Time to Let Go by Christoph Fischer Read Free Book Online

himself before he would call it a night.
    He enjoyed the peace and quiet that followed the hectic pace of his day. He had never been a fan of television but he felt that it had a positive effect on his wife, so he endured it. Tomorrow they would go through the same routines, the same problems and the same pain again. Hopefully there would also be the occasional close moment between the couple, and a fragment of recognition left.

Chapter 4: Hanna’s Arrival
     
    As usual, Walter woke up several minutes before his alarm went off. All he could hear was the rhythmic breathing of his wife and some early bird singing outside in the trees. How peaceful these quiet moments could be but Hanna might well be on her way already and join them for breakfast. Just in case, he would have to speed things along so that his morning routine for Biddy would not be disrupted. Despite their many differences, he was looking forward to seeing his daughter.
    The radio c ame on automatically with the 6am news and once again the presenters had nothing to report that Walter felt he needed to be told about. His excitement meant that everything was completed much more quickly than on other days, and he was soon ahead of schedule. He went downstairs to prepare breakfast, and as a sensible precaution set the table ceremoniously with three plates. Even the coffee maker seemed to work more efficiently today and he realised he would have to slow down or else he would run out of things to do - a stark contrast to his fear of not being ready in time just a short time ago.
    He brought Biddy a cup of coffee and sat down next to her on his side of the bed. He switched the radio to classical music. Biddy was t aking her time to come around but she was humming along to the music and tapped her toes along to the rhythm. Time was definitely passing more slowly this morning. He manoeuvred Biddy into the bathroom first so that she would be ready for breakfast, should Hanna come early. His wife was lethargic and continued in her familiar gentle pace of their morning activities. She took her time in the shower and mistook the new clothes he had put out for her with old ones. When he spotted her back in her pyjamas he hurriedly retrieved the clean clothes from the laundry basket and helped her change again. On their way downstairs to breakfast he heard a car pull up and then the familiar characteristic horn that Hanna had installed in all of her cars. It was more like a melody or a ring tone than a warning signal:  Walter had pointed out to her many times that it was probably a safety hazard and illegal. How typically impulsive and inconsiderate of his daughter to use the horn so early in the morning! The neighbours would not be pleased to be woken up for no other reason than his daughter wanting to make a big entrance. He watched her from the kitchen window as she got out of her car, a silly looking vintage convertible – old banger more like, but he was not allowed to say that out loud.
    Hanna had dyed her hair bleach blond e and had cut it shorter than he thought suited her. She looked, however, more elegant with her hair like that, not so much the hippy that she had been the last time he had seen her. She might have lost some weight, and she looked rather glamorous in tight jeans and a woollen white top. She spotted him in the window and waved, then marched energetically towards the front door. Unsure if she still had her keys he went to the door to let her in.
    “Hey Dad!” she said and kissed him on the cheek.
    “Good morning Pumpkin,” he said. “What time did you get up to be here at this hour?”
    “Oh, I could not sleep for the excitement of seeing you, Dad. You look like you just got up. What happened? I hope you haven’t overslept?” she joked and stepped past him into the hall. “Where is that sunshine that I call my mother? Biddy, where are you?” she called out.
    Her mother stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked searchingly and blankly at