Ode To Freedom

Fyra

"Jonathan," Frida called softly as she stepped into the kitchen, where he sat with Filippa and the others, gathered to celebrate Filippa's upcoming 40th birthday. The milestone was a big one, and Frida had plans for a surprise party in the works. As she reached for the coffee pot, pouring herself a cup, she turned to Jonathan with a gentle tone. "I have something I need to do tomorrow morning, but I don't want to go alone. Would you join me?"

Jonathan looked up, a sheepish smile playing on his lips. "Of course."

"Just know," she added with a teasing grin, "you'll have to wake up early."

He paused for a moment, then, with a playful glint in his eyes, spun his fingers in the air. "Wait, hold on... rewind! Ask me again."

Frida frowned but humored him. "Would you like to... join me tomorrow morning?" She said weirdly. Jonathan chuckled and shook his head, turning dramatically to wink at Agnes, who was quietly giggling from the corner.

"Ha, no thanks."

Frida rolled her eyes, suppressing the urge to groan. "Fine," she sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. "Agnes, you're coming with me."

Agnes's face shot up, her jaw dropping in disbelief. "What? Nooo!" she protested. "I don't want to wake up early either!"

"Too bad, darling. You're coming, and that's that," Frida said, her voice firm and final.

"But mormor—" Agnes started to protest, but Frida silenced her with a knowing look, her decision set in stone.

Frida was meticulously planning every detail of Filippa's birthday celebration. She wanted something grand, something that would truly stand out—after all, that was her way of doing things. And lucky for her, Filippa appreciated it just as much. A big cake, an expansive venue—everything had to be perfect. That's why she needed to check out the event space the next morning. It had to be large enough to accommodate all the guests she had invited: family, friends, Filippa's and Oliver's entire extended circle. Frida needed to ensure that the space was exactly how she envisioned it before the decorations went up. Turning forty was a milestone, and Frida was determined to make it unforgettable.

That evening, Frida tucked Agnes into bed, settling in beside her since they would need to rise early together. Agnes didn't mind sharing her grandma's bed at all; in fact, she loved it. Henry, on the other hand, was a bit more reluctant, but his affection for Agnes outweighed any annoyance he felt about being kicked and jostled during the night.

As expected, morning arrived far too quickly for Frida's liking. She groaned as she felt Agnes sprawled across her, limbs tangled and warm. The alarm blared, and Frida let out a long sigh. "Agnes, girl, how did you end up like this?" she murmured, gently pushing the little legs away from her waist. Agnes whimpered in response, clearly unhappy with the early hour—it was only 7 a.m., after all.

"Five more minutes..." she pleaded, rolling over in a sleepy protest. Frida sat up, rubbing her eyes and smoothing her tousled hair. The first moments of the morning were always a struggle, but once she was up, she was up. With the years, she had transformed into more of a morning person, and getting out of bed at this hour was becoming easier.

She shuffled into the bathroom, her bladder demanding attention—a familiar sensation that came with age. When she returned, those precious five minutes had passed. Gently, she brushed Agnes's messy hair away from her face, preparing to wake her.

"Let's get ready," Frida whispered, careful not to disturb Henry's peaceful slumber. Agnes let out another small whimper, stretching her little arms in a reluctant acknowledgment of the day. Frida smiled fondly at Agnes, she had always loved watching her children and grandchildren wake up in the soft light of morning. Their sleepy, puffy faces always made her heart swell with love.