Because She Loved Him

Anticipation

The following morning Anna was so happy, she felt like they had really reconnected last night, she left Bjorn sleeping in bed, he looked so peaceful she didn't have the heart to wake him. She went in to see the children both of whom were only just starting to wake up, this was unusual but she put it down to their disturbed night. Linda seemed a little quiet but she smiled at her mummy as she lifted her up and gave her a big cuddle. They set about getting dressed for the day. Agnetha was determined that today would be a good one, she would tidy the house after the disaster of last night, she would drop the kids off with her parents and she would go to the studio and sing her best for Bjorn and the others. She would fight to get this album off the ground with Bjorn, he deserved all of her support.

That decision made, her heart felt much lighter and she settled Linda in the living room with her colouring book and pens while she went to get Christian ready for the day. She peeked in on Bjorn on her way back downstairs but he was still sleeping deeply.

She tied her hair on top of her head in a messy bun and got down to the business of breakfast with the kids then methodically tidied the downstairs of the house where she could keep an eye on the kids while they were playing. Once she had finished tidying the downstairs she laid out a breakfast for Bjorn and put a fresh pot of coffee on the stove to brew.

She popped Christian into his playpen and begged Linda to be a good girl while she went upstairs to sort out the mess in the bathroom and wake Bjorn up as she was sure he would be hungry, besides she missed his company and wanted to share a cup of coffee with him. She went into the bedroom and leant over him and gently kissed his eyelids, his nose, his cheeks, his lips and then moved onto anywhere she could reach. He stirred, groaned and opened his eyes. She smiled. Even dull with sleep his blue eyes were so beautiful. " Hi darling, I missed you" she whispered. He curved his hand round the nape of her neck and pulled her down for a sleepy kiss. "Hi yourself" he said with his husky morning tone. With his other hand he reached into her hair and pulled out the band that was securing her bun, causing her waist length hair to cascade round them. He inhaled the smell that was uniquely Anna, lily of the valley and vanilla " That's much better" he said satisfied. Their lips clung for a little while then Agnetha said " I made you coffee and breakfast"

"Breakfast?" asked Bjorn "What's the time?" Agnetha looked at the clock on the bedside table and told him its a little before 9am. Bjorn sat bolt upright in bed startling Agnetha " Jesus Anna I had a meeting at the studio at 0815! Why didn't you wake me??" He leapt out of bed overbalancing Agnetha who had been just perched on the side, she couldn't save herself and landed on her bottom on the floor with a squeak, she wasn't hurt, just shocked. Bjorn did not notice, he was busy rushing into the shower. She got herself up off the floor when she heard him shouting about the state of the bathroom. She got in there in time to see him clearing the kids toys out of the shower cubicle. " I'm sorry" she said upset. " I didn't know you had a meeting, you were home so late last night and looked so tired when I got up this morning that I thought you deserved the rest and I was looking forward to having breakfast with you this morning, I'm SORRY" she repeated when he did not respond to her. " Anna, this is your problem, you don't think of what else could be going on, all you think about are the kids. I know you knew about the meeting, Gorel told you. " But Bjorn, she didn't" said Agnetha. " Are you calling Gorel a liar now Anna??" Bjorn shouted at her though the shower door "Nnnooo of course not said Agnetha who was struggling to hold back tears. " Perhaps I forgot" she whispered doubting herself now. " Oh for god's sake Anna, stop it and go and get me a towel, there isn't a dry one left in the room" Bjorn snapped at her. She went to get him a towel and handed it to him as he got out of the shower. He snatched it from her and ignored her as he started rushing around dressing.

Dejected she went downstairs and the coffee pot was ready, Linda was quietly colouring at the table, Christian was playing in his playpen with his soft toys. For some reason this beautiful sight made the tears threaten once again but she blinked them back. She tied her hair back up, took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and poured herself and Bjorn a cup of coffee. At that moment he came racing down the stairs shrugging into his black leather coat. She said to him " Here, at least have a cup of coffee, I am sorry Bjorn, really I am, I must have forgotten what Gorel said" He grabbed his keys from the dresser in the kitchen and said " I haven't got time for this Anna, I am so late its ridiculous, this was an important meeting about the album and the tour, I don't have time for coffee or anything else" He disappeared out of the door, it's slam echoing around the house. The noise frightened Christian and he started to cry, she looked around the kitchen, seeing the breakfast all set and ready, the coffee mug she still held in her hand for him and tears finally escaped her eyes.

She heard the engine of the car start up with an angry roar but she was distracted by tugging on her skirt and she looked down Linda looked up at her with big eyes and asked "Is Daddy cross with us?" She bent down to lift Linda up and savoured the feel of her small person snuggled against her " Darling, why would you say that? Of course Daddy isn't cross with you, he loves you both very much" Linda looked at her and said " But Mummy, he didn't say goodbye to us and he didn't tell us he loved us. He always does" Linda looked so sad and bewildered that Agnetha could do nothing else but hug her tight. She went to comfort Christian. Standing with both children in her arms she jumped as the door flew open, she saw that Bjorn had come back. " There he is" she said to Linda "I told you he wasn't cross with you." Bjorn came a bit further into the room and said to her " I just came back to remind you, as you seem to be struggling with your memory at the moment that you need to be in the studio for 1030. Don't be late" with that he turned on his heel and slammed the door for the second time that day.

Agnetha stood there, looked at her children and her heart cracked