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He did not expect it to be her who climbed into his cab that night.
The call said it was an emergency drive to the hospital. The woman shifted to adjust her coat and reached for the safety belt, her voice an urgent cry.
“To the hospital, please, fast.”
She was fiddling with the safety belt, apparently having troubles clicking it into the lock. He turned in his seat and asked if he could help.
“No, thank you. I am fine… please, please go!”
The belt lock clicked, and she looked up. Her curly hair was a mess, and her eyes flickered anxiously in the dim light of the streetlamps. The freckles around her nose gave her a girlish look, though she must be in her late twenties or early thirties. He knew that face, recognized that voice, but could not believe it was true.
“Anna?”
She stared at him and then recognition dawned.
“Kristoff?”
He nodded, speechless to find her here, of all places.
“Please… could you?” she pointed to the street.
“Oh, sure.”
He started the engine.
It was a half an hour drive, and, in that time, he learned a little bit of what she had done since they last saw each other at High School. He felt utterly stupid, because he felt thrown back in time and like they were talking about going to write a test the next day.
But it was nothing of the sort.
Anna was married. Her husband got badly insured in a car accident and was apparently fighting with life. She distracted her anxiety by asking him questions about what he was doing, in turn talking a little bit about what just came to her mind. It was confusing, and yet, it was what he had obviously missed. Her chitty chatty voice. Albeit tonight, it was stress loaden and he felt utterly sorry for her.
When they arrived, he parked the car directly in front of the E.R. entrance and expected her to jump out of the vehicle. But the sportive and excited Anna he had known from their youth moved heavily and gasped a little when she heaved her body out of the backseat. It was only when Kristoff came around to her car door that he noticed the prominent swell of her belly.
“Oh, congrats.” He scratched at the back of his head. He had not expected that. It felt weird, finding her in such a delicate condition. And in all the excitement, she didn´t mention her state.
Anna looked at the E.R. sign and pointed to the door. “I must go. Was nice meeting you again, Kristoff.”
“Hey!” he walked a little with her. “Do you need help?”
“I should be fine, thank you.”
“All the best for your husband.”
“Thank you.” She smiled vaguely and lightly touched his arm, as if they were still study buddies. “Was really nice to see you. I… I don´t know how long I will be here… but if I need a cab again… can I call you directly?”
“You can.” He fumbled a card out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her.
Anna sighed, her mind already absent. “If you don´t mind?”
“No. Of course not.”
***
“Mrs. Westergaard, I am sorry, but it does not look good.”
Doctor Mathias explained all the medical facts to the woman sitting across his desk, but then, he sighed and showed her to the intensive care unit.
“I am afraid, but you can´t stay long. Not in your state.”
“I am not ill.” Anna said resolutely. “Please, I´d like to see my husband.”
“Of course. But mind, he´s unconscious, and he does not look well.”
“We´re not on the red carpet, Dr. Mathias. And I am not as fragile as I might look.”
But Anna felt miserable and lonely. She felt absolutely fragile but wanted to be strong. If she was strong, Hans would make it. For sure!
He looked terrible. The face bruised almost unrecognizable. The bruises will fade and he´ll be as handsome as ever. Scars remaining, but it didn´t matter to her. Not that! His body was almost completely bandaged, covering the wounds afflicted by the toppling car – despite the safety belt. But the worst was his motionless eyes. Closed. His eyes were always teasing, smiling, frowning. Hans talked with his eyes. But not now. Would he ever do again? His chest moved, slowly and weak, but it moved.
Anna lowered onto the chair by his side, her form covered by a green medical coat and her hair hidden under a protective cover. It was all for the best for her injured husband… The constant beeping of the monitor on the wall not only reminded her of where she was but also lulled her into praying for the man to find his way back to her. She took his hand in hers – it was cold – and she stroked her fingers over his.
They never exchanged loving words. Hans was reluctant to talk about his feelings. His eyes were doing the communicating. If he could open them now, she could see his sparkle. But she had to wait. She wished she could tell him how she felt about him more often. When she did, he flinched and shrugged. In answer, he would pull her into his arms and kiss her briefly on the lips or cheek. When they had sex, he was tender with her, or even a little naughty. But she never heard him express his feelings. When they were newlyweds, she told him she loved him during lovemaking, but he didn't respond; he just kissed her, his eyes warm and soft with affection. That was his way of showing his love. She learned this over the months. When she told him she was pregnant, he smiled and hugged her, pulling her a little closer than usual. He just couldn't bring himself to say that he was happy. Instead, he told her to take care of herself.
And now... What would he say if it were her lying there? Would he finally say the words? Probably not. She hoped his eyes would plead with her to live.
“Please… please don´t leave me.” She whispered. “I love you, and I need you. The baby needs you.”
He didn´t answer. His eyes remained closed.
One hour later, Dr. Mathias asked Anna to go home and get some rest. He´d call her if there was any change.
She took out Kristoff´s card and called.
Grateful that she didn´t have to drive home by bus or some strange cab drive, she smiled when Kristoff held open the door of the passenger seat for her, also holding out a hand for her to help her climb into the car. She didn´t take it but stroked his arm briefly. She managed like that. She was no invalid after all.
They drove in silence for a while until they came to a halt at the red lights.
“How is he?”
“Not well. But not dying. I hope.” She looked out of the window, unsure of what to say. She didn´t even know what she hoped for. That Hans would make it out of the hospital before the baby was born, or that he made it out at in one piece and fully functioning in the first place? “They say monitoring overnight will show.”
“That sounds hard. Are you gonna be okay – I mean, is somebody there for you?”
“No. But it´s okay. I manage.”
Kristoff remembered how Anna grew up. Isolated with parents mostly abroad and only a nanny around. Her older sister was in a clinic due to chronical illness, and now, Elsa had long moved up to the Polar circle. Anna was used to be alone… He felt dreadful thinking of her dealing with the shock on her own. His family came to mind, with all the hustle and bustle going on around the clock.
“You know, if you liked company, my mother would be happy to host you.”
A small smile crept over her lips, but she shook her head, briefly glancing in his direction. “That´s kind of you. But no thanks. I rather stay home in case Dr. Mathias calls.”
“Oh… that… yeah… sorry.”
“It´s okay Kris. I appreciate your concern. Say, will you be on shift tomorrow morning? I´d like to go back to see Hans, but I don´t like taking the bus.”
“Sven will be on shift. I am sure he´ll be happy to drive you. Just call the same number.”
“That sounds good.” She leaned into the seat with a sigh and closed her eyes. She was tired.
***
Hans Westergaard didn´t die. But it took a very long time for him to recover.
When Kristoff took Anna to the hospital a few days before her husband´s discharge, she was so much rounder than that first scary night. Since then, he´s stopped counting how many times he´s taken her to the hospital and back. It didn´t matter. Each time he felt sorer watching her leave the car to see her husband. Of course she did. And yet, with each time her mood lifted a little more since Hans seemed to recover well. And then, her bright smile was slowly coming back That lovely smile. And one day, her laughter was back. Gosh, how he´s missed her laughter. He kept it to himself but laughed with her.
She told him anecdotes of her marriage. Some of them were really cute. Others felt like she deserved better. But who was he to judge. He didn´t know this man. According to Anna he was kind and caring. That was all that mattered to him. Apparently, Hans had a difficult family. She was overwhelmed with twelve brothers-in-law. Funny, his family – the Bjorgmans – were at least as many people. But she never had problems seeing them when they were younger, when she came to his house for school study. A small regret tickled at the back of Kristoff´s chest. He wished they had done more than just study maths and English…
He shifted into gear after giving the woman sitting next to him a brief glance, which brought up sudden feelings of guilt. She was married, heavy with child, and relieved that her husband was soon leaving the hospital. How could he think of her as someone he could date?
Kristoff cleared his throat. “So, when is the baby due?”
“In about three weeks.”
“You must be glad Hans is home then?”
“It´s a great relief, though I doubt he can help me a lot.”
“Well, in case you need a cab….”
Anna rolled her eyes and groaned. “To get to the hospital? Oh, please, don´t remind me. That would be so embarrassing.”
“Why so? Have you never seen ´Look, who´s talking´?”
“Of course I have. And yes, it was funny, and cute.” She giggled quietly.
Kristoff didn´t say anything. In that movie, the girl got the cab driver…
“Well, I wish for you that all will be well.”
“Thanks Kristoff. “
***
The day Hans Westergaard left the hospital, Sven was on duty and took the couple home. Kristoff asked him to jump in, and his friend did without question. Later, Sven told him that the man looked horribly exhausted, but surprisingly well for the injuries he had to deal with.
“Did she carry his bag?” Kristoff wanted to know, seeing Anna before his inner eye – ready to struggle with the weight – in her delicate condition. He felt furious.
“No. It was a trolley.”
“Good.” Kristoff mumbled, emptying his beer bottle. “Did they talk about something?”
“She told him some things that he needed to know about his workplace. I didn´t pay attention to that. But if makes you feel better; he leaned his head on her shoulder and thanked her about three times that she was there, holding her hand.”
“Good.”
“Kristoff. She appeared very happy to me that he was walking out of that building on his two legs and was able to talk without any obvious disability.”
“Yeah thanks. I am glad she´s well.” Kristoff knew that Sven was right. But he could not for the love of God bear thinking of Anna like that, burdened with an injured husband and soon delivering a baby. On the other hand, she was a very fierce girl. She always was. She would manage. But most of all, it hurt him to realise that his heart always beat a little faster when her name got mentioned, or, even worse, when she sat in his car.
“Sven.”
“Yes?”
“Can you do me another favour?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“When Anna calls to go into the hospital for the birth, can you drive her?”
“I get the notion that it won´t come to that. If Mr. Westergaard is fit enough, I am sure he´ll drive his wife himself.”
“You are probably right.” Kristoff sighed. “But if…”
“If she calls, I´ll drive.” Sven clasped Kristoff on the shoulder.
“Thanks.”
3 weeks later
Sven was not at home when the call came in.
He drove to their house, dreading the scene.
The man who opened the door walked on a stick, obviously not fit yet to drive a car, otherwise not that bad in shape. Anna was leaning on his arm, obviously in pain. Kristoff jumped out of the car and held open the door of the backseat.
“Please, we must go quickly! The labour is coming fast.” Hans Westergaard stated nervously.
He looked much better than what Kristoff had expected. The scars were prominent in his face, but he seemed quite fit otherwise, except for the limping leg. Amazing. But Anna was not well at all. She cringed and held her belly, her face contorted, and she hung on her husband´s arm like her legs were giving in. Hans helped her settling into the seat and climbed in next to her.
Anna moaned, “I feel so stup – aaaaahhhhh!”
“Anna, don´t talk, but breath.” The man held her hand. “You can do this!”
She groaned, shifted awkwardly and squeezed his hand. Hans winced and knocked on Kristoff´s seat. “Please, hurry!”
“Sure!”
Kristoff didn´t remind them of the safety belt, but wished he had a blue light and siren on his car.
The drive was a nightmare, and he was not sure if that baby was going to be delivered before they got to the E.R. He was also not sure who he felt sorrier for. Anna, who bit her lips and breathed like a steam vessel; or Hans who tried to encourage her to stay calm. Poor man. And yet, he wished he were in his place.
Luckily, Anna made it in time.
Secretly he was hoping to drive them home again in a few days, with the baby. But the call never came. Assumingly, Hans must have picked her up himself, somehow. Good. That’s how it was supposed to be, wasn´t it.
6 months later
He never got a call from that address ever again. One day, when he passed their house, he noticed that their name had been removed from the letterbox. Kristoff learned from a passing neighbour that the Westergaards had moved away with their baby. A little girl.
That was it, and he´d never see her again. He hoped she was well.
In Kristoff´s memory, she´d always remain the Anna of his dreams.