CH 7
Astrid suggested Saga to take a taxi to go downtown and meet Henrik for the date. In Astrid's detailed plan for their meeting – fueled by romance novels she read hurriedly and conversations with her girlfriends - Saga would text Henrik pretending to be in town to buy a gift and asking him to collect her at half past six to return home together. He used to leave work around six, the timing was perfect.
Saga then had to declare she wanted to go to a shop conveniently close to the restaurant, so he'd park the car and follow her. The rest was up to Saga, who felt unsure for the white lie.
Astrid had to persuade her it was not a lie, simply a way to prepare the surprise she desired so strongly. They texted since early afternoon, Saga was getting nervous.
"I give up!"
"No! We invested hours in this idea. We checked restaurant etiquette! You both deserve it."
"What if I cannot keep it to myself?"
"Dad will miss part of the surprise. Still like the idea."
"I'm hyperventilating."
Saga controlled her pulse and sat on the couch, full dressed – a long scarf and one of Astrid's berets to conceal hair and new clothes - holding the bag with the fake gift.
Astrid called to persuade Saga to go out and take the taxi. She had to contact Henrik in 20 minutes.
Saga closed the front door fearing an incoming disaster.
When Astrid sent her a thumb up, Saga breathed to steady herself and sent the text Astrid had already prepared. Soon Henrik answered, accepting her request.
She opened the back door of his car and placed the bag on the seats without him commenting, instead he gave her a good news.
"We solved the case! That's great, so the team can have a good holidays. Your intuition was right, the killer was the guardian of the swimming pool of the residence where the family lived, he had a limb weaker than the other, a sort of handicap by birth. He was obsessed with the woman and when she refused him he plotted revenge."
In another moment Saga would be happy to discuss with Henrik more details of the case, but her mind was full concentrated on her plan.
"Astrid asked me to buy her some oil colours, to her usual shop."
"There's one closer. If we make it fast, we have the house all for ourselves."
His photographic memory. Panic. Dry mouth, hands sweating. Stitch to the plan. No. Astrid repeats to come up with something new in case of troubles. Think, think.
"She had called to reserve them. It's a new brand she wants. We need to go there."
Henrik believed her or wanted to believe, parking the car in a nearby road. After two difficult weeks, he hoped to spend a peaceful evening at home and to end up in bed for a passionate night. He was used to Saga's strange requests, so he followed her in silence until Saga didn't turn at the supposed corner.
"Are you sure it is the right way?"
"Come on."
"The shop is in the parallel street. You're going somewhere else."
Saga stopped and bowed her head; her ability to carry on ended there.
"We're not buying colours. We're having an evening out, me and you. A date. I spoiled the surprise."
"An evening out?"
"Yes, we are supposed to go to a restaurant and then to the theatre. It is my gift."
"You planned a real date for us?"
"Astrid helped me with lots of suggestions."
Saga opened her coat, revealing her new clothes and showing Henrik the lipstick she kept in her pocket.
Henrik smiled, a large affectionate smile Saga knew was all hers.
"I've never had a better gift. If you want I'll keep my eyes close not to spoil further the surprise."
"Keep them open, there's lots of people on the streets, you may crash into someone."
He gestured her to lead the way and they walked the short distance to the Geranium.
Henrik looked at the restaurant sign with huge eyes.
"Did you remember it?"
"My first choice. It was all booked, but I managed to have a table. It's for an hour but we have other plans so it is enough."
"Thanks. Thanks for everything."
Henrik took Saga's elbow and moved closer, until he could place a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Better late than never.", he said, opening the door for her.
Henrik would tell Astrid – curious of every detail - he did not noticed the taste of the food or the look of the place, so lost he was in the woman sharing his table.
It was more than a Christmas gift, it was a confirmation of the feelings they shared.
Saga ate with her usual speed and appreciated the lamb ribs and the selection of desserts.
She had memorized the etiquette - use the external fork first, keep the napkin in place, put knife and fork on the dish when finished, a pause between each course is normal, clean mouth every time you drink and only at the end replace lipstick - and she had print screens of the main rules in case of need.
The maitre was captivated by her blond hair, he twice asked her if everything was all right. Henrik looked around, Saga with little make up and a slender frame was one of the most beautiful women there. Expensive clothes and jewels and eyelashes full of mascara were nothing compared to her brain for him.
When the maitre opened the wine list and passed it to Henrik, the refuse was polite but firm.
"I've got non alcoholic champagne for the toasts at my parents' for Christmas."
"Are you sure you want me to come? You plan to spend two nights there."
She had met his parents only once, for Astrid's birthday in September, when Henrik prepared an elaborate Sunday lunch. All went well, despite her insecurity, because she was on her own ground, in his house she felt safe; her previous interactions with boyfriends' relatives had been strained to say the least. Henrik repeated his parents were aware of how much Saga meant to him.
"If you won't come, me and Astrid won't go. I want to enjoy the holidays with you. It is our first Christmas together and it is already becoming more than I could hope for."
"But your sister will be there too, you said she disliked Alice, what if is the same with me?"
Babett Sabroe, four years younger than Henrik, long married to her much older faculty dean she met during her post graduate year in Paris, now both with a position as professors in Paris 3 University, mother of twin boys, from photos a beautiful and slim woman, elegantly dressed from fashion shops.
"Don't worry, I know my sister, you'll go well together. There's more than her appearance."
"But what if.."
"Saga, trust me, me and my sister had a special bond, all what happened never broke it and she will understand you, I'm sure."
Saga insisted to pay the bill, Henrik opposing in vain. It was her gift and it was her turn.
The theatre in downtown Copenhagen presented a modern Danish play, the platea had huge seats and they settled comfortably in; Henrik spent half of the time looking at Saga, engrossed in the plot.
"I've bought tickets for you to watch the play, not me." she whispered in his ear.
"I'm too happy to think straight now."
The different temperature between the warm theatre and the cold street stung their faces, Saga was glad to wear hat, gloves and scarf and took the offered male arm. Being close to each other means less heath dispersion and lower risk to slip and fall on the various patch of ice. Being so close means also be seen as a couple and Saga observed how the other couples they passed by interacted.
At a street crossing, a family of four was waiting for green light, the mother holding hand of a girl and the father with a younger child on his shoulder, all tucked up for the cold.
Henrik looked at them and a sigh escaped from his lips, then he turned to Saga and placed his hand over their joined arms. He had hope again.
A nearby bell tower stroke eleven. Saga took note and realised she didn't want the evening to end.
"I want to walk."
"It's your evening out, which way?"
"I never saw the old harbour."
"Nyhavn?"
"Yes."
She had worked in Copenhagen for years, never seeing the city outside police related places. Her focus was on her work only and she missed such aspect of everyday life. Her solo journey helped her to understand life was a sum of experiences that had to be lived, not only read in books, preferably not always alone.
A text on both phones. Astrid, curious to know if all was going well.
Henrik smiled - his baby the miss matcher - and answered all was perfect and they were walking to Nyhavn.
His daughter was sensitive and smart, the best he could hope for. And Astrid needed a female presence in her life, more than ever.
The Christmas huts were still open and Henrik paid for two hot chocolates and bought a wooden heart to hang on the wall for his girl.