The Honest Affair

8

Arriving around 9:30 PM, Björn finally pulled into his driveway. The long tiring day, which began happily, was long from having its end. Now as he sat and pondered how to explain to his wife, he felt he wanted to die. He couldn't face her. Instead, he remained in the car where he was finally able to let out his emotions. Björn cried at his and Agnetha's luck. For years when they were trying to get pregnant, nothing worked until they were blessed with Linda and Christian. But by then, their marriage was beginning to fall apart.

When he found the courage to leave his car at last, he stepped into his home knowing Lena was waiting on him. He crept through, seeing she was in the living room. The sound of his daughter Emma was enough to tell.

"How nice of you to come."

"I'm sorry," he said as he kissed his daughter. "I didn't expect to stay so late," he said clearly.

"Daddy!" Emma gasped and left her small dolls to jump into his arms. "Did you bring me toys?"

"Not today, sweetheart. I will tomorrow." He sat on the couch directly across from Lena. Björn looked at his daughter again thinking that there was going to be another little baby girl or baby boy in the family again. His wife had to be told.

"But you have," she said when she found time to respond. "Where were you?" Her tone was bitter. She was growing sick of him coming home late on many different occasions. She had her suspicions and soon they'd be proved correct. Emma slid out of her father's arms and ran around the house. With that, Björn knew he had to say it.

"I was at the clinic," he paused, he wasn't sure how to begin, if he should continue or not. All he could comprehend was his heart was pacing and he felt all forms of discomfort. He had time to stop and hold onto the secret for now, but he had already begun and could hardly hide his agitation. "I was with Agnetha."

"Why? What happened?" she wondered curiously. It sounded serious the way it had come out.

"She's," he took in a breath. "She's uh, she's pregnant." He couldn't look at her in the eyes. She noticed he was affected and jittery. Had the news bothered him so much? Of course, yes. She wanted to roll her eyes because she knew how important Agnetha is to Björn. Agnetha controlled many things about him, in ways Lena couldn't understand or comprehend why.

"Didn't know she was seeing anyone."

"She's not... not really," he brought his eyes to her.

"Well," she sat back. "Does she at least know the father of the baby?" He couldn't believe that question.

"Of course, yes. She doesn't sleep around, Lena." He looked at her with a questioning stare then stood and walked to the window as he tried to think of another way to tell her.

"Okay. What are you so mad about? Why are you concerned with her private life?" She stood too, beginning to clean Emma's mess and ready send her to bed. Lena noticed his defense rose quickly. It was always that way with Agnetha and it irked her. "Surely she's told you who it is." He kept his mouth sealed until he noticed she was waiting on him.

"She didn't have to," he stroked his beard and held his lips. She listened closely, leaving the toys and stared at him. "It's mine. She's carrying my child." She froze having gone blank, but it had suddenly made sense. Her earlier questions were answered. She scoffed in shock, eyes wide and lips falling open.

"You didn't–" He stayed quiet while her eyes dropped tears after tears. "She doesn't sleep around, huh?" she muttered.

"Mama, don't take my toys!" The little girl returned with more dollies.

"Emma, love. Go play with your toys upstairs. I will be up in a minute." Both parents watched the little blonde girl struggle to take most of her toys up like her mother asked. Lena grew impatient. "Go!" she yelled. "Take the ones you have and I'll take the rest." Her voice was sharp and Björn rolled his eyes as he turned away again.