How The Heartaches Come And They Go

Chapter 12

Frida was of course right, it was Björn who called to see how Agnetha was doing and so that the kids would get the chance to talk to her as well. While they had a little smalltalk Marieke carried the telephone up to the bedroom. To her surprise Agnetha hadn't fallen asleep again, she was lying in bed listening to the radio.

"I'll hand over the phone to Agnetha now, talk to you later or tomorrow.", Marieke said as she handed over the receiver to Agnetha and set the phone down on her nightstand.

"I'll check back in, when I put away the dishes.", she added before leaving the room. All Marieke could think about was the "suprise" Frida had for her. What on earth could this surprise be? While she was about to go down the stairs again, she could hear Frida from downstairs:

"No, don't come downstairs right now, I'm not prepared yet." Marieke stopped halfway down the stairs:

"What exactly is it your preparing? I really don't know if I'm on board with the whole surprise situation yet."

"Then don't ruin the surprise. I'll let you know once I'm done." Marieke sighed before returning back upstairs. Agnetha was still on the phone, of course she was. Marieke went into the bathroom, she felt the need to freshen up, the need to look a little nicer, though she didn't know why. For someone who had no idea, where any of the things she was persuing would and could lead, Marieke persued them with all her heart. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she realized for the first time, that their game of cat and mouse was actually flirtatious. Her chest was filled with warmth, and it made her nervous, but the good kind of nervous, like she was riding a roller coaster. Marieke could hear Agnetha talking very faintly. Sometimes when Björn teased Agnetha, she had this glow in her eyes as she smiled, even when she looked down blushing, you could see Agnetha enjoyed getting teased by Björn. Was that what it was? Was that what Marieke felt? Was that what happened between Frida and Agnetha? Was that the warmth in her chest, her emotions on a roller coaster? The thoughts and questions overwhelmed her. Marieke splashed her face with water. Enough of this nonsense.

When Marieke noticed that she could no longer hear Agnetha talking, she went over to the bedroom.

"Everything and everyone alright?", she asked as she entered the room again. Agnetha smiled:

"Yes, they're having a good time, even though Linda keeps reassuring me that it isn't as good as if I had come with them."

"She is right.", Marieke paused.
"But of course you already know that."

She sat down next to Agnetha.

"She still is here right?"

"I don't think she will actually leave until she knows you are better again."

"No, she probably won't. Not until Björn and the kids come home, anyways." Agnetha looked off to the distance.