Media Secret: Hidden Johansson

Family Day

The sun was barely up when I heard the familiar patter of small feet racing down the hall. Moments later, Rose burst through the bedroom door, her eight-year-old energy already at full tilt. She jumped onto the bed, giggling as she landed in a heap beside me.

"Tom, get up! We're going to the zoo today!" she chirped, tugging at the blanket that was still covering my face.

I groaned, pretending to still be asleep. "Nope, can't. Too tired."

Rose climbed on top of me, bouncing up and down like a human alarm clock. "Too bad! You're coming with us, and you promised!"

I laughed, lifting the blanket slightly to peek at her grinning face. "Alright, alright! I'm up, I'm up."

As I rolled out of bed, Rose bounded off and rushed back down the hallway, her excitement infectious. I could hear Scarlett in the kitchen, chatting away on the phone as she likely organized another day of chaos. My mum had perfected the art of multitasking — balancing the demands of her job while raising Rose, all while keeping me under the radar whenever I was back home.

After a quick shower, I made my way downstairs. Rose was already in the kitchen, scarfing down breakfast while chatting non-stop about all the animals she wanted to see at the zoo. Scarlett stood by the counter, half-distracted by her phone call but still managing to toss a wink in my direction.

"Ready for a day of fun, or should I be worried?" I asked, ruffling Rose's hair as I grabbed a slice of toast.

Scarlett put her phone down, smiling. "Don't worry, I've already planned out a whole route to avoid the paparazzi. No one's getting near us today."

That was typical of Mum — always one step ahead, ensuring that I could enjoy a day out without being hounded by the press. After the week I'd had, I was grateful for her foresight.

Once we were ready, the three of us piled into Mum's car, Rose chattering away in the backseat about how she was going to meet a giraffe. Scarlett navigated the streets like a pro, avoiding the usual hotspots where photographers might be lurking. We made it to the zoo without a single camera flash in sight.

The moment we walked through the gates, Rose took off toward the nearest exhibit, dragging me along with her. Scarlett laughed, jogging behind us.

"Slow down, Rose!" Mum called out, but the little whirlwind was already too far ahead to hear her.

We spent hours wandering through the zoo. Rose was a ball of energy, bouncing from one exhibit to the next. She insisted we visit the giraffes twice, and then made us wait an extra ten minutes to watch the lions being fed. Watching her enthusiasm, I found myself relaxing for the first time in days. Her excitement was contagious.

At one point, we found ourselves in the petting zoo area, where Rose gleefully fed some goats while Scarlett and I hung back by the fence.

"She's growing up so fast," I muttered, watching Rose laugh as a goat nibbled on her hand.

Scarlett nodded, her expression soft. "Yeah, she is. Every day, it feels like she's a little more grown-up."

She glanced at me, then reached out to squeeze my arm. "It's good to see you smiling again. I know it's been... tough."

I shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Yeah, but today's been good. I needed this."

Scarlett studied me for a moment before turning back to watch Rose. "We're always here for you, you know that. No matter what."

I didn't say anything, but her words hung in the air, offering a sense of comfort I hadn't realized I needed.

As the afternoon wore on, we finally decided to head home. Rose was still buzzing with excitement, but I could see the beginnings of tiredness in her eyes. On the way out, Scarlett kept a sharp eye on the exits, making sure no photographers were waiting to ambush us.

Back at home, Rose curled up on the couch with a bowl of ice cream, her eyelids growing heavy. Scarlett joined her, flipping through channels on the TV.

"Thanks, Mum," I said quietly as I stood at the doorway, watching them. "For today."

She looked up at me, smiling gently. "Anytime. Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to join us?" Mum asked, giving me a teasing look.

I shrugged, then made my way over to the couch. Rose patted the cushion next to her with a sticky hand. "Sit here, Tom! I'm picking the show."

I plopped down between them, sinking into the soft cushions. The remote was firmly in Rose's grip, so there was no real point in arguing. She eventually landed on an animated show that looked like pure chaos, filled with talking animals and brightly colored explosions.

"Why do they always make the animals talk?" I muttered, mostly to myself.

Rose giggled, not taking her eyes off the screen. "Because it's funny! Look at the turtle, he's dancing!"

I couldn't help but laugh, despite myself. The absurdity of it all seemed to charm Rose in a way only kids could appreciate. The three of us sat there, watching as the cartoon's ridiculous antics played out, Scarlett occasionally leaning over to whisper a dry comment that had me stifling a laugh.

At one point, I glanced over at Mum. She was watching the show with that half-attentive look parents get, the kind that said she was more focused on enjoying the time together than the actual content. It was peaceful in a way that felt foreign after the chaos of the last year.

As the episode ended, Rose put down her bowl and scooted closer, leaning her head on my shoulder. I could feel her energy fading now that the excitement of the day had finally caught up with her. Mum reached over, brushing a lock of hair out of Rose's face.

"Remember when she used to make us sit through those endless princess movies?" Scarlett asked, glancing at me with a grin.

"Don't remind me," I groaned, rolling my eyes dramatically. "I swear I still know all the words to *Frozen*."

Rose laughed sleepily. "You liked *Frozen*, Tom!"

"I tolerated *Frozen*," I corrected with a smirk.

Scarlett chuckled softly. "She had you wrapped around her little finger back then—and still does, I think."

"Maybe," I admitted, smiling down at Rose, who was now barely keeping her eyes open.

The show continued playing in the background, but Rose was long past paying attention to it. She yawned, curling up more tightly against me, her small body sinking into the comfort of the couch. Mum stood up, stretching her arms above her head.

"I'll get her ready for bed," she said softly, her voice full of affection. "She's had a big day."

I nodded, carefully shifting so that Scarlett could scoop Rose into her arms. Rose mumbled something incoherent as she was carried off upstairs, already half asleep. I sat back on the couch, the house suddenly quiet without her constant chatter filling the space.

Scarlett reappeared a few minutes later, brushing her hands on her jeans. She paused by the doorway, watching me for a moment before coming back to sit beside me.

"You okay?" she asked gently.

I sighed, sinking deeper into the couch. "Yeah... I think I am."

She gave me a knowing look, the kind only a mother could give—one that saw right through the walls you put up. But she didn't push. Instead, she reached for the remote and started flipping through the channels again.

"Alright then. How about we find something that doesn't involve talking turtles?" she said with a wry smile.

"Deal," I said, chuckling.

We settled into the comfort of the quiet house, the TV quietly buzzing in the background as we relaxed in each other's presence. After a day filled with running around, animals, and the usual chaos of life, it was nice to just sit here, feeling at peace with the people I loved most.

For the first time in a long while, it felt like maybe, just maybe, things were starting to fall back into place.