenever she was excited upon finding something she loved to taste. Even pushing the cart once in a while would be a movement of gracefulness and boosted positivity.
How good for her to have this energy and to dance through her life without needing to please her family in a way that would diminish her spirits!
Kristoff stood looking at the twirly shopping girl, who would turn at some point to gaze at him with a sheepish smile, and coming back to lay a hand on his arm, asking warmly if he was alright?
Yes, he was...
"Sorry, was just going through my shopping list in my mind."
"Silly. It´s right in your hand."
Anna giggled and hooked her arm in his.
"Come on. Let´s get on with this so we can go back. I have some chocolate to store."
Kristoff had steered the boat back onto the lake and Anna was determined to use her time and relax in the sun, take another turn to swim – of course all decent – and looking forward immensely to dinner! Kristoff had put all sorts of healthy stuff into the cart, and then some ingredients Anna could tell he must be some sort of a hobby cook. She couldn´t wait to find out. So, she accommodated herself on her towel on deck, put in her earplugs and was soon dozing off.
Kristoff had picked his book, and sat at the front platform, dangling his legs overboard. Maybe he would fancy a swim later, but for now, he enjoyed the quiet time that had finally come. Finally, just sitting, reading, lavishly bathing in the warm summer glee, and being accompanied by the glittering and gurgling waters. It wouldn´t take long, before he put down the book again and lay back, closing his eyes and drifting into a relaxed slumber.
About an hour later he woke, all stiff and legs gone dead in this position. Kristoff groaned and started to move his body to sit up and get all his limbs back to life. He rubbed his face and circled his shoulders to readjust. Finally, he managed to rise and then found Anna´s place abandoned. That´s when he noticed a moving figure in the waters a bit further away from the boat. A wild thought crawled back into his memory and Kristoff hastily glanced down to her towel if she had left her bikini behind. She hadn´t. Oh good.
But then, what was he thinking…?
Kristoff would have liked to dive into the waters himself, but then, nobody would be on the boat and he didn´t want Anna to think he was stalking her. So, he went down to the parlour and started preparing dinner.
A while later, Anna was back and looking for him.
"Can I help?" She had put back on her summer dress and her hair fell wet over her shoulders, still dripping a bit and soaking the fabric on her back. She beamed with delight, apparently happy. Her freckles shone on the slightly tainted skin around her nose.
Has she turned even more beautiful within those past hours?
Kristoff had placed all sorts of ingredients on the table and was about to chop some salami and cheese, Mozzarella to be precise.
"Yes, of course. Choose what you like on your pizza and help with the chopping?"
"Pizza?! Are you seriously going to do it all by yourself, I mean the dough and all?" Anna looked around in astonishment. That was a real treat! She sat down opposite from Kristoff, thinking about what to choose to work at.
They sat in silence, preparing their meal in comfortable companionship, and soon set the two pieces of round delicacy to be buzzling in the tiny oven.
After enjoying the lovely meal and another nice red wine on deck, they both sat back just feeling at ease in the moment, overlooking the horizon being bathed in golden lights at sunset. Anna then declared that after this absolute surprising indulgence she would take care of the washing up. Kristoff should be paid his efforts with some free time to himself!
He would not have it. They could do this together. Anna frowned and playfully punched his upper arm across the table.
"Hey, I can just as well help with some chores alright? So, I won´t see you down before you haven´t crossed the lake and back." She giggled and pressed her lips, darting her eyes from side to side.
Kristoff couldn´t help but gasp at her statement, then chuckled at the thought.
"So, you will have me drowning just to get the boat all to yourself, right?"
"No way! Don´t tell me you wouldn´t be able to swim the distance with that sturdy body of yours!"
Now, Kristoff was blushing, just as Anna was after the words echoed in her own ears. She got up, picked their plates, and tilted her head with a smile.
"Honestly, you deserve a treat in return. Off you go, I take care of this, okay?"
Kristoff looked at her gratefully and nodded in response.
"Alright, thank you. I promise to enjoy myself. If you like, we could watch a movie later? I brought my notebook. But only if you like…"
Oh man, of course, I do!
"Yeah sure, why not?"