Christian came back into the kitchen and laughed at the state of Frida and Mama. "Do you have any cream on that cake at all?" he wondered as he surveyed the kitchen and the ladies, both were liberally smeared with cream. He was delighted to see his Mama so engaged and happy. "Yes, plenty. This is Papa's favourite cake, it needs to have lots of cream on it." she frowned as a thought occured to her "What if it isn't his favourite any more? What if I got it wrong and he doesn't like it anymore?" she fretted. Frida soothed her. "Anna, he asked for it, he wouldn't have asked for it if he didn't want it or it wasn't still his favourite. Don't panic so" "I'll remind you of that when it's your turn to see Benny" Agnetha remarked with a small smile.
"About that, I rang Papa this morning and he and Benny are at Vallentuna."said Christian."Papa was horrified" He grinned at the memory. "He and Benny have been there all night drinking and putting the world to rights I guess" "he isn't coming? asked Agnetha crestfallen. She had gathered all her courage for today and she really wanted to see him. "Oh Mama, of course he's coming. Nothing would stop him, he's just horrified at the timing. He hasn't got drunk for years and he says he smells like a distillery." Christian was quick to reassure her. Frida couldn't help but laugh "Oh poor Bjorn!!" he must be mortified" "I couldn't care less if he smells of two distilleries!" declared Anna robustly "as long as he comes today or it'll be weeks before I can see him" Christian hastened to reassure her "Mama what was it Aunty Frida said to you the other day? Papa would break down those gates if he had to, to get to you. I doubt several bottles of whisky would stand in his way" Christian laughed and shook his head. "What parents I have!!" He checked his watch, "I need to leave soon to get them if they will be here in time to see Linda and her crew before they go." He text Linda to let her know he was leaving, he didn't want to disturb her, he was sure she was busy sorting her brood. He could see that the car was packed. She answered him and said they would be ready by the time he got back. He remembered to tell Linda that Papa was in Vallentuna with Benny and he was bringing them both back. That little bit of news had Linda calling him screeching with excitement. He laughed as he held the phone away from his ear so he could bear it."Linda when will you grow out of this screeching thing you do when you're excited??" He was greatly amused by her reaction. He remembered both his parents despairing of the habit, nothing much had changed he reflected.
Frida had little time to get her head around the fact that Benny was coming too. She desperately wanted to see him. As much as Anna wanted to see Bjorn. Maybe it was better this way then they wouldn't over think it. She rushed around cleaning up the mess in the kitchen with Agnetha then they both rushed upstairs to have a quick shower in their respective rooms. Frida blow dried her now blonde hair and put some light make up on. She raced into a light pair of blue trousers and a white and blue floaty tunic top. She finished by spritzing her favourite perfume and adding a silver bangle. She didn't want to look overdone. She was rushing in case Anna needed her help.
She went and knocked on Anna's door "You ok?" she called. She heard a muffled "Come in" so she did. She was faced with Anna clad in just a pair of white floaty trousers, her red clogs and a red bra. "Nice start!" She congratulated laughing. "That get up will give Bjorn a heart attack for sure" "Oh hush" giggled Anna. "Can you help me tape my cannula down so it won't be easily seen or felt?" "Of course" agreed Frida. "Hoping for some action are we?" she teased as she took the padded dressing that Anna held out to her. "Definitely not, but even if we hug he might feel it and I don't want him to ask questions" Frida could see that Anna had a valid point so she concentrated on sticking the dressing on perfectly to hold the cannula down tightly. Anna was passing her the pieces of tape. When Frida thought that she was done she stepped back and asked "will that do?" Agnetha turned to look in the mirror. "That's perfect Frida thank you, no one will see that once I get my top on" Anna looked pleased.
Frida was distracted by the sound of her mobile phone ringing in her room. She hurried to answer it. Her heart sank as she saw it was Bjorn. "Oh please don't let her down" she prayed silently. She picked up and said "Hi Bjorn, what's up?" "Before you think the worst of me, yes I am coming. There wouldn't be a thing on this earth that would stop me, including my monumental hangover" Bjorn said quickly. Frida let out a relieved chuckle. "Listen, I don't have much time, Benny is distracted in the shower and this is the only chance I'll get. Frida, I know you will anyway but Benny has had no time to prepare for this and there's a lot of stuff going on with him. It took me all night to get it out of him. Its not my place to tell you, it isn't life threatening before you worry" he reassured her. Frida sighed in relief "but he is mentally and physically fragile and you need to be gentle with him. He won't be able to stand much more right now. Just be you. He needs you to accept him just as he is with a hug, like nothing is changed. Don't tease him too much and definitely not about how he looks. "Bjorn, for god's sake. I'm not a monster, we're all older. What's going on? Now I'm worried" she told him. Bjorn sighed. "Please Frida, trust me on this." Bjorn asked gently. "You need to tell Anna too. And don't tell him we've spoken. He would never recover if he knew. I have to go, he's finished in the shower" Bjorn hung up hurriedly.
Frida was left staring at her phone. She snapped out of it and hurried to Agnetha's room. She knocked and entered quickly. "Come in won't you" teased Anna. Frida looked at her in her beautiful red tunic and a red headscarf tied like she always had it in the seventies. Anna was worried that Bjorn would notice that her hair was a little thinner than it was so this just showed her fringe and the length of her hair She had put a little make up on and some lip gloss. Frida thought she looked beautiful. She sat on the bed. "What's wrong?" questioned Agnetha urgently. "I've just spoken to Bjorn and" Anna sat next to her on the bed and sighed" I knew he wouldn't come" "Oh Anna hush will you? Of course he's coming. He wanted to tell me that Benny has had no time to prepare for this and that I had to be gentle with him. He said it took him all night to get out of Benny what was wrong with him. He said it's not life threatening. He said it's not his place to tell me but that Benny was mentally and physically fragile." Frida paused trying to remember everything Bjorn had said. "He also said that Benny wouldn't be able to cope with much more and we were to treat him like nothing has changed. Lots of hugs and no comments about how he looks. He says I just need to accept him like I always have and he said to tell you. Oh Anna, I KNEW there was something wrong with him. What's WRONG with him?? She finished on an anguished cry. Now it was Anna's turn to give comfort. She wrapped her arms around Frida and said "if Bjorn says it's not life threatening then it isn't, so that's one worry off the table. We will do exactly as Bjorn says. He's warned us for a reason so we have to be ready. It will be fine for all of us. It seems I am not the only one keeping secrets. Frida nodded. "You're right. Ok. I need to fix myself" Frida looked confused as Anna burst out laughing. "Poor Bjorn" she chuckled. "That must have taken some serious alcohol to get Benny to tell him what was wrong, he's probably got the hangover from hell, then we drop this on him. What a man!" Frida considered her words then her lips twitched and she chuckled too."Benny could always out drink Bjorn" she agreed, she went away laughing.
In Vallentuna Benny was thanking a thousand stars that he'd thought to bring a spare set of clothes with him and exceedingly glad that Bjorn had found shower gel and toothpaste. He'd rummaged in his car and found mint gum for them both and in a bag in his boot he had found some aftershave. At least he wouldn't smell like an alcoholic. Well he hoped he didn't. This was the craziest thing he had EVER done. Frida would be disgusted by him. He knew it. Mona was so Frida would be too. He told himself it would be enough to see Bjorn reunite with Anna and if Frida could tolerate him for a little bit then that would be the best he could ever hope for.
Bjorn was fussing around in his room finishing dressing. God, he felt awful. They hadn't time to eat, he glared in the mirror and took note of his rather grey skin colour and massive bags under his eyes. He rolled his eyes impatiently. Of all the rotten timings. He was wearing black jeans and boots, a red open necked shirt and would take his black leather jacket with him. He cursed as he heard the gate alarm activate. That meant Christian was here. He had a fob in his car too for Vallentuna as did Linda. He ran downstairs and saw Benny. He'd scrubbed up really well. He was wearing a dark blue shirt and black trousers and a lighter blue blazer over it. "Benny, you look just the ticket mate!! Very handsome!" Bjorn's words were measured and considered and he was rewarded by a slight smile for his effort. "I didn't want to let you down, this is important for you. Frida won't want to see me for long but I'd like to see Anna as well" Bjorn considered what Benny had said and hoped that Frida would rise to the challenge and prove Benny wrong. Somewhere along the line something had got very twisted in Benny's mind. It was up to them to repair the damage Mona had done.
Both men winced as a loud banging reverberated through the house. "Does your son have to be quite so enthusiastic??" grumbled Benny rubbing his forehead. "I wish he wasn't right at this moment" agreed Bjorn. In an effort to stop the noise Bjorn hastily threw the door open. "Christian, do you mind? It's not even 9am on a Sunday. We are ready. You don't have to keep banging!" Christian roared with laughter at the sight of them. "Raring to go I see?" he commented. "Uncle Benny, it's really good to see you! It's been too long. Where have you been hiding?" Benny found himself in a bear hug which he returned gratefully. Bjorn's mind put another piece of the puzzle in its place as he heard Christian's words.
"Just a sec guys, I need to use the bathroom then we'll go" he jogged up the stairs and shut himself in the bathroom. He didn't need to use the bathroom but he text Agnetha and said "Mama, Papa is looking rough. Don't think he's had chance to eat. Can you make them both a sandwich? X"
He flushed the toilet and jogged back down the stairs. "Come on you two. We'll talk in the truck" Bjorn made sure the door was locked, he felt like this was happening to someone else. "Don't forget to sit in the back guys, there's specialist tinting. It's impenetrable but you can see out. Mama will go spare otherwise, she's already terrified for your safety" They obediently climbed in the back. "I'll warn you now Papa, it's bad out front today because it's the weekend. It's always worse." Bjorn shook his head in disbelief. "Why not any of the rest of us? Why is it always her that suffers this?" Benny shrugged sympathetically "I wish I knew" They drove in silence for a while then Benny asked Christian for his input into what would be needed to keep her safe at the studios. "It'll always have to be one of us that collects her and brings her home. Probably me. This truck is built to withstand some level of attack. "Jesus Christian don't you think it's a bit of overkill here? " asked Bjorn. "Papa, there's a lot you don't know. She refused to let us tell you.." "yes I know because she thought I was angry with her" he rolled his eyes. "I'm not an ogre you know"
"Yes Papa, I know but she knows you too well and at the time she said I don't want him angry. I won't interfere with his life anymore, the less he knows the less danger he's in. She's convinced she gave you enough trouble already" Bjorn closed his eyes impatiently. "Well out with it what was this incident that necessitated an armoured truck??" Benny put a calming hand on his arm. "Let him talk Bjorn" "The last time Mama drove alone in an ordinary car someone took out her tyres with blank bullets and one went through the windscreen, she managed to get the car home and just had a few bumps and bruises" Bjorn's blood felt like it had frozen in his veins. He exploded. "And no one thought to fucking tell me there were bullets flying around her??" "She expressly forbade it Papa" Stubborn bloody woman he thought savagely. He subsided as Benny told him to be calm. Benny asked "When was this? "9 years ago give or take. Just after the Mamma Mia premiere. We figured her being out and about again had resparked interest in the "Crazy Garbo" Bjorn's expression turned murderous "DON'T ever use that disgraceful headline in my earshot again" he growled. "Your wife has spent the last 30 or more years calling her that and worse, just not IN your earshot!!" Christian growled back, as irritated as his father. Benny stepped in "Come on guys. This isn't the time. I'm sorry I bought it up. This is going to be a happy day. We can work all that out later" Christian smiled gratefully at his uncle Benny in the rearview mirror. "You're right Uncle Benny. Papa. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I got cross, it's not your fault." Bjorn sighed "It IS my fault, all of this. I should have KNOWN. I never questioned anything because it was easier NOT to. I'm sorry too Christian I shouldn't take it out on you" He looked out of the window, he just didn't know what to think. He wanted to lash out at someone but Christian was doing as his mother wished, Anna was protecting him and his family from any fall out of this. Perhaps he owed her his life, his daughters lives. How was he to know? Christ what price had she paid because she thought he was happy? To keep his daughters safe? And all this fucking time he'd been miserable as sin, missing her, loving her and totally unaware of what was going on. He felt sick. It ended now. After today he would find out exactly what the threats were and who they were aimed at because he could bet his bottom dollar that it would ramp up when ABBA came together again. He and Benny would take on the studio and copy the security that was at Ekero. He was distracted from his plotting and planning by Benny tapping his shoulder. "What??" he snapped Benny cleared his throat and said "We're nearly there" Bjorn couldn't believe it, that was 45 minutes they had lost arguing and thinking. "Sorry Benny" he patted Benny on the arm by way of apology.
As they pulled closer to Anna's house they started to see the crowds, the forest of selfie sticks. Bjorn and Benny were both shocked at the amount of people. "Is it like this every weekend?" enquired Benny in a small voice. "Every weekend" confirmed Christian. Bjorn and Benny were both subdued by that thought and were further shocked by the height and the scale of the fencing around the estate. Bjorn counted several cameras but was distracted by Christian saying "Here we go. He is one of the bigger threats Papa. I'm going to put the screens down so he can't see you. He's standing right where I'll be driving in. He normally challenges the truck so he'll see straight through the windscreen. I don't want him knowing I have anyone in the back let alone you two. Benny and Bjorn looked at each other horrified. They watched as the screen came down to shield them from front view. They both watched intently as a man in an old army cap of the truck as Christian turned in. Christian had a determined look on his face as he inched ever closer to the man. Bjorn could see that he was indeed checking out the truck. Christian pressed the gate codes into the pad on the dashboard and they opened from the middle. Christian kept driving and eventually the man's nerve broke first. Christian inched the nose of the truck through the gap, stopped the gates using the keypad and braked so that the rear of the truck blocked the gap. He waited until the gates were touching the truck gently then moved forward an inch or so so that the gates could close.This tactic meant that no one could get in while the gates were open. He waited till they were tightly closed and had locked behind them before driving off. He looked in his rear view mirror and had to laugh at the faces of his Papa and Benny. "It's ok you two. Just a normal day at Mama's house. Nothing to worry about. It's all fine. I promise you'll get used to it. I feel you'll be here a lot after today. After all at least you can be sure that Lena and Mona will never find you here!!" He winked at them in the rear view mirror and burst out laughing. Bjorn and Benny had no choice but to laugh too
Bjorn had forgotten how big the estate was and Christian drove for a little while before they came into view of the house, Christian swung round the back of the house as he had promised his mother. He pulled up and turned off the engine. Bjorn and Benny got out of the back and Benny walked round to join Bjorn. They heard the door of the house open and looked up in time to see Frida and Anna running down the steps. They barely had time to brace themselves before they both had to catch their girls to prevent a catastrophe. Bjorn felt Anna's arms close round his neck as she jumped into his arms. He snapped his arms around her waist to stop her slipping. His eyes closed as his head fell to her shoulder and he felt her legs wrap around his waist. He hugged her tightly. She smelled like home. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" she whispered. "I'm glad you made it through alive. I'm so happy to see you" she surprised him by kissing him hard. He kissed her back and grinned "I'm happy to see you too. It's been too long. I told you I'd come for you" He spun her round a couple of times smiling at her laughter. God she was lighter than when they were married. He didn't want to put her down yet.
Meanwhile Benny had a similar state of affairs going on. He had looked up to see Frida running towards him. She wasn't going to stop was she. Oh Christ he hoped he wouldn't disgrace himself. She launched herself at him and thank god he caught her safely. She had her arms wrapped round his neck and her bloody legs that had always been the death of him were wrapped around his waist. He staggered a little but thankfully had the truck behind him. He took in a lungful of air and was immediately assaulted by the perfume that would haunt him all his life. Frida gently kissed his forehead and his head fell to her chest and he did his best to hide his tears. Frida felt them though and she hushed him carefully. "Benny Anderson. I've missed you" She unwound her legs and slid down his body. She looked him in the eye and said "still the same guy I fell in love with I see. Handsome old devil"she hugged him again and kissed him deliberately. She squeezed his hand tight and didn't let go. Benny looked at her in wonder. She looked amazing! She didn't seem too horrified yet. He would enjoy it while it lasted. He squeezed back and said "Christ, it's good to see you. Are you sure you're ok?" "Benny darling I'm perfectly well, just old" she reassured him.
Bjorn meanwhile was still standing with Anna wrapped around him. They were talking. "You and I need to have a long chat young lady" he said sternly. "I've had more shocks and surprises in the last week than I've had in 30 years! I'm an old man now, I might not cope with many more! Anything else to tell me baby?" "Not right now" she giggled "Oh except.." he rolled his eyes and braced himself "What?" he asked suspiciously "Well you're holding up remarkably well for an old man with a hangover from hell" she teased. "Bloody cheek" he grumped "and I made you a big fat sandwich and some coffee to settle your stomach" "Always my angel" he sighed gratefully. He shifted her a little not wanting to let her go yet and strode towards the steps to the house. He noted in passing that Christian had gone in leaving the four of them alone. He veered towards Benny and Frida. "Are you going to put her down yet?" enquired Benny amused. "Nope" answered Bjorn grinning. "Are you going to let her go yet? he queried nodding at Frida " Nope" Benny echoed laughing. "This'll be awkward then" commented Anna. She wriggled to be let down. Bjorn begrudgingly did put her down. She went straight to Benny and said "I've missed you, you lovely man. Frida's right, still the same handsome old devil." She hugged him tight and kissed both his cheeks. "I don't know why it is Frida that these men age so much better than us, it's not fair. Look at them!! Hardly a change. I'm jealous" "I know" Frida said "it's very annoying" Bjorn smiled as he realised the girls had taken what he'd said to heart and he could see that it was salve to Benny's wounded soul. He took his first proper look at Anna and she fairly glowed in her white trousers and red top. She still wore her signature clogs and that cute little red headscarf was beautiful. She looked tiny. How odd that he should have worn a red shirt today he mused, they looked good together. He tore his attention away from Anna and greeted Frida. He lifted her off her feet in a bear hug and smacked a kiss on her cheek. He whispered in her ear. " Thank you Frida, you have no idea of the good you two have just done" she smiled and he stepped away. They walked up the steps to the house and were immediately assaulted by a cacophony of noise and excitement. Bjorn greeting both his children and all his grandchildren and going down under a pile of bodies. Anna laughed until she cried as she watched him fight his way out. The noise was tremendous and Anna thought that this was just the way it should be. She was happier than she could remember being in decades. Everyone was so excited to be together, this wasn't about ABBA, this was about family, there was no other word for it. Anna became aware of a familiar noise. "Linda!! Will you stop that screeching?" She was joined by Bjorn's bellow at the exact same moment, saying the exact same thing They looked at each other Bjorn grinned and shook his head exasperatedly and she collapsed into uncontrollable giggles.
"Papa, it's amazing to see you here but we need to get going and leave you all to it, little brother don't trash my house" Linda teased. "Uncle Benny, don't be a stranger" he was covered in kisses from Linda and the kids. Frida watched him and wondered what had happened to make him so suspicious of people's affection for him. She smiled at his bewilderment. She was going to get to the bottom of this and solve it if it was the last thing she ever did. Linda and Jens finally departed in a matching truck to Christian's.
Anna sat at the table exhausted but happy. She blew a breath out and heard Bjorn and the other two clatter in. Frida said "Christian's gone next door to get stuff ready for tomorrow" she looked at Anna and saw she was tired so she bustled about pouring large mugs of coffee and a tea for Anna. She fetched the sandwiches from the fridge and plunked them in front of the boys. Bjorn's eyes lit up. "Anna made them earlier" Frida told him. Bjorn took an enormous bite before Frida had even fetched a napkin. "Your chicken mayo?? Anna I'd know it anywhere. Christ that's so good. I'm starving. Thank you!!" Benny wasn't much more delicate with his and the sandwiches were demolished in short order along with several coffees. Once the boys appetites and hangovers were appeased they moved into the living area where predictably Bjorn sat next to Anna and Frida sat next to Benny.. Bjorn pulled Anna closer. He watched as Frida made sure to pull Benny close to her. He smiled as he watched Benny heal just a little bit more. He shifted Anna a little and held her tight.
They all knew that there would be challenges ahead, discussions to be had and secrets to let go but for now they had all found their home and their peace and were more content than they'd been in decades
