CH 5

"I've got the idea for Henrik's gift."
Astrid's hand stopped around the orange she was picking up from the fruit basket. She and Saga were having a late Saturday lunch, heating what Henrik cooked in the morning before going to the annual commemoration of the police colleagues killed in service.
They had studied the script together, Astrid memorizing the part and Saga reading the lines of the others performers.
"Tell me."
"An evening out as a couple. He repeats we are his greatest gift so I thought to give him a special time with me. And those women at school, I want to protect what we have."
A long session with her doctor dedicated to handle residual fears helped Saga to clarify herself that love is also made of sharing and compromising.
"That's great, a really good idea. I'm sure he'll like it."
"But I don't know from where to start. I need your help. I never had to plan a date before."
Astrid seemed perplexed.
"Dad was your first?"
"I had .. a few boyfriends before Henrik. And the dating was ...fast."
"But you are together for nearly three years now."
"I was in prison for more than a year and before we had the difficult trial. I have no experience. You are younger and heard from friends or from tv how to plan."
Astrid remembered when Mads invited Louise to go out for a movie. The date had been a subject of girls gossip at school for a week.
Maja told Astrid Mads was clearly at first interested in her and if only Astrid made a move he'd ask her out and not Louise, but Astrid wasn't ready. She remembered Cristoffer like a dream of a lifetime ago, she was new to the world of modern boys.
She was closer to Saga's inexperience more than the older woman imagined.
"Did you have already a general setting or not? "
"He likes to eat out and watch movies. I'd prefer theatre. He once asked me out at a famous restaurant."
"You could eat first than see a movie or go to theatre or a night at the museum.."
"Henrik wanted to go to Geranium. It is difficult to find a place he said."
"If it is all booked you'll find another one."
They discussed about practical details, the most important where Astrid would be, not to spoil the surprise.
Christmas was on Tuesday and Henrik's parents were waiting for them, the school play would be on Friday evening, Astrid suggested Saga to reserve for the preceding weekend, Friday night, when she would visit her mother's relatives.
It would be an early gift but Saga could still buy something else for the 25th.
Saga was lucky with the restaurant, at first they wanted to place her on the waiting list, then the woman on the phone spoke with someone and offered Saga a table for the first round of the evening, a little earlier than usual but good for the theatre later, Astrid declared.
They studied the theatres and bought on line two seats in the parterre with a good view of the stage.
Then came the difficult questions: dress, hair, make up.
She remembered the women she saw at the single club event, when she and Henrik got together for the first time, all carefully refined and well dressed.
Saga wasn't partial at the idea to change her appearance but she imagined Henrik would expect her to do so. Astrid's idea was different.
"Dad likes you the way you are. Let's make just little changes. You can brush your hair better or make a ponytail. And buy a nice shirt!"
"Can you come with me to buy it?"
"I'm not a fashion expert."
"You're better than me. I only buy books."
Astrid read the insecurity in Saga's face, the fear to do something wrong, the importance for her to please Henrik. She appeared like a girl nervous for her first serious date, the date that can change everything.
Astrid knew her father's feelings were deeper than Saga still imagined, he had been open in explaining Astrid how he fell in love after Alice was found dead.
"Dad won't be disappointed whatever you give him."
Saga lowered her eyes, Astrid was unaware of the only time she truly disappointed him.
"Ok, I'll help you with clothes and make up, we'll stick to hydrating foundation and a lipstick."
"Not red like the Anker case."
Astrid let the comment pass, not the moment to debate on evidences on dead bodies. There were already enough references to police stuff at home, because Saga was off duty but wanted Henrik to talk about his cases and she gave him useful suggestions. The reason she left police was a mistery for Astrid.
"Not red. Pink or hazel. And a perfume. There is a one in the wardrobe, a gift to my mother I think. I'll get it."
"I don't want to use hers."
Astrid returned with two perfumes, one a quarter full, the other still wrapped in plastic.
She sprayed the first on her wrist and asked Saga to smell it; jasmine, rose and some other fragrance, very classy, very ladylike.
"This is hers. She was crazy for this perfume, I remember Dad gave it for her birthday."
Saga seized the small bottle, Chanel n. 5, one of the best known and expensive in the world. Alice did had good tastes, in everything. Her house, her clothes, her husband.
Astrid's nostrils were still smelling the fragrance, the girl was lost in recollections.
Was the loving maternal embrace, the hand that wiped off the tears after a bicycle fall, the good night kiss, the little things Saga read about and never had for herself.
And this girl brusquely went from being loved by a sweet woman to the coldness of a different house, a man who never was a father taking care of her.
It was a miracle she survived and was still able to appreciate her former home, although Alice would never live with her again.
Saga tentatively put an hand on Astrid shoulder and a new rush of emotions from deep inside her went to the surface when the girl turned to her and smiled.
"Let's try the other one. I'll see on internet the composition." Saga offered.
Black Opium in its original package, from the description nuances more fruited than flowered. Astrid opened it and asked Saga the wrist.
"Try on yours."
"I cannot, I've already one on me, it confuses the nose. The shop lady told me so when me and Maja bought some makeup."
It was indeed different, more fresh and fast to wear, on Saga's skin lingered notes of citrus fruits and she sprayed a little on her t shirt, like an actress saw on tv.
Astrid laughed and Saga followed, it felt right to enjoy a happy moment with her girl.